by Sophia Gray
“Okay, you should go dance with Anna and the girls in the meantime.” He winked and disappeared into the crowd. She went to her friends and soon was lost to the rhythm of the music. It was crazy that months ago, she would have never willingly danced with others, but Vance had changed everything for her.
She had danced with her friends to a couple songs when she realized Vance hadn’t come back with their drinks. She looked around, trying to find him. Her head was spinning slightly due to the champagne, and she was dying to be with him, so she left the dance floor and went looking for him, smiling at everyone who crossed her path.
He was not at the bar, but Teresa heard some noise in the kitchen. Maybe he went to order something special, she thought, her judgment clouded by the alcohol.
She snuck behind the door, not wanting to spoil the surprise if it was meant for her. But what she heard instead made her blood freeze and stomach drop.
“… ye have to come back to the club immediately, lad!” her father’s voice yelled.
“I’m not doing that, boss.”
That was Vance’s voice, she was sure of it. Boss? What did that mean? How could those words be coming out of his mouth? This had to be a mistake. That it was someone else, or it was a big trick. She couldn’t think of the alternative, that Vance actually knew her father, but more than that, he worked for him.
“This ain’t the plan! Ye were supposed to marry her and bring her home, or else…!”
Teresa stopped listening. She stumbled against the wall beside her, trying to muffle a strangled cry. So Vance was the man her father had sent to spy on her. He knew who Jimmy Love was when he came banging on her door. He had even been paid to marry her! This was all was a charade. Fake. He had never loved her.
Her eyes filled with tears and she turned around to leave but ran into a waiter holding an empty tray. Both fell to the ground, and the noise alerted the men in the kitchen. Vance was the first one to appear, and when he saw her, they both knew. His face was as pale as a ghost, and he reached for her, but Teresa backed away on the floor.
She sprang to her feet and rushed across the dance floor, bumping into people. She grabbed her purse from her seat and rushed to the car. She knew driving was a bad idea, yet she started the engine and took off, blinded by the tears, blinded by the alcohol, and blinded by the pain.
It was raining. The road was wet. But she didn’t care. The idea of getting into an accident was almost enticing. Maybe that would be less painful than knowing she had given her heart to a man who had sold it for money and a position in her father’s gang.
Lights flashed as she drove. She heard the muffled sounds of cars honking at her. She took a bad turn and lost control of the wheel. Teresa screamed as the car bumped and rolled down a hill. She covered her face with her hands and prayed for it to be quick. Through her hands, she could see a tree coming closer and closer in the headlights. She braced for impact, and her whole body was jolted, and then everything went dark.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jimmy Love
Jimmy had known about Vance’s wedding with his daughter thanks to Bailey, and he had not hesitated even for a minute to show up. It was his daughter’s wedding, and he had a right to be there, goddammit! Unfortunately, his subordinate had not been able to find out the courthouse room where the ceremony would take place, so he had to wait until the reception.
Vance and Teresa’s faces when they saw him there, standing among their guests, had been priceless: Jimmy enjoyed watching Vance’s horrified expression the most. He knew what the lad had been doing, he was no fool: he had been avoiding the club on purpose.
Since his first trip after the engagement, he had only shown up once, even though he had been summoned on several occasions. He always made up an excuse, like, “Can’t go, Teresa expects me to cook dinner for her tonight” or “I am too busy planning the wedding” or “Teresa will get suspicious if I go.”
Bullshit. Jimmy knew it was all bullshit; blatant lies to avoid confronting him. And Jimmy knew because he had realized something: that Vance Tate was not interested in the deal anymore. The fool had winded up falling head over heels for Teresa, and he would rather leave the club and everything behind than betray her.
Well, they had a deal, and nobody crossed Jimmy Love and got away with it.
When the couple reached him, Teresa received him so politely that for a moment Jimmy thought that he had been forgiven. But things were never easy. “Please, join us in our celebration. After all, this may be the last time you see me and my husband,” she shot at him, her voice and glare as cold as ice – how much she reminded him of his ex-wife.
Jimmy stood there, watching them leave, and entered the restaurant with the rest of the guests. He was accommodated at the farthest table and was stuck during the whole reception with some dull coworkers of Teresa’s. He looked at her intensely, glaring at Vance whenever their eyes met – which was fairly often. He knew the lad was scared and smiled grimly.
At one point, before the meal was served, Teresa raised her glass and called for attention. Jimmy Love froze, as he saw his daughter get up and address her guests in an apparent harmless speech – but one he knew was fully intended for him, to let him know he was unwanted. Something in the bottom of his heart stirred, and he closed his fists in raged as he listened to his daughter’s words.
“I want to thank you all for coming, even on such short notice. It means the world to Vance and me to see you all here,” she said, looking to everyone but him. “I hope you’ll continue to support us throughout our journey together, happy and healthy.” She raised her glass, and everybody cheered.
Jimmy just stood there, eyes locked on Teresa and clenched white-knuckled fists on the table, unable to move. She had very openly declared that he was unwanted in her life and that she would do anything to get rid of him once and for all.
He saw Teresa whisper to Vance, smiling lovingly at him, and knew he would never forgive that bastard for taking his daughter away. For double-crossing him. He would do anything to get what was his, even if it meant crashing the damn wedding.
The meal was long and boring. Jimmy ignored pretty much every attempt from his tablemates to start a conversation. Questions like, “Are you with the bride or the groom?” and “How did you meet them?” were bothersome and unwanted. He was waiting for the perfect moment to confront Vance, and for the time being, he focused on enjoying the meal and the wary looks Vance would give him from time to time.
Every time Vance looked at him, he stared back, smiling at the corner of his lips, knowing exactly that Vance was aware of the threat: he was going to destroy all the lies he had built. If that did not make Teresa go back home, at least it would push her away from the fool.
When the reception ended, and the music began, Jimmy knew his time was coming. He watched as the couple made it to the dance floor and ordered a whiskey as he waited for the right moment.
Jimmy tried to focus on his revenge, instead of the joy he saw on his daughter’s face as she twirled across the floor, letting herself go in the arms of her husband. That did not matter. The only thing that mattered was that he would never forgive Vance for betraying him, and if that meant going over Teresa… Well, maybe if she saw that all men were the same and her new life was pointless, she would give in and go back home.
The song ended and, after a while, Jimmy noticed that Vance was leaving her side. He whispered something in her ear, and his daughter went to dance with her friends as Vance crossed the ballroom towards the bar.
This was Jimmy’s chance.
He left his empty glass at the table and got up, wandering a bit to gain some time before heading to the bar himself. Vance had not noticed him approach, too hypnotized by Teresa’s dancing figure on the dance floor, and he enjoyed watching the lad jump in fright as he took his side.
“Ye ‘ave me congratulations, lad. What a nice couple ye make,” he spat. Vance looked at him, and for a moment Jimmy thought that he would play along
with him, pretending to still be working for him.
“What the hell are you doing here, Jimmy?” He growled, eyes narrowed. Jimmy was impressed. The lad had more balls than he had given him credit for. He smiled dangerously and leaned towards him.
“Well, it’s me daughter’s wedding. Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said innocently. Vance’s stare was burning into his eyes, and it looked like he may even lose it and throw a fist in his face. He did not mind: it had been too long since he got into a fight. But instead, the lad chose to speak.
“You can kiss Teresa goodbye after tonight. I am not bringing her back to your hellhole, even if you offered all the money in the world. I’m done with you, Jimmy.” His words were filled with poison, but Jimmy let them slide. The angrier the lad became, the more probable it was that he made a mistake, exposing himself in front of Teresa.
“Do ye really want to discuss this here?” Jimmy asked, raising his eyebrows and cocking his head towards Teresa. Vance frowned for a moment, and without saying a word, he headed to the kitchen. Jimmy followed him, and they entered the corner of the kitchen where they were partly hidden. Seeing the groom there, the personnel let it slide and left them alone.
“Get out, Jimmy,” Vance threatened him, clenching his fists. Jimmy laughed, hard and cold. His throat ached, but he did not stop.
“Ye know that’s not happenin’ that easily. I’ll go back when I get Teresa back.” He took a step towards Vance and roughly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. Vance grabbed Jimmy’s forearm.
“She will never go back to you.”
The lad still had balls, but he was starting to piss Jimmy off. From the corner of his eye, he saw the door of the kitchen opening and knew it was time: Vance had not seen Teresa, but she was there, just in time to listen to everything.
“Ye listen to me! Ye have to come back to the club immediately, lad!” he yelled, raising his voice on purpose.
“I will not, boss.” He made it sound like an insult, and it took all of Jimmy’s will not to beat the hell out of the kid.
“This ain’t the plan! Ye were supposed to marry her and bring her home, or else…!” he threatened.
He did not need to say anything else. A sudden noise interrupted them. They let go of each other, and Vance rushed towards the kitchen door. Teresa looked horrified and scurried away with Vance running after Teresa, calling her name.
Jimmy walked behind them at a leisurely pace, smiling, as he knew his plan had worked. Teresa had heard their exchange, and now she knew the truth. By the look on her face, it seemed that she had really loved Vance, but it was for the best. The deeper the cut, the longer it would take to heal.
Teresa and Vance had disappeared from the restaurant, and their guests looked at each other in confusion. Jimmy sat back in his chair, ordered another whiskey, and sat back.
Vance Tate had played with fire and got burnt. Now he would never forget that nobody crossed Jimmy Love and got away with it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Vance
Vance watched Teresa in horror. Her face was a pale mask that showed all the betrayal she was feeling. Time froze, and he replayed the conversation that he just had with his new father-in-law; the conversation that had ended any hope he may have had.
“Get out, Jimmy,” Vance threatened when they faced each other in the privacy of the kitchen.
“Ye know that’s not happenin’ that easily. I’ll go back when I get Teresa back.” Jimmy took a step towards Vance and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. Vance grabbed his forearm, clawing his hand hard.
“She will never go back to you.” He growled.
For a moment they looked at each other in silence, and then Jimmy yelled at him.
“Ye listen to me! Ye have to come back to the club immediately, lad!”
What was he talking about? It was already clear that the deal was off! Had the old man lost his mind?
“I will not, boss.” Vince spat the word as an insult, and seeing the twitch on Jimmy’s face, he knew that his old boss was refraining from punching him. Good – he was actually itching for a fight.
“This ain’t the plan! Ye were supposed to marry her and bring her home, or else…!” he threatened. A sudden noise stopped him, and Vance turned to look in the same direction as his boss.
The kitchen door was open, and through it, he clearly saw Teresa, who had bumped into a waiter and was on the floor. The color drained from her face. She had heard everything… and now he had lost her.
Vance took off when he saw Teresa disappear into the main room. Vance forgot about Jimmy, his mind focused on one thing: finding Teresa and explaining everything to her. He had to make her understand. He had to make her see that he loved her, that the plan had long been forgotten, and that he could not live without her.
“Teresa, please, wait!” he yelled at her through the crowd, but if she heard him, she didn’t show it. Vance crossed the ballroom, running into blurs of people. He did not notice the looks on the guests’ faces, the whispers that went across the restaurant as people realized that something odd was going on. He tried to catch up with Teresa, but she was fast, and the crowds of people slowed him down.
By the time he got to the entrance, Teresa was driving down the road. He cursed under his breath. “This is not good.” He knew Teresa had been drinking a lot that night and was not in any condition to drive. It was dark, and his heart raced with fear at the thought of what could happen, crippling his ability to act.
He snapped out of it when he heard noises coming from the restaurant: people had started coming out to see what the fuss was about, and he had to leave before someone confronted him. He had to find her.
Vance sped down the stairs to the parking lot and soon found what he was looking for: his boss’s motorbike. It was too easy to hack the jumper cables and start the engine without the keys. He hopped on the bike and headed off into the night.
The cool air hitting his face cleared his head, and he followed the road fast and steady, adrenaline pumping through his veins and clearing any effect the alcohol may have had on him. He didn’t know how he would convince Teresa that what he felt for her was genuine, but focused on trying to find her before something bad happened.
He drove for what felt like hours until suddenly he heard a strange noise. It was like a car’s horn, reverberating in the night. He was crossing a windy road surrounded by trees that went up a hill when he saw the trail of a car that had skidded off the road. His heart jumped in his chest, and he felt like puking.
He hit the brakes and rushed towards the side of the road, vaguely hearing the motorbike falling on the asphalt. He followed the marks and in the distance, could see a car with flickering lights that had crashed into a tree. The honking noise was coming from that direction. He ran towards the car, his heart dropping when he recognized the license plate.
“TERESA!” Vance’s lungs burned in the cold night air. Luckily the car was not on fire, but heavy trails of smoke rose from the engine like snakes. He slid and stumbled his way to the car, his tuxedo getting completely ruined in the process. “Teresa!”
He didn’t hear her voice over the noise and Vance feared the worst. He got to the driver’s door, and tears filled his eyes when he saw her: Teresa was slumped over the wheel, hair and blood covering her face. She was not moving.
“No, Teresa, no!” he cried out. Carefully, he opened the driver’s door and reached out a trembling hand, trying to find her pulse. It took him a while, but when he finally felt her heart faintly beating against her neck, he let out a cry of relief. He knew that moving her in that state was very dangerous, but he did not trust the smoking car. An ambulance would take too long, so he decided to take her out of the car himself.
Her dress was stained with blood, and the wound on her head was still bleeding, but he felt her heart beating against her chest. He gently pulled her out of the seat, careful to clear her airway, and carried her towards a thick patch of grass near the road.
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br /> He called 911 for an ambulance. As much as he wanted to take her to the hospital himself, he couldn’t do so on the bike, and the car was totaled. He wrapped his jacket around her, his shirt smeared with her blood.
“Please, Teresa, stay with me,” he whispered, smoothing out her tangled and bloody hair.
Twenty minutes later he was sitting in the waiting room with Teresa in the emergency room. Someone had taken Teresa away from him on a stretcher, and another person had started asking him questions.
“What happened?” the voice said. Vance did not know who it belonged to but answered numbly.
“She was driving. She crashed into a tree. It’s all my fault” he said, shaking. He saw a couple of doctors exiting the emergency room and ran towards them.
He heard them talking.
“Female. Late twenties. Victim of a car accident with possible concussion. Signs of external bleeding,” they were saying. They headed through the doors and Vance followed them. He had to see her; he had to know she was okay.