Brutal Vows (Queens & Monsters #4)(45)

“Says the man who always wears black.”

“I’m a mobster. It’s the uniform.”

“It’s the uniform for widows, too.”

“You’ve been a widow for three years. Black’s only traditional for the first year.”

Surprised he remembered that detail, I say, “I’ll wear black as long as I’m a widow. Which will be forever, so I’ll always wear black. Is this the best time to be having a conversation about my wardrobe? You’re supposed to be marching around an altar right now, practicing for tomorrow.”

Ignoring me, probably because I’m making too much sense, he says, “You won’t be a widow anymore if you remarry.”

My laugh is soft, but full of bitterness. “I’ll never remarry.”

“Never say never. What if you met the right lad?”

“I’m disappointed you decided to smoke something hallucinogenic before your own wedding rehearsal, Quinn, but never is the correct choice of word. It means not ever, at no time, absolutely not. The threat of my own death couldn’t compel me to walk down the aisle again.”

Staring deep into my eyes, he says in a throaty voice, “I said never again once, too. Turns out I was wrong.”

My heart starts to beat faster. I become aware of all the skin on my body at once, because it’s overheating. I feel like I’m being roasted from the inside out.

I try to sound normal, but my voice comes out faint. “What was your never about?”

His gaze drops to my mouth.

He’s about to say something when we’re interrupted by a woman’s voice.

“There you are! I thought we’d lost you.”

I look over to see a stunning brunette in a tight white dress standing a few feet away, smiling at us, her hands propped on her hips. She’s tall and curvy, with a glint in her green eyes that’s equally self-confident and mischievous.

Quinn drops his hand from my arm and steps back. “Hullo, Sloane.”

“Hiya, Spider! Introduce me to your friend.”

“Reyna, this is Sloane, Declan’s wife. Sloane, Reyna.”

Sloane and I shake hands while she smiles and looks me over with unabashed interest.

“So this is the infamous Black Widow. Babe, have I been dying to meet you. I have so many questions.”

Horrified, I glance at Quinn. “Black Widow? What happened to Queen Devil Bitch of All Existence?”

He sighs. “I didn’t dub you that, viper. It’s what everyone else calls you.”

Sloane says, “I like Queen Devil Bitch of All Existence way better! How badass! If you don’t want to use that one, I’ll take it. I can already see the tattoo, a sexy red demon with horns, a long tail, and a black diamond crown, sitting on a throne of skulls in the middle of a lake of fire. Right?”

She’s still grinning at me, shaking my hand. I’m starting to feel like I’m being filmed for one of those reality shows where they punk unsuspecting fools for laughs.

“Sure. We’ll get matching ones. I’ll put mine right above the spot where my heart’s supposed to be. You know, if I had one.”

When I smile at her, she throws back her head and laughs. “Ooh, I like you. I’d say let’s be besties, but I already have one of those. You can be next in line, though.”

I deadpan, “My life will be complete.”

She links her arm through mine and leads me into the church, throwing a glance over her shoulder at Quinn. As soon as we’re out of earshot, she murmurs, “A word of advice? Stay away from Boston for a while after the wedding. Like, forever.”

I’m not sure I want to know what she means, but I ask anyway. “Why?”

“Because, babe, any man who looks at a woman the way Spider looks at you is already thinking about how he’s going to ruin his life.”





18





Rey





The rehearsal goes off without a hitch, but for me, it’s thirty minutes of absolute hell.

I don’t look at Quinn. I want to, badly, but I don’t. If what Sloane said is true, then this insane carnal attraction I feel toward him is mutual.

And very obvious.

Which means we’re standing on top of two tons of dynamite, and it’s only a matter of time before someone strikes a match.

I beg off the dinner afterward by claiming a stomachache. The limo drops me off at the hotel, and I go straight to the bedroom and lie down. I get up after five minutes and raid the minibar.

When I pour the vodka into a glass, my hands tremble.

Two hours later, Gianni, Mamma, and Lili return.

Lili goes into her bedroom and locks the door. Mamma heads to the sofa in the living room and lies down. Gianni whips off his tie and tosses it onto the back of a chair in the dining room, shaking his head and muttering.

“How did dinner go?”

He stops his muttering to glare at me. “How did it go? I’ll tell you how it went. Quinn didn’t speak a goddamn word to me the entire time.”

From the sofa, Mamma calls, “He didn’t speak to anybody else, either.”

Gianni nods in agreement. “Not even his own boss! You should’ve seen him, sitting there grinding his molars in silence while everyone else tried to make conversation around him. Who does he think he is, king of the universe?”