“YOU LOOK PERFECT, MOM.” I smiled when she turned.
Her eyes shone with concern as she reached toward her hair. “You think?”
“I know.” I stepped closer, grabbing her hand. “Stop fussing…you’ll ruin it.”
“You’re right,” she agreed, and dropped her hand. “You’re right.”
She looked perfect in a simple, off-white dress, the lace hugging her figure. She didn’t look like my mom. She looked like someone else, someone young and perfect…someone happy. I wanted to feel that happiness for her…I was desperate to feel it. But no matter how hard I smiled, I couldn’t stop thinking about dad.
“Mom.”
“Hmm?” She turned, looking at herself side-on in the mirror as she slid a hand down her ass.
“I haven’t been able to reach dad. I’ve called the prison like five times, now they don’t even try to get him to the phone. They tell me he’s not taking calls or visitors, and I don’t understand why?”
She froze, her gaze meeting mine in the reflection.
Fear.
That’s what I saw. Fear.
“What’s going on? Why won’t they let me talk to him?”
She turned slowly, stepping close. “You know I love your father. I have loved him for a very long time and I’m going to do everything in my power to get him out of where he is. But, honey, your father did some terrible things, cruel things, things that the law just cannot overlook. As hard as Creed and the other lawyers have been working to help him, they just have not been able to find a way to get him free.”
I rocked back on my heels. “They…they can’t get him out?”
All this time, I’d been waiting for the call, hoping and praying I’d at least see him again, even if we were no longer a family. I wasn’t a kid…I wasn’t naive. I knew we’d never have again what we’d once had, and maybe that was a good thing. It wasn’t like it had been happy. But I didn’t want this.
Didn’t want dad forever behind bars.
“So he took the news hard.” She reached for my hand. “And I guess he just needs some time to process this. You understand, right?”
Tears threatened my view. I tried to swallow the hard lump in the back of my throat. But the damn thing wouldn’t budge. I nodded slowly, my mind racing, trying to come to terms with the news.
“When he’s ready to see us, then we’ll go…as a family, because that’s what we are, Ry. A family. We will support him, we will love him. We will do everything in our power to bring him home to us, no matter how long it takes.”
“You—you won’t give up on him?”
She brushed her hand along my jaw and stared into my eyes. “No more than I’d give up on you.”
I forced a smile. “Good.”
“Good?”
My smile grew wider. “Yeah.”
“Alright.” She dropped my hand and turned. “You’re really okay with us leaving right after, aren’t you? I mean, I hate to leave you on your own. But the wineries are apparently calling.”
My pulse throbbed. I nodded. “Yeah, of course. I’ll be busy anyway with school.”
“And you have the boys here if you need anything.”
That burn reached higher as she drew me in for a hug. “Two weeks is too long to leave you.”
Two weeks…two weeks of them. Avoiding them. Hating them.
“No, it’s not too long. It’s your honeymoon. Besides, I won’t even notice you’re gone.”
She pulled away, smiling. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
She clapped her hands together like a damn schoolgirl. “Okay, so let’s do this. Let’s become a family.”
I grabbed the small bouquet of deep yellow roses, followed her out to the entrance of the lavish garden, and stopped by her side. The last week had been a blur. I hid at school, hanging back in the classroom while Gio still limped away, avoiding me as best as he could. Then I left school, snarling at Nick as he waited at the drop-off point every morning and every goddamn afternoon.
Then I came home, to lock myself in my room, furious at Tobias and the other two for treating me like I was a damn possession, something they could control…and use when and how they wanted.
I had news for them…
There’d be no using, not by them.
Not since the park.
I licked my lips, heat rising to my cheeks as soft music began to play, and the memory returned. The hard tree against my back, Nick as he’d fucked me like a damn animal. I winced, playing it off as a smile at one of the guests, and followed mom toward Creed.
It was standing room only. The small gathering was only supposed to be close friends and family. The inside of the event center was stunning at night, with masculine gray glass windows and a black floor, but they were balanced perfectly by the white and pink wedding decorations.
The wide open doors gave a glimpse of the dark sprawling gardens. I tried to remember how many acres mom had said it was, but I couldn’t.
The music grew in tempo, pulling my focus to Creed. He stood at the end of the aisle in front of some kind of priest in a dark suit. My steps stuttered as the man of God lifted his gaze and I saw the frozen smile on his lips as he looked at me.
Jesus. I swallowed, taking in the hard jawline and cold smile. I’d never seen a priest who looked like that…ever. The white collar gripped his neck like a shackle, making my pulse stutter as I moved my gaze back to his eyes. There was something darker lurking behind his brown eyes. Something not quite…holy. I shifted my focus to the name stitched onto the jacket of his immaculate black suit.
Hale Order for the Lost.
For the lost?
What the hell did that mean? Creed turned as the music grew. His eyes widened as he caught sight of mom. But it was Caleb who captured my focus, standing at his father’s side.
Caleb, whose gaze seemed to burn right through me.
“Doesn’t she look lovely, Nicky?” The female murmur from my right invaded my mind, tearing me from my brother’s stare.
My pulse sped as I narrowed in on a woman standing next to Nick. She wound her arm through his, pressing her body into his side as she glared at me. I jerked my gaze to his. He looked pissed…and cornered.
“My hope is that one day I’m standing there with you,” she whispered, her stare like a dagger.
Agony plunged through my chest at the words. Fire found my cheeks as she forced a giggle, pressing harder against him. But Nick…Nick just stared at me.
“I’m so glad you invited me,” the bitch continued. “I never thought we’d get back together.”
Get back together…
Panic moved in. I forced my feet to move.
Voices crowded in. But the words were slipping away from me as my world spun out of control. Get back together…GET BACK TOGETHER!
“I’m honored both Creed and Elle have come back to the Order,” the priest’s voice began. “We go back a long way…back to college.”
I tried to swallow the scream. But my senses were heightened, narrowing in on her cruel fucking voice. “Your new sister is weird.”
“Stepsister,” Nick snapped.
“So, without any further ado, let’s move on to the vows,” the priest smiled.
Caleb shifted beside Creed, scowling as his gaze narrowed in on me. He was trying to draw my attention, glancing back at Nick and the woman he was with…the woman he was now back with. I was so stupid, so fucking stupid. What had I thought this was…love? My cheeks burned even hotter as a small tortured sound ripped free from my throat.
My world kept spinning, but it wasn’t the floor or the twinkling lights of the room…it was them.
Tobias.
Nick.
Caleb.
I was such a fucking fool.
“Don’t let us stop you,” Tobias snarled from the front row.
Their focus was like a razor burn on my skin. I felt the graze as the priest started the vows. His voice droned and seconds felt like hours as Nick’s returned girlfriend gushed and whispered, drawing my attention. I couldn’t look away from them, didn’t want to look at the way she clutched his hand and slid her arm along his, knowing all the things we’d done together.
I’d given them my virginity.
My stomach clenched at the thought. I was going to be sick. I was going to ruin mom’s fucking wedding day and be sick all over the goddamn floor in front of everyone.
No…
No, I’m not.
Just hold on.
Just…please.
“Creedence, do you take Eleanor to be your wife?”
Tobias strode across the aisle to stand behind me.
Creed glanced our way, then turned back to the ceremony, nodding. “Yes.”
“And Eleanor, do you take Creed—”
“She’s trying to rattle you,” Tobias murmured behind me. “Don’t fucking let her.”
“Yes,” Mom answered. “Yes, I do.”
“Nick,” the bitch said loud enough for everyone to hear. “I want us to get married.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You can kiss the—”
My stomach lurched. It was going to come up, it was all going to come up. My lunch, my juice. Everything. I stumbled away as the crowd erupted onto cheers. They moved away in a blur as I raced from the ceremony and headed for the bathrooms.
Laughter cracked out. I knew instantly who it was. Darkness blurred as I plunged through the shadows, punched open the ladies room door, and stumbled inside.
Shimmering black tiles, and glistening chrome shone. I lunged for the basin and hit the tap as my belly clenched and released. But there was nothing in there, nothing but the champagne I’d drunk earlier.
Footsteps resounded.
The door opened and I jerked my gaze to the sound. “Go away!”
“Oh,” Nick’s bitch smiled, stepping in. “It’s you.”
My hands were shaking. My entire body pulsed. The tears I’d staved off all this time came roaring to the surface.
“Ryth,” Nick called as he pushed in and shoved the bitch aside. His pained gaze found mine as he stepped closer, reaching for me. “Ryth…”
“Oh, a little family tiff, is it?” Jealousy seethed in her snarl.
“Shut the fuck up, Natalie!” he snarled. “I should never have fucking asked you.”
I clenched my jaw and leaned against the vanity. God, it felt like my fucking heart was tearing from my chest.
“She’s not…” Nick started, his desperation a growl as he came closer.
“Get the fuck away from me!” I screamed, slapping his hand away.
His bitch just laughed.
Laughed.
God, all I could see was them, her big tits in his face. I bet he liked them…bet he liked them more than mine. Tears fell as I unleashed a moan and buckled.
“Nick,” Tobias called from the doorway.
“Ryth,” Caleb called my name as the crowd out there cheered and clapped, drowning us out.
“Why do you give a shit?” Natalie sniggered. “It’s not like she’s family. You’ve only known her a few fucking months.”
“Nick,” Tobias warned. “If you don’t leash that bitch, I will.”
“Get the fuck out, Natalie!” Nick turned on her. “Just fucking leave.”
She flinched, the smug smile on her face shattering, just like I wished she would. She lunged for me, grasping my arm, her sharp nails driving deep enough to sting. “I fucking know what little sluts like you want. Stay the fuck away from him, you cheap whore, or I’ll make you fucking regret it.”
“That’s it.” Tobias charged into the bathroom and grabbed Natalie by a fistful of hair. “If anyone here is a whore, it’s you, you cheating, fucking cunt. Now get the fuck out!”
“Get off me!” she screamed, trying to tear from his hold.
My chest snapped tight, the bathroom suddenly full of them.
Hungry.
Desperate.
Males.
“Ryth…” Nick started as I lunged, pushing past him. Pushing past all of them.
“Ryth!” Caleb called.
But I shoved and fought, charging past to get out of that fucking room. The crowd cheered as my mom called out, “BYE!!!”
I tried to look for her, but they were hidden by a wall of well-wishers, those who crowded around the newly married couple, clapping and cheering as they left. I caught a glimpse of mom’s dress as she was whisked through the doors by her brand new husband and was gone.
Gone…
Tears blurred my sight as I scanned for a place to hide, catching sight of the darkness outside. I had to get away…had to leave this place and these people.
“Ryth!” the three of them called in unison.
I had to get away from them. I charged for the open doors, leaving the pretty event room behind, and sought solace in the night.
