“You’re countin’ too much on Scottish hospitality to keep you alive,” I’m struggling to control my temper. When his gaze drifts over my shoulder, I turn to see Elana cowering by my mother.
Cormac, Cameron, and my father join the group, blocking the rest of the guests from Juan’s sight.
“I don’t know what my uncle discussed with you,” Zed finally steps up, “but as head of the King family, I was never consulted and never agreed to a match.”
“That’s a shame,mi amigo, but at the time, your poor, departed uncle was head of the family and made the agreement on your behalf,” Juan’s enjoying this, white teeth flashing against his tanned skin. A brief glance behind me shows that the Lady Elspeth has Elana’s arm linked through hers and isn’t letting her move.
“You might be head of the family,” Juan shrugs, “but William was the acting head of the King Syndicate. You are bound to whatever agreements he made during his tenure.”
“Not agreements we never discussed!” Zed says sharply. “I’m happy to meet with you and discuss other ways our organizations can work together, but bartering off my sister isn’t one of them.”
Juan’s eyes go deliberately to me and Aria, “Given the sudden nature of this union, I must share my doubts about that.”
“You feckin-” Cormac’s arm comes across my chest as I lunge forward.
“We’re not starting a brawl in the middle of this wedding,” he says coldly, “Mr. Alonso, this is not the time or place. We can arrange a meeting at our office in Edinburgh tomorrow and host a discussion between-”
“There is no discussion to be had,” Juan cuts Cormac off, his gaze still fixed on Elana. “The agreement was made, a contract signed. No family in our world reneges on a contract withoutserious consequences. Are you prepared to face what comes next?”
“Threatening us is not working in your favor,” Aria speaks up. “There is no contract, I would have seen it.”
“Ah, yes! Your wedding gift. I have it here.” Juan mockingly holds up his hand. “Just pulling out an envelope, no bullets needed.” He holds a white envelope out to Zed and Aria, and it misses no one’s notice that she is the one who takes it. “I’ll give you time to read through the contract.”
He puts his sunglasses back on.
“I’ll expect to hear from you within seventy-two hours. If not… there will be repercussions. To your father’s legacy and your family business.” The bastard has the nerve to cheerfully wave goodbye before disappearing back into the chopper.
“What the hell has Uncle Bastard done?” Zed groans. It’s the first time the nickname has slipped from his lips and I’d laugh if the situation wasn’t dire.
“The real question is,” Aria says, “what else has he done to us?”
Sliding my arm around her waist, I give her a gentle squeeze. “Let’s enjoy the rest of our day. Tomorrow we’ll tackle Alonso, aye?”
She looks up with a wry little grin so delicious that I want to kiss it off her lips. “Are you sorry yet?”
“Sorry? About what?”
Rubbing her forehead, Aria sighs, “That you made me marry you?”
Chuckling, I kiss her before guiding her back to the party. “You’re gettin’ all complicated, but I happen to like complicated.”
“Usually, he’s the one creating the complications,” Cormac adds with a wink. “I’m looking forward to seeing him fix them for a change.”
Disloyal wanker.
***
Aria…
“That was him?”
Elana slips away from the Lady Elspeth and hurries to me. Her hands are shaking and ice cold. Rubbing them gently, I blow on them the way I did when she was a little girl with hands like an ice block.
“Juan Alonso? Yes. He’s not getting anywhere near you. I don’t know what he was thinking with that little stunt-”
“He said Uncle William signed off on it!” Elana interrupts me, yanking away her hands. “How did you let it get this far? Itoldyou before you went flying off to fall madly in love that he was trying to do this. Why didn’t you stop him? I can’t- I’m not going to marry that man!” She storms off before I can think of how to soothe her.
Zed gives me an apologetic smile. “I’ll go talk to her, calm her down. Go have some cake and try to relax.”
