Chapter 11
Brooks
“You’re where?” Jacqueline screeches.
I cringe, pulling the phone away from my ear. Fuck. Can she talk any louder?
“I’m in Vegas.”
“You’re supposed to be in Dallas, helping me plan this wedding. What is so important that you left without saying a word to me?”
I exhale. “First, I don’t answer to you. Second, I have a job. OWF needed me, so I came. Third, there’s a Brotherhood meeting later this week.”
“You’re going to be there all week? Brooks, that is unacceptable!”
“This isn’t your first wedding, Jacqueline. Figure it out. I’ll see you when I see you.”
I end the call and turn off my phone for good measure. Fucking hell.
Ace snorts, pushing my drink toward me. “Drink up. Sounds like you need it.”
I grab my glass, finishing it.
“Ready to talk about it?”
I look at him. “What?”
“We both know the meeting with OWF isn’t until Thursday. I mean, I get it. Jacqueline is a bitch, but you can usually handle anyone. So, what’s the real reason you’re here?”
I’m silent for a moment. Ace is one of my best friends, and I trust him with my life. But this is different. Because it involves my angel.
“Brooks?”
I sigh. “We met with the wedding planner in Dallas yesterday.”
“That’s what you said the last time we spoke. How’d it go?”
I run my fingers through my hair. “Ever hear of Hannah Lee Bridal?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell. Should it?”
“Didn’t ring a bell for me, either. The only thing I knew was that it was harder than hell to get a meeting with her.” I pause. “It’s my angel, Ace.”
“I’m not following.”
“The wedding planner is my Hannah.”
“Fuck.” He finishes his drink. “Did you talk to her?”
I bark out a laugh. “Things were tense. We didn’t get very much alone time.”
Except when I finger-fucked her in the bathroom, which, admittedly, might not have been the best thing to do. But as soon as I saw her, I had to touch her and things just went from there. Fuck. It wasn’t enough, either. That’s why I hung around her shop until her assistant was gone. What I didn’t expect was to see that douche in her office with his hands on her.
So I did a bit of improvisation and suggested dinner. I know she didn’t want to go, but she’s too fucking polite for her own good. And Dave the Douche was all too willing to agree. I had hoped Hannah and I would get a chance to talk after dinner, but she ran out after the whole Benadryl thing, leaving me with her prick of a boyfriend for the rest of the meal.
“Is she married? Is that why you weren’t able to find her?”
“Lee is her middle name, after her father.” I exhale harshly. “What in the fuck am I supposed to do, Ace? I can’t let her go again. I won’t.”
“Your hands are tied in this, Brooks.”
“Are they?” I stand, needing to move. “What if there’s a way to get around this?”
Ace shakes his head. “I know you want this, man, but I just don’t see how it’s going to be possible.”
Isa enters the room, rubbing her round stomach. She goes to Ace’s side, sitting on the armrest of the couch.
“Dolcezza, you should be resting.”
“I needed some water and then I was kind of listening in the hallway.” She turns her attention to me. “Is Hannah the one who got away?”
I nod, unable to speak.
Isa touches Ace’s arm. “You once told me you’d go down fighting to protect what was yours.”
“I remember.” His reply is gruff, but only because I know the thought of losing Isa kills him.
“Then we have to help Brooks get the girl back.”
“It’s not that easy, Dolcezza. This girl is competing against the Minty Chewing Gum empire.”
She stands, putting her hand on her hip.
“Both of you have resources. Use them. Find a crack in the fa?ade that Jacqueline Chanel Minty-Smith surely has and use it. Now, I’m getting a snack from Cheffy and then I’m taking a nap. When you come to bed later, you better have some kind of solution, Alessandro.”
She leaves with those final words, and I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
“Damn. She’s a fighter.”
“That she is.” Ace leans forward. “She’s right. We have resources. Let’s use them and get your girl.”
“Fuck yeah.”
“It’s not going to be easy,” he warns.
“I know. But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get Hannah back.”
I was a fool and let the Brotherhood ruin our relationship once. It will not happen again. I won’t let it.