Page 3 of Dark Daze

"It's fine," I said quickly. "The bride shouldn't keep her guests waiting, right?"

Although, tonight was the first of many get-togethers between now and her wedding. She texted me a list a few days ago. I was tired just looking at it. Tired but determined not to ruin this for her. In our families, marriages only ended one way—when someone died. Often before their time.

This was important to her.

"Well, if you're sure," Bella said. Vinny grabbed her hand and tugged her away toward the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses.

Leaving me alone in the doorway with Ric and my cases.

He leaned past me to close the door. "I didn't know you had a kid." He picked up Nova's case and handed it to me before picking up mine and carrying it towards the stairs.

I didn't respond to his comment. Instead I asked, "How did you end up best man?"

"Because it's accurate?" he said, only half joking. "After you left town, I started spending a lot of time with Vinny and Bella. Vinny and I work together now."

"I see." We reached the top of the stairs and crossed the dimly lit landing. He opened a door on the opposite side and gestured for me to walk through first.

I didn't want to turn my back on him, but I didn't want to make a big deal of it either.

After a moment, I ducked my head and stepped into the generously sized guest room. A double bed dominated the space. A single bed, made up for Nova, beside it. Through another door, I made out a bathroom.

I placed Nova's case beside her bed and started to turn.

Ric grabbed me so fast I didn't have time to fight or run. He pinned me face-first to the wall by my wrists and shoved his leg between my thighs.

A gasp slipped from between my lips.

"I was surprised when Bella told me you were coming for the wedding," he said in my ear. "After the way you left town, I figured you’d tell her to fuck off."

"You know why I went to Melbourne." I pushed back against him, but he didn’t budge.

"You were pissed off at me," he said. "You wanted to punish me, so you left town."

"You lied to me," I snarled. "You told me you didn't want anything to do with your cousins and all the shit they do. But you were in it as deep as they were."

His grip tightened on my wrists. He pushed his leg in further, higher, brushing past my pussy.

I tried to ignore the jolt of heat that shot through me.

Fuck.

"Hypocrite," he hissed. "I know who you work for. Say it."

"It's not—"

"Say it," he insisted.

Reluctantly, I said, "I work for Caleb Brantley. But the legal side—"

Ric snorted. "There is no legal side where anyone with the name Brantley is concerned. No more than there is or ever will be with the DiMarcos. Or your family. Bella's or Vinny's either, for that matter. We’re just one big happy, fucking mobster family. You claim you left Dusk Bay to get away from them, but you never did. You never will. And then you came back. You know why?"

"Bella's wedding," I said, my voice tight. "That's the only reason."

"Bullshit." He pushed his leg up higher, rubbed his knee against me. "You came back because you know you belong here. You belong to me. You always fucking have and you always fucking will."

I started to deny it, but the words came out as a moan when his leg rubbed against my clit.

His grip loosened slightly. "You like that, huh? Of course you do." He slid his leg back and forth with purpose now. "Because you're mine. I'm going to make you come for me."

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