Once again, his strong arms were around her. “Keeping you safe is not a disruption.”
14
Quinn
Quinn was waiting in the waiting room of the clinic when Brennan dropped Juliana off at exactly four-thirty. While he finished up his paperwork for the day, she read a book about wedding planning.
As soon as they were back at Quinn’s house, he said, “I need to tell my brothers about this, and I need to tell them the truth.”
“What truth is that?” Juliana asked, sitting down at the kitchen table.
She was obviously rattled by this encounter. Her cheeks were usually rosy, and they’d been pale since he first saw her at the diner that day.
“The truth about our relationship,” he said.
“No.” She brought her hand down flat on the wooden surface. “You know I don’t want anyone to know.”
“They’re not just anyone. If they’re going to help, they need to know. They need to know every detail, including that we’re getting married because you were promised to someone else who’s a member of the Romanian Mafia. I promise you, my brothers and I can handle this, but they’re working at a disadvantage if I don’t tell them.”
Her shoulders slumped forward in defeat. “Okay. Tell them.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry this happened, but you’ll be glad we told them the truth. They can help.”
Quinn texted his brothers.
I need to talk to you all again. Tonight if possible.
Eight tonight, my house, Kellan replied. Declan will be asleep, and Clara would love to see Juliana.
At exactly eight, they pulled into Kellan’s driveway. Liam and Brennan were both there already, and Clara immediately ran up to Juliana and embraced her.
“I have wine for us on the back porch,” Clara said. “We can stick our legs in the pool and cool off.”
Juliana smiled, and it looked genuine. It was the happiest Quinn had seen her look since that Anton creep had showed up at the cafe.
“We’ll see you guys later,” Juliana said to us.
In the living room, Kellan handed all of them a beer. “Let’s hear it.”
“You know Juliana is from a wealthy Romanian family who’s involved in organized crime, and she’s here because she needed to get away from them.” His brothers nodded, so Quinn kept going. “The reason she left is that her father arranged a marriage for her to a man who is the embodiment of a cruel mobster. She was going to be forced to marry this man.”
“What the fuck,” Brennan said.
“I can check with some friends at the FBI,” Liam said. “We can find out if any of them are under investigation, and if they’re not, we can make a few calls and maybe get some investigations going. I can probably find some federal charges and—”
Quinn cut him off. “Not yet. Juliana’s not ready for that.”
Liam nodded. “Okay. Just let me know if she wants to.”
“Thanks. She came here to escape the forced marriage and to hide. Then we met. As you may have guessed by now, our engagement was part of a plan. She feels like if she’s married, they’ll lose interest in dragging her back home.”
Liam frowned. “I’m not sure that’s the best plan. Just because she’s married and can’t further their crime connections doesn’t mean they’ll leave her alone. The mafia doesn’t work like that.”
“I know, but it will offer her some level of protection. I’m willing to do that.”
“You’re getting legally married?
“Yes.”
Brennan stood up. “We aren’t going to fucking sit around and let you marrying her be our only plan.”
“I agree. That’s why I asked you to meet me. I can protect Juliana when I’m with her, but I can’t abandon my patients. Even if I could, Juliana doesn’t want me following her around all day. I need a full-time strategy. I want to bring the vampires in.”
“I agree,” Kellan said. “They’re the best at security. They blend in, and they have resources and connections all over the world. I guarantee they’ll already be aware of this crime family.”
The vampires were cunning and efficient, and they were always effective. The only problem was that Quinn couldn’t tell Juliana they weren’t human, and even the most cultured of the vampires came off as odd to most humans.
Liam sat back. “Are you all sure we want to bring vampires to Cedar Lake? I can’t argue that they’re not effective at what they do, but they’re so fucking weird. Do we really want them skulking around town?”
The vampires were weird, but as they’d already established, they were good at what they did. Adrenaline spiked in Quinn’s blood as he glared at Liam. “I’m going to protect Juliana. If that means I need to take her somewhere else to do so, then we’ll move. I want your support, but I will do what’s necessary.”
Liam stood up and stepped in front of Quinn. He put his hand on Quinn’s shoulder and leaned in. “Hey. I have your back. Always. Don’t forget that.”
Quinn’s shoulders sagged. His brothers were not the enemy. He had to keep that in mind. They were the best defense against the mafia that he and Juliana would ever find. “Fuck,” he said. He’d just bitten Liam’s head off for no reason. “I’m sorry,” he admitted.
Before he knew it, Brennan and Kellan were on either side of him, and the four of them stood together.
“This isn’t fake for you, is it? This relationship?” Liam asked.
“No. It’s not. My dragon feels like she’s my mate, but I can’t think like that. She just escaped from her mother and father, who were basically trying to sell her to the highest bidder. She’s not ready to be involved with anyone, and I have to respect that.”
His brothers all made noises of agreement and sat back down.
“Okay. Let’s get to work,” Quinn said.
Kellan held up his hand. “Before we start plotting, I want you and Juliana to move in here.”
“What?” Quinn asked.
“Move in here. We can turn it into a fortress. You know that.”
“What about Clara? Declan? I won’t endanger them, and Juliana won’t either,” Quinn said.
Kellan’s eyes flashed. “I can protect my family. I can work from home.”
“For how long?’
Kellan’s signature grin appeared. “Billionaire, remember? I can do anything I want.”
Brennan punched him, and then Kellan put him in a headlock, and they crashed to the floor, wrestling just like they did when they were hatchlings. Kellan grabbed Liam’s leg and pulled him down into the fray, so Quinn ducked away before they could get him, too, and went to find Juliana.
Like Clara had said, the two of them were sitting on the patio next to the fan that misted water and sipping chardonnay.
Mate, his dragon insisted.
This wasn’t the time.
Clara’s eyebrow quirked when she saw Quinn. “Are you the survivor?”
“Survivor of what?” Juliana asked.
“Oh, anytime the four of them are together, there’s a wrestling match or a competition. Quinn is the calmest, or maybe Liam, depending on the day, and Brennan is always the instigator. The winner is always a toss-up.”
“It’s sad that you know us so well,” Quinn said. At that moment, he was so grateful to have his family. He’d take Juliana and leave town if it was the best way to protect her, but being here with his brothers having his back was a million times better.
Clara leaned down and gave Juliana a big hug. “I’ll give you two a minute alone.”
Quinn took her spot on the patio. “We’re going to move in with Kellan and Clara.” There was no point in beating around the bush. “Tonight,” he said.
Within three hours, they were completely moved into Kellan’s mansion.
He was right, being a billionaire did come in handy. After one phone call to the vampires and the promise of an obscene amount of Kellan’s money, a vampire security coven was on their way to Cedar Lake.
The v
ampires flew to Texas on their private jet and arrived not long after midnight. Twelve of them arrived and scattered out across Cedar Lake. They were masters at lurking and blending into shadows, which was great because none of them could pass for a local unless they really tried. Even then, the vampires were about as far from a cowboy as you could get.
While Quinn and Kellan hashed out the security details with the vampires, Clara had helped settle Juliana into one of the guest rooms. He was grateful that his room was right next door to hers. It would be nearly impossible for a human to make it through the vampires and into Kellan’s home, but Quinn wasn’t ready to take chances.
While she was living in his house, Quinn had gotten used to the patterns of living with Juliana. He knocked on the door.
“Come in,” she said.
Instead of getting ready for bed, Juliana was still fully dressed, and she was pacing.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Should I be here?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She stopped pacing and sank down on the bed. “I mean, I’m in your brother’s home with his wife, who is my friend, and his child, who I adore. I’ve been chased here, all the way from Boston, by two separate criminals, who are probably just as willing to break into Kellan’s home.”
“That’s very considerate of you, but Kellan has already hired private security.”
“He has?” she asked. “That was fast.”
“Yep. That’s what being a billionaire will get you. We tease him all the time about it, but his resources really do help get stuff done.”
“Well, I owe him a thank you.”
“You can thank him, but we’re family now. Even though our engagement isn’t real, they know you’re my friend, and you’re a part of this town. He and Clara, and Liam and Brennan will do everything they can to help.”
Quinn didn’t add that he’d stop at nothing to protect his mate.
15
Juliana
As the day of the wedding crept closer, Juliana spent her spare time trying to find a way to show Quinn how much she appreciated him. Quinn had done so much for her. He deserved for her to do something for him for once. She had no expenses, and she’d never had to buy a car. Kellan had swooped in and insisted that they use some of his extras, so she had money left from the stash she took when she left Boston. She had nowhere to spend the money she earned at the cafe, either, so the money she had saved accumulated.
She should be planning the wedding, but the honeymoon loomed. According to American traditions, the groom was supposed to plan the honeymoon, but Quinn was swamped. He was trying to manage the security he’d hired, and he was running back and forth to his house and Kellan’s, all while trying to manage the clinic and his patients.
As soon as she sat down with a world map, she knew Ireland was the place they needed to go for the honeymoon.
Once that was booked, she set out to make wedding arrangements. Declan was going to walk her down the aisle, a role he took on proudly. Clara was going to be her matron of honor, and Kate was a bridesmaid. Liam and Kellan were both taking on the role of best man, having jokingly offered to wrestle each other for the honor. Brennan was going to officiate since he was a public official with the capacity to marry them.
They were going to get married at Kellan’s house. He felt like he could protect all of them the best at his own home, and, well, his house looked like a resort. It was hardly a sacrifice to get married there.
Once she’d told Kate that she wanted to get married quickly, the whole town had come together for the town doctor. Most of the town adored Quinn, and she’d had non-stop offers for photography, flowers, catering, and cake making.
She said yes to every offer. Not only did it help her get to know the people in town, but it helped her get everything done. It warmed her heart to see how much Quinn was valued in the community. More than once, a resident of Cedar Lake had stopped her to tell her how lucky she was to get such a good guy.
She happened to agree whole-heartedly. She just wished she could give Quinn everything he needed. In the grocery store, she might look like she had it together, but she was a jittery mess. She jumped at every little sound. Every time she saw someone out of the corner of her eye, she froze. Each time she saw a man walking toward her for any reason, she panicked.
At night, she woke up with her heart pounding, dreaming that Anton had succeeded in taking her back home. Instead of leaving the cafe, he’d tugged her into his car and driven her back to Boston, where she’d been forced to marry Mihal.
She woke up each night, tangled in the expensive silk sheets in Kellan’s guest room. Letting Quinn fall in love with her wouldn’t be right. He was kind enough to marry her now and save her from a terrible fate, but eventually, they’d both be able to move on. Quinn and his brothers would find a way to keep her safe in the long run. Their fake relationship wouldn’t last forever, and Quinn would be able to marry someone that wasn’t plagued by nightmares, who wasn’t haunted by a family that saw her as a pawn.
In the bathroom, she wet a washcloth and scrubbed her face. She went to the kitchen and found Clara there, boiling water in the tea kettle.
“Can’t sleep?” Clara asked.
Juliana shook her head. “No.”
“Nightmares?” Clara asked, and she looked like she knew what she was talking about.
Juliana nodded.
Clara opened the cabinet and took out a mug and a packet of tea. She poured hot water in the mug and added the teabag. Then, she handed it to Juliana.
“Drink that. It will help.” Clara took a sip of her own tea. “I have nightmares, too,” she said. “It will get better though, I promise.”
At seven on the evening of her wedding, a knock sounded on the bedroom door. “Juliana? Are you ready? I was going to say hello before the ceremony,” Quinn said.
She jumped about ten feet in the air. “No! Don’t come in,” she yelled through the door. “What was I thinking?”
“Do you want to cancel the wedding?”
“No! Of course not. I meant, why did I think it was okay for you to see me beforehand?” She pressed her hands to her cheeks then pulled them away, not wanting to mess up her makeup. She didn’t even have her wedding dress on yet. She was still wearing Clara’s fluffy robe.
“In that case, I’ll see you soon,” Quinn’s deep voice said.
Juliana plopped back down on the dressing table stool.
From behind the dressing table, Clara was laughing, and so was Kate. They’d been helping her get ready all morning. Each of them wore a mint-colored chiffon dress with spaghetti straps, and they’d taken turns styling each other’s hair. They both looked like they’d stepped out of a wedding magazine.
As for Juliana, she now had perfectly curled hair, perfectly curled eyelashes, and perfectly lined lips. Her dark hair was pulled up on top of her head, with a few curls cascading down.
Kate leaned down next to her face. “You look ravishing!”
“You do!” Clara exclaimed. “I think you’re the prettiest bride Cedar Falls has ever had.”
Juliana laughed. “You guys are too sweet.” Without warning, tears prickled at her eyes.
If she hadn’t fled Boston and ended up in Cedar Lake, she’d be marrying Mihal right now, and her life would belong to him and the Romania mafia for the rest of her days. Instead, she’d found the courage to run away, and then she’d met Quinn, who had saved her several times over. Now she was looking at these two kind women, who’d given a new person a chance in their small town and embraced her with open arms.
“Juliana? What’s wrong?” Clara asked. She crouched down beside her, and Kate put her hands on Juliana’s shoulders. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m just happy,” she said. It was the truth, but she was also profoundly sad. She was lying to these two women. Quinn’s brothers might know the truth, but Clara didn’t, and neither did Kate.
Was she putting them in danger by
being here? Quinn insisted that she wasn’t. She was going to have to trust him on that. If he thought they needed to leave town, then he’d tell her.
She gave them both a wobbly smile.
Clara bent down and whispered in her ear. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s okay to be emotional.” Then she patted Juliana briskly on the shoulder. “Chin up. It’s time to put your wedding dress on.”
Kate took the dress off the hanger and held it up while Juliana took off her robe. Clara helped her step into the delicate dress.
Clara clapped her hands together. “It looks even better today, with your hair and makeup done!”
Just three days ago, Clara and Kate had whisked Juliana away from Cedar Lake for a whirlwind shopping trip in Dallas. They’d found a small boutique that was locally owned, and then proceeded to make Juliana try on at least twenty dresses. After they’d helped her choose her wedding gown, they’d chosen their bridesmaids dresses.
The gown she chose was ivory-colored and off the shoulders. She had to admit that it complimented her figure perfectly. Clara buttoned the delicate buttons down the back, and Kate fitted the simple hairpiece into Julian’s updo.
“You’re a beautiful bride,” Kate said.
Clara nodded. “Quinn is going to lose it when he sees you.”
Juliana smiled at them. Despite her misgivings about deceiving them and the rest of the town, she was lucky. She wasn’t going to waste her wedding day being sad.
Clara opened the door. “Let’s go.”
“Here comes the bride,” said Kate as Juliana gathered up the skirt of her dress and made her way to Kellan’s back yard.
16
Quinn
The sun was setting over Cedar Lake. Somehow, Kellan’s backyard had been transformed. Quinn wasn’t sure who made that happen, but it was spectacular. He didn’t much care about how the wedding looked. He’d have been just as happy to marry Juliana at the courthouse, but he was glad that she was going to get a fairytale wedding out of this crazy situation.
Doctor Dragon's Fake Bride (Irish Dragon Shifter Brothers Book 2) Page 8