31. Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Evie
E xcitement, mixed with happiness, and nerves have me about ready to burst.
Brixon holds me close as we enter the ballroom of the hotel. I look left to right, through crowds of women, mostly looking for Savannah, Cami, or any of the women I came here to see.
“Where are all their dates?” I try to keep my voice down, but no one is paying attention anyway.
“Where I’m going to have to go soon with the rest of the guys. You girls stick together.” Brix almost orders.
The ballroom is beautifully decorated to look like Cinderellas ball at the end with her prince. I even saw the pumpkin shaped carriage out front that looks identical to the one in the movie.
“Mia did all this?” Brix asks, nodding his head in approval.
“Yup, her and her team. Aren’t they amazing?” I can’t help but get excited again, thinking of how memorable our wedding and ball will be.
The guys help us find our table and leave us there, looking for our name plates to sit in our designated seats.
“You girls mingle and make some friends. We will be back shortly.” Liam smiles, before leaning down to kiss Emilys cheek.
Brixon does the same, and Noah makes a slight move to do the same, but Lily holds up her hand at him, obviously still upset. We all three watch them leave.
“Still punishing Noah and pushing him away for something that isn’t his fault?” I start the conversation, knowing Lily would give it to me straight if I needed it.
“I don’t know. Maybe. We had an argument earlier and he is over it, but I’m not.” She explains, looking a bit defeated.
A waiter dressed in all white comes by our table with flutes filled with bubbling champagne. We each take one and start casing the room.
“I don’t see any of them, do y’all?” I ask, getting a little frustrated.
“Ladies.” A male voice breaks our silence, startling me.
“The bride and her party are asking for you three to join them in an adjoining ballroom.” He gestures his hand out for us to follow him, waiting to move until we all three push our chairs out and stand from the light pink silk tufted seats.
I take in the man’s outfit, looking like he came straight out of a movie, and I swear Mia nailed this Cinderella theme.
I get excited again as the girls and I make our way through the crowd of women to two large double doors. The guy opens one door, ushering us in, and closes it behind us.
“Genevieve! Holy shit! Emily!” Cami is practically running up to us, well trying to in her heels. She looks beautiful.
“Hey Cami. It’s so good to see you again.” Emily gives her a soft smile before Cami pulls her in for a hug, then turns and hugs me as well, before her attention is on Lily.
She fan girls for a minute, before Savannah and the rest of her girl gang are surrounding us doing the same.
Emily and I stand back, giving Lily some space to talk to all of them.
Apparently, Shelby wasn’t joking when she said that her group of friends were Lily’s biggest fans.
Savannah breaks away from the group coming over to stand and watch with Emily and me, “I’m not going to pussy foot around this, do you know you are my husband’s sister?” She smirks at me, tilting her head, gauging my reaction.
I don’t react quickly. I was expecting this.
“Yup. I figured it would take his wife to have the balls to bring it up before I did,” I extend my hand out to her for the second time today and wait for her to take it. She does and I hold onto it, “Genevieve LaBlanc, daughter of Mark Boudreaux, aka douchey Boudreaux if I remember that right. I chuckle.
She grips my hand, not relenting, “Don’t forget about the mother you share with my husband. Vivian Devereaux.” Her words are soft, but full of meaning.
She doesn’t let go; she wants me to see it. I wish it worked that way.
“Can I have my hand back?” I ask, now the one chuckling.
“I’m just showing you we have nothing to hide. Cami explained that you are clairvoyant to touch. I just wanted you to know that you can trust me.” She looks me in the eyes.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t already know that. I found out about my brother about a month ago. I have kind of, maybe, a ton, been spying on you both. Well, all of you.” I admit, not feeling one bit bad about it.
“I knew I was gonna like you. I would be disappointed if you hadn’t. Mia gave us the warning that you were here and coming to the wedding, so Sin has been going nuts the last few days. We weren’t expecting you to reveal yourself before the ball. Nice play!” She laughs before taking a sip of a mimosa.
I nod, smiling, “Where can we get one of those?” I ask, pointing to her drink.
“Oh, we have a full bar back here, come on.” We follow her as the girls start to realize that Lily is just like them. Just a girl who loves books.
“Can I have one too?” Lily asks, following everyone.
Once we all have fresh drinks, we have a seat on the large U-shaped couch in the center of the vast space.
“Why don’t you all come for lunch tomorrow and see the house. We would love to show it off now that it’s pretty much done, and you can meet your nephew,” Savannah offers sweetly.
“I will have to ask Brix what he has planned, but I’m sure he would love that. I can’t wait to meet him.” I start to feel a bit emotional at how sweet this woman actually is.
“We have a Vampire Diaries night every Thursday night, and when we come back around to The Originals, we watch in sequence with the other show. I would love for you guys to come for a girls’ night. We are kind of hermits, but we make it fun.” She jokes, and her group all nods.
“Seriously?! That would be amazing!” I can’t contain my excitement.
“You guys will have to come to Evie’s one night for Practical magic and midnight margaritas, we are hermits too. This is the most we have been out in years.” Emily offers, admitting how much we have in common with them.
“See I told you guys we could do that year-round, not just for Halloween.” Abby laughs, pointing at all of her friends.
We all laugh but I see Cami is happy but struggling.
“Cami, I know this is a shock for you, but we couldn’t come to you any sooner without knowing if it was safe or not, for any of us.” I try to explain.
“So, you have both been in New Orleans the entire time? Both of you? Shit, there’s more, their auras are all over the fucking place. It’s okay, tell us, we are good with weird.” Cami looks completely shocked.
“We actually have a lot more to tell you, buckle up ladies.” I say as I chug my mimosa, before I begin.
Brixon
The gentlemen are escorted to the back banquet hall, where Alec is already on a stage getting the Saint crest tattooed on his chest. Good choice, easy to locate when necessary.
I watch the artist finish filling in his crest and realize he decided to add more than just the crest. He is having his new brides Initials tattooed directly under his crest.
I knew he had asked Liam if he could have her initials added to the design, showing a new way of thinking. Liam loved the idea so much we all decided to take it to Darius, who agreed.
I light the complimentary cigar and order a bourbon neat from the bar. The bartender is quick with my drink, setting it on a cocktail napkin with the bride and groom’s initials etched in gold.
I thank the young man behind the bar and turn my attention to Darius, who has just come in, heading for the stage.
The room gets quiet, except for the light hum of the tattoo gun.
Darius stands next to Alec, watching the artist finish the tattoo. He smiles at Alec, reaching over and shaking his hand, saying something in his ear, that I can’t hear.
He turns after a short, almost silent conversation, smiling at everyone in the room.
“Good evening gentlemen. Thank you all for coming to celebrate with your brother tonight. He is an extraordinary example of everything a Saint has always sworn to be, yet now I realize, we have fallen short. I have decided to start a new tradition with this new union of two people who happened to be in the right place at the right time, and against all odds, fell in love. I have decided to allow new laws to be added to our oaths. What this young promising Saint has brought to me is a new way. Gentlemen, times are changing, and it’s time we start holding ourselves to a higher standard. Those of you in attendance will sign the book tonight, showing you have been advised. There will be a national meeting in Georgia this year. My son will be taking the reins and allowing me to retire at this meeting. Tonight, I want everyone in this room to have fun. Tomorrow, things are changing. Spread the word to the rest of the Saints of New Orleans who didn’t bother showing up for their brother tonight. Their absence has been noted. To the happy couple, may you both be fruitful, and your love withstand the test of time.”
He raises his glass, nods, then throws the liquid back like a shot.
I watch as he moves through the parting crowd with ease coming towards me.
Liam and Noah catch my attention, sitting on either side of me at the bar, just as Darius reaches us.
“Do you think this will work?” Liam asks, tipping his glass up to drain the last remnants of liquor.
“It already has. Does this look like all of the Saints who should be in this room. It’s not about who is here, it’s who isn’t that we are paying close attention to. I have several Saints already working on getting all the men drunk and loose lipped. They will bring in anyone who seems to have information. Now, you boys have fun with your girls tonight, and let security do their jobs. I’ll see all three of you on Monday to introduce you to your new security teams and all of their information and schedules.” I try to interrupt, but he puts his hand up shushing me. Don’t try to argue. I am putting teams on the girls as well.” Darius is straight to the point, before he takes another three-finger pour as a shot, then orders a round of shots for the four of us.
“Tonight, I will sip, learn as much as I can about everyone here, and watch my girl have some fun. She deserves a chance to get to know her brother.”
“Suit yourself son but remember to enjoy your time with her. You don’t want to look back and wish you had just spent the time with her if anything goes sideways. Trust me.” Darius says in a low tone, showing a bit of emotion in his eyes as they soften.
I nod in understanding, seeing a man under the armor that has always been around Darius Vandever’s emotions. He has a chilling way of carrying himself with business. We only get to see small glimpses of the human being he actually is.
“Well, I’m gonna go dance with the nice woman I brought as my date. Who knows, she might just be the next Mrs. Darius Vandever. It’s time I settle down again and remember what life is all about.” He slaps Liam on the shoulder before heading out of the banquet hall.
Liam loves his dad, but recently he has been seeking his approval more often than not. I honestly didn’t realize with everything going on that Darius was ready to hand down the torch.
“Well brother, looks like you have until September to get Emily to agree to be your wife.” I smile at Liam, knowing he has already picked out a ring.
Liam is planning a proposal when they visit her parents in Georgia this summer. While we are there, we plan to settle some new business we have with the Delamere family.
“I have a plan, and you play a big part, so play nice with my princess.” Liam chuckles.
“Let’s head back to the ball and have a little fun. We are up to our eyeballs in shit with all the missing, not just NOLA Saints, but Saints all over the country, being linked to the trafficking rings. For once, we should listen to dad.” Noah throws back another shot, “Ready?” he asks, looking back and forth between Liam and myself.
We both nod, take our shots, and get up quickly.
“Shit, we need to go through the line to congratulate Alec.” Noah turns, frustrated.
“We don’t do lines, come on.” Liam deadpans, turning on his heal, leading us straight to Alec, cutting in front of the few hundred or so still in line to give their congratulations and sign the book.
Not one man in the room dares to say shit, other than, “Good to see you,” from everyone we bypass until we get to Alec who is showing off his crest proudly.
“Congratulations, we hope to have you and M.J. over when you get back from your honeymoon.” Liam says shaking Alec’s hand, then handing him an envelope.
Noah and I follow suite, giving our congratulations, handshake, then envelope. Just like everyone else here will.
I turn to see Christian and his guys down in the line and smile, waving them over.
When they reach us, I extend my hand to Christian, “I’ll save you guys at least another forty-five minutes where y’all were, plus I wanted to make sure we have a chance to talk before you speak to Genevieve again.”
“So, you obviously are in the know that she is my sister?” Christian asks in a low voice, trying to keep his composure and gage my reaction, as well as Noah and Liams.
“You’re welcome. Now give Alec the envelope and let’s go have a chat Devereaux. It’s overdue.” I turn my back and go back to a table close to the bar, but far enough from prying ears, and take a seat.
I watch as he walks confidently to the table, taking a seat without a word.
“Christian.” I start, but he puts his hand up, stopping me abruptly.
“Call me Sin.” He says with a humph and puts his hand back down.
“Okay. Sin, I know you have questions and want answers. I get it. So that you don’t think my fiancé is a basket case, I need you to listen to what I’m about to tell you. I know you are familiar with witches, but have you ever heard the story of the casket girls?” I ask him as he chuckles a bit.
“Fuck, I knew it. Cami said on the way over here some real witchy shit is about to go down, but she was excited, so I didn’t give it much thought. She is a witch.” He explains, shaking his head.
“I know Cami is a witch, she was Genevieve’s best friend growing up. I’m sure they are catching up now.” I nod, thankful that this might be easier than I thought it would be.