- Chapter Fifteen -

Nix

––––––––

In a tiny church, inside of a tinier room, I stared at myself in a mirror and wondered one thing.

How had I gotten here?

Persistence, I told myself. Dedication to my job.

Insanity.

People should be excited on their wedding day. As for me, I didn't know what to feel. At first, I'd hated the person I was being forced to marry, while craving the power it would bring me.

Now it was the opposite.

Life is funny. But what was I going to do about it? I'd come this far. My dream of being CEO felt so... hollow, now. Especially when I cradled my stomach, picturing Abell's hand there.

This baby will have to interact with a bastard like Corin Birch.

Not to mention my own parents.

Pushing my perfectly coiffed hair behind my ear, I eyeballed my reflection. This was me, always so put together and impeccable. I'd been raised to be proper, to the point I was OCD over things like my damn hair.

He loves it when it's messy.

Digging my fingers into my scalp, I ruffled the red strands until the hairpins fell out. I didn't want to be like this anymore. I wanted freedom! I wanted...

Pushing myself to my feet, I caught the glitter of my dress in the bright lights. That pure, dove-colored dress, was the very same one Abell and I had fucked in.

Brushing the pleats, I worked my palm up the beaded bodice. It was a beautiful dress. It gave me a serenity I didn't deserve.

It looks better around my ankles.

Someone knocked on my door. “Nichole,” my mother chirped, “It's time.”

I did a slow spin, wanting to throw my head back and scream. What am I going to do? It was a pointless question. Once I went into the main church I'd be a prisoner for the rest of my life.

But we'd get to keep Halloway Inc.

I'd get to be CEO.

That was worth it...

Right?

Cracking the door, I found my mom waiting for me. She had on a purple, turtle-neck style lace gown.

“There you are,” she sighed. “Thank goodness. I thought you couldn't fit into that dress or something.” Her eyes flicked from my legs to my face. “It's a wonder you got it over your hips at all. And what happened to your hair?”

Hm. If I choke her, will her face match the purple color of her dress?

She started moving down the empty hall. “Come on, everyone is waiting.”

“Right. Nothing more romantic than a rushed wedding.”

She lowered her eyebrows, evaluating me. Her tongue clicked. “This isn't about romance. It's about paying a debt.”

“That you owe, not me.”

“You'll get what's coming to you for doing this,” she hissed. “It's the only thing you ever cared about, anyway.”

Cocking my head, I considered her words. Was this the only thing I cared about? Once, maybe, but now... now I had other things on my mind. Things that burned in my heart the way power and money never could have.

Following her, we entered the main room. Someone had arranged flowers all over the pews and podium. The petals reminded me of tiny bluebirds, their wings pinned to their sides, unable to fly free.

The tulips.

Though there wasn't a hint of pine in the church, I still smelled it. Abell's scent was as much a part of me as breathing was.

I knew he was nearby, even before I turned.

He stood by the entrance, dressed in coal-black slacks and an open suit-jacket. His tie was slim, hanging down his broad chest. He looked slick and clean, he looked... nothing like himself.

In his breast pocket rested a tiny sprig of something.

Mistletoe.

The realization made me smile. It also cut through me like glass.

“You're gorgeous,” he whispered, coming to meet me.

“I thought you called me 'stunning' before,” I chuckled.

Reaching out, he went to stroke my tangled hair. At the last second he stopped, looking over my shoulder. Turning, I spotted my parents and brother standing there. Corin hovered at their side, as did a man I didn't know.

A priest, I realized. His face was kind, wrinkled hands folded at his middle. This was happening. It was honestly, actually happening.

The church was eerily empty and quiet. This was a private event, it reminded me of some sort of wicked cult meeting. Guess that makes me the sacrifice.

The priest bowed his head, motioning for everyone to stand in the aisle. “Are we ready?”

Ready. What a word.

Staring around at their faces, I gathered myself.

“Wait!” Gram cried, lifting his hand. “Don't do this, Nicky! It's not worth it!”

Startled, I stared at my brother. I wasn't the only one.

My mother rounded on him, her hands flexing at her sides. “You said if you came you'd stay silent! Don't get involved in this!”

Standing to his full height, Gram shook his head. “No! I'm not going to let her ruin her life just because you all need her to!”

The slap echoed through the church.

My mother stood there, her palm raised high. Gram had wrenched away, his cheek flaring red from the hit.

She hissed, “Why do you always insist on messing up my life? You'd risk our company, everything I've worked for, just so you can play hero?” Fire flared in her eyes. “You should've never been born, and I should have turned you away the day you came to my door. You're a disgrace.”

Gram was hunched, his fingertips hovering by his glowing cheek. Turning, he stared up at my mother with the first hint of fury I'd ever seen in his bones.

Here was someone who had fought, just as hard as me, to do what we needed to for this family. My job had been striving for success and perfection. His had been staying invisible.

Finally, he'd decided he was done.

If he could be that brave, then... maybe I...

My father was a statue, the priest had gone pale, and Corin just pursed his lips. But my mother?

She lifted her arm again, ready to strike once more.

“Hey!” Abell shouted, starting to step forward and intervene. He didn't get far; I beat him to Gram's side, gripping my brother's arm and blocking him protectively.

She stopped mid-swing, her voice scathing. “Step away, Nichole.”

Raising my chin, I didn't soften the resentment in my voice. “How dare you call him a disgrace? Gram isn't the one who should be ashamed, you are!”

Her eyeballs bulged. I thought she was getting ready to hit me, too. “Excuse me?”

Beside me, Gram stirred. I knew he was watching me closely, but I was keeping my agitated stare on my mother. “He's the only one in this family that ever cared about me, the actual me, and not the success and power you wanted me to achieve.”

“Nicky,” Gram whispered.

Smiling at him, I said, “In fact, I think you're the only one in this family that ever even complimented me. You told me I was amazing, that I could do anything.”

Anything.

What a word. Was he right? No one knew how to run Halloway Inc better than me!

If Gram was to be believed...

I didn't need the company at all.

My father, who'd been silent but pale, stepped closer. “Nix, stop this. You have to marry Abell. Don't waste everyone's time, stand up and be responsible.”

Lifting my eyes, I watched him with a new understanding. I saw him, both of them, for what they really were.

I'd always rationalized it away. I'd told myself it was for the family, the company. And that was what mattered.

But now I knew what really mattered.

Letting go of Gram, I rose until I was standing. Abell had remained nearby, hovering as if I needed to be protected. Leaning forward, I clutched him by the cheeks. His flicker of surprise was satisfying, especially as I kissed him. Our lips connected fiercely, the smell of tulips muddling my brain.

With a smile, I looked him in the eyes and said, “We aren't getting married.”

His eyebrows flew high. “What?” he whispered.

My parents cried out, while Gram cheered and the priest just shook his head.

Corin was silent, observing everything.

“Yeah,” I said, linking my fingers with his. “Not like this. I want to be your wife, Abell. And I will. But it has to be on our own time. Our choice. No one making us. I don't care if I lose my company, I don't even want it anymore. Think you can give up your Dad's money, too?”

Winding his hand in my hair, he connected his lips to mine. It was like kissing a piece of warm caramel. “I'd give up anything, as long as I got to keep you,” he said firmly.

My head was buzzing. Through the warm cotton, my mother shouted at me. “You'd throw away our company for your pride?”

“Nix,” my father snapped. “You can't do this to us!” Whirling, he faced Corin, his hands in bone-colored fists. “Mr. Birch, please, give us more time. We can talk her into this! I swear!”

Corin held up his hand for silence. When his eyes found me, I had to keep myself from stepping backwards. Luckily, he didn't stay on me for long.

His target was Abell.

“Listen to me, Abram,” he said. “If you walk away from her, never look back, I'll give you all the money you could desire. The lifestyle of your dreams.”

It was like being punched in the gut. The wind went out of me, I couldn't even blink. He was agreeing with us not being married, but telling Abell to walk away from me?

“What?” I asked, croaking. “I don't understand.

Next to me, Abell tensed up as if his muscles were pure iron. “You think I'd give up the woman I love, just for some cash?”

Corin ran a hand over his skull. He was fidgeting like I'd never seen him before. “Don't lie. You haven't changed a bit. If you didn't want money, freedom, sex... why would you be hanging out in filthy bars still?”

Abell's eyes went dark, clarity rolling over his features until they twisted in disgust. “You! It was you who called me that night!”

Gram and I shared a look. “The photo of Trish,” I said. “He was the one who took it and sent it to my brother?”

Corin didn't respond. It was as good as a confession.

My knees were threatening to shatter. I didn't know if I could stay on my feet, or if I could keep from vomiting. What was all of this, a giant fucking game? Covering my mouth, I whispered, “Why would you do this to me?”

Slowly, Corin looked towards my mother. She stood straighter, like she'd been electrocuted. “Ask her,” he said.

She sucked in her lower lip, sealing her answer away.

“Fine,” he chuckled. “It's clear this charade is over with, my efforts wasted. I'll tell your daughter why I worked so hard to make her future miserable.”

I was shaking; anger, fear, I wasn't sure. Every cell was in disarray, this revelation leaving me lost. Abell's arm circled me, holding me tightly to his side. I breathed in, languishing in his comforting grip.

Corin filled his lungs, held the pressure, and released. “Gabby and I have a history. Her, your father and I, we attended college together. We were almost friends. Almost.” Chuckling, he narrowed his eyes on my dad. “Rivals, more than anything.”

My father shifted side to side, scowling.

“Gabby had big dreams,” Corin went on. “She wanted to start up a company, turn her tiny consulting hobby into something that could make millions. Her family was poor, mine... less so.” His smile was sickening, but the edges quickly fell. “She knew I liked her. She worked me over, flirted with me. Then she asked for her first cash investment.

“I gave it to her. I was on the ground floor of Halloway Inc before it was ever called that. But no matter what I did for her, it wasn't enough.”

I couldn't take my eyes off of my mother. She'd had a history with Corin?

Her features had smoothed, she refused to look at anyone.

The priest closed his bible. Now, he backed away, trying to politely exit the room once it was obvious this wedding wasn't happening.

Corin grit his teeth. “She married your father. But she wasn't through with me. The day she called, crying that her husband had cheated on her, I thought this was it! She'd abandon her family, divorce her husband, and I'd be there to save her.”

Gram's shoulders slumped. I wanted to hug him; being reminded of the affair was poisonous.

Abell's dad had gone quiet. Then, he slid a glare crafted from ice and acid towards my mother. “Instead of leaving him, she asked for my money and made empty promises. I was wiser this time. I saw that nothing I did would make her mine. She had no one else to turn to, I was her only hope, so... we made a deal. I'd give her the money, but at a price.”

I held my head in my hands. “You did all this because she wouldn't date you? All of this, because of that?”

He ignored me, still staring straight at my mother. “If I couldn't have Gabby, I wanted to ruin everything close to her. That meant her company, her family.” Finally, he snapped his dead eyes at me. “The marriage should have been enough, but then, you had to go and fall in love with Abram.” His smile was sinister. “So I had to change the game.”

Abell took a shuddering breath. He was barely controlling himself. “You tried to goad me into abandoning her.”

The idea sickened me. If Abell had left, leaving me alone with our baby... Protectively, I stroked my belly.

Corin saw me touch myself, his laugh scratchy and wet. “The day I found you acting strange outside of my son's home, I suspected you'd fallen pregnant. How wonderful it would have been if he'd knocked you up, then thrown you to the side. You'd have been left with a child to remind you of the selfish man who ran.”

“I'm not running from her!” Abell growled. “I never will.”

On impulse, I hugged him closer. He surprised me, cupping my belly through my wedding dress, his chin resting on my head. His presence gave me strength.

“The company,” my mother whispered. She was an echo of herself. “You never intended to give it back.”

Corin threw his hands up. “Of course not, are you that stupid? Do you not understand what revenge is?”

“If you love me,” she said, “Then how could you do this?”

“I did love you.” Corin's eyes were pits in his skull, empty and dark. “For years, I loved you. But not anymore, Gabby. Never again.”

Next to me, Abell started to tremble. “I get it now,” he said. Under hooded eyebrows, he focused on his father. “That's why you never cared about Mom. You were in love with Gabby the whole time.”

I squeezed his hand, but it was like trying to control a winter storm. He pulled away—too strong for me to hold him back.

The whites in his eyes spread further. “You abandoned my mother because you were busy obsessing over someone you could never have, and all the while, she loved you until her final fucking breath!”

My brain prickled; I knew he was about to move, and I reached for him, but it wasn't enough. Abell had shown me in the past how fast he could be. He exploded in a rush of snarling teeth and rabid eyes. There was no stopping him.

With claw-like hands, he aimed for his father.

I cried out, watching as the man I loved lifted Corin by the front of his shirt. For the first time, the older man was caught off guard. His hands scraped at his son's shoulders. “Wait!” he gasped. “Think about what you're doing!”

“I am.” Abell's shadow stretched as he lifted his dad higher, covering the tulips nearest him in black. He was the devil himself right then, wallowing in the anger he'd smothered for years.

Abruptly, he dropped Corin to the floor; the older man grunted. Abell glared down at him, then dug into his pant's pocket.

Everyone ducked, expecting a weapon of some kind to come out. A gun, a knife, it didn't matter what. With the fury swimming in Abell's face, it had to be something deadly.

Biting my tongue, I forced myself to stand where I was. Call it intuition, but deep down in my gut, I knew everything would be alright.

Abell hated his father, but he was nothing like him.

He wasn't a monster.

The ring box was thrown down violently, it bounced off of Corin, skidding across the floor. I recognized it; it was the same one that had fallen from his pocket so long ago in my kitchen.

“When I marry her,” Abell said, “She'll wear my ring. Not yours.”

Corin's chest rose and fell, he was still alive with panic. Glancing between the ring box and his son, he licked his lips. Beat by beat, his stoic mask returned. He clearly didn't feel he was in danger after all.

“That's it, then?” he asked, rising carefully, dusting his suit off. “You're going to choose her over what I'm offering?” He kicked the velvet box; it went skidding off a wooden pew. “Love, over money? Love, after seeing what it does to people? She doesn't deserve a ring, Abram. She's a damn whore.”

Abell tightened up, searching for me. I tried to give him strength with just my eyes. I hoped it was enough. “What you had wasn't love,” he whispered. “What I have is.”

My heart soared with joy and pride.

His father kept shouting, sounding like he'd lose his voice any second. “You're wrong! Do you hear me? You're giving everything up for a worthless pair of legs and some tits! A filthy whore, a disgusting—”

The man I adored looked at me, as if to say, 'I'm better than this. I won't be tempted into fighting him.'

I wonder what everyone thought when it wasn't Abell's fist, but mine, that slammed into Corin's jaw.

The impact caused my knuckles to ache, but I ignored it. Adrenaline made that pretty easy. Corin sprawled out, the room flooding with collective gasps from my family—and a shocked laugh from Gram.

Standing over him, I lifted my hand, flexing my fingers. “Don't speak to me like that,” I spat. “You don't have the right.” Spinning, my pleats rustling like the wind, I marched back to Abell. His eyebrows were sky high, mouth partially open. He started to smile, I ended that when I stood on my toes to kiss him. “Come on, let's get out of here. We have a lot to do.”

“I know what I want to do,” he purred, bending me backwards into a dizzying tangle of tongues and teeth. When he stood me back up, I was seeing spots.

Peeking over my shoulder, I studied that wedding scene one final time. The priest had fled, my family was in tatters, and Abell's father had a swollen jaw forming.

The only thing worth remembering was the tulips.

Well. Okay.

Corin's swollen jaw was pretty great, too.

Spotting my brother, I nodded at him. “Come with us, Gram. I still have a certain promise to keep. It'll take some work, but I think I can make it happen.”

My brother grinned, stepping over Corin's ankles to join my side. “Lucky for you, I'm a patient guy.”

“Wait,” my father said, his eyes red tinted and sickly. “You can't do this! We're... we're family, Nix.”

Linking my fingers with Gram's, I pressed Abell's palm to my belly and said, “No. You're not. My family is right here.”

Once, I'd stormed out of a room filled with these very same people.

I'd hated all of them.

Especially Abell.

Now, as he slid his arm around my hip, guiding me through that wooden doorway, I realized...

I'd never been so loved.