Page 9 of Explosive Union

“Sissy,” Hayden says softly. My heart clenches at his voice. I’ve never heard him speak this softly before, and I hate that he’s doing it now. “You don’t have to lie, not to us.”

“Hay,” Da sighs.

I turn around and face them. The sweat still pouring from me, my hair drenched, my clothes soaked in it. I’m in dire need of a shower. “I have no other choice but to be okay. I mean, I’m getting married in three weeks.”

The anger I have at being used as a pawn is paramount. I’m not in the slightest bit happy about this, and I don’t have any qualms about letting it be known.

Hayden’s jaw clenches as he glares at our father. I know he’s not happy about this either.

“Jade, this is for the family.”

I scoff. I’m unable to bite my tongue. That is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard. For the family?

“Haven’t I suffered enough for this family?” I demand with a raised brow. “Haven’t I, of all people, been punished enough for having the Gallagher surname? Hmm? I mean, what else could be done to me? Oh yeah, that’s right. Marry me off to a fucking Italian. It’s not like I’ve had to deal with enough assholes to last me a lifetime. So, tell me, Da—what else do I have to do for this family for it to be enough?”

“This isn’t my call,” Da says, his voice thick with emotion.

My fury rises, and I say everything I’ve been dying to say since I found out this union was going ahead. My tone arctic, my heart pounds as I stare at the man who is supposed to protect me.

“Really? Because you’ve gone toe-to-toe with Granda before. You’ve fought him over decisions in the past. So, what was different this time? What made you just sit back and say, fuck it, Jade’s fine to get married? It’s not like she was raped repeatedly while inside.”

Both Da and Hayden flinch at my words. Well, screw them. What happened to me was real. The pain I felt was beyond imaginable, and the aftermath is still very much a part of who I am. I’ll never be able to forget what those animals did to me. The nightmares I have are worse than I could have ever imagined. The reason being that my nightmares are from real events. Not due to a boogeyman that sleeps beneath my bed. No, my dreams are filled with the events that caused me trauma. So, fuck Da and Hayden for flinching and acting as though they give a shit. If they did, this farce of a marriage would not be happening.

“Sweet girl,” Da whispers, his eyes glossy with unshed tears.

“What, Da? I’m not going to apologize for what I said.” I’m as stubborn as they come, and I very rarely apologize for myself, let alone anyone else. But this time, I’m justified in my words.

“We would have helped you,” he implores with me.

“Telling you would have made no difference whatsoever. It would have still happened. The only thing that would have happened is that you, Hayden, and Hayes would have lost your ever-loving minds and killed the bastards who did it to me.”

“Too fucking right we would have,” Da snarls, his lips twisting at the ends.

“But it’smyrevenge to get. While you’re all pissed that I didn’t tell you, I did it because when those fuckers die, the cops are going to be all over the case, and the last thing I need and want is anyone else to be in prison. I want to be the one they see when they take their last breath. I want it to be me who puts the fear into their eyes. Fuck, Da, I’m your daughter. I’m a Gallagher. I’m not some princess who needs a man to look after her, nor do I want one. Someone hurts me, I’ll make sure they live to regret it.”

Hayden smirks as he nods. Da, on the other hand, couldn't look prouder if he tried.

“You’re not alone, mo chailín milis. You don’t have to go through this alone. Revenge is yours, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let you go through it alone.”

This is why I love my family. They’re all supportive, no matter what. We may not be conventional. We bond over violence and hide our love, but that’s just who we are. Fuck what anyone else thinks, what we have is irreplaceable, and I for one am proud of who I am and who my family are. My heritage is my life. I’ll die for the Clann. I’ll die for my family.

“Your grandfather will be here shortly,” Da says, and I hear the shakiness of the temper in his voice.

Oh, he is not happy that Granda Henry will be here. I can’t help but smile at that. Good, at least I won’t be the only one who doesn’t want him here.

“I need a shower, and no doubt Mam’s about to have a fit because she hasn’t seen me in almost twelve hours,” I quip, but we all know it’s true.

Da nods and moves toward the door, Hayden hot on his heels. Once Da reaches the doorway, he glances back at me. “Give your ma a break, sweet girl. She’s having a hard time adjusting to everything. She’s as pissed as you are at your grandfather. Not to mention we’ve got the Gallos coming at ten.”

I glance at the clock on the wall and see it’s almost nine in the morning, I turn and glare at my father. “I’m sorry, what?”

I must have misheard him, because there’s no way on earth he’s dropping that bomb as he’s leaving my room. Bastard.

“You heard me correctly. Your grandfather has insisted on having you and Rocco meet before this evening. He doesn’t want the entire evening to be awkward.”

I scoff. “Well, he can get fucked. It’s going to be awkward because I don’t like people.” I haven’t changed that much since being sent away. People are either greedy fuckers who just want to use us to get what they want or they’re afraid of us and will do stupid shit. I haven’t met anyone outside of the family I can trust.

Da chuckles. “We know. That’s why those bastards let you go.” He smiles at the memory.