Entwined

by E. C. Land

  Even as I think this, the tightness in my chest aches more. I may move on, but I refuse to go further than marriage to a woman I don’t know but will allow myself to get to. As for family, that will never happen. She’ll have to understand I won’t be having any of it. Or at least none that are mine. If she wishes, we could adopt but that’s it. I will not take the chance with her life and lose both the way I did with Michelle and my son.

  “Mitch, you ready for tomorrow?” Kenyon asks, pulling me from my thoughts and back to the conversation at our table.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I shrug, lifting the glass with the dark brew inside to my lips.

  “Gotta admit, your bride is a lot prettier than I remember from the last time I saw her,” he chuckles, causing both Dean and Marc to join in as well.

  “I must agree with Kenyon on this. I haven’t seen my sister-in-law in person in two years, not since the wedding, but she’s definitely matured in a lot of ways. Bridget says she’s a lot older in her spirit than she is in her body. To this I will also agree with my wife. Alison is smart but very shy around people. I’ve asked around and even spoke with Tomás about her. She doesn’t have friends and prefers to sit with her books,” Dean states, meeting my gaze.

  “Wonder why that is,” I mutter, glancing around the room.

  “There’re rumors that stick to the lower security but it’s said that one of Tomás’ girls was taken against her will. That Tomás found out about it when the man who did it bragged to another man. It’s rumored that he dispersed of the man himself, but no one is to speak of it because the girls don’t know he knows,” Marc says darkly.

  “It had to have been Alison. My wife hadn’t been touched when I’d taken her the first time. Which means, if this is true, she couldn’t have been that old when it happened. It most definitely had to be before she turned eighteen as she went to the abbey right after Bridget’s and my wedding,” Dean snarls.

  “If it’s true, why wouldn’t the girl tell someone?” Kenyon asks.

  “Because she’s embarrassed or the man threatened her with something. And if he’s dead, she most likely feels she can keep her secret to herself,” I growl, anger building at the possibility of this being true. I’m thinking I need to speak to Tomás about this to find out the truth of this matter. Either way, this doesn’t deter me from my mindset. Alison is to be my wife come noon tomorrow and then after that, we’ll see how things go between us on whether or not I take her to bed right away or build her up to what I want.

  Silence descends on our table for a moment as we all gather our thoughts and drink down some of the brews we’d all gotten. When our waitress comes over, I have to shrug her hands off my shoulder for the third time since we’ve been here. She’s been trying to get my attention and that shit’s not going to happen. I told myself after I got on that jet that I’d be faithful to Alison. Now, after seeing the woman, I know I will be, and I’ll be patient in getting what I want from her.

  Changing the subject, I glance around the table. “Do you all think the dead come to us in our sleep?”

  “What the fuck?” Kenyon asks, blinking in astonishment.

  I sigh and lift the brew to my lips to swallow a hefty amount before setting the glass down and telling them about the dreams of Michelle coming to me and what she’d said.

  “Mitch, you’re like a brother to me and you’re about to become my brother-in-law tomorrow. We’re family and the shit you’ve been through has been fucked up. Losing Michelle fuckin’ sucked but you gotta look at it like this, at the end of the day, she’s gone and you’re still alive. It’s well past time you moved on, and you can do that with Alison. I’m not saying you knock her ass up and all that shit right away but your dream of Michelle is right. She’d want you to be happy and I’m sure she’d want you to have kids,” Dean mutters grimly. Knowing that last bit is an even more sensitive subject since I didn’t even get the chance to see my child after they pulled him from my wife’s body.

  I didn’t even see his body in the tiny casket I’d buried next to his mother’s.

  Coming to an understanding of what Dean is saying, I give him a slight nod, knowing he’s right. I simply hope he and everyone else is right when it comes to Alison and that she’s everything promised. I’m not talking about her looks, though those are a big part of it. I’m speaking of the fact she’s a woman unlike others and I’m hoping it’s not an illusion.

  “Alison is nowhere near the type of woman of her age,” Kenyon mutters, adding to Dean’s words. “Think about it, she’s lived the past two years in an abbey . . . No social media, no drama, no pettiness to dumb her down. She’s the real deal. I’m betting while she was doing her schooling, Alison learned to be a woman without all the other shit that comes with it. Even if that shit is true about her, then it’s nothing to worry about. She’s a woman that still deserves respect as she’s done something with herself. Most women in our world, Bridget and Jordan both excluded from this, are selfish and petty.”

  “Exactly, it’s why I don’t want or intend to marry unless I know the woman is anything but a greedy, gold-digging bréagán,” Marc mutters, speaking the truth of some of the women we’ve encountered.

  “Don’t worry, cousin, you’ll find someone to ensnare that dark heart of yours,” Dean quips.

  “Not likely. If the woman who I’m supposed to marry is anything like my mother then I’ll be putting her ass in a house far away from me and washing my hands of her,” Marc sneers.

  This is something we all deal with when it comes to these marriages in the Alliance. Whereas I’m seeming to luck out, some of the men don’t and they get those who are a headache. Others it’s the opposite way around and the women end up with a man who abuses them.

  At least I don’t have to worry about either of these things when it comes to Alison.

  Chapter Eight

  Alison

  Waking up this morning, I felt as if I’d only just fallen asleep. Which is true. Sleep didn’t come until nearly dawn. Only to be woken up by Bridget and Abigail shortly after.

  Thankfully they’d both thought it was a good idea to get me coffee before I needed to start getting ready for the ceremony at the church. Abigail does my hair for me, knowing from Da that I wouldn’t want something over-exaggerated, preferring to stay simple in look.

  Bridget spoke most of the time, which I’m thankful for, especially when she’d ask Abigail about what our mamma had been like. We’d all laughed when she’d told us about the antics Mamma pulled on Da in order to get his attention enough to fall in love with her. She’d been over the moon for him from the first time she met him, and they were to wed. This to me is romantic in so many ways but I love the fact my mamma didn’t let anything stop her from getting what she wanted. Though this also saddens me to know I’m not like my mamma in any way. Bridget is though, she’s the one who could be the spitting image of her. Put this with the way mo dheirfiúr mhór is with her over dramatics.

  I wish I knew of something that would say I was like my mamma, but there’s not. And this makes me wish even more that my mamma was here to help me through today.

  Yes. I’m thankful for having mo dheirfiúr mhór and Abigail here to help me; however, they’re not the woman I really want here.

  Sighing, I pull out the ring my da gave me and put it on my right hand. This will be my something old and blue, where my dress is something new, and the veil is something borrowed.

  With Bridget and Abigail’s help, I’m in my dress and ready to head to the church on time. We’re supposed to be there right before the ceremony is to start and Da will meet us outside. During the ride there, I stay quiet and listen to the two of them get to know each other.

  We pull up in front of the cathedral to find Da, Mitch, and Dean, who’s holding Liam in his arms, standing there with two other men. As the car comes to a stop, Mitch looks to the car for a brief moment until my da says something. He nods and heads inside with two of the other men while Da and Dean
come forward.

  The door opens and Abigail and Bridget get out first. Finding it hard to breathe, I take a little longer to follow. Da leans in and gives me a smile. “Breathnaíonn tú go hálainn, Alison. Bheadh do mhama ag dul amú ort. Come let’s go. Let’s get you married to your husband,” he says quietly for me and only me to hear him.

  Suckin’ in a breath, I climb out of the car and take Da’s hand. Outside of the car, I release the breath I’m holding and allow my da to walk me into the cathedral and straight to the man I’m marrying. My nerves have me wound up but seeing the man watching me walk to him keeps me grounded somehow.

  Da hands me over to him and the ceremony commences.

  By the time the priest announces Mitch and me as husband and wife, Mitch wraps his arm around my waist, pulls me into his arms to give me my first kiss.

  And what a kiss he gave me. It seemed to go on forever and time stood still all at the same time.

  Maybe this had to do with my being lightheaded from lack of food beforehand.

  Mitch walks me down the center aisle and straight out to the car where he slides in behind me. Closing the door behind him, he takes my hand as the car starts forward. I knew we’d be going straight to the reception instead of standing around in the church. I’m thankful for this as I didn’t know most of those people in there and I needed some time to be away from them all.

  “You look beautiful, mo stór,” he murmurs, lifting my hand to press a kiss to the inside of my palm.

  Of course this action causes the butterflies in my stomach to flutter even more.

  “Thank you,” I utter on a breath.

  “You’re welcome, mo stór. The rasp in his voice sends tingles down my body and I’m not sure what to think of them. Mitch then surprises me once again by lifting a hand to palm the side of my face as he leans in to capture my mouth in another kiss. This one even more wonderful than the one after the priest made his announcement.

  The kiss seems to last for a long time as he plunges his tongue into my mouth when I part my lips. By the time the car comes to a stop outside where we’re to have a reception, I’m as into the kiss as he is and I don’t want it to end.

  Mitch breaks his mouth from mine, causing me to whimper in protest.

  “When we go in there, mo stór, I want you to stay near me the entire time. The people in attendance may be guests to our wedding but I won’t have anything happening to you. We’ll do cake and all that shit but then when it’s time, we’ll head to the cottage I’ve rented for us for the rest of the time we’re in Ireland.”

  Oh my.

  A cottage for just the two of us and no one else around. My body reacts without me meaning it to as it seems to want to do around Mitch. Since he’s only just kissed me, how does he have this pull on my body already.

  Nodding, I wait for him to slide off the backseat when the door opens and move to join him. Mitch leans forward to assist me in getting out of the car.

  Thanking him, I take his hand, but he quickly releases it as he wraps his arm around my body to pull me closer to his side.

  The two of us walk into the reception, and our names are announced through a loudspeaker startling me. “Easy, mo stór,” Mitch murmurs.

  Glancing around the room, I take note of everyone, including my da, Bridget, and Dean, who are already here.

  “Um, how did they all get here before us?” I ask sheepishly while looking up to meet Mitch’s gaze, only for him to grin devilishly at me.

  “Because, mo stór, we were making out in the back of the car for a long time while the driver drove around the area giving the guests enough time to get here, while also giving you and I time to have that moment together. Which by the way, baby, I enjoyed greatly,” he whispers, his voice causing my body to tingle all over from the gruffness. “Now, let’s get the reception over with so that I may spend alone time with my new wife. Whether it be me just using my mouth or something else.”

  Oh. My.

  Mother of all holy.

  My body didn’t just react to him. No, my body did way more than that as my panties dampen with the need for his touch.

  I give him a smile and nod. “Yes, let’s get this over with so that I may also get to know my new husband as well,” I whisper, attempting to use his own words on him.

  And from the look he gives me, I’m guessing I’ve done something right as he leads me further into the room and circles me into his arms for our first dance.

  Chapter Nine

  Mitch

  Never did I expect to see the vision of Alison in my bed. The remarkable beauty that is her. Last night after leaving the reception, the two of us came to the cottage and I’d helped her out of her dress as there was no way in hell she could have done it by herself.

  Thank fuck she’d waited and not taken Bridget and Abigail’s offer to assist her. Instead, I’d gotten the pleasure of helping her and seeing her beautiful body as it were.

  Though we didn’t do anything other than have some heavy petting and making out like some teenagers who are ready to pounce on each other, I didn’t want to push her further than that for the time being. My wife, fuck it sounds strange to say it even in my head, needs to feel more comfortable with me than she already does.

  Now, as I stand next to the side of the bed, I smile at the sight of her sleeping soundly. Alison admitted to me that she’d barely slept the night before due to her nerves and mind racing.

  It is why I’ve not woken her up.

  Alison needs her rest, and I need to go meet with Dean and the rest of the men. Tomás had wanted to have a meeting today after the wedding. I wish he’d told us what he needed to speak with us about yesterday when he mentioned it before the wedding. Unfortunately, though I’m grateful for it, he didn’t want to cause any tension that would cause my now wife to be upset if I were not to be focused on her.

  Needing to get going, I lean down and press a kiss tenderly to her cheek and place the note I’d written to her on the pillow next to her. She’ll see it when she wakes if I’m not back before then. We did stay up pretty late still with our playing we’d done.

  Leaving the cottage, I make sure Blu is watching the cottage from his vantage point and get in the car I’d rented for the time we’re here. He’d brought it back from the church for me first thing this morning.

  Maneuvering the car, I head to Tomás’ estate and follow the path that leads to the building he uses as somewhat of a prison for those he doesn’t want to kill right away. I park the car next to the one Marc and Kenyon were getting out of.

  “Good night?” Kenyon grins.

  Instead of answering with words, I smirk as I join them on our walk into the building.

  Inside I find Tomás and Dean already there. One glance at Dean and I know this isn’t good from the pissed expression on his face.

  “What’s going on?” I mutter my question going on alert.

  “Jewel, the day before the wedding, has somehow found a way out of her room with the help of someone who shouldn’t have known she was here. One of my guards who’d been working that night was found dead with his throat sliced open,” Tomás announces, causing my blood to freeze in my veins.

  “Come again?” I growl.

  “You heard him, Mitch. The stupid fuckin’ cunt who tried to hurt my wife with her actions escaped,” Dean sneers.

  Fuck.

  “Has anyone been looking for her?” I demand.

  “Men have been looking for her since I’d been notified of the situation,” Tomás snaps.

  “You said the guard’s throat had been sliced?” Marc asks, speaking up vehemently.

  “Yes, and we know who did it. Caught him on camera,” Tomás spits out.

  “Kean?” I say, taking a guess. The motherfucker has been laying so low underground not even Marc, who is one of the best men for tracking down his prey, could find him.

  Tomás nods in confirmation. “Seems I have someone taking payouts and I need to find out who it is. I need you all to
be aware of this as two of you are married to my daughters now.”

  Nodding, I get what he’s saying. Be on the lookout but he’ll handle shit over here as it is his domain while we protect Bridget and Alison when we take them back to the States.

  Which isn’t something he needs to emphasize on.

  “Is this all?” I mutter, not liking the fact Alison only has one man on her and is alone without me after hearing this information.

  “Yes, but as much as I hate to suggest it due to wanting more time with my daughters, I think it best if you all headed back to the States tonight rather than in the morning. With Kean popping his ugly head back up, it would be safer for them to get away sooner.” The man is smart and always looking out for what’s best for his girls.

  “You’re right. It would be. I have not only my wife to think of, but our son and the child she’s carrying,” Dean mutters in agreement.

  “I’ll call and make the arrangements with the pilot,” Kenyon declares and leaves the room to do just that.

  “One more thing I wanted to speak with you about,” Tomás states, his attention focused on me.

  “And that would be?” I ask.

  “Have you consummated the marriage to my daughter yet?” Blinking at the father of my wife, I’m astounded he’d ask this, but at the same time, I shouldn’t be.

  “No,” I mutter honestly.

  Tomás nods and looks away for a moment contemplating something before he turns back to me with a look of pain. “She’s not had it easy and she holds secrets she doesn’t think I know of. Bridget doesn’t even know. It’s because of what her sister went through that I tightened up on their security and made sure I knew where they were at all times.

  “I’m sure by now you’ve heard the rumor that sticks to those who are on these grounds or work with my security team. One of the men who used to work for me died at my hands in this very building for his touching of my daughter. He hurt my little girl and in doing so, I ripped him apart piece by piece making sure to make an example of him for his treachery of going against me,” Tomás says through clenched teeth.