Chapter Four #2
I consider ignoring him, leaving the fucker to brood alone but find myself making my way toward him.
Even with us being twins, Bishop and I couldn’t be any more different from each other if we tried.
Stubborn motherfuckers we are, but that’s where the similarities start and end.
Bishop was always the quiet one between us with an annoying habit of internalizing everything then retreating when he's upset.
Growing up, he was the plotter and planner, always seemed to know things before everyone else did.
I know my brother well enough to know that waiting for him to come to me when he's ready is the best approach but patience has never been my strong suit.
Bishop must notice me approach him because he stiffens and his expression turns even more sour.
A part of me wants to rage at my brother and box the truth out of him, a little blood and bruises ought to do the job but that would ruin Sienna’s day.
I pick diplomacy despite the urgent need to punch my twin.
“You came,” I say when I stop next to him, turning to watch the dance floor. “I didn’t think you would.”
The asshole shrugs, taking a sip of his champagne. “You only get married once, right?” Is that sarcasm I hear in his voice? My fingers clench so I shove them into my pocket before my fist can find its way to his face.
“I’ve been trying to reach you,” I say, finally turning to look at him. “You haven’t been around much.”
His jaw ticks but he doesn’t say a word and I’m not surprised.
I want to push him into telling me what his letter said but Bishop and I have never been the type to share our feelings.
In his place, I too would have closed off but I wouldn't have lasted this long.
At some point, I would have wanted to fight out the tension, a good boxing match to fix any animosity.
There was a time Bishop would have reacted the same which only makes me more curious about the content of his letter.
When he doesn’t speak, I decide not to push and I’m about to leave him to brood in peace when I spot Sienna making her way to us, her lips stretched in a dreamy smile. She stops next to me, sliding a hand into my arm and turning to Bishop.
“Hi,” she chirps, extending her hand to Bishop who merely stares at it, forcing her to drop it. “I’m Sienna.”
“Bishop,” the fucker says, offering Sienna a tight smile before downing his champagne. She looks at him with surprise, recognizing him from name only. For twins, we look nothing alike. “If you two will excuse me.”
We watch him walk away and when I turn to Sienna, I read hurt in her eyes which only makes me want to go after the asshole and fight him after all. “Did I do something wrong?” she asks, that pretty face marred with a frown. “Your brother seems to hate me.”
“It’s not you,” I offer, brushing my lips over her temple. “Bishop is still coming to terms with the fallout from our father’s death. He tends to withdraw and becomes an asshole when he’s upset. Don’t take it personally.”
“What fallout?”
I start to respond when I notice her mother and brother making their way toward us. "Later," I whisper, brushing my lips over her brows. I offer a smile when they stop in front of us. "Is something the matter, Elise?"
"I'm afraid we have to call it a night," my soon to be mother-in-law says, nodding toward her son. "Jude is getting tired. He’s done more today than he has in weeks.”
“Of course,” I say, moving to hug Elise. “Thank you for coming and for trusting me with your daughter. You looked stunning tonight, Elise. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to dance.”
“You charmer,” she says, slapping my shoulder lightly but I read the joy in her eyes.
When I turn to Jude, I read the exhaustion in the young man’s eyes but I’ve been watching him in case something went wrong all night so I know he had fun too.
I feel a responsibility for my future brother-in-law and want to make sure he has everything he needs.
“Next time you come by, remind me to show you where we keep our motorcycles.”
Those tired eyes light up, taking my hand when I offer it. “You bet.”
“I’ll walk them to the valet,” Sienna says, leaning up to brush her lips over my jaw. “See you in a minute.”
I watch them walk out, already missing Sienna, and only tear my eyes away from the door when Ghost walks over to me, holding a glass of sparkling water with a lime.
I read the amusement in his eyes and can tell he’s about to make some sarcastic comment about how taken I am by my bride-to-be but before he can say a word, a loud crash cuts through the music followed by several screams.
I’m running before my brain can catch up, my heart in my throat as I race to the entrance and it threatens to stop when I spot two figures lying on the pavement. One of them is wearing a red dress. Sienna.
Oh God.
God no!
No. No. No.
My eyes move from the smoking car currently crashed into the valet stand and to Elise who’s huddled over her kids like a mother hen protecting her chicks. My head doesn’t stop pounding and my legs threaten to give out when Sienna’s eyes find mine over her mother’s shoulder.
She’s alive.
She’s breathing. Fuck!
I rush to them and help Sienna up even as Elise turns to help her son.
“Are you hurt?” I ask, running my eyes over her body but aside from a few abrasions on her arms and the tear in her dress, she seems to be unharmed.
I turn to see Jude is in a much better condition than his sister, albeit a little pale. “What the hell happened?” I demand.
“I’m okay, we’re okay,” Sienna says, her voice soothing as she runs it over my arm as if to comfort me. “I think someone must have lost control of their car and driven it into the valet stand."
“Fuck that!” Jude rages, earning a look from his mother but he doesn’t seem to notice.
He looks livid, almost angry and it seems to bring some color back to his face.
“That fucker wanted to kill us.” The young man turns to me, finger pointing at the car.
“I was standing at the valet stand when the car came speeding toward it.
Sienna jumped in to push me out of the way and if I hadn't grabbed her arm when I fell and pulled her with me, she would have been hit by the car.”
I turn and notice several people around us nod in support of Jude's story. “I saw the whole thing,” someone adds. “Whoever was in that car was headed straight for him.”
“The girl jumped in to push him out of the way.”
“The boy was smart, acted fast too and pulled her down with him.”
“The fucker ran away on foot after he jumped out of the car!”
“Who the hell would do something like that?”
Who, indeed. I trade a look with Ghost who immediately grabs his gun and approaches the car from the rear as I take the front.
We circle it and meet at the driver’s door which is wide open.
Figures, but never hurts to check if there was another person in the car.
He won’t get away with this. “Get the security footage and see if you can ID the driver,” I tell Ghost who nods once before disappearing back into the casino.
I turn when another car drives up but I shake my head when I realize it’s Elise’s car, ordering the valet to take it back and park it.
I know an attempted hit when I see one and who’s to say the person won’t follow the pair to finish the job.
I step away from the car and beckon to one of my men, instructing them to help Elise and her son up to one of the casino's private rooms and help them find clothes to sleep in. When Elise tries to brush off the offer, I realize it’s for form.
She’s terrified—I read it in her eyes and from the way her hand shakes.
It doesn’t take much convincing before she agrees to be led back inside where they'll stay for the night.
No one would try to hurt them in my room.
Not without a death wish.