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CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

EASTON

If someone told me a year ago that I’d be getting married, I would’ve told them to fuck off.

It was never in the plan. Never even crossed my mind.

I attended my siblings' weddings with the same disinterested scowl that I gave anything remotely related to romance. I didn’t understand it.

And I didn't care enough to try. So finding myself in a tux, getting ready to walk down the aisle to marry Gary, was a little disconcerting.

It was hard to wrap my head around sometimes.

At least until that familiar possessiveness took hold, and I reminded myself that this was just another way to claim the guy I never wanted to lose.

“Ready for this?” Jayden asked as he stepped into the room.

He left the door cracked, but I didn’t really give a shit if someone came in.

It irritated the hell out of me that so many people were insisting Gary and I couldn’t get ready together.

The bullshit about it being bad luck was nothing but that; bullshit.

“Mm. Is everything set up?”

“Yep. Just waiting on the family to show. Security is in place, cameras are up. We’re good to go.”

Good. This was months in the making, and I wanted it to go perfectly. When I was through with Gary’s family, they’d never come near him again.

“Is Gary downstairs yet?”

“No, I think he’s still getting ready. I think he’s with–”

“Get away from me!”

I’d expected to hear that at one point, but that wasn’t the voice I’d expected to hear it from.

Gary’s panicked tone echoed from across the hall, and I was moving before I realized, ripping open the door to his room just in time to watch him punch the guy in front of him in the throat.

He followed up by kicking the guy in the knee and sending him to the ground, then finished up with an elbow to the face. It was fucking beautiful.

“Gary.”

His head jerked up, his eyes wide and terrified, chest heaving. He looked disheveled, like the guy tried to grab him, and there were buttons missing on his shirt. His eyes filled with tears, and I could tell he was afraid of how it looked, but I shook my head to stall him.

“Come here, sweetheart.”

With a choked sob, he scurried around the guy still gasping on the ground.

He launched himself into my arms, trembling and clinging to me like a barnacle.

It was familiar, and it made me see red.

The last time he was this scared, someone tried to assault him.

And from the look on his face when I guided his chin up, the only difference from today was that he came out the victor.

“Are you alright?”

He nodded, casting a wary glance at the guy, who groaned a few feet away. “I know him.”

“Who is he?”

“Justin. The guy who pretended to date me to get with Brienna. He said he promised to help her by keeping me busy.”

It didn’t take a fucking genius to guess how he intended to do that. My gaze moved to the guy on the floor. He was a dead man.

“Easton. Security is on its way,” Jayden warned, grabbing my shoulder to stop me from going after the guy.

“Stall them. I only need a minute.”

Gary wrapped his arms around my middle, burying his face against me. It stalled me out, because there wasn’t a chance in hell I was bringing Gary anywhere near that guy or letting him stay between us. I wanted the asshole on his feet so I could tear him apart. I wasn’t risking Gary to do it.

“Easton… Please…”

The thundering of footsteps signaled the arrival of security.

I sighed, dipping to scoop Gary up and maneuver him out of the way.

Jayden pointed into the room, giving security a run down, while I took Gary across the hall to my room.

Sitting him on the bed, I kneeled in front of him, checking him over.

“Are you hurt?”

“My elbow hurts a little. He has a hard face.”

I snorted, shaking my head at him. “You kicked his ass, though. I’m proud of you.”

Leaning forward, Gary rested his forehead against mine.

“Smiley was right. When he mentioned Brienna planning to knock me out to try to force you into marrying her to save face in front of the guests, I could see her doing that. So I prepared for it. My phone is propped on the nightstand. It’s still recording. It caught everything.”

I thought I was proud before, watching him kick that guy’s ass. Knowing he recognized a threat, set up a way to get proof, and met the challenge head on without running scared, filled me with so much pride and happiness, if I hadn’t already planned on marrying him, I probably would’ve proposed.

Yanking him into my arms, I hugged him tight. “No more sad little bookworm Gary,” I said, pulling back to look him in the eye. “Now you’re badass book nerd Gary.”

He threw his head back and laughed. The trembling was gone, probably more a result of the adrenaline, not terror like I thought. He was too much of a badass to freak out for long.

“So does that mean you’ll trust me to come with you to fights?”

I twisted my mouth, pretending to think about it. “Hmm… I don’t know. One fight doesn’t seem like enough. Maybe if you can knock out your sister, too?”

“Easton!” he laughed, trying to bop me on the head.

I let him knock me to the floor but held his wrists so he couldn’t get near me with anything but his lips.

He took full advantage, just like I wanted him to.

Kissing didn’t used to be my thing, but with Gary, I fucking loved it.

He made the best noises when I kissed him.

“Oh, god. Seriously? How’d I know I’d find you two like this?

You’re not supposed to see each other before the ceremony!

” Angel snapped, storming into the room with his skirt swishing and heels clacking.

He looked good, I’d give him that. He pulled Gary off me, gasping when he noticed Gary’s shirt.

“What the hell? Were you seriously trying to tear it off him?”

Gary stopped him before he could tear me a new one, pulling him away to explain what happened.

Jayden helped haul me to my feet, brushing me clean.

“I noticed a camera set up and took the liberty of sending the video to myself. When the cops show up, I’ll give it to them.

Did he tell you what that asshole was there to do? ”

I scowled at him. “Should’ve stalled security like I asked.”

“And let you get arrested on your wedding day? It’s literally my job as your best man to prevent that from happening. Come on. Let Gary finish getting ready. I’ve got two guys in the hall watching out for him. We need to be downstairs when the sister arrives.”

I was reluctant to walk away from Gary, but I felt better knowing he could handle himself.

And Angel was no slouch in that department.

They’d be alright. But I warned the security in the hall that if they let a single thing happen to Gary, I’d go to jail for murder on my wedding day. They seemed appropriately intimidated.

We arrived out front to a line of guests, all of whom had to check in with security before they could come through. Ben popped up by my side, tablet in hand, and a smirk on his face.

“Just got a message from the sister. They want to arrive last, so no one sees her before the ceremony. She told me to call when it’s time.”

“Perfect,” I grinned. If there weren’t so many people watching me, I would’ve rubbed my hands together in anticipation. This seemed like a perfect time for a villain laugh.

We didn’t want to make it obvious that I was waiting for the show, so Ben shooed me out back to mingle.

There were a few familiar faces, people I’d met at my old man’s parties before, who greeted me with a smile and a handshake.

Most were polite but didn’t approach. Which, thank fuck for that.

I didn’t have the patience for that all damn day.

My old man joined us, handing me a drink, and raised an eyebrow at me. “I heard we already had a security issue? Is everything okay?”

I took a sip of the whiskey, mostly to settle the fury that swelled every time I thought about that asshole attacking Gary. It wasn’t enough that he broke his heart in high school. He wanted to ruin his wedding as well. I was going to make sure Jayden got him the worst punishment possible.

“Everything’s handled for now. Are we signing the paperwork before or after the ceremony?”

“After. Are you sure you want to–”

“I’m sure.” Lifting my gaze, I locked eyes with him. “I appreciate you taking in and supporting me, and we’ll always be family, but it's about me and him now. I want to show him that.”

With a resigned smile, he nodded. “Alright. I can’t argue with that. Just promise you’ll still come home for dinner once a month.”

“I’ll never say no to free food.”

He laughed and pushed my shoulder, and I was nice enough to feign a stumble. My old man wasn’t a bad guy. He had his moments where his stubbornness and mine butted heads, but he tried. I knew many parents who didn’t. Gary’s parents were a prime example. I was good with what we had.

My phone rang and when Ben’s name popped up, I let slip a giddy smile. “Yeah?”

“Mr. Warner, we’ve got a problem at the gate. Can you come join me, please?”

“I’m on my way.”

This was about to get fun.