Stella squirmed in the chair. “I didn’t know that. Uhmm...have you asked her why?”
Eyes narrowed, Reign stared at his sister in law. “She deflects whenever I ask. You know something. Tell me.”
Her chin dropped.
Ready to beg, he reached across the distance separating them and squeezed her hand. “I have to know.”
“I feel like I’m breaking her confidence, but I will say this...family is everything to her. She misses them.”
He knew this. “I can give her a new family.” Children, a home, that’s what he wanted for them.
Stella shook her head. “In two thousand years, you never forgot your brother. You expect Alexis to forget her family in a few months?”
He jerked to his feet and paced the length of the room. No matter how far he walked, he couldn’t outrun the truth. Not only was he not her family, and not good enough to be her family, he had taken her from her family. He’d entered her life and stolen everything: her career, her freedom, and the ones she loved.
Of course, she didn’t want to marry him.
“Thank you, Stella. This conversation has been enlightening.”
She jumped up. “Reign, give her time.”
Time...Time was the only thing he could give her. Yet all the time in the world wouldn’t replace her family. Once blind, now enlightened, he couldn’t ignore the obvious.
The one thing she wanted, he couldn’t give.
Still, he couldn’t...wouldn’t let her go.
“Just the man I wanted to see! Good thing Quin told me you were here. Saved me a call.” EJ walked down the hallway towards Reign.
A distraction from the pain, Reign actually smiled at EJ. “I am at your disposal.”
EJ slapped him on the shoulder. “Nope. I am at yours. Ya see, I took the liberty of getting everything lined up so you wouldn’t have to.”
Everything?
Stella stepped between the two men. “EJ, Reign, and I are in the middle of something important. Do you mind—”
Reign had no idea what EJ referred to and he didn’t care. “Thank you, Stella, for your help and insight, but EJ and I already had plans.”
He stepped around her and led the way out of the townhouse, with EJ’s chatter as background noise. Outside, on the sidewalk, he stopped for a deep breath and waited for EJ to catch up. The man’s lips hadn’t ceased moving since upstairs, though Reign hadn’t heard a word.
“Hey? Are you okay?”
No. Okay, he was not. “I am, fine.” That’s what Alexis always said when he inquired about her wellbeing.
“Good, then let’s get going.”
He really should ask about their destination, but he caught Stella peering from the French balcony outside of her bedroom. She sent a tentative wave.
Reign turned to EJ. “Lead and I shall follow.”
Chapter Six
“Like I said...” EJ started the second they sat down at a table in the back of the Brewery. “Jonas is a friend from high school. His mother passed last year and left him her event planning business. I’ve helped him out of bit since some of her clients have fled. He could use the money.”
“Why hasn’t the family employed him previously?” Reign asked.
EJ’s voice dropped. “Because we had Hector...and now we don’t.”
Reign noted the dip in EJ’s voice at Hector’s name. He hadn’t known the indispensable butler long, yet Reign also grieved his loss. “I’m not convinced this is the proper course of action,” Reign said.
EJ elbowed him. “Hey, trust me! Ladies love surprises, and this has got be the ultimate surprise.”
Reign didn’t dispute the size of the surprise, yet doubt persisted. A surprise wedding could not be the easy remedy to her resistance. Could it?
He was willing to take the chance.
“This is one of my favorite places in New York.” EJ flagged down a waitress and ordered two seasonal brews. By the time the beers arrived, Jonas and his assistant Carl, joined them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Roger. Thank you for the opportunity to showcase your event.” Jonas used Reign’s alias. He sent EJ a silent thank you. It wouldn’t do to have a wanted fugitive shopping in midtown Manhattan.
“I understand you guys have another appointment, so we’ll cut the small talk. If you’re anything like your cousin, you’ll appreciate me getting to the point. We at Overstone Productions specialize in exclusive events you and your family and friends will never forget. We are a one-stop shopping experience for events made easy.” Jonas gave his spiel. “So tell us your dream, then sit back, and let us make it happen.”
Reign could see why EJ called Jonas a friend. He kept the ass kissing to a minimum.
Jonas glanced between EJ and Reign. “Usually, it’s the bride doing all the legwork, what gives?”
EJ slapped Reign on the back. “Surprise wedding, man. What woman wouldn’t love that shit!”
Carl snorted and scribbled something on a pad. “The theme of the wedding, what is it?” He said to Reign.
“Theme?” Reign frowned. “The theme is marriage.”
“Exactly! Marriage.” EJ slapped his hand against the table. “The man wants to get married. So let’s make it happen.”
Bobbing his head, Jonas said, “We’re going to make this the most unforgettable day of your life, and hers. When we’re done, she’ll say yes ten times instead of once. So let’s get started.”
His assistant scribbled something on a notepad. “Since the theme is wedding, we’ll go with white and keep it simple.”
“Copper. Alexis has the most beautiful coppery eyes. That is the color I choose,” Reign said.
Carl stopped writing. “So brown? You want brown. A neutral color to be your theme,” he said as his eyebrows rose and touched his hairline. The man had a surprisingly small forehead or the worst haircut in New York. Reign couldn’t decide which.
“I said copper. Not brown.” Reign corrected.
“And copper you shall have.” Jonas tapped the notepad and got Carl writing again. “Next topic. Where is your venue?” Jonas said.
Reign and EJ shared a glance. Then EJ said, “Where do you suggest?”
“We have a list of venues we regularly deal with located all over the world, some in the most exotic locations.” Carl paused his scribblings.
“It has to be here in New York,” Reign said.
“Are you planning a winter wedding? That would give us plenty of time to plan you a wedding fit for a king.” Jonas promised.
Reign shook his head.
“Sooner, then?”
EJ nodded.
“Fall?” the assistant hedged.
Both Reign and EJ shook their heads. EJ reached into the pocket of his jacket and retrieved his wallet. He pulled a platinum card free and placed it on the table.
Jonas’s grin widened. “Uhmm. When would you like this event to occur?”
“Five days,” Reign said.
The smile slipped from Jonas’s face. Carl sputtered, “Not in New York City,” and earned a glare from his boss.
“God made the world in seven days. We can do one wedding in five.” Jonas slid the platinum card over to his assistant. “What types of food would you like at the celebration? Seafood, perhaps? Maybe shrimp appetizers? Would you like a sit-down meal or a buffet style? We could do an hour of hors-d'oeuvres, cocktails—”
“Ale,” Reign said which got him a strange look from both men.
“He means beer,” EJ added.
“And meat.” Reign said.
“We’re a meat and potatoes kind of family.” EJ’s face scrunched up as if he was deep in thought, then a smile broke across his features. “How about ribs?”
Reign’s stomach rumbled. He’d discovered the tasty meat a few weeks ago. “Yes. Ribs, that’s what I want.”
The assistant blinked. “Ribs? At a wedding?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with ribs at a wedding?” EJ asked
Carl cleared h
is throat. “Well, at a formal wedding—”
“But it’s not formal; it’s family, and the family loves ribs,” EJ said.
“In my humble but experienced opinion, ribs at a formal wedding”—Jonas studied his notepad— “is what you will get.”
Carl looked at Reign. “Sir, you are the groom. It’s your decision.”
Reign thought back to all the weddings he’d attended. There weren’t many. Mercenaries weren’t invited to weddings unless an assassination or a kidnapping was planned. What he did remember was the food—meat. Lots of meat. Ale—lots of ale, music, and revelry. The bride and groom were in accord with each other and their families were pleased with the union. It was a love match and the ceremony, joyous. Reign wanted the same.
“There will be meat at my wedding.”
“Ribs.” EJ prodded.
Reign salivated. “Slabs of ribs with the sauce from a barbecue.” That earned him another strange look.
EJ snickered. “He’s from overseas. Barbecue sauce is what he means.” Carl and Jonas nodded as if EJ’s explanation made perfect sense. “Also, burgers for the kids.”
Carl groaned. “How many children will be in attendance?”
“Two. Ember’s nine and Jackson is seventeen. Hey, we should have a gaming station to keep them occupied. And a pool table for the adults after the ceremony.”
Reign agreed with it all. “Gentleman, we leave all of the planning in your hands. We have another appointment to make.”
~~~~~
The heady aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted garlic, basil, and assorted cheeses, mixed with the chatter of silverware on china and the clinking of wine glasses. Pausing inside the doorway, Alexis absorbed it all. She expected a dive bar, not a lovely restaurant with soft lighting and a laid-back ambiance. The red tablecloths offset the dark wainscot paneling and white walls. Every few inches, the portrait of a famous Italian hung on the wall. Stallone, Pavarotti, Sinatra, Loren, no one born later than 1950.
A wave of guilt swamped her. She hadn’t invited Reign to this dinner because she didn’t want him here. The animosity between Reign and Thomas was sharper than a scalpel.
He wasn’t pleased when she left, though he kept his opinion to himself. The slight flexing of a muscle along his jawline conveyed enough. He didn’t understand, and that pissed her off. After two thousand years, he’d found his twin. Now Reign and Roman were inseparable while she’d lost all connection to her family.
Alexis peeked around the busy hostess to the half-empty restaurant. Not surprising for a Wednesday night. She’d have no problem spotting Thomas if he forgot her altered appearance. Nerves had her threading her fingers through her hair. The mirrored wall to the right confirmed her blonde hair and shorter, fuller figure. She couldn’t help worrying about her brother’s sober reaction to her alias.
His acceptance was what she wanted. How desperately she wanted that acceptance, surprised her. She’d have one family member who knew the truth...and loved her despite it.
It was a lot to ask. Not only did he have to love a criminal, she had asked him to love her enough to keep her secret and that of the Nicolises because one secret accompanied others. Maybe it was too much to ask.
No maybe about it.
They weren’t the closest bunch of siblings. The age gap between herself and her two older brothers was fifteen and ten years respectively. With only five years between herself and Thomas, he was the one she idolized and emulated. Nothing had meant more than his opinion...except the opinion of her father.
“Sorry for the wait, Miss. May I get you a table?” The hostess said.
“Uhmm, I think my brother may be here already.” He wasn’t. One would think a former Seal would be punctual. Alexis left her pseudonym Lexi Martin—a play on her childhood nickname and her father’s name—with the hostess and scored a table near the back. She wanted a booth along the wall, but the last one available had a reserved plaque on top.
A basket of breadsticks and an order of calamari kept her occupied. When she’d drained her glass of Sprite and cleaned out the breadsticks, she ordered bourbon neat.
He’s only a half an hour late. Only.
She drained her drink, then opened a menu, and flagged the waitress with a lift of her finger. May as well eat to stave off getting completely plastered.
“Sir, here is your booth.” The hostess said.
“Thank you, Miss.”
That voice. Oh, God.
Alexis’s head jerked up and her gaze collided with Martin Lever, her father.
Chapter Seven
The perfumed air was a pleasant surprise, along with the dulcet tones of filtered music and a cream and gold reception area, aimed to calm him. It worked until a gaunt man with slicked back hair, wearing a dark three-piece suit glided into the room.
“Greetings, gentlemen. Welcome to Maxwell’s, the only destination for brides and their entourage. Our motto is ‘No Dream Goes Unfulfilled’.” His toothy grin reached his watery blue eyes and made them twinkle. He held out his limp hand. “You must be Roger and Elroy Nicolis. I’m Paul.”
A scowl tightened EJ’s face. “The name is EJ.”
Paul’s brow furrowed and his manicured hand fluttered to his chest. “Oh, my sincere apology, sir. Your brother instructed me to call you Elroy.”
“My brother is an asshole.”
Thane rounded a column and strolled over. “Aww come on. Elroy is a beautiful name. Isn’t it Paul?” Thane said to their host whose attention bounced between the two of them.
Fists clenched, EJ stomped over to Thane. He whispered something low and guttural at which Thane laughed and said, “You win.”
“Would you gentlemen care for some refreshments?” Paul clapped his hands and a hostess rounded the same column Thane had moments ago. Reign accepted a glass of red vino while Thane and EJ passed. Reign guzzled the mouthful of wine and returned the glass to the tray before the waiter walked away.
“Nervous, Roger?” Thane snickered.
“All men are nervous before the big day. It’s completely normal. Please follow me.” Paul led the way around the column and to a large area. Cream-colored sofas bracketed raised platforms, highlighted by recessed lights, which bathed an array of white dresses lining the walls. Additional spotlights targeted extravagant pieces they hoped would ensnare a buyer.
“At your brother’s request, first, have you decided what is the color theme of the wedding party?” Paul guided Reign to a sofa in the center of the room. He sat in the middle with EJ and Thane on either side.
“Copper,” Reign answered. “I informed Jonas already.”
“Jonas?” Paul questioned and glanced between EJ and Reign.
“He’s our wedding planner,” EJ said.
Paul nodded. “Ahh, I see. The planner isn’t in charge of picking the wedding attire. But copper is an excellent color! So many complimentary shades to choose from for the wedding party.” He opened a book of color swathes to every shade between tan and brown.
“The color is copper. Why do I need to choose another?” Reign asked.
“Good question.” Thane nodded while EJ stuffed his face.
Paul cleared his throat. “Well, you don’t want the ladies to blend in with the napkins and table linen, do you?”
Reign didn’t have an answer for that question. Then EJ opened his mouth. “Why pick one color when you can choose all of them. Women love rainbows, so why not a rainbow of colors on their wedding. Nice thinking.” He patted himself on the back.
Paul coughed and struggled to clear his throat. “Rainbow of colors. What an...original idea for the bridesmaids.”
“Maids?” Reign asked EJ.
“Women like to have other women with them on their wedding day. Women love an occasion to dress up. Stella, Emeline, Ember, whatever color, style, you choose for them, they’ll love it.” EJ said around the food in his mouth.
“Are you certain?” Reign questioned. An authority on women’s clothing, he was not. E
ven in his day, women were particular about their attire.
“Yeah. The ladies won’t mind you picking a dress.” Thane slouched into the cushions, a grin on his face. He motioned at Paul who gave a smart bow and clapped his hands once.
A bevy of females paraded in single file from the rear of the room. Dressed in an array of color and styles, they paraded around the room posing every few seconds. It was all too much.
EJ stepped forward. “We need three dresses for Emeline, Stella, and Ridley.”
Reign deferred to EJ’s wisdom and knowledge, except his brow furrowed. “None of the women are maids.”
Thane snorted. “You got that right.” He popped another treat into his mouth.
“It’s just a saying,” EJ grumbled.
Paul stepped over to a model and adjusted a strap. “Bridesmaid is a name that has stuck. Once, the attendants of the bride were actually maids or maidens. Those days have long passed. I understand time is limited. All of the dresses present are available on short notice. For the right price, anything is achievable.”
Reign pointed to the first three models that walked into the room.
“Purple, pink, great colors.” EJ pointed at a gown. “Let’s ditch the puke green.” The women filed out of the room. “I think the strapless one will do.”
Reign agreed and Paul sent the women away. “Now, for the wedding dresses.” Paul signaled to his assistant and a new cadre of women entered.
Reign rose. EJ and Thane joined him. All three walked amongst the females. They were dressed in wedding dresses of varying styles from really puffy to completely scandalous. No woman of his would wear a skintight, transparent dress outside of their bedroom. The woman’s nipples were clearly visible. Or was that his imagination?
“Whoa,” Thane grunted. Someone liked what he saw.
Reign pointed at the woman in the offensive dress. “That one may leave.”
“Hey, I vote she can stay.” Thane leered.
“I will not allow Alexis to wear that gown, so the woman will leave.”
Thane leaned forward and scowled at EJ. “Back me up, bro.”
Forever (Descendants of Ra: Book 4.5) Page 5
