Page 54 of Handsome Devil

“Hewhat?” I stood up, advancing toward the window. Cal stumbled back at the sudden movement.

I leaned against the thick glass, my mouth falling open. Since the penthouse was considerably higher than other buildings, I could clearly see black-uniformed men in position on a few rooftops with their rifles directed at the reception of our place.

“Christ!”

I grabbed my phone and texted him. I wouldn’t give him the pleasure of asking when he was coming. Instead, I snapped a picture of the snipers and sent it to him.

Gia: I said no security.

His response came a few seconds later.

Tate: You said no bodyguards. This is the NYPD.

Gia: ???

Tate: Mayor owes me a favor.

I took a deep breath and bit my tongue, waiting for him to explain his delay. He didn’t, of course. How could I expect decency from a man who had poison running through his veins?

As soon as I plopped back into my seat, Cal resumed tugging, teasing, and brushing my hair. I closed my eyes, fingering my junonia shell bracelet.

I wasn’t sure if I was angrier at him for forcing me into this wedding or because he was dreadfully late for it.

“Care to explain why you have so much security?” Dylan cleared her throat.

“Yeah. Row and Rhy have been checking on your building every hour.” Cal furrowed her brow.

“Tate had a run-in with the Irish Mafia. He received a hot tip that I might be targeted.”

Dylan and Cal exchanged horrified looks.

“I’m sorry,what?” Dylan paled. “That’s insane.”

“So is Tate,” I said.

“What did he do?” Cal shrieked.

I shook my head. “He wouldn’t tell me.”

Cal looked ready to throw up.

“It’s fine,” I tried to reassure her. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Tate has dealt with plenty of disgruntled people in his career.”

Cal dropped her hands to my shoulders, massaging them. “Chin up. We’re here. We’ll let no harm come to you.”

“Tate wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you either.” Dylan inserted a glass of champagne between my fingers. “That man can talk about how much he hates you all day, but he’d go to war for you.”

I didn’t disagree with her. Hewasobsessed with me. But it didn’t mean he loved or even cared for me.

“I haven’t slept in two days,” I hiccupped, taking a sip of my champagne.

“Why?” Dylan settled at my feet, circling her arms around my thighs and perching her chin on my knees. “I thought you came to terms with the marriage?”

We’d been having daily conversations about doomsday, a.k.a. my wedding day.

“I did.” Another hiccup bubbled out of me. I gulped more champagne. Alcohol was probably not a good idea, but I needed something to take the edge off. “But I can’t help but feel sorry for myself that Mum won’t be attending. The clinic said she is not in any condition to go somewhere new. I won’t have a single member of my family with me.”

“You’ll haveus.” Cal squeezed my shoulders, her gaze meeting mine in the mirror. “We’re your family now.”