Chapter 2
Chapter Two
GREYSON
Riley threw me a smile from across the room.
The bustle of her dress had fallen again, and her friend Casey was huffing about it as she fixed it.
Riley blew a strand of her ebony hair from her face as she laughed.
She looked like a princess, my princess.
The day had been perfect and seeing her walk toward me, the train of her dress following her as she held her brother’s arm, had been the most memorable moment of my life followed by the one when she’d returned to me.
It had only been a few months since that day, but each day that passed only brought me more happiness because they involved Riley.
I’d brought her in on all the parts of my business, amazed at how she picked right up.
I hadn’t had a partner since the falling out with my brother, but Riley was my partner in every way.
“You keep my sister safe, Tides,” Mason said, coming to stand next to me. He was the part of the deal I’d bristled at, but we were making it work. We had to because Riley was too important to us both for it not to.
“That’s all I’ve done, Brinks.”
I glanced at him, noticing how his eyes lingered on Casey. Downing the rest of my drink, I said, “You getting any sleep tonight?”
He swiveled his alcohol before taking another drink. “Fuck off, Tides.”
I shrugged, “Just saying, I know that look. Trust me, it’s the same one I give your sister.”
“Asshole,” he mumbled as I walked away. Casey was Tyson’s sister, and that seemed like a complication, but then again, so was loving your enemy’s sister and that had worked out.
As I crossed the dance floor, my intention was to steal Riley away and tell them I didn’t care about her bustle because I was just going to rip the damned dress from her anyway.
We were leaving for our honeymoon in the morning, and I planned to make love to my new wife until Den came to take us to the airport.
My phone rang, and I considered ignoring it. This was my wedding day, after all. But habits are hard to break, and I answered, bringing it to my ear as I walked through our guests.
“Speak.”
“I hear congratulations are in order, brother.”
I froze, standing in the middle of the dance floor, my eyes scanning the room and catching Mason’s. He was sharp, his expression becoming serious as he read my own. He made a beeline to me as I said, “Emerson.”
“She’s quite a beauty, Grey. Too bad my man had a taste of her before you sank your cock into her.”
A growl rumbled through my chest, accompanied by the tightened grip on my phone.
“What do you want?”
“This is your warning. You may think your empire is safe, little brother, bringing Mason Brinks into your fold. It’s not. I’ll take what you covet, and you’ll have no choice but to bow to me. Enjoy your honeymoon.”
He was gone before I could respond. I dropped the phone from my ear, looking over at Riley. He’d shattered the peace of the day, the contentment I’d held for that brief time ripped away by his words.
Riley met my eyes, hers creased with concern.
“Who was that?” Mason said, and I turned to him.
“My brother.”
“Your brother? You have a brother?”
“Unfortunately, Emerson is my older brother.”
“And why do you look like I need to worry about that?” Tension played in his features.
“Because he doesn’t go by Emerson Tides. I’m the only one who still knows that name. To everyone else, he’s Cade Slaughter.”
He took a step back. “The leader of the Bad Omen?”
I flicked a strand of Riley’s hair from my suit jacket. “Yes. The leader of the Bad Omen is my brother. A man who hates me with a passion. And the feeling’s mutual.”
He looked over at Riley, then back at me.
“I’ll protect her, Mason. I promise you. No one will ever lay a hand on Riley again.”
“What did he want?”
I watched Riley as she crossed the room, her green eyes deep with worry.
“To threaten me under the guise of congratulations. I need to change our plans. If he knows about the wedding, he’ll know about the honeymoon.
” How he knew those things was something I would need to uncover.
If there was a mole in my family, I would burn him out and send him back to my brother piece by piece.
“Take my plane. I can get you a room at the island where Tyson and Angie had their wedding.”
My alcohol swished in my glass as I thought about that stark of a change. It would throw Emerson off, but it was far from what I had planned.
Riley was almost to us.
“Fuck,” I muttered. I didn’t like running and this looked like I was running. But pride was no longer my concern. Riley was, and I would do what was necessary to keep her safe. Even if it meant letting my brother think he had me on the run.
“Fine.” I took a swig of the whiskey, letting it smooth its way down my throat. “We’ll leave tonight instead of in the morning.”
He took his phone out, saying, “I’ll make it happen. Enjoy telling my sister you’re changing plans on her. That should be fun.”
Rolling my neck, I ignored the urge to punch him before he walked away.
His plan made sense and as much as I hated to admit it, if my brother wanted to sabotage my honeymoon, changing the destination and the departure would throw him off.
He wouldn’t expect me to deviate because that’s what he would do.
He was the one who took chances, who rushed into things.
I was the levelheaded one, patient and unyielding.
Changing course like this was not something he would expect from me.
“Grey?” Riley said, coming over to me.
I gave her a smile, her presence calming me. “Everything’s okay. Your brother has it handled. What do you think about going to the beach for our trip?”
Her forehead crinkled with confusion. “But you wanted to go to the mountains.”
And I had. I’d booked the lodge, arranged for a chef to prepare our meals, booked the ski slopes, and a slew of other romantic things.
“We just got through winter. I don’t know why I thought staying in the cold was a good idea.
Besides,” I said, pulling her to me, “this will give me a reason to see you in a bikini again.” Although the restraint needed to keep from killing every man who looked at her would make the decision even more brutal.
Her head tilted, and she gave me a curious look before saying, “Okay, I don’t care where we go, as long as I’m with you.”
I motioned for Den, who made his way to me. “Change of plans. We’re taking Brinks’ plane and I’m taking my bride to the beach after we finish with this foolishness.”
Riley pouted her lips at the comment, and I gave her a hard look before she said, “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Yes, but I’ll explain when we’re on the way because I tell you everything, right?”
“Right,” she said, giving me a kiss.
“Care for a dance, Mrs. Tides?” I asked, watching as the concern fell from her eyes, her smile beaming.
“Of course, Mr. Tides.”
I walked her away, looking back at Mason, who nodded. I would never have believed it, but I trusted Mason. I’d let him handle whatever my brother had planned while I enjoyed my new wife. I’d deal with what remained of the mess when I returned.
Drawing Riley against me, I held her close as we danced, losing myself to her presence.
This was our life, the life she’d chosen when she’d chosen me.
It was one where danger hung in the air all around us, where threats lingered in the shadows, but it was one where I would protect her with my life because no one was getting near her again.
Riley was mine. And if I had to kill my brother to keep her safe, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.