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Boyfriend… the word doesn’t seem like enough considering the gravity of my feelings toward Snow, and the fact I was willing to risk absolutely everything to have her. My business. My life. My family. I’ve put it all on the line so I can have my Snowflake, and the word boyfriend just doesn’t feel like enough.
Snow pulls back slightly, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, I should have told you. It’s just so new, and I didn’t want you to tell Rayne and Storm. And you did shoot him not that long ago.” She scoffs and I can’t help but chuckle as well. It wasn’t the first bullet I’ve taken, but it’s the only time I’ve ever been shot by a member of a family I intend to marry into.
Wynter’s head drops back, and her laugh fills the already loud restaurant. “Okay, I guess I see your point.”
She pushes us toward the table, and Snow immediately sits beside her, leaving me at one end of the table and Storm at the other. On my other side, Rayne glares at me, his arm wrapped tightly around Emerson’s shoulders as if my only reason for being here tonight is to harm her. Everett’s eyes track my every move from the other side of Wynter, but his gaze doesn’t hold the same hatred as the other men. And perhaps it should, seeing as I helped to orchestrate his girlfriend being held against her will and being held at gunpoint.
The moment Snow spots the full glass of white wine in front of her, she reaches for it with shaky hands and takes several large sips.
“I’m glad you could all make it.” I smile, looking around the table.
“Thank you for organizing this. Snow and I aren’t used to being apart.” Wynter half laughs, but it’s true. The two of them are like two peas in a pod, and by me taking her, it’s left them both missing a piece of themselves.
“Why are we really here, Elijah?” Storm asks, his elbows resting on the table in front of him.
“I don’t know what you mean. You said you wanted to see Snow, and Snow and I are together, so here we both are.” I shrug, reaching for the glass of water and taking a sip.
His attention turns to Snow. “And you thought that dating the enemy is such a great idea? You can’t see how any of this puts our entire family in danger?”
Some of the color drains from Snow’s face, and I immediately take her hand in mine. It’s not a conscious movement, not something I’ve done to remind her of the consequences of not doing as she’s told, but I’m sure that’s how it looks for her.
She takes a breath and lets it out slowly. “Elijah isn’t the enemy anymore. Our families are working together. I don’t see the problem.”
“Of course you don’t. You never see the fucking problem with your actions, Snow. We’re always picking up the goddamn pieces of your reckless decisions,” Storm snaps.
Before I realize I’m doing it, I’m pushing my chair back, ready to show him no one can speak to my woman like that when Snow squeezes my hand to tell me to stay put, and for some reason, my ass remains planted in its seat.
“I didn’t come here to be berated, Storm. I’m an adult, and I make my own decisions. Your concern is noted but not necessary.” Snow leans into her sister while taking another sip of her wine to settle her nerves. “You said on the phone you have news?”
“Yes!” Wynter turns to Everett, grabbing his hand on top of the table and squeezing it. His eyes finally tear from mine and look down at her with pure adoration. “We waited to tell everyone until we could all be together.”
“We’re getting married.” Everett grins, tugging Wynter into his lap and resting both hands on her stomach. “And we’re having a baby.”
The entire table erupts into what I can only describe as complete chaos, and the waitress, who had been heading toward us with her notepad in hand, turns on her heel in the opposite direction. Probably for the best.
Snow throws her arms around both Wynter and Everett on one side with tears streaming down her cheeks, and Storm does the same on the other. Rayne and Emerson are out of their seats and joining the group hug full of happiness. When they disperse, all the animosity they hold for me is almost forgotten, and nothing but excitement is abuzz.
I push my seat back and stand, walking around behind the happy couple. “Congratulations to both of you, that’s wonderful news.” Unlike everyone else, I hold my hand out and offer it to my cousin and his future bride.
Everett takes my hand, his other still spread across Wynter’s stomach protectively. “Thank you.”
Wynter beams and jumps up, throwing her arms around me. “I can’t wait to tell him or her about the time I shot their uncle.”
“It’s a her.” Everett rolls his eyes.
To most people, the comment would seem innocent, especially seeing as Everett is my cousin. We are each other’s only living family, and as far as everyone at this table is concerned, I’m dating a Saint James. But to me, the man whose family never showed them even a moment of kindness, it means everything, and some of the ice in my veins begins to melt.
19
Snow
I’ve never seen my sister look happier than she does right now. The complete joy radiating from her is so bright it’s almost blinding.
Even when she returned to her own seat, Everett didn’t release Wynter from his hold even for a moment, and for the first time in my life, I find myself longing for what they share.
I’ve never been one to want to find my soul mate or to have a happily ever after, but if it can make my sister, who has been through hell so ridiculously happy, who wouldn’t want that for themselves?
I drag my eyes from their happiness and reach for the wine that was refilled while the entire table was fussing over Wynter. Elijah catches my eye, his gaze locked on me as the rest of the table discusses wedding and baby plans. The excitement I felt when they first told us has started to fade, and now I’m left with an aching sense of dread. It seeps into my pores and makes my heart heavy. This is what he’s threatening. If I don’t do as I’m told, he could tear me away from my family permanently. He could keep me from my sister’s wedding and out of my niece’s or nephew’s life. All the plans I had to escape, to tell someone I’m being held against my will, it all goes out the window as the potential consequences settle over me.
