His men didn’t smile.
We left that hell and stepped outside as five SUVs screamed to a halt.
Darren leapt out. His eyes went from Kaspar to Winter to me.
He ran over and pulled me away then wrapped me in a hug. He kissed my cheek then went to Winter.
And stopped cold.
The way Darren looked at Winter was the way Kaspar looked at me just a couple minutes ago.
That intense gaze.
Kaspar wouldn’t kill me. I should’ve realized that. Despite everything, Kaspar was the same man I knew years ago. The same man that stalked me, made my life both heaven and hell. The same man that teased me mercilessly.
Only now fully grown, and much more powerful.
It occurred to me that I should’ve run, right then and there.
But of course, I didn’t know what he had in store.
I didn’t know what deal my mother and sister struck.
No, I couldn’t have known. That was all still coming.
“You look perfect,” Darren whispered and he reached out for Winter.
But she flinched away. That was worse than a slap. He turned his face, jaw working, before gesturing at his men.
They swept the building, but found nothing.
I was bundled up into a car with Winter. We didn’t speak on the drive back to the manor. We were both still wrapped up in what happened—Winter probably thinking about my brother and what her coming marriage would mean for her future, and I was too busy obsessing about the man that once obsessed about me.
And what it meant that he was back in my life.
“At least you found a dress,” I said as I stepped out of the car.
And Winter laughed, a real, genuine laugh.
20
Darren
“They could’ve been killed.” I slammed my fist against my desk.
Anthony stood next to the fire. Mother lounged in a chair and Erin remained near the door, staring at her phone like always. I couldn’t tell if she was listening or not, but it didn’t matter.
“But they weren’t. Kaspar made it in time.” Mother sounded conciliatory. She wanted to smooth over the rough edges, to try to make things all better. She’d always been that way, and that might’ve worked at home, but it couldn’t work in war.
There was no smoothing this away.
Penny and Winter. My little sister and my future bride. They were almost killed by a bunch of MacKenna thugs.
“It was the seamstress,” Erin said suddenly.
Everyone looked at her. I was surprised she’d spoken up, and for a few beats, the room was silent. “Excuse me?” I asked.
“She told the MacKennas. Apparently, they’d paid her off a while ago. Probably paid off every single tailor and wedding boutique owner in the area.”
“I should’ve thought of that.”
“Nobody considered it.” Erin stopped typing and looked up. “I had some of your men go through her records. There were several large payments from a company that’s owned by Roman.”
“He’s too damn close to me.” I began to pace again. I might’ve underestimated him. I never imagined he’d bribe all of the wedding boutiques in this region just for the chance of getting at Winter. If Kaspar hadn’t intercepted a message about the attack, that might’ve worked, and Winter would be back in their hands.
Leaving me without leverage and without a wife.
“What would you have us do, darling?” Mother shifted in her seat and crossed her legs. “We can’t go around and check every bridal store from here to Chicago.”
“We’ll find and vet vendors better. And we’ll hurry this wedding up.” I pointed at Anthony. “You’re working security. Make sure this place is locked down.”
“Roger that, big brother.” Anthony mock-saluted. “Though to be honest, we’re better secured then Fort Knox.”
“We better be.” I gestured at Mother. “I want to marry Winter in three days. You have that long to put together a wedding.”
Mother sighed and touched her hair. “I suppose I can put something together, though honestly, Darren, you deserve better.”
“Three days.” My fists tightened as I nodded at Erin. “And you, work whatever magic you used to sniff out that bitch seamstress on the rest of the people in this town. Anyone with a whiff of Roman will be dealt with.”
“I don’t take orders from you.” Erin yawned and covered her mouth.
“Erin,” Mother said, but I held up a hand and glared at my sister.
“It’s not a damn order. It’s a request. We’re all in this together.”
Erin stopped typing and looked up. Her intensity blazed so bright, it sucked my breath away. Sometimes I forgot how smart she was.
“If we’re all in this together, then I want to be a part of any future meetings you have with the other Oligarchs.”
I stopped pacing and glared at her. “That’s not your place.”
“Then you can go fuck yourself.” She looked back at her phone. “Figure out how to find the spies yourself.”
I suppressed the angry retort. I was tempted to shout at her, but that wouldn’t do a damn thing to help the situation.