Chapter Fifteen
S weat was rolling off of her back and between her breasts. She was no longer used to the Texas heat, and even though it was barely nine o’clock in the morning and she was practically naked in the frayed jean shorts Hunter loved and a tank top, she was ready to dive into a pool of shaved ice. She took her time ascending the white stairs that led to the two large doors of her parents’ estate. Nerves swam in her stomach as she lifted her fist to knock, but Hunter’s hand closed over hers, sending a jolt straight through her.
“Before you knock on that door, are you okay?”
She turned toward him. The backdrop of the bubbling fountain, the centerpiece of the driveway, looked strange behind him. She wanted a home, but not one like this. A place that was cozy and warm and lived in. Much like Hunter’s house. She didn’t want to worry about which throw pillow was strewn where or whether or not she could sit on an antique piece of furniture. She wanted Collin raised in love, comfort, not bound by duties and made to follow a strict social hierarchy.
“I’m more than okay. This isn’t my home anymore, maybe it never really was. But now I know where I belong, where Collin belongs, and that’s with you. There’s nothing my family could say or do to ruin what we have together, and knowing that we’re getting back on a plane in a couple of days to leave this all behind for good is all the reassurance I need.”
He nodded, and her heart swelled at the pride pooling in his eyes. She went up on her toes and kissed him, just as the door opened behind them.
She looked over her shoulder, and a burst of coldness hit her gut at the fury on Regina’s face.
“What are you doing here, Hannah?”
She squeezed Hunter’s hand. “I didn’t know I needed an appointment.” She stepped into Regina’s space so she had no choice but to move back or get plowed into, and she breezed into the foyer.
“The wedding events don’t start until tonight. You can’t come here dressed like that. There’s a film crew on the property to take pictures of Vivienne’s rehearsal dinner gown. Imagine if they caught you in one of the shots wearing shorts and a tank top? Mother would die. Those pictures are going to be all over social media.”
“I want to see Vivienne.”
“Out of the question.” Regina looked between her and Hunter, eyes shrewd. “She’s having her hair and makeup done and I will not tolerate you upsetting her with your antics.” Regina was in one of her typical designer pant suits, not one hair of her sleek, shoulder-length bob out of place.
“What’s going on in here?” Her mother stood at the top of the spiral staircase, staring down, a tight smile on her lips. “Hannah. You’ve brought company.”
Hunter stood beside her, solid and assessing. What must this look like to him coming from a typical family? No one had greeted her with pleasantries. No one rushed down to give her a hug and say welcome home. She pushed the regret aside. At one time she grieved the tight-knit family she should’ve had, but being back at the estate and seeing her mother and sister had a new realization dawning on her. She did have a tight-knit family.
Yeah, she hadn’t gotten them until later on in life, but she had them now and wasn’t going to take that for granted. She’d always had an amazing son and now she’d gained the man at her side. She had three brothers and Collin had three uncles in Ransom, Joker, and Silver. Axe was their honorary grandfather. Brynn, Sam, and Addison were closer to her than her own sisters. Then there was Jacob, who was more like a brother or cousin to Collin and a nephew to her. Sam’s baby would be here soon, too. Another member of their family.
“Mother, this is Hunter. Hunter, my mother and sister Regina.” When her mother’s eyes searched Hunter, a rush of protectiveness surged through her, which was silly seeing as he could more than defend himself. Still, she took a step closer to him.
“Rochelle let me know of the mistake with your guest rooms.” Her mother began to descend the staircase. “I was half expecting you to show up looking for a place to stay last night.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. You could’ve saved us the trouble of trying to check into our rooms with a quick phone call,” she said just as Hunter wrapped a reassuring arm around her waist.
“With all the preparations for the wedding, it must’ve slipped my mind. I do have your rehearsal dinner gown here. Regina, tell one of the help to go fetch it. Of course, you’ll need to stay here for the remainder of the events. It will be better that way.”
“We’ve already made other arrangements.” Hunter’s deep voice filled the large, echoey space.
“Then Hannah will stay here. And Collin,” her mother added in her grandson like an afterthought. She gritted her teeth, about to ask her why she didn’t ask where he was when Hunter’s low grumble made her take pause.
“Hannah is standing right here, and she’ll stay wherever she wants to. Collin will be staying with me.”
Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but she beat her to it. “I came over early because I want to see Vivienne.” She hated that she couldn’t just run up the stairs and burst into her room.
“That’s not possible.” Her mother looked down at Hannah from her perch on the grand staircase.
There was a commotion upstairs, the scuffle of feet, and one of the doors slammed open and shut.
“Hanni.” Vivienne rushed past their mother and ran down the stairs. She wore a silk robe and her feet were bare. Her hair was blown out into loose curls that fell over her shoulders and down her back. Her skin and makeup were flawless, but her big blue eyes were filled with varying emotions. First relief, then hesitation, and finally a look so hopeless, anger coursed through Hannah’s veins. The expression was gone as quickly as it came, and Vivienne wrapped her arms around her, hugging her so hard, she could barely breathe.
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered. “He’s so cute,” she added before pulling away. Something told her Hunter would get a kick out of being called cute, as she was sure no one had ever described her big, tough SEAL that way.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Vivienne held out her hand and Hunter shook it, a strange look passing over his face before he blanked his expression and jammed his hands in his pockets.
“You as well. And congratulations.” Congratulations? Hunter knew exactly how Vivienne felt about marrying Scott. Hadn’t he seen the text messages yesterday?
Vivienne nodded and plastered on a smile so fake it made her cringe. “I’m really so glad to see you, but I have to finish getting ready for the photo shoot. I’ll see you tonight at the rehearsal dinner. I can’t wait for you to see the dress I chose for you. It’s going to be magnificent.” With one last pleading look that Hannah didn’t understand, her younger sister turned and walked back up the stairs, not meeting Regina’s or their mother’s eyes. A smirk that could only be described as triumphant spread slowly over her mother’s face. A woman in a nondescript black dress quickly descended the stairs with her head low.
“Thalia, what took you so long?” her mother snapped. Not for the first time Hannah was so glad she’d escaped her parents’ suffocating clutches.
“Sorry, ma’am.” She continued down the stairs quickly and silently. When the maid got past Regina, a smile lit her face. Hannah was stunned by how young she appeared. There was an impish light in her olive green eyes. Maybe this maid was a friend of Vivi’s. Perhaps she’d played a part in the scuffle she heard upstairs.
“For you, miss.” When the woman held out the garment bag and winked, Hannah was sure her suspicions were correct.
“Thank you.” She hoped her tone conveyed her appreciation. Thalia nodded and scurried away.
“You only have seven hours to get ready for the event, Hannah,” her mother said as though it wouldn’t nearly be enough time.
“Your hair and makeup team will meet you and the other bridesmaids at the venue. You can bring your dress and they’ll get you ready.”
She opened her mouth to protest, not ready to leave Vivienne, but Hunter gripped her arm. “Let’s get going.”
She started to whirl on him. Was he really siding with her family? Didn’t he see the look in her sister’s eyes? The hard expression on his face stopped her in his tracks.
“I’ll be there,” she said to Regina and let Hunter lead her back through the foyer to the front door. The cool air inside the house was swallowed up as they stepped into the bright sunshine. “What the hell was that?” she bit out.
“In the car, baby, and I’ll explain.” His voice was so low she almost missed the words. The pent-up breath she was holding whooshed out of her lungs. Hunter was on her side. She just had to keep trusting him. Whatever he saw or heard that had him retreating from the house, taking her away from her chance to talk to Vivienne, had to be important. They rounded the bubbling fountain and got into the SUV Silver had given them the keys to this morning.
Hunter said nothing when they drove down the long driveway and took a left out of the gates. He turned his directional on as they neared a gas station, pulled into a parking spot, and put the vehicle in park. Hunter unbuckled and reached into his front pocket. “When Vivienne shook my hand she slipped me this. I wanted to get us out fast so we could read it. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“After my initial anger, I reminded myself I was being silly. That I trust you.” The paper he handed her was folded up into a compact square, so tiny she was afraid she was going to rip it as she carefully opened it and spread it out on her lap.
I told Scott I didn’t want to marry him. He said he knew, but it was too late, that our families had already made the arrangements. I tried to leave, but Father wouldn’t allow it. He says a lot is resting on this wedding. I overheard him saying some terrible things. I don’t know what to do. Regina has been spying on all of my messages. She read the ones I sent you and took my phone away so I couldn’t text you. Rochelle also canceled your rooms at the hotel, thinking you’d come to stay at the estate so Regina can keep an eye on you.
I’m only able to write this because Mother was gloating this morning that you texted my phone to say you were coming, but she wasn’t going to let me see you. I don’t know how I’m going to lose Regina at the dinner, but as soon as I can, I’m leaving. I haven’t been a good sister, and I don’t want you to get into trouble, but I don’t know who else to trust.
Be careful, Hannah. I think there’s more going on than just the wedding. If I’m able to get out, meet me tomorrow morning at the Lone Star Motel, room five. I’m so sorry to drag you into this, Hanni Banani.
Love, Vivi
Hannah was numb when she passed the letter to Hunter. He read it silently, then looked up at her. “Your instincts were right. They’re not letting her leave.”
“What could they possibly do to stop her if she just got up and left the venue tonight?”
Hunter shook his head. “I wish I knew, but I agree with her. It has to be tonight. I don’t want your parents to know you had any involvement. You, me, and Collin will go through the night as planned. Silver and Iron will make Vivienne disappear and no one will know you had anything to do with it. Don’t worry, Hannah. We’ve extracted hostages in far more hostile situations than a rehearsal dinner. Everything is going to be fine.”
*
Nerves were twisting in her belly six hours later when Hunter pulled the rental car up at the venue. Her intuition was screaming that tonight was not going to go as planned. They’d spent the afternoon playing in the pool, because there was no way she was getting to the venue more than an hour early, regardless of how much time Regina thought she needed to look up to family standards. She glanced at Hunter, then in the rearview mirror at Collin’s profile in the back seat. Her boys looked charming and utterly miserable in their suits. She preferred them in worn jeans and T-shirts, comfortable and smiling. After tonight, they wouldn’t have any need to wear them again. Hunter stopped in front of the doors and a ma?tre d’ came out with a tray holding a single flute of champagne.
“Okay, you two. I’ll see you soon,” she said with a shaky breath.
“Remember, everything is just as it should be. Collin and I are going to come in and play a round of UNO in the lobby. We’re not leaving.” He leaned in and kissed her before the car door was opened. The garment bag was taken from her hands by an attendant and replaced with the champagne. She had a feeling she was going to need the liquid courage, but then she had the fleeting thought that Rochelle might’ve spiked it with something. God, how bad was that? Being able to entertain the idea that someone might drug her at a family event. She gripped the smooth banister as she was led upstairs to the private room where the other women were getting primped.
“Right this way, miss.” The attendant opened the French doors at the top of the stairs and pulled back the heavy drapes. Some of the women in the bridal party wore robes and were in various stages of hair and makeup, while others were already dressed in blush-colored gowns so embellished with beads that fractured rainbows burst over the walls as the light hit the women’s curves. Vivienne was in the center of it all, smile overly bright and forced. She stood, and her dress shimmered with the movement. Unlike the bridesmaids’ dresses that hugged the hips and thighs before flowing outward, Vivienne’s beaded corset stopped at her natural waist and poured into yards of silk flower appliqués. She was simply breathtaking, but the fact that this was being forced on Vivienne soured in Hannah’s stomach. She cast her what she hoped was an expression of understanding. If they had a moment alone, Hannah would reassure her that she’d received the note.
Rochelle sauntered forward and gestured for Hannah to sit, studying her face. “I’m so sorry about the hotel room mix-up.” Her smile turned predatory and she moved on, compulsively checking the women’s hair and makeup. Two stylists crowded around and she closed her eyes as they misted and sprayed, brushed and polished. She was getting ready to jump out of the seat when they finally leaned back with satisfied smiles. Hannah knew they were going to catch a rash of shit the moment she glanced in the mirror. Her skin was glowing, her eyes illuminated, but to her surprise they’d done nothing to hide her head-to-toe cascade of freckles. They’d blown out her hair in soft waves, much like Vivienne’s.
“You are so lucky,” one of the stylists gushed. “Freckles are so in right now.”
She caught a glance at Rochelle in the mirror. She had her arms crossed over her chest and looked downright murderous.
“Dress time.” The stylist smiled. “We’ll get you corseted up right in here.”
It took both stylists to lift the dress over her head. The fabric must’ve weighed twenty pounds with glass beads clinging to every inch of the sheer tulle. She inhaled slowly and exhaled through her lips. Tonight was going to suck, but tomorrow she’d be going back to Virginia with Hunter and Collin. She had to believe that Iron and Silver would be successful in helping Vivienne.