10. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Keir
I hurried over to Dash, picking up his head from the marble where he’d collapsed to rest it on my thigh. His eyes opened, and he smiled up at me. “I think I should have had something to eat. Thank you for holding my head, sweetheart.”
Dash sat up. I helped him stand, and I glanced at him. “You wanna let them go?” I circled my finger around the room, and he laughed. He circled his hand, which was new, and the crowd began to move, not looking around or panicking. It was a relief.
“What happened?” I stared at my husband, waiting for a response.
Dash’s right hand reached up and touched my face, keeping me from leaning forward to kiss his soft lips. “Sorry. It was a big jolt.”
“A jolt? A jolt of what?”
“Uh, whatever hit me from the other side as all that noise took over. Should we check in and get to our suite to get ready for the…uh?”
I laughed. “Family brunch, remember? Amelie’s parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are here. We’re the groomsmen, and we’re expected to be there in about fifteen minutes to support Trent whose Mormon family disowned him. Ring a bell?”
Dash grabbed our luggage, and I picked up the cooler and hurried to follow him as he went to the front desk to check us in. He removed his wallet, perusing the credit cards. “Damn, there are a lot of these. Who knew a guy with a prison record could have a good credit score?”
I laughed. “I already checked us in online, love. I’ll get the keys.”
I quickly confirmed we were at the hotel and collected a gift bag and the room keys, thanking the clerk before we walked toward the elevators. Vale joined us to wait for the next car.
“Which floor are you guys?” He was juggling his bags, so I took a duffel from him to help. I had to wonder what was taking Jonas so long.
“Sixteen. You?”
“Same. Which room?”
“Sixteen twenty.”
Vale held out his folio to show their room was sixteen twenty-two.
“That’s great. We’ll be next to each other.” He glanced at his bag in my hand. “Thanks for your help with all this.”
I carried his duffel to his door while Dash took our things into our room. I unlocked the door between our rooms but closed it on Vale’s side. “Okay, don’t be too late for the brunch. I’m gonna go change. See you in the solarium.”
I hurried to our room and unlocked the connecting door between our room and theirs before I went to the closet to get my clothes for the brunch, a pair of charcoal flannel slacks and a steel-blue, shawl-collar sweater with a white snowflake on the front.
I was excited to meet Amelie’s family. According to Trent, she had a crazy-rich aunt who loved her as if she were her daughter and an uncle with a questionable past who was running from the cops but wouldn’t miss her wedding for anything. The aunt and uncle were Amelie’s mother’s family, and they didn’t get along. I was more than ready to dive into someone else’s family drama.
I quickly changed into my party clothes and sat at the small table in the corner of our room to scroll through email and text messages. I glanced at the upper-left corner of my phone to see we had five minutes before we were late.
Dash was still in the bathroom. “Love, we need to get going. We have about seven minutes before we appear to be rude. We’re not trying to be fashionably late, are we?”
When the bathroom door opened, my Dash didn’t walk out. Scotty did.
“I can’t do this. I can’t mislead you. We’ve been through a lot since we met, and I owe you honesty. I also know how much you love your husband, and I’m certain you’ll try to get into my pants when we get back to the room after this brunch, and you know it would be weird for both of us. I didn’t agree with this play, but Jay said it was necessary.”
I was speechless. “Did Dash have a say in this?”
Scotty scowled. “I’m afraid not. The underworld likes the element of surprise.” Scotty exhaled, sitting across from me.
“Do you know what they’re doing?” My heart immediately climbed into my throat at the idea Dash might be in danger.
Scotty sat forward and touched my hand. “They’re trying to prepare him for his role in the war. I’m sorry they didn’t tell you what’s going on, and I won’t go along with it if you object. You are my brother, Keir. I’ll do as you wish.”
I put my phone on the table and stared at my friend. “No. If Dash needs the training to be prepared, then I’ll do my share. Can you be Dash? I don’t want to fuck up Trent’s wedding, so if you go with me, we can pull this off, I’m sure.”
Scotty grinned. “I can guarantee it. What did you bring for Dash to wear?”
I went to the closet, pulled out the clothes Dash had brought for the brunch and presented them to Scotty, who was larger than my husband.
“That’s nice. I’ll have to shrink a bit, but it’s doable.”
Scotty took the clothes and went to the bathroom to change. When he returned to the room, he was the perfect impression of my gorgeous Dashiell. “You’re tempting, Scotty. Keep reminding me you’re not my husband.”
Both of us laughed as I knocked on Vale’s door. He opened it, looking incredible in a black velvet sport coat and black wool slacks. The bright-red shirt was a stunning addition.
“Wow! You look amazing. Is Jonas here?” I asked as I stepped into his room, seeing it was empty.
“He’s on his way. His clothes are in the closet. Are you and Dash ready to go?”
I wasn’t about to explain to Vale that Dash was elsewhere. The less Vale knew, the better he could play along and not alert Amelie that trouble was on the horizon. I didn’t want her wedding weekend tainted by forces out of her control.
“We are. You wanna wait or go with us?”
Vale’s face flashed a bit of anger before he smoothed his lapels and stepped into our room. “I’m ready.”
“Gentlemen, shall we?”
I took Scotty’s hand and led him to the door. Vale followed, and the three of us walked to the elevator. I glanced at Scotty, seeing my husband’s face, but Scotty’s eyes. I was sure nobody would notice, but in my heart, I knew who was walking with me. If it couldn’t be Dash, then I was grateful it was my dear friend, Scotty.
I prayed Dash was okay. We had a life ahead of us, and I had to believe he’d be there with me. Without him, I couldn’t imagine going forward.
“Hi, guys,” Amelie greeted as she and Trent made the rounds at the private solarium they’d reserved for the brunch.
Scotty—as Dash—stood next to me, both of us hugging her and then Trent. What I didn’t expect was for Trent to hold us close and not release the two of us.
“Scotty, it’s good to have you here. Will Dash come?” Trent whispered between us.
“I know he doesn’t want to miss it, but there are some other tasks he needs to attend to. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. He’s here in spirit, I swear.” We hugged, and the couple moved on.
I met the crazy aunt, Virginia St. George, much to my delight. The woman was straight out of an English melodrama, and yes, she was more than a bit eccentric. She carried a vintage Gucci tote with a small red-and-white Pomeranian encased inside. It had a nasty snarl when Virginia stepped close to any man.
I watched the bitch growl and snarl when Ginny approached Amelie’s parents, and I elbowed Scotty in the ribs. He leaned into me and I whispered, “Watch this. There’s going to be some drama.” I could be just as catty as the next girl.
“Hello, Ginny,” Amelie’s mother greeted her, seeming to be pissed at the sight of the woman.
According to Trent, the aunt had tried to take over the wedding, but she’d failed and was planning to rub her presence in her sister’s face.
There was a distinct chill in the air as the two women faced off. Margo’s voice echoed in the solarium, and all conversation stopped as everyone turned to see the main event.
“Margo, you look like a cadaver. How much plastic surgery is enough?” That was Aunt Virginia.
Amelie’s mother was just gearing up for a snarky comment when Scotty lifted his hand and stopped the action in the room—except for Margo, Virginia, me, and him.
“What are you doing?” I whispered as the two women went after each other in a verbal sparring match fit for those barbaric UFC fights Dash watched on occasion.
“They’ll ruin the wedding, and I don’t want that for Amelie and Trent.” Scotty had a point, but I wasn’t missing this confrontation. I needed to be able to tell Dash what he’d missed.
“Ginny, you look like a dried-up prune who can only be tolerated by a rat.” Margo pointed to the dog in Virginia’s tote. When some liquid began streaming from the bag over Virginia’s shoulder and ran down the side of her fancy dress, Margo laughed.
“I guess both of you have an issue with pissing yourself. Why are you here, Ginny?”
Before Amelie’s aunt could announce her reason for attending the wedding, the ballroom doors flung open and in walked Jay, Jonas, and my husband. I glanced behind me to see Scotty had morphed into looking like himself. Scotty released the crowd and all attention turned toward the three imposing figures as Trent rushed forward to meet them.
“It’s about time you guys got here. Let’s get the party started!”
Trent’s uncommon vigor defused the tense altercation between Ginny and Margo. I slid away from Scotty and around the peripheral until I was behind my husband who was talking to Arthur Holt, Amelie’s father.
“We’re very happy to support Amelie and Trent in their union. I’m sorry we’re late, but as Trent said, let’s get this party started.” Jonas laughed at Dash’s comment as he wandered through the crowd gathered around the bickering women, likely searching for his fiancé.
“We look forward to Trent joining our family. He speaks highly of you all,” Mr. Holt said before his attention was directed elsewhere.
I touched Dash’s left shoulder. “Love, so glad you could make it.” My lips dragged over the shell of Dash’s ear, and I felt his full-body shudder.
“This is the brunch, right? I didn’t miss the wedding, did I?” Dash turned and placed his hands on my hips. I gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Yes. It’s the brunch. You missed the floor show, but I’ll tell you all about it while we eat.” Dash kissed me again, placing his forehead against mine as he held me. Love and protection surrounded me as I closed my eyes.