Page 5 of Enraptured

CHRISTOS

WHERE THE FUCK IS ALEX?

I knew the chickenshit wouldn’t show on his wedding day. I don’t even know why I care to find him. It’s not my problem. But I tear through the back rooms of the church anyway texting Jin to look for the missing groom with me.

I try calling his cell again, but it still is going straight to voicemail. “Where are you,malaka? Don’t be the coward they always said you were. Man up and get the fuck here.”

Uncaring at the shocked look on the violinist’s face as I tear through the antechamber where she was practicing a few chords, my hands rip open closet doors. He’s got to be here somewhere. Probably acting out, doing what he said he’d do—one of the bridesmaids.

“How is she?”

I round a corner, hearing Dimitri speak in low tones. He’s standing behind a large topiary. Hiding.

“Good. I’ll help make sure he never finds her. He’s gone completely off the rails. He’s more dangerous than ever…. thank you, Andre. If anything changes, call me.”

My fist cracks his nose before he can even slip his phone back into his pocket.

“What the fuck? You’re helping hide her from me? How dare you!”

He holds one hand to his broken nose, making a fist with his other. But I’m on him. Charging, we crash over a small wall into a garden.

Fists fly, ribs crack, I grin as I place my knee against his throat. But the haze of rage and bloodlust dulled my senses and his uppercut clipped the underside of my jaw, flipping me off him.

“What the bloody hell is going on?”

“Well look who decided to finally show up at his own wedding, asshole.” Dimitri responds, standing and brushing snapped twigs and leaves from his tuxedo pants.

“That bloody asshole, you call friend over there has her.” I retort, breathing hard.

“I don’t have her.”

“Oh? Explain that phone call.” But I’m momentarily distracted, giving Alex a double-take. His shirt’s unbuttoned, his pants unzipped, and his belt is hanging off his waist.What the fuck?

“Theos. Really, Alex?” A short, feminine man, with a flushed face is standing behind him.

Alex shrugs, tucking his shirt back in. “You know I don’t discriminate. A fuck is a fuck. A blow job, a blow job.”

“That’s what I used to believe,” I mutter to the wind.

“Both of you make me sick—pretending to be what you aren’t. The two of you need to man the fuck up and get real. You’re an evil asshole Christos…not even remotely good enough for her. And you—do that woman a favor down there and don’t ruin her life by tying yours to hers.”

“Tell us how you really feel.” I warn. “Why are you even here,eh?”

“To keep an eye on you and make sure you never…find…her.”

“Fuck you!” I snarl, charging him again. But this time he’s ready, fist out, wheeling in a circle.

“Enough!” Jin warns, firing his Glock in the air.

“Bloody hell! Control your man Christos.” A dozen doves flew up out of the garden, startled by the gunfire.

“There’s a few thousand euros flying up in the sky, right there. Helena wanted bloody dove’s flying. Christ, what a farce.”

“Let’s get out of here.” I grab Alex by his forearm, leading him away.

“No. No. I’m going through with it.”

“Fine. Do what you want. You know where I’m going.”

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