Vegas Revenge Wedding (Nevada Bad Boys 2)

“I gave her a million dollars and told her to stay in New York for a while. You know how she always talked about Broadway and seeing all that shit. I wanted to get back home, but she’s there for another week.” He shrugged and sipped his liquor again.

“Good for her.” I couldn’t help but smile imagining my mother with an unlimited bank account and trying to navigate New York City. “Well look, an apology isn’t the only reason I’m here.”

“Lay it on me, bro. What’s up?” He put the bottle on the table and smiled.

“I need some money.” I sighed and looked at the floor. “A lot of money, actually.”

“Aw yeah.” He started laughing. “See, I knew you’d realize there was no reason to keep hustling when your brother was a wealthy man. How much you need? You said a lot? Like a million?”

“A million?” I blinked in surprise and quickly shook my head. “No, man. I just need fifty grand.”

“Fifty grand?” He laughed again. “I wipe my ass with fifty grand. You can probably find that in the floorboard of my car.”

“If that is where you want me to look.” I sighed and stared at the floor. “It isn’t easy for me to come asking for a handout, but Monica and I are in a tight spot.”

“Monica? Is this about her father’s gambling debt? No man, fuck that. That’s why she was using me in the first place. I’m not giving that bitch a dime.” Dane shook his head angrily.

“I’m the one asking, not her.” I looked up at him. “This is important.”

“Sorry, bro. It ain’t happening. You get rid of her and I’ll give you all the money you want.” He reached for his bottle of liquor again.

“Dane, seriously.” I sighed and felt my anger rising. “I need it.”

“Not for her.” He stood up and put his hand on his towel. “Stay here and drink all you want. I got a bitch in the other room that needs to be fucked.”

There was a part of me that wanted to snap my brother’s multi-million dollar arm in half after the way he disrespected me and my wife, but I deserved it. Sadly, so did she. We both deserved every bit of

his hate and spite. Even though he knew I did what I did out of a place of love for him, it was still betrayal. Monica’s betrayal was much worse.

I finished the beer in my hand and instead of grabbing another one, I went straight for an unopened bottle of whiskey. The sounds coming from the bedroom were louder than the music, so I decided to leave. I checked the floorboard of his car just in case, but there was no sign of money.

I walked down to the street and slammed the door hard once I was in the car. My anger finally started to explode and I drove my hand into the steering wheel repeatedly until it was almost bent from my fury. I unscrewed the top on the whiskey and started drinking it, finally feeling some calmness when I felt it coursing through my veins.

I can’t go back to Monica empty handed. Fuck you, Dane! Fuck!

The bottle was halfway gone before I finally cranked up the car and started driving. I kept drinking as I approached my apartment. I just couldn’t go back to Monica’s house and admit my failure, plus I wasn’t sure I could actually make it all the way across town because the liquor was taking hold of me fast.

I stumbled into the lobby with the bottle still dangling from my fingertips and punched the elevator button until the doors opened. I took one step forward and then stumbled until the back of the elevator caught me and broke my fall. The buttons were blurry and it looked like there were two or three for the fourth floor, but hitting one lit them all up. My vision was getting blurrier by the second.

The elevator arrived at what I hoped was my floor and I let the wall carry me down the hallway until I was at my door. My jammed my key into the door several times and carved out sections of paint before I finally got it in the lock. It was a short trip to my bedroom, but I didn’t make it without falling once against the kitchen counter. My eyes came into focus on my wedding band, which was still in the bowl where I left it the day after we were married. I put the bottle on the counter, slid the wedding band on my finger, and then staggered to my bedroom and passed out across the bed. The only thing that greeted me was darkness as I passed out.

Chapter 11: Monica

I was nervous after several hours passed and Grady didn’t come back to my house. I had to assume that Dane was back in town since Grady didn’t return immediately. I started sending him text messages asking where he was when it was almost midnight, but I didn’t get a response. The nervousness turned to panic and terrible thoughts started to run through my head. Dane could have convinced his brother to leave me. He could have reminded him who I was before Grady married me and while I had fallen hard for Grady, I was still the woman who betrayed his brother with my lies. I felt like our bond was strong and growing stronger by the day, but Dane was his blood—he was more family than I was.

I chewed my nails and sat on the couch, just letting those thoughts consume me. I wasn’t sure what I would do if Grady decided to abandon me. I would be picking up the pieces of my broken heart for a long time. It was probably what I deserved. I certainly left Dane’s a shattered mess, although it seemed he had recovered based on what I saw during the draft. There was a knock at the door and I ran to it, not even questioning why Grady would knock instead of opening the door like he always did. Instead of the man I was expecting, I saw the ice cold stare of Ray Stone.

“Hello Monica.” He put his hand on the door before I could slam it in his face.

“Go away! The week isn’t up!” I pushed against the door, but he pushed back and stepped into my house.

“You’re correct, but the guy I have watching your house says that Grady has been gone for a very long time. Trouble in paradise?” Ray grinned and slammed the door behind him.

“No.” I took a step back and glared at him.

“I’m glad to hear that. I would hate to think that Mr. Grant has been so generous with the two of you only to end up empty handed again.” He took a step towards me, which caused me to take another step back.

“Grady is going to get the money.” Another step followed and then my back was against the wall.