‘Here’s what’s going to happen, okay?’ I tighten my grip on his arm, inching it a fraction higher. ‘I’m going to call my family and tell them to come in this way and you’re going to let us all pass.’
‘Who the hell are you?’ Wild eyes dart back over his shoulder.
‘I’m her bodyguard.’
His eyes widen.
I fire off a text to Andie, instructing her to come in the side entrance.
The security guy on the floor groans and glances around the floor as if he’s looking for a weapon. ‘Don’t even think about it,’ I caution.
‘Ryan warned us you might arrive.’
‘Did he now?’ I’m not in Ryan’s good books, understandably, but neither are these two meatheads going to be when he hears how effortlessly I breached Victoria’s security.
‘Know one thing. I’m not here for trouble. I’m here to make peace.’ I slacken the grip on his wrist, easing it slightly lower down his spine.
‘You’re going an unusual way about it, mate,’ the guy on the floor sneers.
Footsteps approach. I glance round, expecting to see my sister and Roger with Lily-May. Instead, I come face to face with Pierce.
‘What the fuck, Archie?’ His hands fly into the air. ‘Could you not have just called her?’
‘That’s what I said,’ Roger pipes up from behind, still fiddling with his tie.
‘You guys don’t have a romantic bone in your body,’ I tut.
‘I’ll talk to you two later.’ Pierce glances between the two security guards. He motions for us to follow him down the corridor. ‘Come on then. Seeing as you’ve come this far. Sasha said you’d show up.’ His shoulders shrug as his lips purse in a grim line. ‘Ryan’s going to take a little more convincing.’
I fall in line next to Pierce. ‘How is Victoria?’
‘As you’d expect. You broke her heart. Left her on the worst night of her life.’ He shoots me a sidewards glare.
‘I fucked up.’ I swallow hard. ‘Then I didn’t know what to do, so I fucked up some more.’
‘Are you done fucking up now?’ Pierce asks.
I nod.
‘In there.’ Pierce motions to a closed arched doorway. Applause thunders from behind it.
‘It’s already started?’ Sweat beads on my back beneath my suit.
He nods. ‘Find a seat at the back and stand when her name gets called, if you want her to see you.’
I pause in the doorway, my hand hovering over the brass handle.
‘You’ve got this, Archie.’ Lily-May whispers up at me.
‘Who’s this?’ Pierce’s eyes volley between us.
‘He’s my new dad,’ Lily-May announces proudly. ‘And now we need to find me a mum.’ She slips her little hand over mine and pushes until the handle drops. Another burst of applause creates the perfect distraction as we enter the magnificent room.
A high dome-like ceiling arches overhead. The walls are lined with row upon row of bookshelves overflowing with encyclopaedia-like spines. Gold backed chairs form line after line of seating and a makeshift stage is assembled at the front of the room.
Victoria and her family stand out a mile, assigned their own row, most of which is filled by suited security detail on either side of the Sexton sisters.
Even the children are present, sitting quietly for once. They must have been well-warned. Or bribed. Not one of them looks around as we slip into the only free seats left, right on the back row. Lily-May slips onto my knee while Andie and Roger take the seats on either side of me.
