Finally finding a place near the hallway that leads to the bathroom, I lean back and sip on my scotch, surveying the room. My eyes find what I know I was subconsciously looking for.
Ariah. Her head back in laughter. Something one of the guys said amuses her. She looks breathtaking in her gown. The choice her stylist made was perfect. I just wish I believed she’s who she claims to be.
I see Lev approaching out of the corner of my eye. His black Tom Ford suit is tailor-made, and his usually carefree man bun is styled.
“Are you ready?” he inquires upon his final approach.
Grunting, I reply, “As ready as I’ll ever be. My stance on this whole thing hasn’t changed. This whole thing is archaic.”
He tilts his head in agreement, pivoting to see where my attention lies. “We need to figure out what to do with her. She’s become a greater distraction and is more trouble than she’s worth. We must find a way to separate her from Owen and Wyatt.”
Shrugging, I state, “There’s more to her than we know, but I don’t think she’s who I thought she was when she got here.”
His eyes pop wide, shoulders pulling back, surprised by my declarations. Again, I raise my shoulders and shrug, “All the evidence points toward her being important, but she’s not the enemy. That much I’ve surmised.”
“Does this mean you’re open to her being our wife,” he spits out like the idea truly repulses him. He’s a terrible liar. I hope this isn’t what I look like when I pretend Ariah hasn’t been burrowing her way under my skin.
“Fuck no. I didn’t say any of that. I still don’t think she’s meant to be our anything,” I snap. While I might no longer think she’s the enemy, I still believe she’s not wife material. “She’s not at all what we should be considering. Maybe Summer or Brittany? They can at least be controlled and aren’t as annoying as Meagan or as spineless as Sam.”
He nods, contemplating the weight of my statement. Ultimately agree before shifting our focus. “Speaking of Sam. What exactly is our plan for her? She can’t keep trying to usurp our control.”
Sighing, I massage the brim of my nose. This chick has become like some fatal attraction type shit. “You leave her to me. I have a plan all worked out.”
He twists his lips, not convinced, “You’ve been saying that for months, Wes, and have nothing to show for it.” Meeting my eyes, he continues, “She’s made an even bigger mockery of us than Ariah. Sam’s always fallen in line, but now it’s almost as if she doesn’t fear us. That’s highly problematic.”
“Agreed.” I start, growing frustrated with where this is headed.
“We just can’t afford to look bad on another front.”
Clenching my jaw, I mutter, “Again. Agreed. But like I said, I have it handled. Now, let’s get the guys and get this shit over with.”
* * *
“You knowif you walk around looking like shit is stuck to your upper lip all the time people are going to say you’re unapproachable.”
I spin in time to see Sebastian stroll into the room. Owen and Wyatt right behind him.
I flip him the middle finger. “Shut up asshole. It’s nice of you to finally grace us with presence.”
He chuckles, “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Cut the ass some slack, Seb. Wes has been a wee bit touchy since a certain blue-haired bombshell won’t put up with his or Lev’s shit,” Owen chimes in.
Lev goes rigid at the sound of his name. “She’s involved in this somehow. You two are just too spelled to see what’s in front of you,” he grits out.
“Or you and Wes are the stubborn idiots that refuse to see she’s the piece that’s missing,” Wyatt fires back.
He and Owen have been hell to deal with since Ariah started to return their affections. So what she’s gorgeous— she’s a wild card. One that I suspect isn’t the enemy I originally thought she was, but still too much of a risk to gamble on.
“Will all of you quit your damn complaining. She’s already selected,” Sebastian barks, silencing the room. “We need to focus. Are you idiots ready for the ceremony?”
We each grunt and nod as we begin to head for the door. Wyatt stops causing me to crash into his back. Turning only his head he asks, “Are you prepared for the hell Sam is about to unleash once her name isn’t called tonight?”
His question has everyone halt the foreword progress, shifting their gazes in my direction and waiting for my response.
Clearing my throat I state, “This will be her lesson. When none of us claim her she will be put in her place. I won’t have to do anything.”
Lev speaks first, “This is the grand plan you were talking about earlier?” His eyes narrow into slits, not convinced that my idea will work.
