Page 75 of Savage Suit

The entire night thoughts of what that corny bartender and his sickeningly syrupy drawl might convince her to do plagued me. Unfortunately, the background check I ordered revealed he was indeed a Southern boy, though he might’ve laid the accent on a little thick to butter her up. I’d spent a good portion of my morning plotting his murder, but all thoughts of bodily harm disappeared when she arrived.

But then, my brother’s stupidity took me away. A crime on its own, adding fuel to my need to throttle him until he saw the error of his misguided ways.

Was he fucking insane, giving into his girlfriend’s every whim without confirming she carried his child? He had refused my offer of an immediate paternity test, all expenses paid by me, so he wouldn’t have any guarantee that he was the child’s actual father. Yet, instead of stopping to think for a goddamn second, he’d made the choice to fucking marry her! If Nathaniel entered a legal union with the damned woman, she’d have unfiltered access to his funds. I’d bet my ass he hadn’t had a prenup drawn up.

“Nathaniel!” I yelled, catching sight of the idiot standing before the judge with Alessia at his side. Another woman stood at her side, more than likely the required second witness.

My brother had his arm wrapped around her slender waist, her body still not showing any signs of carrying a human life. Nathaniel sported a black suit and tie, the unbuttoned jacket revealing a white shirt. Alessia wore a dress with lace detailing that clung to her every curve. The white material made her subtly tanned skin and light brown hair glow.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled, stopping inches from him. Furious with my brother, I ignored the gasps of Alessia, the stranger, and the judge.

Nathaniel glared at me, releasing his grasp on Alessia. He pushed me back, and, out of instinct, I swung on him. Narrowly avoiding the blow, he positioned himself to throw his own punch. The stranger slunk away. My fists remained raised. Before I decked him, Alessia inserted herself between us and threw her arms around Nate’s torso.

Furious he’d evaded my hit, I stepped toward him, knowing I could knock his ass out without hurting her. I’d been in my fair share of fights in my lifetime. Not that Nate or any of my other family members knew.

“Back up, bro,” he snarled, unable to escape his clinging girlfriend.

“Sirs,” the judge, an older gentleman with balding gray hair, butted in before I could beat Nathaniel’s ass for the disrespect, consequences be damned. “Mr. Keegan and Mr. Keegan, I will have order, so settle down.”

The man had never met me, but he knew who I was. Of course, he did.

“This should be a happy day,” he said, still glancing between us. “Not a cause of such contention.”

Fuck being happy. I was livid. “It would be a happy day if he wasn’t marrying a fucking gold-digger!”

“Watch your fucking mouth!” Nathaniel roared, stepping toward me, while Alessia sniffled, “I’m not a fucking gold-digger!”

Ignoring Alessia’s automatic lie, I braced my feet apart, ready to beat some goddamn sense into Nathaniel. Did he believe I’d OK this impromptu marriage?

Before I accomplished my goal, Alessia grabbed his jacket, melodramatic sobs escaping from her. Her eyes were fucking dry!

Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her against him. Her fucking sobs worsened.

“Babe, tell him I’m not a gold-digger!” she demanded through dramatic hiccups, hiding her face in his jacket.

“She’s not a gold-digger, Noah,” he echoed. “We already fucking went over this!”

“Oh yeah? Why else would she want to be married to you after you fucked her best friend? It’s a fucking Monday, for Christ’s sakes! Why did you let her talk you into this?”

“She didn’t talk me into shit. I suggested it!” Nathaniel rubbed his still-crying girlfriend’s back. “I have no clue why I askedyou, of all people, to serve as my witness.”

“That makes two of us. You have four other siblings you could’ve called as well as an irresponsible cousin who doesn’t give a fuck about consequences for his actions. Instead, you interrupted my day with this bullshit.”

“Gentlemen!” the judge yelled again, his annoyance indicating he was fed up. “Can we please proceed—”

“No, fuck no,” I snarled. “I object.”

Fury contorted Nathaniel’s face. “You’re just pissed she doesn’t want a paternity test!” he spat, as if that alone upset me.

Nope, it was his fucking stupidity.

“You’re goddamn right I am! You have no guarantee the child is yours, and here you are, ready to give her access to your ever-dwindling trust fund. And I’m warning you, Nathaniel, if you go through with this, you’re never getting a damn bit of help from me ever again!”

Hurt and anger flashed across his face, the pain in the blue eyes mirroring mine, sending an unusual pang of guilt through me.

“Fine by me. We don’t need it.” His confident words contrasted his expression.

“Excellent,” I replied coolly, trying to push aside my unwelcome remorse. It was my duty as the family cash cow to abide by checks and balances to safeguard the Keegan fortune.