Page 144 of Mila: The Godfather

He then kisses my forehead and lingers there for a long moment before he says. “Stick close to Kelly. He’ll protect you while I’m inside the cage.”

I nod, a little bit less anxious than I was before. “Riagan.”

“Yes, baby?”

“I—” Looking at his chest, I can’t seem to finish my sentence. The words get stuck in my throat.

“I know, baby. I know.” He grins as if he just won the lottery. Does he know? Does he really? I didn’t even know, and I’m still not fully sure I understand this feeling that takes over my chest when he is near. “You just made me the luckiest fucking bastard twice. First, when you agree to marry me and now.” Before I can reply, he leans down and kisses me.

Not gentle but hard.

It’s a brutal kiss.

Claiming me.

I feel it down in my soul.

Too quickly, it ends, and he is pulling back and moving away from me. “See you in a bit, baby. This shit won’t take long.” He says cockily as he retreats into the crowd, not once averting his gaze from mine. With my heart in my throat, I smile at how genuinely happy he looks.

This smile seems different.

So, as he walks away from me, I save how he looks in my memory, not wanting to ever forget it.

I know, baby. I know.

His words play through my mind, making my heart beat faster.

He knows I love him, and that has to be what he meant because that is what I wanted to say.

I was about to blurt it out, but something didn’t let me. Perhaps nerves or fear, whichever it was, got in the way.

“This is him, little one.” A rough voice says from in front of me. Too busy staring at Riagan, I didn’t realize his men had made a barricade around me. Bain is standing to my left, while Cianne is to my right. Looking over my shoulder, I spot men I’ve seen guarding the mansion, and the one who spoke is guarding my front. Byrne. Riagan calls him Byrne, but Maeve told me his name is not actually Byrne but Callam. “This is the boss. This city’s Godfather.” He says without a smile on his face. Nothing. His expression is unreadable and difficult for me to understand. Out of all Riagan’s men, he is the one I have the least contact with. He makes me nervous, I must admit. He’s never been rude to me or unkind, but the times we’ve crossed paths at the house, he just nods as he passes by without saying anything.

He gives some serious grim reaper vibes.

Still, he is one of Riagan’s closest friends, even if my husband would rather die than admit that is what these four men are. Kelly, Bain, Callam, and even Conor, Maeve’s twin brother, who is sitting not so far from us, typing like a crazy person on his laptop.

If I thought Riagan looked scary at times, this one is much more scary-looking in an attractive way. Yes, I’ve noticed most of the men who work for Riagan are good-looking in a savage way. Not clean-cut like you would expect most mafiosos. Byrne looks as big as a tank, which is good since he serves as the muscle. His hair is blond, just like mine, and he has it shaved at the sides with a bun at the top. He looks like one of those Vikings warriors in the movies Carlotta loves so much. There’s also something tragic about him, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s in his eyes.

I’m no expert in understanding human emotions, but I know what sadness looks like, even when you’re smiling or making jokes. Even when you have no expression on your face, like the man in front of me.

But before I can give Callam much thought, the distant noise of a bell going off sounds in the distance, followed by a slightly accented Irish tone greeting the crowd.

It’s starting.

The nerves are not completely gone. They’re there but under the surface, bubbling and wanting to take over me, but I don’t allow it. Instead, I take a deep breath and count to three.

He got this.

They don’t fear this man for nothing.

I’ve seen him fight.

He fights like he hates the world.

Angry. Pissed.

Ready to tear the world apart.

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