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Chapter Twenty-Two
Greyson
The morning of the wedding, Tennessee, Moore, and I led three separate teams to scour the grounds. We checked every garbage can, flowerpot, gate, and trash more than once. Slid a metal detector under every bush and hedge and ran scanners for bugs of every kind. Searched for everything that could’ve held a bomb or a weapon in it.
We checked from top to bottom once, twice, three times before anyone else was even awake, and when we were done, we looked through security footage.
We’d just finished by the time the wedding planners and their entourages arrived, and yes, we checked them out too.
Only after I was sure that absolutely nothing was going on in the house did I get ready for the wedding, and even then, I kept my phone on the security feeds the entire time.
I was pretty sure that Cash wasn’t going to attack a situation so obviously perfect for him, but Mari didn’t agree. She needed things to go well today for her own guilt and for her empire. The family.
That was why, when I found Sean O’Bannon with a bottle of whiskey in his hand at ten in the morning, I moved on autopilot.
Snatching the bottle, I body checked him into the corner of the room. Florists were everywhere, setting up vases overflowing with bouquets, but not one of them looked at us. They knew better than that.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Sean growled, as if he had the means to intimidate me.
I wasn’t sure he could intimidate an ant even when he wasn’t trashed.
“I’m making something clear before the day begins. As a family, we prioritize one another. Our happiness, our joy, our lives. That means that on days like today, we like to put down the pitchforks and celebrate.” I leaned close, dropping my voice in case any intrepid ears decided to listen in. “If you ruin this for anyone, you are not only going to end up on your daughter’s shit list, you are going to be starting your alliance with the Marcosa family on shaky ground. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
O’Bannon was smart. He knew how to read between the lines. If he didn’t tread carefully today, he would fuck up the entire purpose of the alliance, and the next time he called, Mari wouldn’t come to help. Like he hadn’t helped us in the ambush that had nearly stolen Mari’s life. If he thought she’d forgotten that, he was an even bigger idiot than I imagined.
Family was family, and he wasn’t one of us. Yet.
With angry eyes and a tight jaw, Sean nodded before snatching the bottle out of my hand again and stomping off. I rubbed my face with a sigh, knowing it likely wasn’t the only temper tantrum I’d have to quell. Sometimes made men were no better than toddlers fighting over a toy.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, but I couldn’t stop. Not until the newlyweds were safely on their way out of the city and Mari was back in my arms. It was my job, both as her partner and as one of her seconds.
With O’Bannon taken care of, I checked my watch, only to grimace. If I wanted to see Mari before she left for Aislynn’s suite, I needed to move. Sprinting up the stairs, I took the corners at a clip. I made it to her room, only to find that instead of the woman I wanted, two other men waited.
“Seems like we all had the same idea,” I said, moving to sit in one of the armchairs. Dominic’s surly self was leaning against the wall as always, while Nate was laid out on the bed like he was seconds away from a nap. Considering he’d been with Moore’s team all morning surveying the estate, I could relate.
“She left early,” Dominic grumped.
“So, what do we do now?” Nate asked. “Do I have time to sleep?”
“Now we go find the groom.”
No one but Cameron and Aislynn would stand at the altar, but the three of us had somehow become Cameron’s pseudo-groomsmen. Which made it our responsibility to make sure that he made it to the altar in perfect condition. Thankfully, he wasn’t terrible to babysit on a normal day. As long as Joaquin stayed away, I didn’t think there’d be a problem.
“Think he’ll act like he’s not excited to marry Ash?” Nate popped off the bed and went to the closet, pulling out all three garment bags. “We all know he’s interested.”
“Maybe, but Cameron’s version of interest isn’t everyone else’s. He’ll be interested on the principle that she’s his and his alone.”
“For now,” Dominic corrected.
No one knew what their marriage would look like in the future, but for now, monogamy was the game.
With nothing left to say, Dominic and I grabbed our bags from Nate, and we all headed toward Cameron’s suite. I kept my eyes peeled, desperate for even a glimpse of Mari, a moment to reassure her. Sadly, I got none, so I pulled out my phone.
Checked everything. We’re good. Don’t stress. Wish I could’ve seen you already.
I needed to hear that. Thank you. You’ll see me soon.
Maybe I’ll steal you away later. I love you.
