“Just let him,” Garrett said, jumping out of the way as I ran past him, Edward close on my heels.
I was looking behind me and didn’t see Shirley until she slammed a chair into my chest. The air whooshed out of my lungs.
“I can’t believe you did that to my friend. You’re a sociopath,” she said, chin set.
I was not going to hit a woman, so I turned to contend with Edward, who resembled a wild animal wearing a green tuxedo.
My brother Remy grabbed Edward around the neck and slammed him to the floor. It didn’t faze the ex-Marine, though, because he immediately jumped back up. Four of my brothers piled onto him as Susie and several other officers from the Harrogate police force arrived.
“If you all can’t calm down,” Officer Susie announced, “I’m going to start taking people to jail.”
“You need to put my daughter in jail,” my father yelled. “She committed fraud.”
Susie glared at him. “Did you pay for this wedding, sir?”
“Well, uh, no.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Who paid for it?”
I raised my hand. “I did, but I also was in on it so…” I admitted.
“If there was no money involved, then there’s no crime. It’s not illegal to stage a sham wedding,” Susie informed the crowd.
“But there was food, and she had my grandmother’s dress and jewelry!” Cassie demanded.
“Send her a certified letter stating that she needs to return it. If she does not, then we’ll involve the law. Until then, it’s a civil matter,” Susie said.
“But the food…” Cassie protested.
“Anyone who brought food can take it home,” Susie announced. “Otherwise, clear out of here and go about your business.”
* * *
My brothers weresilent on the way back to the estate.
“What about the reception?” Davy asked. “How come we’re not having a reception? I’m hungry.”
Thunder clapped, and rain dripped down the windows of the bus.
“There’s food at the house,” I told him, feeling the glares of my brothers on the back of my neck. “At least we didn’t have to figure out where the reception was going to be moved to,” I mused absently as Davy messed with the collar of my tux.
When we arrived, I ducked through the rain into the house. Weston accosted me as soon as I stepped through the front door.
“How could you?” he asked accusingly. “You lied to everyone. You ruined our chance at that contract. You completely fucked up. What’s worse, you didn’t even tell me about your crazy plan.”
“I’m sorry,” I said helplessly.
“That doesn’t cut it. We were so close, Blade,” he said, shaking his head. “What happened to you?”
I glared at him. “I just wanted what you had. You were always off with girls, while everyone always gave me a hard time.”
“Oh, come off it,” Garrett snapped at me. “You got greedy, went in with some idiot girl who couldn’t keep her mouth shut, and now you’ve ruined our good name.”
“What good name?” I yelled at him. “We grew up in a cult, and we still have siblings there. Our family is a disaster!”
“You made it a thousand times worse,” Garrett spat.
“I guess you all hate me now,” I said bitterly.
