Page 48 of Blood Revealed

“Sounds great,” Hero says.

“Don’t you want to know the price?” she asks.

“Doesn’t matter. My bird gets the best,” he answers. The woman smiles. I look at her then back at Hannah who’s helping Brinley smooth out any wrinkles in her dress from sitting. Then I pull the receptionist closer to me.

“Can it be a double wedding? I’ll buy a package, too. The women are sisters. They’d go out of their minds. But I want it a secret. My woman doesn’t know.”

She winks conspiratorially at me as I hand off my credit card. Once I’ve signed the receipt, the women are whisked away to find flowers. “You don’t mind me hijacking your wedding, do you?” I ask Hero.

“Nah, brother. This is exactly how Brinley would want it. She’ll go crazy seeing you and Han up there with us. It’s Han I’m wondering about.”

“Leave her to me,” I say. “She’ll come around.”

Ann-Margret meets us at the private chapel room and shows us into the waiting room. There are a few people ahead of us in the public chapel room. We’re given complimentary champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. The woman brings Brinley a sparkling grape juice on request instead.

After about a half hour, Ann-Margret comes to gather us. “Elvis has taken his place inside,” she says. We stand. “Which ones are Brinley and Levi?” Hero wraps an arm around Brin’s waist and raises a hand and waves, fingers bent like he’s gesturing number one. She smiles at them. “You’ll walk down the aisle first,” she continues. “And when I give the sign, Hannah and Raif will follow.”

Hannah narrows her eyes, but I guess she figures we’re standing up in their wedding.

We’re directed to take our spots to the left of Brin and Hero.

The music begins. It’s a piano version of “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.” Brinley bursts out in tears, pressing her face against Hero’s cut. But when they’re directed to, she stands straight and loops her arm through his offered one, holding her bouquet of pretty white roses as they begin the walk along the white velvet carpet. They get about six beats ahead when Han and I are directed to follow. I offer her my arm. She smiles as she takes it. It’s another one of those heart-stopping moments. God damn, she’s beautiful.

We begin the slow stride down the aisle and when we reach them, Hero moves him and Brinley over a spot so Hannah stands next to her sister carrying her pale pink roses. It’s only then that she takes in our positions and looks at me, then at Hero and Brinley, and then back to me. “What’s going on?” she whispers.

Elvis speaks over her. Ann-Margret sits at the back of the room. “I notice we don’t have marriage licenses on file.”

“Fuck, I’m from here and everything—I should know this shit. I was so excited to get here that I forgot the most important part.”

I’ll make an exception. Mind you, it’s only a commitment ceremony until you get me the license, but if you go right after and bring it back, I’ll sign it and make the whole thing legal. Deal?”

“Absolutely,” Hero answers.

“Right then… We’re gathered here today to unite these two beautiful couples in holy matrimony. I’ve seen a lot, done a lot, but this is a first even for me.”

“Couples?” Hannah shouts. I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her in close, and try to bite back my laughter. Han elbows me in the gut even with tears shimmering in her eyes.

Brinley does exactly what Hero predicted she would. “Oh, sissy,” she says, throwing one arm around Hannah. “This is the best day ever.”

“Now,” Elvis starts. “Brinley… Hubba hubba.” Brin blushes. He looks to Hero. “Levi, you’re a lucky groom.”

Hero nods. “Don’t I know it.”

“Tell me, Levi,” Elvis says. “Do you take the beautiful Brinley to be your wife?” Then he gives a hip swivel.

Hero immediately replies, “Hell yes.”

We all laugh.

“Glad to see you so excited, but we’re not done, you see. You got to promise to love this little lady in sickness and in healthy times. Through prosperous years as well as lean ones, through thick and thin, until death do you part.”

He smiles again. “I promise. I do. I absolutely fucking do.”

Tears streak down Brinley’s face as Elvis turns to her. “Now you, Miss Brinley, do you take Levi to be your husband? In sickness and in healthy times. Through the prosperous years as well as lean ones, thick and thin, until death do you part?”

“I do. I so do. I can’t believe it. Mom would be so happy, Han. This is just…” She trails off, hiccupping. Hannah leans away from me to kiss her sister’s cheek, using her thumb to wipe the lipstick mark from Brinley’s face before moving back.

He has them exchange rings and the ones Hero picked absolutely gleam on her finger as he slides both the engagement ring and wedding band on. She slides the one he picked out to go with hers onto his finger. As much as he loves his woman, the brothers are never going to believe that Hero tied the knot. This is huge. I’m glad to be here. With all the darkness we’ve faced over the last few weeks, it’s great to give the club something to celebrate.

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