Page 31 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“ W hy are we even here again?” I grumble as we park in the church’s parking lot. This place is packed and there are press vans out front.

Rylee sighs, closing the visor mirror after checking her makeup.

“You look beautiful, baby girl.” She bites her bottom lip. “Fuck, don't do that, Rylee. You've had me hard since the moment you left your room. Sabrina and Serenity really dolled you up.”

Donny pops his head between the two front seats. “Later, Cherry, I want you to ride me,” he mutters, moving in to kiss along her neck.

“Donny,” she moans as he nibbles on her ear, and I laugh.

“I can't believe you chose to wear that,” I say, shaking my head as his hand reaches forward to play with Rylee's tits. They are bulging from the tight red dress she's wearing. She's so fucking hot, but her recent stress eating has given her curves that I can't wait to sink my teeth into.

Colt snorts and then sighs. “At least, he's wearing clothes. He wanted to streak down the aisle. The unicorn onesie is a gift right now.”

Rylee moans, and I need to get out of this car before we have an orgy in the parking lot.

“Enough. We came today to find out once and for all what the hell is going on, and to stop Lennox from making the biggest mistake of his life.”

Donny pulls away and rubs the back of his neck. “You're right. Sorry. Let's go get our boy back.” He looks out the window and points. “Trev’s here.”

Colt opens the door and climbs out, adjusting his sweatpants, and Donny crawls out after him. His rainbow tail is all kinked from sitting on it.

Rylee pauses and I can tell she's nervous. Trevor opens her door, but she doesn’t move.

“If you keep biting that lip, all the gloss will be gone, and that’s a shame; it’s my favorite flavor.”

She looks at me. “What if Thanksgiving didn't mean anything? He was wasted. What if we go in there and he really does love her and wants to marry her? I don’t know if I can handle anymore heartache, Teo.”

I grab her hand and kiss it. “I have the same fears, baby, but we won’t know until we go in there. And worst case scenario, this will finally be our closure, but I really fucking hope that when we leave today, he’s with us.”

She smiles and her eyes become glossy. “Hey, no, you’re too beautiful to cry, Rylee.” She laughs and rolls her eyes, blinks a few times, then nods.

“Okay, let’s go.” She turns and takes Trev’s hand, and he gives her a kiss after helping her out of the truck.

“You okay?” he checks, and she shakes her head.

“I will be, though. Just have to get through today.” He gives her a smirk, then spins her.

“Damn, Ry, you look like a dream,” he says.

Donny comes closer and whispers, “A wet one.”

I snort and follow him as he walks up the steps to the church. I ignore all of the people gasping at us, talking about what we are wearing. This wedding is a fucking sham, and I was not getting dressed up for it.

Donny throws the doors open and struts in, shouting, “I object.” Everyone sitting in the pews turns to look at him, and I swear, one lady even faints at his outfit. Only he could pull off a fuzzy unicorn onesie.

Rylee laughs and then follows his example, walking the aisle like she’s strutting on a runway. I look around and realize that the wedding hasn’t even started. In fact, everyone seems to be upset about something.

“This isn’t what I expected,” Colt murmurs, and I nod, agreeing.

Rylee stops and turns back around, heading toward the bathrooms. We wait for her to finish up, listening to everyone freaking out.

“What the fuck is going on?” I ask someone as they pass. He's wearing a suit with a gaudy orange flower pinned on his lapel.

“The groom is missing. The bride has lost her shit.” I thank him and he takes off back to the pews.

Donny snorts. “Oh, it seems we came at the perfect time after all,” he says, walking down the hall.

Rylee exits the bathroom and Colt fills her in. She looks at me and shrugs. “Don't look at me. I haven't talked to him since Thanksgiving, and I wouldn't really call that a talk anyways.”

We follow Donny and freeze when we find Missi. Donny's covering his mouth and gagging.

“Fuck me. So nasty. She's not wearing panties,” he mumbles, and I have to agree. Gross.

“And she calls me a whore,” Rylee mutters, taking in the sheer wedding gown Missi is wearing.

She looks like a hungover Barbie. Her hair is a tangled mess, and her makeup is smeared all over her face.

She's screaming, but hasn't noticed us lingering yet, so we move closer.

“Fucking find him. I don't care what you have to do! He is going to marry me, or I will blow up his life, and his little family’s too,” she snaps, and Rylee gasps.

She's holding her stomach and swaying. “Hey, baby girl, you okay?” I ask, pulling her into my arms.

“Yeah, my stomach is just off today. Teo, it is blackmail. He didn't actually leave us,” she mutters as tears fill her gorgeous green eyes.

I nod and cringe when Missi sees us.

“You!” she screams, coming right at us with her bouquet of flowers. She waves it around like a weapon, and I spin so Rylee doesn't get hit.

“You fucking did this! Where is he? Where is Lenny?” She continues to yell at us while sobbing about how he's hers and we can't have him.

“Listen, psycho Barbie, we don't know where Lennox is. We came for the wedding,” Donny shouts, so everyone can hear our innocence. She scoffs and then her eyes widen.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” she screeches, and I wince. Fuck, I hate the sound of her voice.

“Whatever the fuck we want. You're not the boss of us, and if I want to be a pretty, pretty unicorn, I will.” Donny huffs, crossing his arms and staring her down.

“Ugh. I don't have time for this. Vanity Fair is out there, waiting for an exclusive interview, and I can't find Lenny anywhere. This is a disaster,” she cries.

Her friends rush over to her, wearing hideous orange sheer dresses, and try to soothe her.

They pull her away into another room further down the hall, and Rylee turns around, completely losing it. She bends over, gripping her stomach while she laughs until she cries.

“Oh, God. I seriously needed that,” she says, then stands, wiping under her eyes. Colt opens the door behind us and looks inside, laughing.

He enters and Donny follows. “Hidden in plain sight,” Trevor comments, and I peek my head inside to see what they mean.

Lennox is standing there in front of a TV. He's wearing a suit, and even though I want to beat his ass, I will admit he looks hot as fuck. Even with the stupid orange flower.

“Having second thoughts?” Rylee snarks, placing her hands on her hips.

Len chuckles, then rubs the back of his head, but he has a huge smile on his face.

“This door was locked, but when I heard your voices, I unlocked it and waited for her to leave. I was hoping you would come,” he murmurs, then sighs.

“I know shit is really complicated, and things will never be the same, but I have some things to tell you. If you will just give me a few minutes to explain.”

A commotion in the hall has Len running to the door and locking it again. He holds his finger in front of his lips, telling us to be quiet.

“Where the fuck are you?” a man roars outside, and I instantly know it's Len's asshole father. “Get out here, boy! You will marry Missi, or you'll end up with a bullet in your goddamn skull.”

Rylee stiffens, and Trevor's eyes widen at how evil his father is. He continues to rant, but eventually, he leaves.

Len waits a minute before speaking. “We don't have much time, but I need your help. Rylee.” He turns to her and takes her hand.

“Thanksgiving wasn't a mistake. Everything I told you was the truth.

I don't love Missi. I love the baby. I never wanted to leave you guys.

I felt ashamed that I let her trick me into sleeping with her.

She recorded us together that night. I've felt sick with guilt. I love you and Mateo more than life itself. You gave me a family and I ruined it.”

He pauses to take a few breaths, and Rylee places her hand on his shoulder. “So she was blackmailing you?”

He nods and grunts. “Yeah, but it's more than you think. Not only was it the sex tape, she followed us the day we went up the mountain. She recorded everything and threatened to tell the police… I did what I could to keep her quiet.”

“That bitch!” Colton shouts, surprising us all. “She blackmailed you for him. That murdering bastard deserved to be killed and buried where no one will find him.” He puffs out his cheeks and takes a breath. “I'm sorry, Lennox. You should have told us.”

I cut in. “She drugged you the night of the party, didn't she? You never willingly cheated on us.”

I move closer to him and grab the back of his neck, pulling him toward me. “Tell me. Tell us that you still want us. That you didn't throw away what we had willingly.”

We have so much to talk about, and I am super fucking angry at him, but even though I shouldn't, I still love him.

“I would never sleep with that bitch, Teo.” I don't let him keep talking, I crash my mouth against his, swallowing his groans.

“Fuck, yeah!” Donny cheers, and I pull away. Len gives me a big smile and my heart races.

“There's more. It would be better if I showed you, but after today, I'm free. I called in a few favors, and all of Missi’s evidence, including the shit she sent to her friends in case something were to happen to her, is gone.”

He moves back to the TV and presses a button. “Are you really showing us your sex tape with Missi?” Rylee mutters, moving closer to the screen. She grabs her stomach and groans. “I might be sick.”

Trevor moves behind her and pulls her into his chest, whispering something into her ear that has her nervous.

“No, just watch. After today, everything is going to change, but I need your help.”

We watch the video and I grin. Rylee laughs, then jumps forward and kisses Lennox hard.

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Karma’s a bitch, Pissy Missi, and it’s time you guys met,” she says, then turns toward the door to leave.