Twenty-Five #2
I swallowed as soon as I saw the gentleman in uniform, and Raven helped me to my wobbly feet. A sudden dizziness from the booze or my nerves threw me off balance. My mom caught me, and I clung to the stripper pole for support.
“I heard there’s a party on this bus?” the officer roared and pulled out his handcuffs. “Who is the celebration for?”
“Her.” Raven pushed me forward.
I gasped in shock. Betrayal rushed over me. How could she?
“You’ve been a bad girl, Liv…” The officer tapped his baton against the palm of his hand. “It’s time for you to receive your punishment.”
What the heck was going on here?
“Wait. How did you know—” The music blasted through the speakers, drowning out my voice, and the officer ripped off his pants.
Oh. My. Fucking. God. A stripper!
Before my jaw could drop to the floor, I heard giggles erupt behind me, and someone plopped me down onto a chair. I gasped. Full-blown shock coursed through me, and I covered my eyes. Only to peek through when he yanked open his shirt and buttons flew to the floor.
“Now this is a party!” Raven exclaimed.
My mom clapped her hands in excitement, and the stripper tossed his shirt at her.
She caught the material in mid-air, sniffed the piece of cloth and waved it like a flag, surrendering herself to the fake officer.
He flashed her his badge, squeezed his crotch, and made thrusting motions in her direction.
My mom placed the back of her hand against her forehead and fell back onto a seat.
My laugh cut short when the stripper turned his attention back to me, and he fell to the floor at my feet.
He did the worm, but in an extremely fit and sexual way, which made my heart race at his sheer talent.
Raven watched him with her mouth agape until he stood up and pulled my chair closer to his body.
I could smell sweat and see everything masculine with those beads of sweat falling down his toned physique and rippling waves of skin.
He tilted my chin and forced me to peer up at him.
Emerald-green eyes pierced into mine with a sensual desire, all in the name of a good time.
I was in for the show of my life until his entire facial expression changed.
The stripper pulled back, and he appeared startled. He released me completely. Only for angry, dark eyes to lure me back in.
“Sin?” My chest heaved with anger. “What the hell?”
“No one touches what is ours,” Sin hissed at me and tilted my chair back on its two hind legs. “Why are you fucking around with this asshole hours before our wedding?”
“Because it’s a tradition.” I glared at Sin and pushed his chest. “Put me down. Now.”
The chair thudded on the ground. Sin backed off, but he didn’t go away. He loomed over me, but I wasn’t afraid of him.
“Hey, man, look, I’m sorry.” The stripper pleaded while Saint had him pressed up against the wall of the bus. “This is a gig I picked up at the last minute. Please don’t hurt me.”
“Saint!” I hollered with caution. “Let the poor guy go.”
“But he fucking touched you.” Saint glanced over at me, and hatred swirled in the blue seas of his eyes. “You know what happens when someone does.”
“Not tonight.” I stood up and touched my fiancé’s shoulder. “Release him.”
Saint glanced at his best friend, and Sin nodded his head. “Do it.”
Saint grunted and freed the man. He ran without a glimpse back. He didn’t collect any of his belongings he had stripped away and got off the bus. The poor bastard was so scared he tripped on the dirt on the side of the road, and made a beeline for his fabricated police car.
“All I wanted was to break away from our normal everyday life and follow a bridal tradition.” I raised my index finger and ambled toward the men who had disappointed me. “One last night of freedom before becoming your wife.”
“We gave you that freedom,” Saint argued.
I stabbed a finger into each one of their chests, “No, you didn’t. You ruined my bachelorette party.”
“We saved you.” Sin clenched his teeth together and peered down at me. “Again.”
“Wrong. I didn’t need anyone to rescue me. Everything was under control until you fuckers showed up.” I stood up on my tiptoes and pushed the tip of my finger into Sin’s nose. “But the real question is… How did you find me?”
“With the—” Sin jabbed Saint with his elbow.
“Shut up,” Sin warned.
“Saint?” I glared at him and dropped my finger.
Saint gulped. “A tracker.”
“Jesus Christ.” Sin sighed and kicked the pole.
“Where?” I questioned.
“In your engagement ring,” Saint answered with shame and stared down at his boots. “The device has been there since we gave the diamond to you.”
I backed away from Sin and Saint. Raven and my mom had already exited the bus because of the rising tension. There was no need for them to be present. I could handle my men.
“Unbelievable.” I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. “I should’ve known.”
“We’re sorry.” Sin gave me a lame-ass apology.
I rolled my eyes and turned around. “Sorry? I figured we were past this? I thought you trusted me?”
“We do,” Saint growled with intent. “But we don’t trust others.”
“Especially with another Pitrone brother on the motherfucking loose!” Sin shouted, unable to keep his emotions in check. “We can’t take the chance of losing you again.”
I spun around to face them.
“Oh, bullshit!” I took off the engagement ring. “Maybe this wedding wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Don’t you dare.” Sin flared his nostrils.
Saint’s eyes glistened with hurt. “Put the ring back on.”
“Marrying us is the best fucking plan humanity has ever seen,” Sin disagreed.
“I’m not sure anymore.” I shook my head with tears in my eyes. “I need you both to have faith in me. A committed relationship requires trust. I want you to have the same confidence in me as I have in each of you or else a marriage won’t survive.”
I held out the ring for one of my phantoms to take, but neither did.
“No,” Sin said.
Saint shook his head. “I won’t take our promises back. Never.”
“Fine.” I kneeled down and placed the engagement ring on the floor. “Lose the tracker. You know where to find me tomorrow if you choose to.”
A hard decision had to be made. I stepped away from the men I loved with all my heart and turned my back. I got to the bus door and stopped. I hesitated with a brief glance back. Saint stepped toward me, but Sin placed a hand against his chest to stop his best friend. Their hearts broke.
Sin swallowed. “Let her go.”
I ran from the bus, and I didn’t turn back. I prayed they’d fix my shattered heart that was breaking into a million pieces, and that they’d show up tomorrow for the day we’d been waiting for. Ready to trust me for all eternity.