Chapter 35 Now,
Dahlia.
My fingers shook...
Tears blurred my vision, and I distanced myself further from Dalton.
I opened my mouth, ready to talk, to say something, but no, even the fucking words betrayed me.
My lips were trembling, and so were my hands, my vision was blurry, and I was in a daze. Next to me, Dalton, as if he had just snapped out of his daze, tried to touch me, and I flinched taking a step away.
The guests stood in watch, my skin was crawling, maybe, from disgust? self-hate?
Yeah. You heard me right. Self-hate. Because I had just fucking killed someone, yes, the man who was about to shoot me? He didn't get the chance to. I killed him first.
And yeah, before you crucify me, hear me out first. It wasn't premeditated. I hadn't thought of doing it in the first place. It was purely out of instinct!
While dancing with Dalton earlier, I had felt the gun in his waist when my fingers brushed against it, and I had even been shocked at the idea.
He carried guns even to his wedding? I had asked, mentally, of course. But he was from the mafia. What did you expect, Dahlia? I had self-questioned, trying to justify it.
Who knew that I would end up snatching the gun, out of pure instinct and taking a life with it?
Heavens! The thought of it had a cold shiver sliding down my spine, and I recoiled. At some point, I even wished it was a nightmare, a beautiful fucking nightmare!
But it wasn't. The guests' shocked faces, my best friend, Freya's disturbed face, the blood splattered everywhere, and the figure that was twitching on the ground, probably breathing its last, told me the horror story I was unwilling to listen to, the ugly truth I was unwilling to accept.
Someone was dead, and worse? In my hands.
I was no longer the Dahlia I used to be. My hands had blood in them. A life was gone in my hands.
To them, the likes of Dalton, his Riggs family, my mother, and uncle Sebastian, it wasn't a big deal. They were used to shedding blood and stepping on dead bodies, after all. But to me?
I felt suffocated, as if an invisible force was choking the living air out of my lungs, as if a huge load was placed on my chest, and even breathing felt illegal.
I loathed myself. I hated my hands, and I knew Freya did, too.
" Impressive!" A voice, deep, edged with smug cut through my senses, successfully drawing me from my daze.
That voice was unmistakably cheerful. The likes you hear giving speeches during birthdays, during events worth celebrating. But that voice and cheerfulness didn't suit the kind of mood that enveloped us, me, especially.
If it had been just before the attack, it would have been acceptable, and now, it felt odd. Unless...
Hope bloomed in my heart, and I opened and closed my eyes, expecting to see the that heartwarming scene, where everyone was toasting to the new couple. Where glasses were raised, smiles in place, and tears of joy streamed down familiar faces, my Mom's, Freya's, Nanny Tia's...
But no..The scene was still frustratingly the same, with an older man, grey-haired, eyes deep and dark, the likes that carried centuries-old secrets and a smile that fooled generals into starting wars,
He stood right next to the dead man, clapping his hands, a look of interest and amusement painting his face as he looked at me.
He didn't even care that he was almost stepping on the dead man's hand. How heartless!
But heartless? The nerve of me to call someone that while I had just taken a freaking life!
That horrifying thought had me zoning out, again, sinking into those merciless and tormenting thoughts.
" You are one sharp and smart lady, Miss Banks " Once again, he spoke, and my stomach churned when I saw the look on his face.
The way he was looking at me, like a product in appraisal, like a new toy, that he had taken a liking to, had bile rising in my gut.
" Those instincts, sharp and ruthless...they are invaluable. " He added, and I froze when that particular word hit.
Ruthless...I never knew that a day would come when the word ruthless would be used to describe me, and yet, here we were.
And the stranger looked especially proud as he said it, and I couldn't hate myself more.
"That was a clean kill, young lady. "
" I am very pleased with you. You are worth it!" He added, while his gaze darted between the dead man and me.
All along, everyone was quiet. No one said nothing. Not even my mother, who stood at a distance, still looking shaken.
" Who are you?" I asked, my gaze narrowing with suspicion. It was a miracle that my voice didn't shake as I asked.
I already had my doubts and guesses. At first, I had failed to recognise Dalton's mother and that had led to a very ugly encounter, and now, with the mysterious man standing before me, I could clearly tell he was related to Dalton.
Their features had a striking resemblance, after all.
" Me? I don't blame you for failing to recognise me. My family loves keeping a low profile." He stated, as he gently tapped his cane on the ground.
" But since I have always been fond of you, I will introduce myself to you, formally. "
" I am the Riggs' family patriarch. You can call me grandpa, I am your husband's grandfather." At his introduction, I wasn't that shocked. I had figured as much, already, from just the looks and the aura.
" And I hereby welcome you to the family, formally.." He went on, seemingly in a very good mood.
" And that there," He paused, again pointing at the dead man, and my stomach turned, so much that I felt like I was about to vomit.
"That was a good shot. You are befitting of the title of Dalton's wife. Very worthy. "He added, laughing leisurely, like I was supposed to join him.
" And congratulations. You have just passed the Rigg's family's bride test."
" That man was a test, and his death is your score."
" You have passed."
" Good job.. You're more impressive than the previous brides..." He added, and with that, he turned to leave.
I went on a daze, shaking my head in denial as I tried to process his words.
I had just killed a person. Acquired a lifelong trauma, and all for some stupid test?
" Tell me it's not true, Dalton?" I turned to my newlywed husband, my gaze almost pleading, desperate.
His jaw ticked, his fingers harshly clenched, and there....I got my answer.
I took unshaky steps, towards a frozen figure, shocked as I was.
" Are you disappointed in me?" I questioned, my voice shaking with a blend of emotions.
" It doesn't matter!"
" I don't care.."
I breathed, slowly, as if breathing loudly was a crime,
" Just.. just take me out of here!"
" Now,"