Chapter Eighteen
brAY
THESE LAST COUPLE of days in this paradise with Reilly have been amazing.
I can’t even remember the last time I was on any sort of vacation.
It was before my parents died. Zac has never taken this much time off work for anything before.
He would take time out to attend school events for Ella, or to drag my ass out of whatever trouble it found, but he’d always be straight back to working mode.
During Ella’s younger years of high school, Zac never went into the club before Ella was asleep.
He made sure he was home during the afternoon and evening with her.
And when he went into the club, he had either me or Dean stay in the penthouse while she slept.
I didn’t mind though; I’d do anything for Ella.
Even though I was a shit of a kid when our parents died, I would have done whatever Zac needed me to do to help him and Ella. Family always came first.
Being on this week’s wedding getaway has made me take note of how much we need to do this more as a family.
Now that our little family of three is growing rapidly, with the baby on his way; and yes, I’m counting on getting a boy.
We need to do this; that child needs to experience family holidays like we did as kids.
I have no doubt Zac will ensure that he experiences everything life has to offer. He really is going to be a great dad.
“Bray, hurry up, you cannot be late to your own brother’s wedding,” James yells through the bathroom door. Why the fuck Zac thought he needed to bring the bartender along, I have no idea, something about him being one of Alyssa’s people or some bullshit like that.
“James, bang on that door again and I’ll bang your fucking head into it!” I yell back.
The fucker laughs. “What would Reilly say if you did that, Bray?”
Fuck, that little shit had to go and make besties with Reilly. Now I can’t fucking touch him and he knows it. I can, however, still threaten him.
“She won’t know if she never finds the body, and trust me, James, no one will ever find the body.”
“Okay, okay, just hurry up. I am not taking on Zac’s wrath when we show up late because you need to spend an hour in front of the mirror.”
I’m hurrying already, anxious to get back in the same room as Reilly.
She left early this morning, claiming they needed the whole day to glam.
I tried to tell her she wakes up already full of glam, and she told me where to shove my sweet-talking mouth.
I gladly spent the morning following her direction, because only an idiot would say no to getting their mouth on her pussy.
Sitting in the hot sun, on the white sand of Honolulu, I watch my brother stand on the alter waiting for Alyssa, every few seconds checking his watch.
She’s not late—he’s just an impatient bastard.
Reilly is sitting to my right, gripping my hand hard, excitement running through her.
Ella is on my left; I can see tears already forming in her eyes.
I’ve never understood why people fucking cry at weddings; it’s a happy occasion, or at least it should be.
There’s no need for tears. I watch as Zac suddenly stops fidgeting and his head snaps up, mouth hanging open.
Looking behind me, I see Alyssa standing at the end of the aisle.
She looks stunning, a long white dress waving in the wind.
There is just one problem—she’s by herself. For some reason, this resonates with me. She should not be walking down the aisle by herself. Call me sappy but every girl should have somebody to walk them down the aisle on their wedding day. I know, I’m a fucking hopeless romantic at heart.
I jump up and everyone looks in my direction. I don’t fucking care. Reilly tries to pull me back down, but I wink at her. “I gotta do something. Wait here.” I jog down the aisle, stopping in front of Alyssa.
She looks up at me confused. “You look beautiful, Lyssa,” I tell her.
“Ahh, thanks, Bray,” she says, eyebrows drawn.
“I thought you could use my arm to lean on, while you walk down this long-ass aisle. You know, so you don’t break an ankle in your heels.” I hold my arm out. I can see the tears immediately form in her eyes.
“Don’t you dare fucking cry on me, woman. If I make you cry on your wedding day, Zac really will kill me.”
She takes a big breath in. “Okay, thank you, Bray. I really appreciate you doing this.”
“You’re my sister. I’d do anything for you.”
Alyssa grabs my arm and we begin our walk back down the aisle. She leans in and whispers, “I know you can see that I’m wearing sandals and not heels, by the way.” She holds my arm tighter.
“I know.” I smile at her. We get to the end, and I take her hand and place it in Zac’s.
That fucker is about to bawl his eyes out too.
Am I the only one around here who’s not about to cry like a fucking baby?
Zac gives me a head nod, and I turn and make my way to a sniffling Reilly and Ella. God, help me.
The minister starts the ceremony. A lot of it, I tune out until it’s time for the vows.
They’re really the only part that actually matter, right?
I think when I convince Reilly to marry me, we will skip all the other shite and get right down to business on those vows.
I can hear the emotion in Zac’s voice as he reads out his vows.
Zac starts, “Alyssa, you came into my life like a ray of sunshine on a rainy day. You are the most caring, compassionate and kind-hearted person I know. I’m truly humbled that you have chosen me to share your life with.
I promise to work every day to be the man that deserves your love.
I promise to love you with every fibre of my being.
I promise to never let you walk alone, to always be by your side.
Sunshine, you are my first, my last, my everything and I promise to be yours for as long as you’ll have me.
I vow to always be your friend, your lover, and most importantly your family, for now until forever—it’s you and me Alyssa, merged as one.
I promise we will always have tomorrow together. ”
Alyssa continues, “Zac, I never dreamed of finding someone like you, ever. I’ve never known the kind of love and devotion you have given me.
I’ve never had a family to call my own. Because of you, I can say that I am truly loved.
Because of you, I can say that I have a family.
Because you’re by my side, always, I know I can conquer anything.
You are the love I thought only existed in books; you are my hero, Zac.
You are my home, my safe place and my happy ending.
I have seen the best of you and the worst of you, and I choose both.
I promise to love and cherish you always.
I promise to be your sunshine on the darkest of days.
I vow that our love will merge us together throughout all of time. I promise to always be your tomorrow.”
“You may kiss the bride,” the minister declares, and everyone around me cheers. Reilly looks over at my silent face.
“Bray? Are you crying?” she whispers. I love her even more for not calling me out in front of everyone.
“I’m not crying, just something got caught in my eye.” I try to play it off like Zac and Alyssa’s vows did not choke me up.
“Uh-huh, sure. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” She leans up and kisses me.
“I think we should get married,” I tell her.
“Sure, one day. But today, let’s celebrate Zac and Alyssa,” she says, standing and pulling me along with her.
It doesn’t hit me until hours later that she agreed to get married, that she didn’t say no.
She said sure, one day to me and that’s as good as a yes.
I plan on asking her properly though, maybe even pay her dad a visit and do this the old fashion way.
Not that his disapproval would stop me from marrying her.
The rest of the week flew by—I had Reilly, the beach and an endless supply of food and alcohol.
I could not have wanted for anything else.
The flight home however was painful as fuck.
Alyssa spent half of the flight with her head in the toilet, throwing up.
It seems the morning sickness has kicked in for her.
Zac spent the whole flight stressing out and cursing at everyone.
He went as far as to demand the pilot have an ambulance on standby the minute we land.
Alyssa vetoed that idea quickly. Zac was pissed.
I kind of got it. He felt helpless and he couldn’t do much to help her.
It’s also his own damn fault she’s in this position, which I gladly reminded him of every chance I got.
We flew in late last night and I ended up staying at Reilly’s place.
Waking to a cooked breakfast by Reilly’s mum is something I would never turn down.
I tried to convince Lynne to move in with me, but she laughed it off like I was joking.
I’m not fucking joking—I’d build that woman her own wing if she cooked for me like this.
After eating a shit load of pancakes, bacon and eggs, I head to the gym—probably to get blasted by coach for laxing off so much the last week—dropping Reilly off at the club on my way.
Halfway through training, my phone started blaring Reilly’s ring tone. Climbing out of the cage, I grab the phone off the bench.
“Hey, babe, what’s up?” I ask, breathlessly.
“Bray, I don’t know what to do,” she whispers down the phone. Something is wrong. I pick my keys up and run out of the gym.
“Reilly, what’s wrong?” I’m opening the door to my car, but what she tells me stops me momentarily.
“There’s a guy here pointing a gun around. He’s on the ground floor.”
Fuck. “Reilly, can you get to the lift?”
“Yes, I’m on the top floor. He doesn’t know I’m here.” “Good, get in the lift, put the code in for the basement.
Once the basement code is entered, the lift won’t stop. Stay in the basement until I come and get you. Do not leave that basement, Reilly. Promise me.”
“Okay, I promise, I won’t leave the basement.”
“Good, stay on the phone until it cuts out. Once you’re in the lift, the reception will die. I’m coming for you, babe.”
I stay on the line. I hear her enter the code and the elevator start its downward journey, then the line cuts off. Fuck. What the fuck. I dial Zac, no answer. I dial Dean, no answer. I just need to get to the club; once I’m there, I can figure the fuck out what to do about this shit show.
I walk in through the back doors quietly. I have no idea what the fuck I’m walking into. I can hear it before I see it. “Call your fucking pussy-ass brother down here now, before I start dropping cunts,” the voice yells. I know I’ve heard that voice before, I can’t place it though.
When I see what’s happening, I freeze. Zac has a gun pointed to his fucking head.
“You’re going to have to shoot me, motherfucker, because if you think I’m putting my brother in front of your crazy ass, think again.”
I’m about to walk out, then the front doors to the club open and my heart sinks. She’s meant to be in the fucking basement. Why the fuck would she waltz through the front doors? Then it clicks—it’s not Reilly… it’s Holly.
Fuck. The guy with the gun, who I now know is that fucking singer from Cyrus, turns and points the gun at Holly.
“Well, well, well. If everyone else here isn’t enough to get him out here, maybe his hot little girlfriend here will be.”
Holly freezes, dropping everything in her hands. I can see her body shaking. I walk out from the shadows. I will not let anyone else take a bullet that’s got my name on it.
“I’m right here, motherfucker. What the fuck are you gonna do about it?” I yell out, getting his attention off Holly, the gun now firmly pointing at me. I can see Dean in the background, creeping up behind him and placing himself in front of Holly, thank fuck. Zac curses.
“You know, I wanted to shoot you. I came here to kill you. I know you assholes had something to do with my brother going missing. I know you did.”
“It was me. I choked the life out of him after I cut every one of his fucking fingers off with garden sheers. But if you want to blame someone for your rapist, woman-beating brother being dead, blame him. He attacked my fucking eighteen-year-old sister. He deserved every fucking bit of torture I dished out and then some,” Zac growls as he moves closer to me.
“You know what? I have to live without my brother. Now you’re going to find out what that’s like.” The asshole points the gun back at me and pulls the trigger.
I see Dean tackle him to the ground. A bit fucking late, Dean.
I look at Zac, and his face is ashen. I look him up and down; he’s in one piece and I thank God right before I fall to the ground.
Zac’s screaming. I can’t make out the words, but I see his lips moving.
He’s got his hands over my chest. I can feel a burning, searing pain ripping through me.
I go to my happy place and think of Reilly.
I smile. Reilly is safe. She’s the last thing I think of before I black out.