“This is very serious,” Jasmine says to us.
Wasn’t this kid fast asleep just moments ago?How is she suddenly all perky and determined like this?
“What’s up, Pinkie?”I ask.
She points to a chair.“Sit down, Uncle Evander.”
“Sure.”
“Listen very carefully.”Jasmine’s dark curls are tousled.Her blue eyes are fierce as she makes eye contact with each of us individually.“My daddy has been through so much since I was born.He’s been sad and lonely and he’s sacrificed his own happiness for me.And now—finally—he’s found the most wonderful woman in the world and he deserves a chance to start his new, happy lifewithout being kidnapped.”
“Roger that,” Summer says.She’s been hanging out with SEALs too long.
“And let’s not even start with Emma!”Jasmine throws her hands in the air for dramatic effect.I know that Declan thinks she has a career in Naval intelligence, but I can see her as a trial lawyer.“Emma has had a very hard life and the last thing she needs is some sort of crisis after her wedding.Please let her have the fairytale—without the kidnapping.”
Cal is suddenly alert.Declan stands.Special K looks guilty.
“When did you turn thirty-five?”Cal asks.
“What are you getting at, Jasmine?”Declan asks.
Summer groans at his question and looks down at Jasmine.“They really can be dense sometimes.Just let ‘em have it.”
Jasmine points at Cal first, saying, “Do not…”
Then she points at Special K.“Even think…”
Then Declan.“About…”
And me.“Destroying their wedding night, or their wedding morning!And if you do, you will regret it.”
At first, no one says anything.Then Declan asks, “Wait.How did you know we were planning something?”
Jasmine laughs.“You think I don’t know what goes on around here?I heard what you did to Uncle Cal.This ranch may be a thousand square miles big, but nobody can keep a secret.”
“That is not true,” Cal says.“We have a secure conference facility in my home with cameras and biometric locks and an alarm and—.”
“Yes, but other than your work, you don’t have secrets.”Jasmine crosses her arms.“I know what you’ve been planning for Dad, and I am telling you,do not do it.That is all.”
She turns on her little white leather shoes and heads for the exit.
Summer snaps her fingers at us and runs after Jasmine.
The four of us hang back.
“I’m getting something to eat,” K says, standing and walking away.
“Fuckity, bye,” Declan says.
Cal gets up and stretches, but suddenly spins around and smacks his palms on the tablecloth.“You,” he growls, all up in my face.“You will not get the same courtesy.Remember what I said.Marked.Man.”
He stalks off.
I sit there for a while.I loosen my tie and prop up my shoes and think about all the details I’ll need to finalize in the next two days.I’ll be calling in a fuck ton of favors, but I’ll make it work.
I wander out eventually, thanking the catering staff and disc jockey as I leave.I tell them to help themselves to the bar.
Then I make my way back to the house in the dark.
