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Trax laughed. “Our little secret.”
Vada waited until she was alone in the hall to open the envelope. The return address was from an overnight delivery service in Turnersville. She ripped open the tab and pulled out a note and a small, red velvet jewelry box. It was tattered and scuffed, and the color was faded. It was clearly old.
Vada unfolded the note.
Dear Vada,
I should have sent this sooner. Knowing you, you probably have all your jewelry picked out, but maybe you can use it as your… “something old.” It doesn’t look like much, but it’s been passed down to all the brides in our family for several generations. And now it’s yours to wear if you choose and to pass down to Allie someday.
Love, Aunt Gloria
Vada smiled, opening the box. It was a dainty bracelet with a tiny diamond, barely visible. It wasn’t fancy and didn’t look expensive, yet she felt as though she was holding the most valuable gem. In a way, she was. It wasn’t so much the jewelry itself but the sentiment. Several generations of women in her family had worn it.
Now, I will.
And someday, Allie will, too.
****
Hades rolled his neck and adjusted his collar. This wasn’t the first time he’d worn a suit, and he was getting off easier at his own wedding than he had at Saint’s. His brother insisted they wear ties, and as his best man, he’d complied. Hades was a lot less formal but still uncomfortable.
“Roman.” Saint nodded. “You look sharp.”
“Don’t bust my balls.”
Saint laughed and gripped his shoulder in a tight squeeze. They stood at the edge of the lot, watching people make their way around the building to the yard. The guests had been arriving for the last fifteen minutes, and the seats were filling up fast. Hades scanned the yard. It was shocking to see what Vada and the event coordinator had come up with. There were still remnants of the club, but it had been cleaned up and decorated. They’d set up the makeshift altar opposite the back door to the clubhouse, and white chairs lined the aisle.
“Thought this day would never fucking come.”
Hades and Saint turned to find a group of bikers dressed in their usual attire and their cuts. It was the polar opposite of what all the women wore.
Con looked around the yard, shaking his head. “Lost a hundred bucks. Thought for sure she’d cancel again.”
Hades scoffed. It was typical of Con, and he wasn’t bothered by it. However, Wren didn’t seem as amused as the rest of them. She slapped his arm and scowled.
“Con.”
He slipped his arm around her waist. If he was trying to smooth over the comment, it wasn’t working with Wren. “Baby, he knows I’m fucking with him.”
Wren’s brows slowly dipped, and she squinted. It was a tense few seconds before Con rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine, I’ll shut the fuck up. Is that what you want?”
There was a collective “yes” from the members of East and their women. It was a camaraderie he missed with East. The brotherhood. He had it with the Riders, and it was a better fit for him. It didn’t mean he hadn’t missed these men. For a long time, they’d been a big part of his life.
Con and Wren walked toward the seating, followed by Ice, Everleigh, Brew, Taryn, Trick, Karia, Tracer, and Camille. The greetings were quick with most of the brothers and the women. There’d be plenty of time to hang out and catch up at the reception. Blade and Gunner stopped next to Hades, gesturing for Lil and Sloane to find seats. As the women walked down the aisle, he noticed a blaring detail. As it stood, his side was almost full. When he glanced over at Vada’s side, there were a lot of open chairs.
Hades understood the tradition of the bride and groom’s side. He’d been enlightened too many times of all the wedding etiquette. It was bullshit. But Vada ate it up, which was why he listened, resisting the urge to roll his eyes and share his thoughts.
Still, this was going to be an issue. Hades lifted his hand, waving over the planner, Jill. He’d only met her once. That was enough. She rushed over, smiling. Before she could open her mouth, he pointed to the seating area.
“Even that shit out.”
Jill blinked and leaned forward. “Excuse me.”
“You got one side full and the other with only a few people. Even it out.”
“Oh.” She glanced over her shoulder at the seating, then turned around. “It’s customary for the groom’s guests to be seated on the left and the…”
“I don’t give a shit, move them.”
