Page 58 of Deception
Marnie gapes as her father leaves. Part of her had been so sure he’d back down when he realized she was in love with Venom. That she’d stand by him no matter what. She didn’t expect his pride would overtake his love for his daughter.
“Marnie?” Venom asks, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. “You okay, love?”
“If he can’t accept us together, and he’s going to act like that, then I don’t need him.”
He pauses, and she knows he expects her to say more. Instead, she continues to look at the door, part of her still expecting him to walk back in and apologize. But she knows better than to bank on him admitting he was wrong.
“He’s your father.”
“And he’s a disappointment. I don’t need him in my life enough to put up with how he treats you. That’s not okay, and I’m sorry, Venom.” Turning, she faces him. “I don’t need him as much as I need you, and I told you I’d choose you over everything.”
“Marry me.”
If there was ever a moment where an entire group of people took a collective gasp, it would be right now. The room falls silent, and Marnie blinks as she lets the two words she hadn’t expected settle over her. “What did you just say?”
“Marry me.”
His hands cup her face, and he looks down into her eyes. She momentarily gets lost in his blue eyes as he searches for an answer in her green ones. “Yes,” she whispers.
“Yes?”
Nodding, she kisses him. “Yes.”
“Let’s hope this wedding goes better than the last one we had here,” Ky says. “Maybe you don’t want to do it at the clubhouse. Bad juju and all.”
Both Marnie and Venom look at Lex, worried she’ll be upset by the comment, but she just rolls her eyes, a new drink in her hand already. “Fuck you, Ky.”
“Hey, it wasn’t yours!”
“Yeah, but at my wedding, my husband wore the gown, not me,” she says with a giggle.
Colt wraps her up in his arms, earning him a squeal as he tickles her side. “I didn’t exactly get an option of attire when they had to remove a bullet from me.”
“Congrats, you two,” Lex says, swatting Colt as she moves to hug both of them, mindful not to spill her tequila.
“Thanks,” Venom says and wraps her up tightly in his arms, lifting her off the ground. “We wouldn’t be here without you.”
Marnie smiles when Lex whispers in her ear as they hug. “Break his heart, and I’ll make you wish you’d left with your dad.”
“I won’t,” she promises. “I know you’re still a little unsure, but you can trust me, Lex.”
“I’m counting on it,” she says. “Now, go celebrate your engagement.”
“See, this is why you’re the brains of this whole operation,” Venom says and lifts Marnie into his arms bridal-style.
Giggling, she can’t believe he just asked her to marry him in a room full of people, and she shakes her head as he sets her down in his apartment. “This night went from bad to amazing.”
When he says nothing, she turns around to find him on one knee with a ring box in his hand. Her eyes widen as she stares at the beautiful round cut diamond in a yellow gold setting with smaller diamonds encrusted in the band. It’s a breathtaking design.
“I’ve had the ring for a while now,” Venom says with a smirk. “Just waiting for the right time to ask you.”
He slips it on her finger, and she stares in awe. “It’s beautiful.”
“It doesn’t compare to you, love. Nothing will ever match your beauty.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kisses him. They quickly move to the bed, and she knows the disappointment andsadness she feels at losing her dad from her life won’t last long. In fact, her elation and excitement for the future overtake her.
“I love you,” she whispers.
