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There is one thing I can do to help him, though. I reach into the small pocket of my ripped dress and pull out my phone. I’ve always heard I don’t need service to make an emergency call, and it’s time to test that theory.
My fingers shake uncontrollably as I tap out 911 on the keypad. With the phone pressed to my ear, I steal multiple nervous glances over my shoulder.
When it rings, I feel immediate relief.
A dispatcher comes on the line and I tell her that there is a guy getting assaulted by three males in the park outside of Willow Creek, and the names I got—Winton, Damon, and Miles.
I opt out of sharing my information or requesting a callback because the last thing I want is my name tied to this call. She assures me a trooper is on the way and I hang up, thankful he’ll have backup soon.
I suppose not all knights in shining armor ride in on horses.
Some show up as a psychotic misfit cloaked in black with no name.
At least, that’s how mine presented himself.
CHAPTER 1
ELODIE
One Year Later
"Why is he staring at me like that?" I whisper to Brogan, who's standing to my right. I glance between Rome, my soon-to-be stepbrother, and the slew of guests seated in front of us. My fingers grip tightly to the fresh bouquet I’m holding, the stems slick with my nervous sweat.
“I don’t know,” Brogan responds quietly. “It’s sort of creepy though.”
For someone who once hit on me, he sure does have daggers for me now. I shouldn’t be too surprised considering I pushed him in a pool in front of all his classmates. I haven’t seen or talked to Rome since that party last year. Until yesterday, that is.
Imagine my surprise when my mother introduced me to the boys who will be my new stepbrothers, and I realized I actually crushed on one of them for a nanosecond.
I haven’t told anyone about what happened after that party when I got lost. No one knows what those three guys did to me because the threat Winton made still lingers in my mind. He said I’d live to regret it if I told anyone. I’ve never been a gambler, and when it comes to my future, I don’t take chances. The second I heard we were moving to Willow Creek, I knew I had to keep a tight lid on it.
That night changed me. The dark of the night is no longer my friend, and my trust in people is almost nonexistent.
Lake steals a glance at Rome, now noticing the scathing glare he’s pinned me with. “Maybe it’s the dress. You do look stunning in it.” Her eyebrow arches. “I take that back. That’s definitely not a flirtatious stare. He looks like he wants to kill you.”
“He doesn’t want to kill her,” Brogan retorts. “He’s probably just upset about the wedding, much like we all are.”
“I’m not upset,” Lake says. “Mom seems happy and that makes me happy.”
“Oh, you youthful little thing,” Brogan teases. “You have so much to learn.”
“Guys,” I stammer. “He’s still staring at me.” I turn slightly to my right, throwing off the whole formation of our row as we wait for our mom to walk down the aisle. I glance slightly over my shoulder, and sure as shit, he’s still looking at me. He must really take rejection hard because I blew him off that night once he started making out with some chick. Sure, I might have made a scene and pushed him in the pool, but it’s been an entire year. “What the hell is his deal?”
“Elodie!” Lake spits. “You can’t say hell in a church.”
“You just said hell,” Brogan teases.
Lake’s shoulders slump. “Great. Now we’ve all said hell.”
“Hello,” I interrupt with a huff. “Psycho to the left. Still staring.”
“Maybe there’s more to it,” Brogan says. “His brothers seem pretty chill right now. Maybe Rome is having a harder time than they are with this arrangement. That doesn’t make him crazy.”
“Yeah.” I wince. “Maybe you’re right. But it’s weird. I can’t believe Mom’s doing this to us. Why him? Why them?”
We literally met our future stepdad, Grant, and his sons yesterday—the day we moved into their house. Now here I am, standing in a church full of strangers, wearing an aqua satin dress—Mom’s favorite color—holding a bouquet of white lilies while waiting for my mom and Grant to get married.
Mom said the timing of everything was due to the school year beginning next week and she didn’t want us to transfer mid-semester. Apparently Grant was her high school sweetheart when she attended Willow Creek High, and after graduation, they went their separate ways and lost touch. My sisters and I had no idea Mom was even seeing him, and I’m certain Grant’s sons weren’t aware of him dating either. The least they could have done is slowly ease us into the situation, but nonetheless, here we are.
