“What can I do for you, Liam?” The Omen asks, his composure easily sliding back in place.
“What else? Malia.”
I straighten in my seat before leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees.
The Omen frowns and Lion walks over to the desk to pick up a glass of whiskey.
“We are no closer. Deavers wouldn’t give up Tawny; he only finally admitted to helping her escape. Once we get something else,” The Omen’s gaze shifts to Lion, then back to me, “you will be the second to know.”
Lion smirks at me behind his glass at his uncle’s attempt to put me in my place.
“I want to marry Malia when we get her back,” I blurt, not wanting to beat around the bush.
Lion chokes on the whiskey he’s sipping, and The Omen’s eyes widen, I chuckle at having caught them both off guard.
“No,” Lion answers immediately after he clears his throat.
“That’s unexpected,” The Omen says at the same time.
I shrug.
“We’ve wasted enough time with the bullshit lying and games.”
I stand, leveling myself with these men, no longer wanting them standing above me after I dropped that bomb.
“We probably would’ve already been married if we weren’t separated as kids. She’s mine and that’s the end of it. I don’t particularly care how either of you feel about it, but I’m asking for your permission out of respect for Malia, since the two of you mean so much to her.”
The Omen smiles and Lion glares harder than usual.
“I gave you permission when you were seven years old, and I don’t plan to turn back on my word” —The Omen jerks his chin to the brute next to him— “he’s the one you need to convince.”
Lion’s head drops and he chuckles to himself. When his gaze finds mine again, there’s humor sparkling in his odd amber eyes. I flick a brow at his change of demeanor, not trusting it.
“I always knew you were stupid.” Lion smiles. “If you think Mal would bind herself to someone for life, you obviously don’t know dick about her.”
The Omen turns his attention to Lion. “Correct me if I’m wrong, nephew, but if my memory serves me right, she was going to marry you.”
I was not expectingthat. Lion’s gaze snaps to his uncle.
“Our agreement was strictly based on protecting ourselves, neither of us thinking we’d find someone,” Lion snaps. “We’ve never been like”—his face scrunches up— “that.”
The Omen gives Lion a knowing smirk and I stand stock still, absorbing this new information. They had an agreement to marry each other?
“But your respect for one another means it wouldn’t have been a marriage in name only,” The Omen calmly replies.
Lion runs his hand down his face and groans.
“You’re not wrong, we’d be faithful to each other if that ever happened, but things are different now.” His gaze slides to mine, but I know he doesn’t just mean me; he’s thinking of Akila. “Our feelings for each other have never been like that. I wanted to make sure she was protected, and her, me.”
The Omen chuckles.
“Iknow that, but I think that secret should be known to the man that wants to marry her, soheknows that.”
Lion dips his chin in understanding. “You might have my uncle’s blessing, but you’ll need to prove yourself to me before I give mine. From what I’ve seen so far, you’re not worthy. So, make yourself worthy of Malia Olin, cop, and maybe you’ll gain my approval.”
He smirks mischievously at me.
“Just remember, in case you want to be sneaky, I have more pull with Malia than you ever will. And making one man find his faith while you make him scream isn’t enough.”