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She laughs quietly, accepting. “I guess I am your fiancée, aren’t I? What a short engagement.”
“How will your parents react to the news?”
“I don’t think they’ll care. I mean, we’re not very close anymore.” She looks away and seems like she wants to say more, but shrugs. “You don’t have to worry about it.”
There’s clearly more going on, but I don’t push. No need to dredge up bad shit right before we get married.
I lead her from the house, down to the waiting car, and open the back door for her. She climbs inside and I hesitate, looking back at my house.
My last moments as a single man.
Well, fuck it, being single was always overrated. “The courthouse,” I tell the driver.
Chapter20
Finn
When the driver drops us off, Carson comes walking out from the shadows beside the courthouse entrance.
“What the fuck?” I ask softly, moving toward him. Dara comes with me, but I hold a hand out. “Stay here. I’ll deal with this.”
“Are you sure?” she sounds worried. “He doesn’t look happy.”
“He shouldn’t be here at all, but it’s fine, just wait until I wave you over.”
I leave her behind. Carson’s standing on the steps, glaring at me like he wants to drive a dagger through my eye. Not that I can blame him—I’m about to make a lot of waves, and he’s going to have to deal with Dad’s shit mood.
“Brother,” I say in greeting. “So nice of you to show up, although I don’t recall sending out any invitations.”
“What thefuckare you thinking, Finn?” His eyes narrow, his body tense with rage. “Don’t try to make jokes. I’m not in a goddamn joking mood. What the fuck are you doing? With that girl?” He waves a hand at Dara.
An angry wave washes over me. “Leave her out of this,” I say, voice lowered. “What are you doing here, Carson?”
“Judge Mattingly called me. Apparently, you freaked him out and he wanted to make sure that he wasn’t going against family policy by complying with your request.”
I grind my teeth. That traitor fucking judge. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him that you’re a Crowley, and what you say goes.”
I blink at him, some of my anger draining. “Why?”
“Because I’m not stupid enough to get in the way of this, but come on, Finn, what the fuck? You’re lucky Mattingly called me and not Dad.”
Lucky is not the word I’d use. Frustrating, annoying, those are closer to how I feel. Fucking Carson.
“Dad would’ve understood. Hewillunderstand.” I think. Probably. Not that it matters—there’s no going back from this.
“Dad is going to gut you, asshole. This little rebellion is going to cause everyone a lot of headaches, assuming Dad doesn’t kill you and your girl on the spot.”
“I won’t let him touch her,” I say, surprised by my own anger.
Carson laughs, shaking his head. “She’s really pregnant, huh?” He softens somewhat, looking back at her. “Pretty too. Do you get along?”
“Yeah, we do.” I follow his gaze. She’s watching us, looking uncomfortable down on the sidewalk. “She’s carrying my child, Carson. My actual child. I could marry Robin and maybe she’d give me babies, but maybe not. How am I supposed to turn my back on my actual child for some hypothetical ones?”
“You’re supposed to do your duty,” he says without malice. “But I understand why you feel that way.”
“Dad will understand. He won’t be happy, but he’ll come around.”
