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It wouldn’t have been the first time I’d witnessed the architect and underground MMA fighter turn into a raging Neanderthal where Lyla was concerned. There must have been something in the water in Northern Virginia because Braxton was just like him when it came to me, exactly as Barrick was with Mia.
Then there was Judge…
Ugh, Judge.
I didn’t want to think about that alphahole. There was Neanderthal…and then there was Zachary Bennett, but no one was allowed to call him anything but Judge. Because he was a total narcissistic jerk, high on his own power as not only an actual judge, but the equivalent of a god when it came to the Sons of the Underground.
Lyla wolf-whistled as her gaze traveled up and down my body. Growing up in the spotlight as not only Drake Stevenson’s daughter but also Cole Steel’s granddaughter, I knew how to clean up when the occasion called for it. It was rare that I wanted to, however, and I tended to avoid it as often as possible.
But sometimes, sacrifices had to be made.
“Is this a preview of your wedding?” my friend asked as she air-kissed my cheek so as not to smudge either of us. “Because if this is what my cousin is going to get in two weeks, I’m going to place my bet now that he doesn’t make it through you walking all the way down the aisle before he’s carrying you to the officiant and rushing the poor man along with grunts and chest-pounding instead of actual vows.”
Laughing, I linked my arm through hers as we walked the few yards back to the town car, where my guard was already waiting. He held the door while I took my place in the back seat beside Lyla before climbing into the front passenger seat.
“We’re arriving about forty-five minutes late,” Lyla said as we drove through the typical Friday-night traffic I’d grown accustomed to when I’d lived there. “By then, all the fashionably late idiots will have made their entrance. The party will be getting started. No one will be expecting anything.” She heaved a sigh. “My mom will be there, by the way. And I think my brother also mentioned dropping by.”
I scrunched up my nose. I’d only met Lyla’s mom a few times, and they had been short visits. Lyla’s brother, on the other hand, I’d seen at least once a month while attending college. It was hard not to see him when Judge was not only Lyla’s older brother, but Howler’s best friend. And then there was the not-so-secret fact that he ran the Underground, so anytime we’d gone to a fight, he’d usually been there.
Technically, Judge was going to be my cousin by marriage, just like Lyla, but I wasn’t a fan. Something I might have randomly said to him—more than once. And I couldn’t say I was all that embarrassed to have let that thought slip out like the word-vomit that usually spilled out to make room in my head for more important things.
The town car pulled to a stop in front of a huge mansion. I lifted my brows at Lyla. “Is this where Braxton grew up?”
“No,” she said with a grimace. “This place is considerably smaller than his parents’ house. It’s actually Darcy’s parents’. She and Aunt Belinda have become super close since the birth of Jonah.” Her eyes began to glitter. “That’s about to change.”
Chapter 6
Nevaeh
Our entrance wasn’t dramatic, which was what I’d wanted. Lyla knew her way around fairly well. Having grown up with Darcy, she’d spent plenty of time at the other woman’s parents’ house over the years. Lyla confessed that the two of them had even been close friends until Darcy had broken up with Braxton following his losing his leg.
Family loyalty was a huge thing with Lyla. She loved Barrick and Braxton just as much as she loved Judge—although how anyone could love that jerk, I wasn’t sure. I’d met Ellianna; she’d even been one of the teaching assistants in one of my classes. The way Judge treated her was nothing less than bullying, and I’d wanted to stab him in the eye more than once when he talked down to her.
With our black dresses, our sparkling jewelry, and our hair immaculately styled, we blended in with the other women. Lyla grabbed two glasses of wine from a passing waiter, but neither of us took a drink as we stayed under the radar for as long as possible. People greeted Lyla left and right, but she didn’t bother to introduce me, even when she got curious glances.
Lyla didn’t pause long enough to say hello to most of the people who spoke to her. If she didn’t want to talk, she didn’t. That was something everyone who knew her understood. Lyla was kind to those she loved, but she had zero time for fake bullshit from people who didn’t matter in her eyes. There was nothing fake about her, which was why I’d gotten along with her so well over the years.
“There you are,” a voice I only vaguely recognized gushed.
Lyla rolled her eyes at me before turning to face her mother. Brenda looked very similar to her sister, Belinda. Having seen pictures of their brother—Barrick’s father—I could see the three siblings had shared similar features, especially the brown eyes. It was easy to tell that Braxton, Barrick, Lyla, and Judge were all related.
“Mother,” she greeted, air-kissing the older woman’s cheeks.
“I saw your brother briefly when I first arrived, but he was grousing about something and left soon after telling your auntie happy birthday.” Brenda glanced at me, took a sip from her nearly empty wine glass, then did a double take once recognition hit her. “Lyla!” she gasped. “What are you doing with this girl?”
“Oh hush, Mother. Be quiet, and you’ll learn something important in about five minutes.” Lyla exchanged her still-full glass with her mother’s now-empty one. “Here. Sip this, and keep your mouth shut.”
Brenda took another drink. “Fine,” she mumbled. “This party was becoming stale already anyway.”
“I’m sure it will liven up shortly,” Lyla said with another roll of her eyes.
“I trust you’re right,” her mother said with a huff as she walked away.
I tipped my own still-full wine glass at the empty one in my friend’s hand. “You normally toss those back like water.”
“Yeah, well…I’m not much for alcohol lately.” She touched her free hand to her belly. “Thankfully, your wedding is soon, or I might not still fit into the dress I bought for the occasion.”
For a moment, I forgot about my reasons for being there and nearly squealed. “I’m so happy for you, Lyla. How are you feeling? How far along are you? Is Josie excited about being a big sister, or haven’t you told her yet?”
