Page 143 of Distress Signal
“Less than a day once I have the chance to sit down and work on it.”
Glancing at my watch, I clocked the time, realizing we had to leave shortly to make it out to the ceremony location on time. Which was perfect, in my opinion, because I couldn’t wait to tell Reagan we were one step closer to finding her sister.
Unsurprisingly,Crew and Aspen’s wedding ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt. The love between the two of them radiated out over the family and friends gathered. I had to admit, I wasn’t immune.
With Reagan at my side in the front row, watching as my little brother vowed himself to the woman he’d been through hell and back with, who made him a better man, it was easy to imagine myself doing the same one day with our twins at our sides. Because now that Trey was so close to uncovering the identity of who had taken her, I was confident Lainey would be home in no time.
On my right side was Lane, his arm draped across the back of the chair next to him, where the infamous Addie Caldwell sat. She was about what I expected: tall, tan, and brunette, with bright, almost honey-colored eyes that cut right to the core when she looked at you. I supposed that was part of what made her a good agent. Despite her beauty, she gave off a no-nonsense air that assured you she was not someone to fuck with. Sutton sat somewhere behind us, and the one time I turned around to check out the crowd, she’d been staring at the back of Lane’s head. No,glaring. But the expression was edged with pain too.
Lane’s life was his to do with as he pleased, but he was certainly making a mess of things.
At Reagan’s side opposite me was West, his arm similarly placed around Tyler Atwood. Tyler was a decorated barrel racer, so she wasn’t home much, but when she did come back, she blew through town like a tornado, twisting West up in knots it would take me weeks to untangle. Personally, I thought he should tell her he was in love with her and let the chips fall where they may.
Past them sat Trey and Wyatt Saunders, who wasn’t exactly his date but here as his best friend—though I knew my big brother would change that in a heartbeat if she gave him the green light. Given the fact that her mother was responsible for the deaths of eleven women, a man, and had nearly killed both AspenandCrew, things between them were complicated. It had only been a year since the explosion that took Kelly’s life and landed Crew in the hospital, and I could imagine Wyatt was still dealing with the fallout.
All that to say, each of my single brothers had some shit to figure out. I squeezed Reagan’s hand tighter, grateful I’d found her.
After the ceremony, we spent far too long posing for pictures. Reagan, still in a cast for at least another three weeks, felthorrible she’d been unable to photograph the wedding as promised. Thankfully, she found a suitable replacement in Sloane Wilder, a friend of a friend who Reagan had followed on Instagram for ages whose work greatly impressed her. After perusing her profile and a lengthy phone call, Aspen agreed.
Once we were released from picture duty, we headed over to the reception. The barn looked better than it ever had. The wedding forced us to finally deep clean it, something that hadn’t happened in years.
“You know,” Mama mused as we gathered around the long table reserved for Crew and Aspen’s immediate family, which included the seven thousand members of the Lawless family…and Aspen’s parents. Mama continued, “Now that it’s all spiffed up, we could rent this out to the public for events.”
West and I shared a look over her head.
Guarantee she’s been sitting on this idea for ages and waiting for tonight to spring it on us.
No doubt, I silently agreed.But you have to admit…it’s a damn good one.
Though West and I were co-managing partners of the ranch, each of our family members held a stake beyond the parcels of land we each owned. Next to me and West, Mama’s share was the largest, and West and I would do whatever it took to make her happy. That’s how we ended up with fields of flowers and soybeans, goats, andbeesso she could start making self-care products.
Out loud, West said, “We’ll talk this week.”
Mama beamed, knowing it was already a done deal.
“And on that note, can I talk to you guys about something?” Aria asked.
We all stilled. Aria’s tone was far different from Mama’s—nervousness creeping into her voice.
“What’s up?” Owen asked.
With a deep breath, eyes squeezed shut, Aria blurted, “I’m moving to Nashville.”
Immediately, expletives and refusals spilled from Trey, Lane, and West’s lips.
“It’s already done,” Aria said, loud enough to be heard over them. “I already paid the deposit, and first and last months’ rent on an apartment.”
“I can get it back,” Lane said, pulling out his phone as if to make the call right then. “Give me a name and number.”
Aria shook her head. “I don’t want you to get it back. I’m moving, and that’s the end of it.”
“That’shardlythe end of it,” Trey gritted out, then looked at Mama. “Did you know about this?”
“Of course,” she said. “I helped her find a place.”
“And you’re just…letting her go?” Lane asked, incredulous.
“Like I justletyou boys go off to college?” she said with a raised brow to Trey and Lane, then cut to me and West. “Andletyou two go towar?” Pursing her lips, she glared at each of us in turn. “And I surelyletOwen send us hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to keep this family and ranch afloat!”
