Chapter 34 – Vanessa
Chapter Thirty-Four
Vanessa
Moretti lets me know he’s about to make the announcement for everyone to leave so the claiming ceremony can start. It takes until I’m well out of his orbit for my brain to catch up to what he said.
He’s always pretty demanding, so I think I can handle it, but I guess I?ll just have to wait and see.
Hawk trails behind me as I make my way toward the dressing room to change, and Charlotte stops me before I can make it into the hallway.
“Holy fuck, Vanessa.” She smiles, and her eyes are huge as she snatches my hand in hers, bringing it up to examine my ring. “Now that’s a ring from a man who wants to make a statement.”
I nod, trying to shake off the urge to ask her why she was so close to Magnum. It would just be my instincts overreacting about having another omega near one of my alphas when my heat is so close.
I like Charlotte.
I mean, I don’t know her very well, but she’s not terrible.
Also, I refuse to be catty and treat other women like shit. I’ve dealt with enough of that over the years from girlfriends of the other families and even women dating my brothers.
“It’s intense, but I love it,” I tell her, finally mustering up a smile. “Thank you for helping Magnum find me.”
She releases my hand and beams. “I’m happy it worked out for you. I was kinda scared that Moretti would kill him.”
I laugh a little hysterically. “Yeah, me too.”
My nerves are shot, and I hate that I get this way when I have to interact with the other syndicate families.
“I know you have to get changed, so I won’t keep you,” Charlotte says.
“I wish I had a gift for you, but Lucky is sick, and I ran out of time to make it to the store. This will have to do.” She pulls me in for an unexpected hug while all I can do is blink.
“Considering the way everything went down, you could have made things really hard on me, but you didn’t, and I appreciate that.
You mentioned your mom died, and I just wanted you to have a hug.
Since she’s not here, I’ll give you my advice.
Focus on Moretti, and everyone else will disappear. ”
“Thank you,” I say, patting her shoulder as she releases me to step back.
“I’m leaving with Cormac, but Patrick is staying for the ceremony.
Only because I guess it helps to have witnesses who are allies in case someone tries to contest it?
” She shrugs. “I don’t know, but if it’s our opportunity to pay you back for being so great about everything, I told him we had to take it.
Lacey and Wilder are here, too, for the same reason. ”
“Oh, nice.” My head bobs up and down like a chicken. I really have no idea what else to say about that.
“Anyway, good luck.”
I’m probably going to need it.
Hawk holds the door open to the dressing room.
I’m just about to step inside when I hear my name.
My head whips up, and my brothers rush down the hallway.
“Oh my god,” I hiss, jabbing a finger at them. “No way. Why are you here? You can’t be here!”
Technically speaking, it’s required for each family head to notify and invite all other family heads to all claiming ceremonies.
If a family skips the ceremony, they can never contest its validity, but almost all avoid being present when they have a son or daughter involved.
That should also apply to sisters and brothers. There?s no reason for them to be here.
“We aren’t staying,” Victor says, coming to a stop a few feet away.
Hawk comes over, wrapping his arm around my lower back. “No closer,” he growls as Vance stops at Victor’s side.
“She’s our sister,” Victor says, sounding annoyed.
“Who needs enemies when you have family like that,” Hawk says, nodding at the twins.
“Why are you here?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
Hawk sends steady comfort through the bond, and it shores up my edges.
Julian’s betrayal wasn’t much of a surprise, but my brothers shocked me. I thought more of them than how they acted, and it still stings.
“We just wanted to check on you,” Vance says, his brown eyes staring straight into mine. “To make sure Moretti is treating you right.”
I almost scoff.
Okay, no.
I actually do.
It’s a snorting scoff.
“Are you kidding?” I blink incredulously. “You really want to ask me that when you’ve stood by and let your father torment me for years?”
“Julian isn’t a soft man,” Victor says. “You think he’s any kinder to the two of us? You’ve seen the hoops he’s put us through—”
“I really don’t care,” I deadpan. “You two make the choice to stay and pander to him.”
“It’s not that simple, and you know it,” Vance says calmly. “But he went too far with Grigoryan, and we told him as much. The house has been a war zone.”
Julian has always loved to take it out on everyone when he’s pissed. I couldn’t be in the house with him without sensing the negative energy, but when he was angry, it was a whole different level of misery.
When I was around, he directed that hatred at me. Now that I’m not, I wouldn’t be shocked to learn he’s taking his mood swings out on the twins.
Only, I’m not sure that’s my problem.
“I have to get ready,” I say, nodding toward the door to the dressing room. “Moretti is a great husband. I have no complaints. I’m sorry Julian is being Julian. I appreciate you guys coming to check on me.”
“You’re really okay?” Vance asks, and for a split second, I see the older brother I knew ten years ago, back before our mom died.
“I am,” I tell him truthfully. “And for what it’s worth, I think you should hold your ground about Grigoryan. That man is vile. If Julian puts you in business with him, you’ll be stuck with the repercussions long after your father is dead.”
I won’t be claiming that man as my father anymore, and even knowing I have the freedom to make that call makes my soul feel lighter.
Hawk watches me tie the bow on the lingerie that I chose for the ceremony.
It’s a black slip dress with a white bow over the tits.
When the sides of the bow are opened, my breasts are held up only with an underwire and no material for the cups.
When it is tied, it’s actually a pretty mild piece.
It flares out a little after my waist and falls a few inches down my thigh.
“You good?” he asks, crossing his arms over his massive chest.
“I’m good,” I assure him. “How about you? You okay with the ceremony?”
He nods. “I’ve always known it was coming. Better to get it out of the way so we don’t have to worry about any of the other families trying to fuck with you.”
“Yeah,” I agree, crossing the room. “Knowing you’ll be keeping an eye out for us makes me feel safe.” If I said that to anyone else, it would come off like a line or I’m trying to inflate their ego.
I just really fucking trust Hawk.
I push that through the bond to him, and he growls, dipping his mouth to mine. The way his beard pushes against my skin makes me smile.
Who knew mountain man was exactly my style?
He slides his hands up the back of my lingerie, cupping my ass. The panties that came with the set are essentially useless. They’re fully see-through, and the sides can be opened if someone pulls the strings that tie into little white bows.
Hawk isn’t fucking around. He shoves his knee between my thighs and uses his hold on my ass to push me to grind over it as he devours me in tantalizing kisses.
Either he really wants to make a point before I go out on stage, or he’s doing his part to get me turned on. Whichever it is, I’m not complaining.