Page 141 of Sadistic

"Ask me tomorrow." She turns to face me. "We still need to talk. About Bembe, about your decisions, about how this actually works."

"I know."

"No more unilateral choices, Doran. I mean it."

"I understand."

"Do you? Because your track record suggests otherwise."

I pull her close. "I'm trying to learn. Give me time."

"Time I can give. But patience? That's limited."

"Fair enough."

She kisses me, soft and quick. "We should get back. People will notice."

"Let them."

"My mother's already traumatized enough from Rhiannon's stories. Let's not add to it."

We return to find the party in full swing.

The older generation has loosened up with alcohol, boundaries between MC and Bratva blurring.

I spot my father deep in conversation with Fenrir, probably planning something that will require violence.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the bandleader announces, "the bride will now throw her bouquet!"

Revna laughs. "Really? We're doing this?"

"Tradition." I shrug.

The single women gather, Rhiannon front and center and looking predatory.

Revna turns her back, counts to three, and tosses.

The bouquet sails through the air, past grasping hands, and lands squarely in Dasha's surprised arms.

The room goes quiet for a beat, then erupts in forced cheer.

"Well, I can guarantee I know who Dasha should be with." Revna giggles with a mischievous giggle.

Dasha, who works alongside Meghan at Beans & Babe, is also the woman who watches Rio’s kids all the time.

The rest of the reception passes in a blur.

More dancing, more toasts, more navigating our two opinionated families uniting.

By the time we're ready to leave, I'm exhausted from the performance.

"Ready?" I ask Revna as we prepare for our exit.

"For what? The honeymoon suite? Or the rest of our lives?"

"Both."

"Then no. But let's do it anyway."

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