Page 10 of Triumphant Kings

Preston says nothing, just shoots his brother a glaring look.

“Alright, now that Sadie is here, want to tell me why I’ve been called over here for an emergency?” Larry asks. Yes, Collin’s lawyer’s name is Larry. And yes, I laughed when I found out.

“You too?” I ask, taking the empty chair next to him.

“I’m just as clueless as you are.” He gives me a friendly smile.

“So, wanna tell us what's going on? Because I’m starting to think of a million different things that could go wrong right now, and I don’t like any of them.”

“You wanna tell them or should I?” Collin asks, brow raised at Preston with amusement.

“Fuck you,” Preston hisses.

“Sorry, bro, not into that kind of thing.” Collin grins.

Preston growls, moving to lunge towards his brother. Jumping to my feet, I step in front of Preston, putting a hand on his chest.

“Stop!” I state firmly.

His chest heaves in anger, eyes looking like he’s ready to kill. But he stays where he is, his eyes snapping down to mine. Like the moment before, we hold one another's gaze, the tension between us thick.

“Here.” I turn back to see Collin hand Larry something. “Tell me if this is legal.”

I watch as Larry reads through whatever's on the paper, his brows rising as they go.

“What is that?” I ask when no one has said anything for way too long for my liking. I want to know what the fuck is going on, and now, before I lose my mind.

“Did you sign this?” Larry asks, handing me the piece of paper, pointing to a spot that shows my signature.

Taking it from him, I look at my signature. Quickly, I start to read what’s on the paper, and my mind grows more and more confused as I go.

“Is this... is this a marriage license?” I ask because it looks a lot like the paper I signed the other day in this same room with the same man who handed it to me.

Only the signature at the bottom next to my name isn’t Collin’s.

It’s Preston’s.

“It is,” Larry says.

“What is this?” I turn to Preston.

“It’s what it looks like.” Preston steps forward. “You can’t be married to Collin, because you're already married to me.”

My eyes go so wide they practically bug out of my head. “I’m sorry.” I laugh out in shock. “What?”

“You are not married,” Collin sighs like he’s said this a million times before. “Clearly, she has no idea that she signed this; therefore, it’s not legal. Right?” He directs the last part to Larry.

Not waiting for him to answer, I look at Preston with confusion. “What is going on? Because I can tell you right now, we never got married.” Unless I got shit faced drunk, and I don’t remember it.

“You know, fuck you,” Preston growls, but not to me, to his brother. “You can’t come in here and take her,” he snaps. “She’s mine. She was mine first, and I’m not going to let you swoop in here and take her from us.”

“Hey.” I press my hand to his heaving chest. “No one is taking me away from anyone.” I cup his face, my heart breaking at the hurt in his eyes. “Preston. Look at me.”

His eyes snap down to mine, and I watch as his body softens. Placing his hands over mine, he holds me in place. “I love you, Sadie. So fucking much it hurts. I’m sorry I’ve been a coward andran. You and Declan didn’t deserve that. But I’m done running. I don’t give a fuck about Tina. I’m not waiting anymore. You’re mine. He’s mine. And I won’t let anyone take you from me.”

My eyes sting as my heart does a little flip at his words. I want to believe him, but the last time he confessed his feelings, he ran.

“Preston. What are the papers?” I ask softly, needing to know.