Chapter 45
I wouldn’t have rushed backfrom Canada for the wedding if it weren’t for Shae. Oran seems like a decent guy, but his wedding didn’t trump my need for answers. Shae, on the other hand, trumps everything.
I haven’t seen her in weeks. The wait has been killing me while also being exactly what I needed. I know what I want without a doubt. Tonight, I tell Shae that she’s mine. And as an added bonus, I’ve returned from Canada with information.
I show up early at the gardens where the wedding is being held and spend the next half hour scouring arrivals for short dark hair and mountains of sass. I know she’ll be here. It’s her brother’s wedding, after all.
I had hoped to get her alone before the ceremony, but as time ticks down, I know that isn’t going to happen. I should have anticipated she might be in the wedding party. I tamp down my impatience and wait for the telltale music change to signal the bride”s arrival. A teenage girl walks down the aisle—someone I’ve never met before—and then the bride makes her walk with an old woman at her side. That’s it. No customary parade showing off the bride’s extensive tribe of girlfriends. Interesting. And disappointing. Where the fuck is Shae?
By the time the ceremony is over and I can get access to one of the Byrnes, we’ve moved to the reception site in a nearby tent with my temper perched on a knife’s edge. I’ve been so distracted that I’ve hardly given two thoughts to Sante. I brought him with me to see his sister, Noemi. I wish I hadn’t. The kid thinks I haven’t noticed he’s been sipping from a flask. I see him, but I don’t have the capacity to care at the moment. The second I get a chance to snag Conner, I pull him aside and ask about Shae.
“She texted earlier saying she got caught up at a meeting, and I haven’t had a chance to look at my phone since.” He pulls out the device. “Yeah, she texted thirty minutes ago and said she’s following a time-sensitive lead.”
“You’re not worried something’s wrong? She missed her brother’s wedding.”
Conner levels me with a stare that says, really? He types out a text, then chuckles at the response before showing me the screen.
Conner: proof of life
She answers with a picture of her hand flipping the bird.
“She’s fine. You know Shae.”
I do, but that doesn’t make me feel better. Her missing the wedding doesn’t sit right. I know she’d want me to trust her, however, so I dig deep and ignore the skin-crawling feeling of needing to do something. I don’t eat or dance. I sit in a chair and watch the crowd. I must be putting off quite the vibe because no one interrupts my brooding. My eyes cut to the tent entrance every so often, desperately hoping to see Shae nonchalantly walk through as though nothing is amiss. Instead, I happen to spot Sante having words with the bride. I’m instantly on my feet.
“Everything okay here?” I ask, eyeing the way Sante has inserted himself between Lina and her young bridesmaid.
“This one’s been spiking my sister’s punch,” Lina clips angrily.
Sante raises his hands innocently. “It’s just a tiny bit of vodka. No need to make a big deal.”
Jesus Christ.
I’m so fucking furious that I’m not sure I trust myself. “Can’t fuckin’ take you anywhere,” I spit at him. I don’t care if he wants to make an ass of himself getting drunk at a wedding, but spiking a teenage girl’s drink is next fucking level wrong.
“You mean you don’t ever want me to have any fun.”
My hand is around his throat in half a second, lifting him nearly off the ground with the force of my fury. “What have I told you about disrespecting me?”
He grabs at my wrist, wheezing as he tries to talk. “Just … a little … fun.”
“No,” I snarl at him. “You’re embarrassing our entire family, and now we’re leaving.” I drop him, though I’m nowhere near done with him. “Lina, Oran, I’ll make sure this is handled appropriately. You have my apologies,” I say to the bride and her groom, who has since joined our little party.
Oran reaches his hand around Lina for me to shake. “We’re glad you could make it.”
I give a nod in appreciation of his understanding and usher Sante toward the door before I beat the shit out of him in front of everyone. He stumbles to keep up with me once we’re outside. I’ve had enough bullshit for one night. It’s time to drop Sante with Gino until I can deal with him later and go find Shae. I’ve gone far too long without a little chaos in my life. I’m done waiting.