Page 9 of Double

“Everyone, come have a seat at the table.” He leaned down a bit and whispered close to my ear. “Eat. Relax. You’re safe here.”

Chad took the seat at the head of the table, opposite from the man who had just spoken to me. Lynne took the seat on his left. The handsome man in the suit took the seat on his right. The rest of us fell in where we could. Somehow, I ended up seated across from the suited Adonis.

Chad turned to me. “It’s no secret that we have to get you off this island ASAP, Tinsley. As it is, Sterling may already be aware that you’re missing. He may have already started tearing up the island, looking for you.”

While the thought of leaving my home caused a pit to immediately start forming in my stomach, I knew there was no way to avoid it. If Mr. Gillespie could get to me, he was going to make me go through with the wedding. “I’m willing to leave,” I admitted, casting my gaze on my uncle, “but I can’t leave without my inheritance. I need that money to start over. What am I supposed to do?”

The suited Adonis gave me a boyish grin. “We haven’t been formally introduced. They call me Double. I’m your future husband.”

He said it with authority, like the details had already been worked out. That pissed me off. “What is he talking about?” I asked Moses. “You have them kidnap me from Gretchen’s house, where she was trying to marry me off, . . . to marry me off? Excuse my language, but what the entire fuck?” I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re no better than your sister.”

4

I’s Getting Married Now . . . To A Different Stranger, But At Least This One’s Fine

Tinsley

“Tinsley,” Moses began.

I was about to tell him not to freaking “Tinsley” me, but Lianna spoke before I could.

“Moses, she’s right. We worked out these details behind the scenes. I’m sure it feels like we’re springing this on her, just like Gretchen did.” She turned to face me. “Tins, there was no way we could get this information to you without Gretchen’s knowledge. If we could have gotten your okay, we would’ve. As it was, we were just trying to come up with a plan before the wedding to Sterling happened.”

“Tinsley—” Moses began again.

I cut him off. “I’m pissed right now. I understand that I need to leave the island. What I don’t understand is why I need to marry a . . . different stranger. I don’t know this man.” I jabbed my finger in the general direction of the man who called himself Double. What kind of name was that, anyway? It had to be his street name. I was certain that, even in a country as wild and crazy as America, they weren’t naming their brand-new babies Double. “This man could be a killer or abusive.”

The slick-looking, pretty-boy one spoke up. “My brother ain’t none of that shit.” He paused. “Well, we are the progeny of Big Hill, so we have been known to let our guns bang. But Double is the most laidback dude you’re ever gonna meet. He’s definitely the most laidback of all of us. They’re offerin’ you the cream of the crop, shawtie. The golden child. I’m an unserious playboy, and Lucky”—he threw his head in the direction of the cocky one, who was currently swiping through his phone—“is legitimately certifiable. He ain’t right in the head. You saw how he hit your aunt and your best friend with the butt of his gun and didn’t even blink an eye. Plus, he got a itchy trigger finger. Take ya blessing, sister-in-law. Gon’ ’head and make this thing happen with Double. You seem like a good girl, and he’s a good dude.”

I looked over at Double. “What’s in this for you?”

He looked back at me. His soulful, honey-colored eyes stared into mine, almost daring me to look away or call him a liar. “That’s a long, long story, and now isn’t the time to get into it. Right now, we need to concentrate on wrapping this thing up and getting off this island.”

I looked over at my aunt and uncle.

“I asked Lynne and Chad to step in and help,” Lianna told me. “We love you, Tinsley. We couldn’t sit back and watch Gretchen sell you to the highest bidder.”

Moses nodded his agreement. “We needed to get you off of Iredia,” he added. “And I knew you wouldn’t want to leave without your inheritance. Double is willing to not only take you to America for your safety; he’s willing to marry you so you can get your inheritance. We thought we were doing the right thing.”

“It kinda feels like I went from my aunt selling me to my uncle selling me,” I mumbled.

Chad Hill stood from the table. “I came here because your aunt asked my wife to help you. Your aunt and uncle trust my wife and me. They know that we wouldn’t do you dirty. If you feel some kind of way about accepting our help . . .” He shrugged his shoulders dismissively before continuing. “Take your chances on your own.” He looked around the table, making eye contact with everybody who came with him. “We’re wasting time. Let’s go.”

They began to stand, and my heart began to beat wildly in my chest. My intuition told me that letting them leave without me would be a huge mistake. “Please, wait! I apologize. This is a lot to process. I went from a blessing ceremony for a wedding that my aunt orchestrated for her own financial gain, to being brought here and told that I would be marrying an American I’ve never laid eyes on before. It’s not that I don’t want your help, Mr. Hill. I can’t even wrap my mind around any of this.”

Lynne sat back down beside me. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder before kissing me lightly on the cheek. It was the most affection I’d received in I didn’t know how long. Tears coursed down my face. Mr. Hill didn’t seem like the type to be moved by tears, but I hoped that he would realize how much of a nightmare my life had become and give me some grace.

Lianna walked over and stood behind my chair. She ran her hands up and down my arms in a soothing manner. “I trust my sister with my life, and I trust her with yours,” she cooed to me. “Her husband is one of the most . . . make it happen men I’ve ever met. When Gretchen told us her intentions, I knew who to call. If Lynne trusts Double, then he has my full confidence. If you trust your uncle and me, if you believe we have your best interest at heart, listen to what Chad has to say. This thing is serious, Tins. I’m sure if they know what happened at Gretchen’s home tonight, they’re already scouring this island, looking for you. Gretchen is desperate, and desperate people can be very dangerous. Sterling Gillespie has an ego bigger than this island. There’s no way in hell that he’s gonna let you embarrass him by running out on this wedding. He would rather see you dead than for you to get away with not going through with this marriage. Trust me.”

I knew she was right. Still, the thought of marrying a stranger scared the hell out of me. “Can I just leave the money in the trust and go with you and uncle?”

“That’s not what’s written in your future, baby. You’re not meant to live on the run until things settle down. Your future is with my sister’s family. With Double. They’re gonna take care of you. You’re gonna have a good life in America,” she told me.

Chad Hill spoke up. “Time isn’t on our side. We need to get this thing moving and get off this island. The judge still needs to perform the ceremony and complete the necessary documents.”

“My identification, my birth certificate,” I said. “All of my important documents are at my apartment.”

“It’s okay, niece,” Moses said. “Before we came here, Judge Bosco took me to your place. We have everything you need.”