These guys are family, and I’d do just about anything for them. That doesn't mean that I don't think Stone has lost his mind.
I walk into the room where the rest of the guys are getting ready, and I can instantly tell something's wrong. My mind goes straight to the Savage Bones.
“What is it?” I ask, preparing for the worst, maybe praying that it's an excuse to get out of this damn monkey suit.
“Addy’s cousin Piper, who we told not to come to town, just showed up, saying she refused to miss the wedding,” Stone says, frowning at his phone.
“Just what we need, another civilian in the way.” I mumble what probably every guy here is thinking.
“Listen, I got Addy and me a trailer on the outskirts of the clubhouse property. Piper can stay in my room tonight. She should be safe here. After the wedding, we'll just get her out of town as quickly as possible,” Stone says.
I agree, the less time she spends here in Mustang Mountain, the less of a chance Savage Bones will have any idea who she is or that she's even here.
“She's also going to be the maid of honor because that's who Addy wanted from the start,” Stone says.
“Which is why I'm now joining you in a penguin suit,” my brother Thunder says, walking out from the changing area at the back of the room.
I just start laughing.
“Fuck you. You look just as ridiculous as I do,” he says, glaring at me.
“All right, let's get this thing over with. The sooner we can get the girl out of here, the better,” I say, trying to make it seem like I'm more interested in getting the civilian to safety than I am just getting out of this tuxedo.
We head out to the main area of the clubhouse, that's been decorated with flowers and lots of poofy material.
“I don't think the clubhouse has ever looked so feminine,” I say to my brother Thunder as I take my spot beside him.
“Atlas has already made it crystal clear to the girls that the stuff goes away as soon as the wedding is over,” he whispers back.
Thank God. I don't think we'd be able to convince a single person that the clubhouse is still a safe place with all this.
The bridesmaids start walking down the aisle, followed by the maid of honor. This is the first look I get at Addy’s cousin, Piper, and I feel like I've just been punched in the gut.
She's absolutely stunning. Her blonde hair is twisted into some fancy updo with pieces framing her face, and her dress hugs all of her curves. She looks shy, like she's uncomfortable being in a room full of people that she doesn't know, not that I can blame her.
When she looks up, and her eyes lock with mine, a beautiful shade of pink coats her cheeks. I know this girl is mine, which is pretty fucking inconvenient seeing as we have got to get her out of town as soon as possible. Plus, there's not much I can do with one arm to convince her that she's mine.
She takes her spot on the other side of the makeshift aisle, but I don't take my eyes off of her for the entire ceremony.
Addy and Stone say their vows, and Piper keeps throwing quick glances my way. She'll smile and then quickly dart her eyes back to the couple.
The couple says, “I do”’ and then everyone starts to walk back down the aisle. Piper is walking with her arm linked through Atlas’s elbow and, for the first time ever, I think about offing the president of the club. He's touching what's mine, and I'm not okay with it.
But I remind myself it's not like I can do anything about it either. I want to spend the whole night getting to know her. I want to dance to every song with her. But I know she has to leave tomorrow, and I can't promise her anything as we have no idea what's going on with the Savage Bones, or how long it's going to take to run them out of town.
So, I try to keep my distance and join in on group conversations. When I can’t take it any more, I finally walk over during a slow song.
“Can I have this dance?” I ask her, and she smiles and nods.
I lead her out to the dance floor before pulling her into my arms. Right where she belongs.
“So, you’re Thunder’s brother?” she says and I smile. She’s been asking about me.
“Yeah, and you’re Addy’s cousin. Can’t say I’ve seen you around here before,” I say because I know I’d remember her if I had.
“I’m older than her. I graduated high school the year before she started and again with college. We’ve just been in two different parts of our lives.”
I do the quick math. That makes her about twenty-eight years old. Not as young as Addy, but still young enough I should leave her alone.
