“I know, but in the case that Theo Rossi is there, I don’t want to provoke that on Phoenix’s wedding day. It’s their day, I just want to see.”
“That doesn’t make this any easier. Can you please come in here and take these before we leave?” His impatience shines through his voice, though he attempts to be gentle. Walking into the kitchen, I hold my hand out and accept the pills he hands me. His almost ice blue eyes watch me throw half of the pills into my mouth. I take the water bottle he offers and take them before repeating the process with the second half.
“Thank you.”
Nodding at me Jakob holds out my black peacoat for me to slip into, “Of course, Kostbarkeit.”Treasure,it’s what my Papa and brothers have called me and Annie forever. “Okay, let’s get this over with. Dieter said he’ll be around after work if we need him.”
“We don’t need Deiter!” The protest falls on deaf ears as Jakob leads me out of my apartment.
Taking a second to really look at him, I realize he put actual effort into his appearance tonight. He never dresses sloppy, but he spends most of his time slinging drinks behind a bar. His uniform is made up of jeans and henleys or t-shirts. Tonight, however, he’s wearing black dress pants and a blackbutton-down, while his tie is the same maroon as my dress. An accessory provided to him by our little sister, no doubt.
He and Dieter both stand seven inches taller than my five foot eight frame. They aren’t giant and bulky like most of the Byrne men who look like they spend most of their time in a gym. They’re built less like football players and more like swimmers. Jake’s dark brown hair is about an inch long, while Dieter’s is long enough to put into a messy bun at his nape daily.
He leads me down the elevator, then into the garage. He opens the door of his all black Escalade and waits for me to get in before shutting the door and rounding the hood to his side. Getting settled behind the wheel, he shakes out his arms and rolls his neck before looking at me, “Okay, let’s do this.”
* * *
Pulling up to the guard shack at the front of the Byrne, estate my hands begin to sweat. The guard checks the inside of our vehicle and our invitation before flagging us through. As we make our way down the long driveway, I begin to fidget with the hem of my dress. My heart rate spikes, and my breathing becomes more erratic. My hands become clammy, and I suddenly feel nauseous.
“Hey, breathe. If you’re going to freak out like this we’re going to turn back.”
“No, no. We’re here now, I’m good. Just stay right by me, okay?” My eyes plead with him. I need the comfort and safety of home, my real home, where my parents and siblings are and it’s safe. Not the battlefield we’re about to walk straight on to.
“Okay. You say the word and we leave.” He answers as he opens the door and pushes out of the car. I know what I have to do now. My Papa was very specific,‘You wait until we clear the area, Kostbarkeit. Only then can you exit the vehicle.’So I wait until Jakob opens the door and helps me out of the vehicle. He presses his hand lightly to my back as he leads me to the backyard.
The service is about to start, so we find a spot in the middle of other people who look like business associates so we blend in better. Kieran stands tall and strong at the top of the aisle with his brothers lined up beside him. He looks so tough, strong, healthy, and untouchable. Unless you knew it, you’d have no idea he took a bullet to the chest just a year ago.
The music changes, and Phoenix crests the end of the aisle in a stunning ivory and lace dress. It fits her body like it was made just for her, which it very well may have been. Holding the most beautiful bouquet of lilies in her hands, I note the tremor in them. That is until the one and only MacQuillian Byrne struts down the aisle, one hand in the pocket of his dress pants, like he’s walking a runway straight to her. Their conversation is quiet. I can’t hear them from here, but it’s apparent what’s happening by the way he feeds her arm through his and walks her down the aisle.
After handing over Nix to her groom, Mac takes his place beside Kieran. I’m half paying attention to the ceremony because I can’t take my eyes off of the too handsome best man. He stands about the same height as my brothers. His brown shaggy hair is styled as best as he could, and his green eyes are piercing. He wears his three-piece charcoal suit like a glove. He’s not as built as his older brothers; it seems the younger three inherited a slimmer build. Still muscular, but less beast,more man.
The service is beautiful and simple. Much like Phoenix herself. Kieran lets the tears flow freely down his cheeks. In his line of work, that could flag for a weak man, but Kieran is the most feared enforcer to currently walk the streets of New Jersey, so his reputation stays intact. The bride and groom seal their promises with a heated kiss just as I feel heat on the side of my head, turning to see who’s staring at me. I notice it’s Elena Rossi. Elena is the slimmer version of myself. Just enough that I think it skews our facial features. If anyone makes the connection, we could immediately deny it. I mean just check my birth certificate, my adoption was legit.
The officiant, who I think is Kieran’s childhood best friend, dismisses us to cocktail hour while the bridal party takes pictures. Which really just means their family takes pictures, seeing as the bridal party is only Byrnes. Jakob and I make our way to the area in front of the guest house where a giant tent for the reception is set up. The pool has been covered with frosted acrylic to make a dance floor. String lights hang delicately over the metal beams supporting the structure of the tent. Greenery, lilies, and long tables decorate the area and provide a reception area that looks like it was picked straight out of a Pinterest board.
“What do we do now, Lee?” Jakob scans the crowd as we move into the area. He’s on full alert, and he’s being just twitchy enough to make my nerves skyrocket even more.
“Let’s find a bathroom, then we’ll stick to the outskirts, watch them dance, I’ll talk to Nix, then we can leave.”
“Fine, but no longer than that, something’s weird here.”
I roll my eyes at his ever-present paranoia, “Got it.”
We make quick work of taking turns using the restroomin the guest house. As we’re walking out, I can hear their first dance song echoing throughout the space. I know it’s her first dance song because I helped her pick it. Starting in the direction of the tent, we’re abruptly stopped by none other than Declan Byrne. He presses his hand to Jakob’s chest, attempting to back him up, but Jake doesn’t move a muscle.
Declan’s arms bulge under his dress shirt, which fits him just right. I can even see his veiny and tattooed forearms rippling with the anger he’s carrying. By all accounts, Declan Byrne is hot. Hell, all the Byrne men are hot. It really isn’t fair that their parents made such attractive boys. Declan’s too bulky for me, though. His eyes aren’t the right shade of green, and his hair isn’t the right color or shaggy enough to hold my attention. But his eyes hold nothing but disdain and fire for my big brother, and his body language screams that he’d snap Jakob’s neck if given half the opportunity to. People begin looking over our way, which causes me to start panicking.
“Get your fucking hands off me, Byrne.” Jake spits out at him.
“Why are you here, Fischer?” Declan asks in a low voice through gritted teeth.
“Because we were invited. Both in place of our father, and Lee received her own invitation seeing as she helped you guys out last year.” Declan’s emerald eyes whip over to mine, looking at me, scrutinizing me.
“You’re Lee? And you’re a Fischer?” He asks with disdain, but there’s something else in his eyes. It’s recognition, but it’s gone in a flash.
“The one and only. And since I know you’re friendly with my Papa, I’d suggest you remove your hands from my big brother, especially because he spared Kieran when he cameto pick Nix up in his bar last year.”
“What the fuck.” Declan practically yells in annoyance as he lets Jake go. But not before sneering, “Go before I change my mind.”
