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I insisted on Gray seeing me before the wedding. Nobody protested since they understood my logic. If I shocked Gray with this new change while walking down the aisle toward him and he didn’t like it, it would break my heart.
Passion entered the room first. The plan was Passion would position Gray with his back to the door so I could enter. She would turn him around after I was in place and prepared for his reaction.
I nodded to Passion. She gripped Gray’s arms preparing to turn him around. Mom and Grams stood on either side of me for moral support. I kneaded my hands together in front of me waiting for his response.
I watched Gray’s eyes as they traveled from my feet up my body. Worry clouded his face when he reached my hands. His eyes moved again and locked on my face. His smile shone from within.
“You look beautiful.” Gray whispered the words. I touched the back of neck with insecurity. The skin felt exposed and vulnerable.
“Really?”
“Yes. You look... you look...” Gray crossed the room, putting his hands on my waist. I leaned back in his arms so he could continue to look at the new me.
“Prettier than Passion?” I prompted.
“You always have been,” Gray said. Passion rolled her eyes behind him. I laughed. “You ready to tie the knot?”
“You’ll have to meet me at the altar to find out.” I winked at him and planted a kiss on his lips.
Now, here I was, dressed and ready to go. I asked for time alone before the ceremony. I still had no idea what Passion’s plan was, but it involved one of the banquet rooms at the hotel. At first, I started to protest. I didn’t realize I always assumed I’d get married in a church until the option wasn’t there. My mom smoothed over that fire. She pointed out God was everywhere, we didn’t need a chapel to be married in his eyes.
I paced the room wringing my hands. I wanted to bite my nails even though that was a habit I’d broken as a teenager. Banging, clanging and voices carried through the door. I was in an annex of the banquet room. Extra chairs and tables were stacked around me.
A knock at the door caught my attention. Confusion marred my face at who it could be. Any of my family members would’ve barged right in. I opened the door to Gray’s father, Michael. He looked dashing in a dark tuxedo.
“May I?” Michael gestured with his hand toward the room. I stepped back allowing him entrance. I started to close the door but left it ajar an inch. I turned to face him, running my hand down the back of my neck. I was still adjusting to the exposed and vulnerable feeling.
“Your haircut is very becoming on you.” I smiled and made myself stop fidgeting. I clasped my hands in front of my stomach loosely.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Your marriage to Gray came as a shock, especially with how quickly it has progressed in the last couple of days.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Please, Regan, call me Michael.” I nodded my head. “I welcome you to the family with open arms. Eventually Mary Francis will, too.” I relaxed my shoulders when Michael smiled after the comment.
“There are some things I must talk to you about before the ceremony. I’d planned on a casual chat like old friends, but I’m on a time constraint.” Again, he smiled, but this time it had the opposite effect. He wanted to put me at ease, but I just wanted to run. I got the impression I was watching a well-choreographed show. Smile here, joke there. Woman becomes a nodding nitwit and does whatever man wants. I raised my hackles in defense.
“Er—Michael, Gray told me about your... business. I’m aware, so we don’t really need to have this conversation.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“Let me expand on it.” I started to protest, but Michael held up his hand to stop me. “We take marriage very seriously in our... family. Once you’re in, you’re in. There will be no divorce or walking away.” Michael’s eyes locked on mine, conveying his real message. When Gray proposed originally, I had a minor freak-out and ran away to another country. Gray popped the question in Mexico. For Michael to know of it here—in Vegas—he was letting me know his reach. The threat was duly noted.
“I believe I understand what you are saying. But, for the record, I may be marrying your son, but I am not marrying the family. Gray and I will do our own thing. We’ll live wherever we want and do whatever we want. Just like we do now. Am I making myself clear?”
“That would be difficult without a trust fund,” Michael threatened.
I scoffed. “Go ahead. Take it away. I didn’t even know about it until recently and Gray barely touches it. It wouldn’t affect our lifestyle in the least. You’ll need a better threat.”
Michael’s eyebrows raised in surprise. I realized that I just told a mafia Don no. Twice. But it was too late to back down now. I squared my shoulders and stuck my hands on my hips. My heart raced but I took long even breaths to slow it down.
“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?” I asked. It was moments like this where I wished I was able to raise one eyebrow. It was very cocky and I liked it. Humor flickered across Michael’s face. Just as quickly disappearing.
“I can see what Gray loves about you. Do you believe in nature versus nurture? You see, Gray was raised in this lifestyle and it’s in his blood. I want you to ponder that. This is who he is. You either need to be all in and commit, or all out and walk away.” Michael’s smile dropped. His eyes lost their sparkle. All feeling left his face. Standing before me was a genuine sociopath. I shivered.
“That’s enough.” Michael and I both startled at the sound of my father’s voice, the battle between us having commanded full attention from both of us.
My dad stood in the doorway, tall and proud. His salt-and-pepper beard was neatly trimmed, but his hair still stood on end. The rented tuxedo gave him a dashing, but deadly look. A little James Bond-like. I wanted to run into his arms, but I held myself back knowing it would look weak in Michael’s eyes. My dad walked toward me and put his arm across my shoulders. I snaked my arm around his waist, feeling the bulge of a gun in the small of his back. Dad’s move was strategic. Michael would never suspect the threat to come from me if the need arose. And thanks to Dad, I was a great shot. Almost as good as him.
I knew Michael was smart enough not to have any violence erupt here, though. Tonight especially. Gray would never forgive him for hurting me. I patted the gun. Feeling comfort just knowing it was there.
“I’ve heard what you had to say and I have a family of my own who’s skirted the law. Gray and I will make our lives together somewhere, but I can guarantee it won’t be here. I’m all in, with Gray. Got it? Now, excuse me, I’d like a moment with my dad.”
I gave Michael my best stony stare until he left the room.