Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. The moment the words rolled off my tongue, Snow retreated into herself, and she hasn’t said a word since. It’s not that I wanted to point out her shortcomings, because that was never my intention, but she’s so embroiled in the life she leads and the way she leads it that without someone pushing her in the right direction, she’s always going to play the part of the littlest Saint James who doesn’t compare to her siblings.
We sit in the back of the SUV I usually use to get around in. My driver Pete, whose name I finally learned, dodges a mess of traffic and pedestrians. I chose to bring her out on a Saturday night because it would be busy. Most would say it’s a security nightmare, and they wouldn’t be wrong, but if she chooses to make a scene, which certainly isn’t off the table, I can claim a security breach and whisk her out of there before she can finish her plea for help.
Snow stares out the window, her hands tangled together in her lap as she watches the city go by. She didn’t even complain when I placed a hand on her bare thigh when we climbed into the car, and she’s made no attempt to remove it. Perhaps that should have been my first sign that my words affected her so much.
Pete turns a corner before coming to a stop outside Snow’s favorite restaurant. When I sent the invite to Wynter this morning, it won me some points for knowing her sister so well, but I left out the part where I’ve been stalking Snow for the last ten years. That definitely wouldn’t have won me any favors.
I squeeze her thigh. “We’re here.”
Her head snaps around, almost as if she didn’t realize the car had stopped moving. “Oh, this is my fav…” She trails off when her eyes meet mine, and she realizes her mistake. Of course I know it’s her favorite. I know everything there is to know about her.
“Come on, let’s get inside.” I smile and take one of her hands in my much larger one.
I nod to Pete once we’re on the sidewalk and quickly tug her toward the door. The bitter Chicago wind whips around us, and I pull her closer to shield her as best I can. The coat she picked up on the way out of her room is doing nothing to protect her, and her body trembles from the cold.
Warmth and the scent of authentic Italian food envelop us the moment we’re through the door, and Snow lets out a little sound of contentment.
I scan the restaurant for threats despite the fact I had two security teams do a sweep before we arrived. It’s a habit more than anything else, but you can never be too careful, not when all the surviving members of the two families of Chicago’s underworld are in the same place at the same time.
I catch Storm’s gaze across the room, his gray eyes filled with anger as he stares me down, but he won’t intimidate me. I haven’t been planning a life with Snow all these years without factoring in her overprotective brothers. They were never going to be happy about their enemy dating their sister, but if they want to continue being in her life, they’re going to have to get used to the idea.
I hold his gaze as we weave through tables of people to the one in the back corner, the one I purposely requested so no one could sneak up on us. The moment Wynter sees her sister, she flies out of her seat and crashes into Snow, who immediately tears her hand from mine to wrap both arms around her sister.
“I missed you!” Wynter mumbles. “If you’re going to take off with a new boyfriend, can you at least give me some heads up?”
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.
