Page 3 of Unhinged Cravings
Her head tilted, and she gave me a curious look before saying, “Okay, I don’t care where we go, as long as I’m with you.”
I motioned for Den, who made his way to me. “Change of plans. We’re taking Brinks’ plane and I’m taking my bride to the beach after we finish with this foolishness.”
Riley pouted her lips at the comment, and I gave her a hard look before she said, “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Yes, but I’ll explain when we’re on the way because I tell you everything, right?”
“Right,” she said, giving me a kiss.
“Care for a dance, Mrs. Tides?” I asked, watching as the concern fell from her eyes, her smile beaming.
“Of course, Mr. Tides.”
I walked her away, looking back at Mason, who nodded. I would never have believed it, but I trusted Mason. I’d let him handle whatever my brother had planned while I enjoyed my new wife. I’d deal with what remained of the mess when I returned.
Drawing Riley against me, I held her close as we danced, losing myself to her presence. This was our life, the life she’d chosen when she’d chosen me. It was one where danger hung in the air all around us, where threats lingered in the shadows, but it was one where I would protect her with my life because no one was getting near her again. Riley was mine. And if I had to kill my brother to keep her safe, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Chapter Three
AVA
Weddings had never been my thing, but Riley’s wedding tempted me to change my mind. Sleek and sophisticated, it was everything I wasn’t and everything Riley and her new husband were. Greyson Tides. Leave it to my new friend to land the most eligible bachelor in the city.
I straightened the gray scarf I wore around the waist of my black bridesmaid’s dress. Of course it was a black and white wedding. As if putting me in all black didn’t make me stand out even more than I already did. Riley had argued that black was my color until I’d argued back that this wasn’t a rock band T-shirt or a pair of leggings.
There had been two bridesmaids, me and Angie—a tall, gorgeous strawberry blonde who looked stunning in her dress, with the gray sash emphasizing her tiny waist. I peeked over my glass of wine at her. Her husband, Tyson, had his enormous hand behind her back and was whispering something in her ear. That man frightened me. It was like every muscle under his suit looked like it was straining to break free.
The maid of honor, Casey, was in a matching dress, but she filled it out in curves that were closer to mine.Her cuteness juxtaposed Angie’s model potential, which left me the odd woman out with my pink streaked hair, tattoos, and nose ring.
“You look like you want to crawl under the table with a bottle of tequila,” my Uncle Den said, coming to stand beside me.
“If I have to wear this dress much longer, I will.”
“It won’t be much longer. They’re leaving tonight instead of in the morning.”
I turned my eyes to him. An equally massive presence to Tyson, I should have guessed my uncle did more than manage money for Greyson’s firm. The truth had come out after Riley spilled the beans about Greyson’s actual job. My uncle was a henchman. The right-hand man for the most notorious mob boss—if I had been aware of who any of them were—and today, his best man.
It had taken me time to recover, but when I pieced things together, it made more sense than it should have.
“Why?”
“A threat. They’re taking Mason’s plane instead. I’ll be leaving with them, but I’ll make sure someone escorts you home.”
I rubbed away the nudging of fear for Riley, still adjusting to the deadly world that had unfolded around me when the truth came out.
“What about Greyson’s plane?”
“Grounded for now. Mason’s team will take it home in the morning.”
Damn. Casey and I had decorated the plane as a surprise. Stocking it with Riley’s favorite chocolates and a few extra bottles of champaigne.
Greyson gestured to Den from across the room. “Gotta go, kiddo.” He gave me a peck on the cheek, then stalked across the dance floor.
Kiddo. He made me laugh because even though I was thirty, he still called me kiddo.
Riley threw me a quick wave before Greyson pulled her away.If she had thought they’d have time to say goodbye to everyone, she was wrong.
I made my way to the bar and rested my elbow on it as I watched them rush out the back door. “You look entirely too depressed for this event,” the bartender said, setting a wineglass in front of me. He was cute, with shaggy brown hair and big brown eyes. He held up two bottles of wine, and I pointed to the pinot grigio.
