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“Course he does, Sprinkles.” Ortega smiled down at her.
“Stop threatening my best friend,” she demanded. “Put that knife away before you accidentally cut him.”
“If I cut him, it won’t be accidental. I can promise you that.”
“Put the knife away, you fuckwit,” Sampson said. “And get away from my sister.”
She stared at Sampson in shock. That was the first time he’d ever called her that. But she could tell he meant it.
“Fuckwit?” Ortega whispered.
Oh crap.
Just as she thought she would have to run interference again, a deep, angry voice rang out through the hallways.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
She sagged in relief. Alejandro was here. Ortega stepped away, pocketing his knife. Sampson lunged forward as though he was planning on going after him, but she grabbed him, tugging him back.
Wait! Shit! Alejandro was here!
“Stop!” she cried out. “Close your eyes.”
She ducked behind Sampson’s broad body. She couldn’t let Alejandro see her.
“What the hell?” Alejandro snapped. “Ortega? What are you doing here? And why did you have a knife to Sampson?”
“Stop!” she demanded.
“Because he’s a dick,” Ortega said as they all ignored her. “And he touched your wife.”
“What?” Alejandro asked.
“All of you stop!” she demanded.
The only one who looked over at her was Cairn, who gave her a sympathetic grimace. It didn’t help that she didn’t want to move out from behind Sampson.
“Because I was protecting her,” Sampson gritted out.
“Protecting her from what?” Alejandro asked in a low voice. “What is going on? Ortega, why didn’t you tell me you were here? And why are you with Cat? Is she all right? Kitten?”
“No, I’m not all right,” she called out as she peered around Sampson’s body.
Sampson tried to turn to her, but she held onto him. “Don’t you dare move! All of you need to shut up and leave! Except Sampson.”
“Cat, come out here so I can check you over,” Alejandro ordered.
“No! I’m not letting you see me before we’re married.”
“You are married,” Ortega said.
“Not the point. This is my real wedding and you guys are ruining it!” She let out a small sob.
Silence fell and they all turned to stare at her except for Sampson, who stayed rigid, shielding her.
“Sprinkles is right. Let’s get out of here,” Ortega said, moving toward Alejandro. “I don’t like my sister being upset. You don’t need to worry, brother. I have a speech all prepared. Complete with a slideshow of you from when you were a baby. There’s a particularly cute one of you in the bath. That’s my favorite.”
He tried to steer Alejandro away, but the other man wasn’t having it.
“Cat?” he asked.
She took a deep breath, trying to settle her nerves. “I’m all right. Please. Just go. I want to do this properly. You’re not supposed to see me until I walk down the aisle.”
“I want to see you’re all right for myself.”
“Please,” she begged. “I really am fine. Right, Sampson?”
Sampson grunted but nodded. “She wasn’t hurt. Maybe scared, though.”
“Why would she be scared of her new brother?” Ortega asked.
“Maybe because you snuck into her room!” Sampson said.
Alejandro sent Ortega an exasperated look. “You didn’t think about letting me know you were coming?”
“What? Was I supposed to RSVP? My bad. I’ve never been to a wedding. So far, it’s been pretty entertaining. See you soon, Sprinkles.”
Alejandro sent her a searing look.
“Go. Please.” She shooed him with her hand.
He raised an eyebrow, promising her some retaliation. She’d worry about that later.
“All right. See you soon, wife.” Alejandro gave Sampson a firm look and the other man nodded back. Tobias stepped away, but Cairn remained.
She slid out from behind Sampson’s back, feeling a rush of adrenaline leave her.
“That’s Alejandro’s brother?” Sampson asked incredulously.
“I guess so.”
“Fucking hell. What an asshole.”
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t want to create too much of a scene.”
She shot him a look.
“And he was fucking fast with that knife,” he allowed. “He’s dangerous, Cat. I don’t know if I like him around you.”
“Oh? Because everyone else I’m surrounded with are pussycats by comparison?”
“Point made. Still, be careful. Stay away from him as much as possible.”
“Alejandro says that Ortega would never harm his family.”
Sampson shook his head, then held out his arm. “Let’s get on with it.”
“Get on with it?” she said, amused. “Sampson, you’re such a romantic.”
“Maybe I just want to get you married off so you’re no longer my responsibility.”
Anyone else might have thought he was being serious. His face and tone never changed. But Cat knew him well.
“Aww, big guy. Don’t go getting all sad. I’m always going to be your responsibility.”
He groaned, but she saw a flicker of a grin. He stopped them by the big french doors leading out to the backyard.
Immy was already waiting, looking anxious. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Sampson turned her to face him. “Just so you know, you’re always one of us, Cat. No matter who else you belong to. You belonged to us first.”
