Chapter 111: Chapter Fifty-Six

Andrei

Alive.

They were alive.

The raw guilt that I’d done nothing while they were taken away had come back when I was getting tortured, delirious from bleeding.

I felt heavy.

Exhausted.

And every nerve ending was on fire each time Alice fussed over a bandage or touched a scar or pressed her palm to my skin.

I was ready to lose my fucking mind and risk broken bones and stitches just so I could have her naked beneath me.

I told her that.

She laughed and then abandoned me to sleep.

Like I could actually sleep when I could still smell her.

I clutched the folders in my hand and slowly rose out of bed. My jeans hung low on my hips as I made my way out of the bedroom and down the hall into the noisy living room.

“We having a party that I lived or a party planning my death?” I grumbled, leaning against the wall.

“You’re supposed to be in bed.” Alice charged toward me.

I smirked at her strength. “You really think you could make me?”

She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a heated kiss to my mouth in front of everyone, one that had my body burning for more, and then she pulled back as I leaned in seeking just that.

“Nice.” Tex chuckled.

“Shhh,” Chase whispered. “She’s training him.”

I gave them a middle finger behind Alice’s back and dragged another kiss from her mouth. “Five minutes then I’m locking you in my room.”

“Five minutes and you’re taking a nap,” she said, gritting her teeth.

I choked out a laugh. “Sure.” I winked and made air quotes with my fingers. “I’ll… nap.”

She scowled as a blush lit up her cheeks like fire.

The guys all chuckled while the girls seemed to simultaneously roll their eyes at me.

“You’re hurt.” Alice reached for my hand and squeezed.

I tensed when I saw the bloodied whip mark across her forearm. I’d put it there, I’d done that.

“I’m sorry.” I traced the angry red skin with my fingertip. “I’m so sorry.”

Alice just shrugged and whispered. “Worth it.”

I had no words.

I wanted to devour her next sentence and throw her against the wall. I wanted all of her right then. In that moment.

“We’re getting married,” I decided to announce awkwardly, and then she beamed up at me. I was smiling way too much with her in my presence.

“Dibs!” Mo shot to her feet. “As Tex’s wife, I get to plan, right?”

Alice scrunched up her nose. “We were thinking something really small, and soon.”

“You pregnant?” Tex said with a completely straight face.

Mo smacked him on the back of his head. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He burst out laughing. “Look how pale Drei got. Shit, that may be my favorite moment.”

“Bastard,” I said under my breath. “I actually like kids, unlike some people.”

We all turned to Dante.

He glared. “I love kids, I’m still young, El’s still young, plus we have enough nieces and nephews as it is. Imagine if all of us popped out kids at once.”

Nixon groaned out, “Chaos.”

Phoenix eyed the folders in my hands. “So, what do you want to do?”

“About this?” I tossed the folders onto the counter. “I want to get married. I want to lock Alice in a room for at least thirty days.”

“Damn.” This from Chase. “Better set out protein bars and Gatorade.”

I ignored him. “And then I want to find them, bring them here, well not here, not the club… I want them in Chicago.”

“Surprise,” Phoenix said in a tone that didn’t seem surprised at all. “They already are.”

“Let me guess, need to know?” I crossed my arms.

He just shrugged and then looked down at the two folders. “They won’t come into the fold willingly.”

I was afraid to ask, but I asked regardless. “Why?”

“That…” Phoenix tapped his fingers against the folders. “…is a story for another time. Let’s get you married.”

He didn’t want to say in front of everyone.

Which meant it was bad.

I didn’t have time to ask because the guys were suddenly surrounding me with congratulations and shots of vodka while the wives took Alice and started talking about wedding dresses and tiaras?

Really? Then again, if I was technically royalty… I shook my head. It was too much to think about.

“So, I was researching…” Sergio said. “You know, just in case.”

“Nerd.” Dante coughed.

Sergio smacked him first, Chase was next.

“As I said…” Sergio locked eyes with me. “I found some intriguing little wedding traditions in my search. Is it true we get to kidnap her?”

Tex’s eyes snapped to mine. “No shit? What else?”

“Hell,” I muttered. “I have to pay to get her back, yes, that’s true, but if you haven’t noticed, we’re in Chicago, not Russia.”

They ignored me while Sergio kept talking.

I glared.

Willed him to stop talking.

But he didn’t.

And since they wanted the full Russian experience, I was told I had one week to semi-heal before I was put through hell again.

I looked across the room.

At least this time I knew the ending.

And exactly where my heaven would be standing: at the altar.

And I, the sacrifice, would finally be welcomed into heaven’s arms.