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“It’s time,” Owen murmurs. Tobias squeezes my hand supportively as Owen leads us across the room. Does that mean we’re going to confront him? My pulse speeds up again.
We slip out the side door into a dimly lit corridor. Draven is already there waiting, hands in his pockets, still wearing that slimy smile.
“Well, well, it took you long enough to connect the dots. I thought you were all smarter than that.”
Owen steps forward, eyes cold, fists clenched. “Enough games, Draven. I’m going to cut straight to the point. You’re going to stop harassing me and my family, and we’ll do you the kindness of not making your life a living hell.”
Draven raises an eyebrow. “Come now, do you really think vague threats will make me cower? I run this town.”
“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise,” Tobias says evenly. “We’ve found some pretty damning evidence that can’t be ignored. Aside from funding a hit on the Mayor of New York City, you’ve been using the Novak group’s properties for human trafficking. That makes you the lowest of the low. If it gets back to Novak, you know he’ll come for your head, and your mom doesn’t stand a chance at re-election. Not to mention your gubernatorial bid will be DOA. Walk away while you still can.”
Draven’s smug smile disappears. He glances between us, caught off guard by how much we know. Some of what Tobias is saying is just a guess, but Draven’s reactions tell us we’re on the right path. Despite the way Phineas creeps me out, it’s a treat to see my two men confront him with such confidence.
Owen spent most of today in his office at the Pink Sapphire, tracking down evidence of Bryce’s claims instead of working at the club with me and Tobias. Now I understand why. Hunter Novak would be the only other man in the city that Phineas Draven would be scared of. I wonder if Owen told Hunter what he was doing. After a tense moment, Draven clears his throat, and squares his shoulders, as if trying to put on a brave face.
“You seem very convinced of these wild accusations. I’d tread carefully if I were you.” He adjusts his cufflinks. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have donors to charm. Enjoy the party.”
He moves to stride past us, but Owen grabs his arm roughly. “This ends now. Get your nose out of our business, or I go to Novak with everything I’ve got.”
Draven wrenches his arm free, his eyes burning with fury. But he says nothing more, simply stalks back into the ballroom, fuming but clearly cornered.
Owen relaxes slightly, but I can tell he’s still wary. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he mutters. “We’ve put him on notice for now.”
Tobias and I follow Owen, sticking close.
I expect him to lead us to the limo. Instead, Owen steers Tobias and I down a quiet hall and stops at a set of elegant double doors.
“Where are we going?” I ask, puzzled.
Tobias grins and opens one of the doors, revealing a candlelit chapel. When Owen shoves me inside, I spot familiar faces. Luke, Zara, Skylar, Matteo, Jeanie, and Gracie all cheer and clap.
I’m stunned. “What is this?”
“Our wedding.” Tobias laughs when I stare at him, completely speechless.
Owen takes over, pulling me into a corner while Tobias greets what looks to be the wedding officiant. “Tobias talked to his father while we were showering today. He told him you agreed to get married tonight to settle the unrest in his family, but only if you live in Las Vegas for the next year at a minimum.”
My eyes widen. “He agreed to that?”
Owen cups my cheek. “Now that Gabe is recovering, there isn’t pressure to have Tobias in London full time yet.”
“What? Gabe is awake?” I cry.
Tobias joins us with a wide smile. “He woke up while I was in surgery. I didn’t mean to keep it from you, but there have been other things going on. And from what we can tell, all the rumors that he was involved were spread by Bryce who went to the local authorities with what sounded like a credible witness statement. It was completely false. Gabe’s got a long road ahead, and the cancer is still likely to cut his life short, but he has some time left.”
My heart swells, overjoyed and overwhelmed with everything that I’m hearing. Now I understand why they picked this gown for me. It could easily double as a wedding dress.
“So, what do you say, love? Will you marry us?”
“How does that work?” I question.
Tobias holds up two sheets of paper. “We’re signing two licenses today. One will have my name on it. The other will have Owen’s. The county clerk was convinced to give us two as long as we only file one.
“Which one will we file?” I ask, ignoring the fact that they probably bribed the county clerk to bend the rules.
Tobias gives a half shrug. “I’ll send a picture of the one that says you and I are married to my father, and that will appease him. Beyond that, does it matter which one we make legal?”
When I shake my head, tears still threatening to fall, he offers me his arm. “So, answer the question, vixen. Will you marry us?”
