by C. J. Thomas
Nolan planted his hands on his hips and looked to Charlotte. “Political move?”
“You haven’t heard,” Noah said before Charlotte caught Nolan up on what she overheard at Cooper’s gala.
Nolan’s jaw clenched as he flicked his gaze up to mine. “And you couldn’t have told me this before I left for the rehearsal tonight?”
“I didn’t know,” I muttered as everyone started to argue about the importance of working together. Nothing could be omitted. Even if the truth hurt, it had to be shared so no one was caught off guard again. As the room spun around me, I zoned out thinking about how Sienna was sacrificing it all to protect my good name. She didn’t have to do that. That wasn’t her job. I wasn’t worth it. Neither was the truth. Cooper would survive and so would I. But would she?
“Stop!” I held my hand up to get them to shut up. “Just stop. What Gary is saying about me is true. I know it’s hard for you to hear, but it is what it is.” When I flicked my gaze to Noah he gave me a knowing look. “I’m not the hero. Gary is.”
“That’s bullshit, Trevor.” Nolan jabbed his finger at me through the air, seeming unable to grasp the truth himself. “Don’t let this asshole win. He’s already taken your girl and now you’re going to let him take your legacy, too?”
“What are you girls crying about now?” Cooper stepped into the garage and casually strode to where we were all standing.
We all turned our heads and watched him wedge his way into the circle. An awkward silence quickly filled the room and no one knew what to say next. Charlotte was the first to speak. She caught Coop up on what was being discussed and he was quick to look at me and ask, “Is it true?”
Beneath my brow, I growled, “I told you I never wanted this.”
He stepped forward. “Yet you let it happen.”
“Fuck you,” I barked. “You’re blind to everything that’s happening around you. If you’re not careful, you’ll lose the election.”
“What are you saying?” His expression pinched. “Is that a threat?”
“I’m saying that things aren’t as they seem.”
Cooper looked to Noah. “Tell us, Trev,” Noah said. “Why is Gary the hero and not you?”
As I stared at Coop, the only thing I could hear was my racing pulse throbbing inside my ears. I knew I needed to tell him—needed to warn him that drama was sure to follow tomorrow’s wedding, or lack thereof. Gary was coming after me, but he was also coming after Coop.
“They need to hear it,” Evan encouraged.
Falling to the couch, I buried my head inside my hands and considered how to explain what happened to me. I didn’t want to talk about it. Not today. Not ever. They wouldn’t understand, and the last thing I needed was for them to feel sorry for me. But when I turned my head to the photo on the wall, I began speaking.
I shared everything I’d already told Noah and Evan, only adding more description to the intense fight we’d found ourselves fighting. “They were everywhere. Above us. Around us Everywhere. Raining bullets and heavy artillery upon us with nowhere to hide.”
Everyone listened, holding on to every word, looking on with disbelief flashing over their eyes.
“I never stopped shooting,” I continued. “Men fell into the dirt as quickly as I could get the rounds off. Husbands. Fathers. Sons. Men who were fighting for the same reasons I was. All dead because of me.” I swallowed and grabbed my thigh. “Before I knew it, a burning sensation ripped through my leg and I was the last man standing.”
Cooper stood with one arm folded across his abdomen, the other gripping his chin. His eyes were dark with thoughts swirling inside his pupils, calculating our next move.
“I should have died out there,” I said.
“Except Gary saved you.” Charlotte choked on her words.
Her eyes were drowning in tears when I peered up at her. I nodded. “That’s why my story is phony.”
Cooper lifted his hand to my shoulder and looked me directly in the eye. “You both are heroes.”
My eyes flicked to Coop. “Only a few good men know what Gary did that day.”
“And no one has to know,” Evan murmured.
“We can spin this, Trevor,” Cooper said. “If he’s blackmailing Sienna over this, he doesn’t have anything besides your word against his.”
Noah crossed his arms and looked at me with a wrinkled brow. “Maybe he knows more about you and Sienna than you know.”
Cooper quirked a brow and looked to Noah. “What are you referring to?”
Staring into Noah’s eyes, I said, “He doesn’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Back up one second,” Nolan said. “Is there more to your story with Sienna than what you’re saying? I mean, why else would he blackmail her into marrying him?”
Noah stepped forward. “The biggest threat to your campaign,” he said to Cooper, “is not whether or not our brother is a war hero—”
“—we slept together, too.” I looked to Charlotte as she nodded with approval. “The other day. When we met.”
“This is a joke, right?” Cooper barked out a laugh of disbelief.
Looking him directly in his eye, I said, “I understand if you are upset with me.”
“This is true?” His eyes rounded with sudden distrust.
I nodded once. “Our little secret.”
“Who else knows?”
Nolan turned his head to Coop. “The secret is safe. For now.”
Coop rooted his hands on his hips. “Now I understand why Dad called me and insisted I talk with you tonight.”
My brows pulled together. “Dad called you?”
“Yeah. Said that it was important. That I should reconsider attending the wedding tomorrow because something big might be going down that I shouldn’t be a part of.”
I dropped my gaze to the floor, suddenly feeling confused. Dad was working in the background to protect us from the potential fallout. But who else was he calling?
Noah’s cell started ringing and he stepped outside to take the call.
Nolan stepped to Cooper. “Before you decide whether or not tomorrow is a political risk worth taking, you should also know that Gary is currently deciding whether or not he should have one last meeting with his ex-girlfriend before he ties the knot.”
My head snapped up.
“Imagine the media frenzy that would follow that fallout.” Nolan laughed.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
Nolan turned to look at me. “Oh, shit. Trevor, I should have told you—”
“—Never mind.” I stood. “Tell me what you know.”
“The girls stole Gary’s cell phone tonight at the rehearsal dinner, hoping to catch him in the act.”
“If all this is true,” Charlotte said, “then this douchebag needs a serious ass-kicking.”
“She’s right,” Cooper agreed. “First he hit Sienna. Then he blackmailed her with a story that concerns you and me, only to end his life as a bachelor by cheating on her?” Cooper looked around the circle. “No one threatens our family without repercussion.”
We all nodded in agreement.
“If Sienna can’t get herself out, then we’ll take Gary out instead.” Cooper’s expression hardened.
“Where did you say the rehearsal dinner was?” Evan asked Nolan.
Nolan named the country club and I tossed Evan the keys to the Mustang. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”
38
Sienna
My bedroom was far too quiet for comfort.
I was awake, but my eyes were heavy with uncertainty. Monica had promised to keep an eye on Gary last night but I never heard back from her. I had ideas on how to stop today’s events, but they weren’t foolproof.
A sharp pain twisted my side.
Clenching my stomach, I was sick with guilt. No matter what happened, I couldn’t escape feeling like this was all my fault. And it was. I’d allowed it to get this far—unable to recognize Gary’s flaws
sooner. Now I was about to go through with something I didn’t want but had no choice because I needed to protect the ones I loved.
Spinning around, I glanced to the clock on the wall. Eight. The girls would be arriving soon. Checking my phone for the millionth time, I needed something to let me know that this was over—that our plan had worked.
My body ached to move. I danced around the room, anxiously waiting for any word from Monica. Her silence was terrifying. We should have caught Gary in the act.
I looked up, my eyes popping with sudden worry. A chill zipped down my spine, afraid Gary had figured out our plan and taken his anger out on Monica.
I typed a quick text to Monica.
Hey. Haven’t heard from you. I need to know you’re OK. Kinda freaking out over here. Hope to see you soon.
Lowering myself to the edge of my bed, the mattress crumbled under my weight. I stared into the floor without blinking, knowing Gary wouldn’t go down without a fight. I wondered who he’d strike first. Me? Trevor? Cooper?
My chin hit my chest and I closed my eyes.
Submission. I had submitted.
Shaking my head, I couldn’t believe how easily he’d gotten me to agree to marry him. But I had secrets of my own and couldn’t afford to have them shared with the world.
Standing, I moved to the dresser mirror. Turning my head from side to side, I puckered my lips before flattening them. I should have been happy to see the cut was closed and healing quickly. With the right amount of makeup, it would be barely visible. Instead, it only brought the ache back to my chest as a reminder of what I was truly about to lose. As soon as I said my vows, this would be all I had left of Trevor and the amazing man I’d had no choice but to kick to the curb.
The swelling moved to the back of my eyes and I looked away before I started to cry.
I hung on to hope, fooling myself into believing he would call. With each passing minute, it became clear that he wouldn’t. Not after what I’d said to him—how I’d hurt him in front of my father.
Swallowing down the pain constricting my throat, I turned to the closet and trailed my fingers over the front of my wedding dress that hung on the door. It was beautiful, pure—opposite of everything today embodied.
I hadn’t even heard from Mom or Dad since late last night and, naturally, had lost hope of them helping me.
My stomach roiled with thoughts of having to resort to the nuclear option—humiliating Gary at the altar. He wasn’t the only one sure to be humiliated. The fallout would excommunicate me from my family for good. But that wasn’t who I was. I wasn’t a vindictive person out for blood. I wanted peace, safety, protection—Trevor.
A knock on the bedroom door sent my head whipping around on my shoulders.
“Hey.” Sophia’s voice was soft. Her bridesmaid dress draped over her arms as she floated across the floor and gave me a hug.
“Please, tell me Nolan isn’t mad at me.”
She tucked my hair behind one ear and I watched her eyelids hood. “He never came home last night.”
My heart skipped a beat, panic tingling in my toes. Searching her eyes for further answers, I couldn’t help but wonder what happened after Nolan left last night and what he meant by saying he needed to keep his brothers safe. “Aren’t you worried about him?”
Sophia’s lips curved up a fraction. “Of course I am. But I know that he’s doing this for you.”
“Doing what?”
She cast her gaze away and moved to the bed. Laying her dress out, she said, “Whatever he needs to do.”
“This doesn’t feel right. Something bad has happened. I know it.” I wrung my hands out, unable to suppress the nerves wreaking havoc on my body. “Have you heard from Monica?”
Sophia shook her head.
“Doesn’t this worry you? This can’t be coincidence that both Nolan and Monica have disappeared.”
Finding her way to me, Sophia brought her hands to my shoulders and looked me in the eye. “No one has disappeared.”
“What if Gary knew we were on to him and he did something to them?”
“Sienna, Gary is stupid, but not that stupid.” She smirked.
“Sorry I’m late.” Monica announced her arrival.
My head perked up as relief swept over me.
Sophia squeezed my shoulder. “See, I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
“Hope you both want coffee; it took me forever to get through the line.” Monica marched in, setting three coffees down on the dresser before taking one for herself. “Shit, what a night.” She fell into the sofa chair in the corner of the room and kicked her feet up.
Not feeling like caffeine would do me any favors, I moved to Monica and said, “Tell me what happened. I was so worried about you. You should have texted me back. Did you catch him in the act?”
Monica’s head fell back into the chair and she closed her eyes. “I’m exhausted.” She brought her head forward. “I should have texted you back.” She held her coffee up and pointed at me just as my cell started to ring. “And wait until you hear this—”
“Sienna, it’s your Mom calling,” Sophia interrupted, holding up my cell.
I stared into Monica’s eyes knowing I couldn’t ignore Mom. “Shit. Hold that thought.” I spun around and took the call. “Mom, where have you been?”
“Honey, I’m at the country club waiting on you. The photographer just arrived hair and makeup are on their way.”
I closed my eyes and nodded. “I know.”
“Please don’t be late, Sienna.”
Moving to the window, I peeked past the curtains to see the limo already parked outside. “We’re on our way now.” I ended my call and turned back to the girls. “Our ride is here.”
Sophia peeked through the curtains next to me. “The limo?”
I nodded.
“Swanky.” Monica perked up. “I saw it when I arrived but didn’t want to assume it was for us.”
“I still want to know what happened last night,” I said as I began gathering everything I needed to prepare myself for walking down the aisle. Or not.
A minute later we were inside the back of the limo with Monica quick to reach for the chilled champagne bottle. Seeming to forget that today didn’t feel celebratory for me, I reminded them, “Gary responded to his ex. What happened after that?”
The vehicle went silent as Sophia’s cheeks reddened with shame. Monica lowered the bottle away from her lips. “So, get this. We watched him respond to the message, right? Well, after that, he spent lots of time in his car simply talking on the phone.”
“With her?” Sophia asked.
“It had to be.” Monica nodded. “Then I followed him south of the city where he stopped at a nightclub.”
Tipping forward, I asked, “Was she there?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t know.”
My jaw dangled on its hinges.
“Well, did you see her?” Sophia shifted in her seat.
Monica rolled her eyes to Sophia. “Wasn’t allowed to go in. Didn’t have a membership or some bullshit excuse. I was even dressed for it, you saw how amazing I looked.”
We both nodded in agreement. Monica was stunning last night.
“I even flirted with the bouncer at the door—who was super gross, by the way—but he talked about some policy I didn’t understand and wouldn’t let me in.”
I fell back into my seat, rolling my shoulders forward. “So, it’s over. He’s going to get away with this and we don’t even have solid proof he’s been cheating.”
“Sienna, you don’t have to do this.”
“You don’t get it, do you?!” I snapped. “Gary blackmailed me. My father’s reputation is on the line. And all of the Fosters’, as well.” I felt the limo slow as we approached the club’s entrance. “If I don’t go through with this, more lives will be ruined than need to be.”
Monica’s eyes grew wide as she pulled her spine off the back of the seat. “What the—”
; I turned to look out the window behind me. My chest tightened in sudden terror. Sweat poured from my palms as I stared at the media frenzy waiting to be let inside. I knew they were there for me. I couldn’t help but think that Gary had invited them to be sure I didn’t pull any stunts.
“What do you think that’s about?” Monica muttered.
“Take a wild guess.” I gagged on my own words as I slid further down in my seat, bile threatening to make me vomit.
As soon as the limo stopped at the entrance, my wedding planner rushed to my door with a panic-stricken face. Swinging it open, her eyes quickly landed on me. “Please tell me you know where Gary is.”
I blinked and shook my head.
“He’s missing.” She looked to the girls. “No one knows where he is.”
“Did you call him?” Monica asked the planner.
“He’s not answering his phone,” she said. Then I thought about Nolan and how he said he needed to keep his brothers safe. “I’m worried something might have happened to him.”
39
Sienna
The sun scorched the crown of my head as I stepped out of the limo with squeezed lungs.
The wedding planner looked to me for answers, but I didn’t have any. A second later, Mom appeared out of nowhere, hurrying toward the limo and waving her hands.
Looping her arm through the crook of mine, Mom tugged me to her side. “Sophia. Monica. Why don’t you two find your way to the back? Hair and makeup will be here shortly.”
The girls flashed me a skeptical look and I gave them one back. “I’ll meet you there soon.”
“She won’t be long,” Mom added. “Take her dress, will you?”
Sophia nodded, accepting my wedding dress from Mom.
“But what about Gary?” the planner asked.
“Relax.” Mom looked to the young woman. “I’m sure he’s just running late.” Mom turned to me. “Now c’mon, Sienna.” Mom led me into the building.
The cool air-conditioned air swept over my face and instantly prickled my skin. I didn’t know what was going on but something wasn’t right. “Mom, do you know where Gary is?”