“Mum always said that things happen for a reason, Nicholas.”
“I wish they were still with us.” Dad looks down. “Grandpa would be jumping for joy, making us throw a party for finally getting our stubborn asses talking again.” Dad laughs at me.
“I’m sure he’s up there having a wee dram, laughing with Mum.” Uncle Tomas pats Dad’s shoulder.
“Dram?” I ask.
“A small shot of whiskey,” Dad explains.
“Have you not taught your daughter any of your Scottish root words or slang?” Tomas shakes his head. “You ashamed of your roots, little brother?” He ruffles Dad’s hair.
“No, I’m proud to be a Scot. Just didn’t get the chance.”
“Well, Uncle Tomas will teach you, shortie.” He looks at Nico. “You too, Nico. You’re as much a Denver now as Daria.”
Nico grins.
“What’s Mom doing up there?” I sigh, looking at my watch, checking the time. “We have to be at the store in ten minutes.”
“Sorry. I had to talk Jess down from hiring naked butlers.” Mom wanders in, pulling on her jacket.
“Jesus Christ.” Nico shakes his head at Jess. “She mentioned getting strippers and a naked guy you eat sushi off last night too. I swear she wants to see these guys killed and Striker in jail.”
“Sushi? I don’t even like sushi.” I giggle.
“She just wants as many naked men around to make up for Striker crashing her bachelorette party.” Mom laughs. “Come on, honey. Let’s find you a dress.”
A wide grin pulls at my lips. “I’m so excited,”
“Have fun, pumpkin.” Dad kisses my head then whispers something in Mom’s ear. She smirks, nodding.
We head towards her car. “What did Dad say?”
“Nothing.” She winks at me, climbing into the car.
For the first time in forever, I feel like my life is mine. Long may this feeling continue.
***
I can't believe I'm getting this moment. I stand in the store, looking at all the beautiful dresses. My vision blurs, thinking back to my first wedding.
“This is your dress.” Mrs. Jefferson thrusts a dress bag at me. “Put it on.”
My heart sinks when I open it. This is not what I envisioned my big day being. I always wanted my mom to be here, my real mom, and my best friend helping me get ready. Not this. Not some old dress shoved at me and told to put it on. I wanted my dad to be here to give me away, for my grandpa to be here in the front, watching with pride. Instead, I'm about to walk down the aisle alone to marry a man I don't love in that way, for all the wrong reasons.
“Sweetheart?” Mom's voice brings me out of my memory. “You okay?”
I wipe my tears away. “I'm better than okay. I'm just thinking.”
“Thinking about what, honey?”
“That this is what I've always dreamt of my whole life. Standing in this room, surrounded by these beautiful dresses. I'm marrying the love of my life. I have my brother, my best friend, and the best thing I have is both of my parents with me this time around.” The tears that were threatening to fall roll down my cheeks and drip off my chin.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom pulls me to her and hugs me tightly. “You deserve this day. Today is all about you,”
“What did I miss?” Jess walks into the store with Emily.
“Just having a moment.” I pull away from Mom, and Emily hugs me.
“Are we ready?” The smiley assistant approaches us. I nod, and we follow her farther into the store where she shows us to a private room where I’ll be trying all the dresses on. She asks me about what style I want, color, what the color scheme is, what kind of flowers we’re having, and the time of year the wedding is.
“Do you have a budget?” I’m about to answer her, but Mom butts in.
“Unlimited.” I look at her with wide eyes. “Your father was insistent that you get the best.”
“Mom, no.”
“Daria, let your dad do this for you.” She pats my hand.
I pull out my cell to call him. “Dad, I’m not letting you spend over the odds for a dress.”
“Pumpkin, you deserve the best. Nothing is too much to see you happy.” Tears fill my eyes again. “Let me make it up to you for missing the first wedding.”
“But, Dad…”
“No buts, Daria. Get the one you love, the shoes, and all the other stuff you need to get for everyone. I’m paying for it all.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, pumpkin.”
“Told you.” Mom laughs.
“Let’s find me a dress.”
I try on the first dress, and I know instantly that this is the one. I turn to look in the mirror and I can’t help the sob that escapes me. I have no words to describe the feeling I have right now. The dress itself is beautiful; the lace bodice hugging every curve of my body like a second skin. The skirt flows from my hips like a waterfall down to my feet, a delicate jewel placed on the left hip. And for added sexiness, a leg split. All my emotions start to build up. I never ever thought I would get this moment, to be able to marry a man of my choosing, the love of my life.
For the first time in my life, I feel free and light.
“Come on, Dar. We’re getting impatient here.” Jess giggles.
I open the curtain and walk to the platform in the middle of the room. My grin widens at seeing their wide-eyed expressions. I begin to bounce from foot to foot; I’m so excited.
“Wow,” Jess breathes out.
I look down at the three most important women in my life. The only one missing is Alex, who is away with Tyler on vacation, so Emily said she would video call her.
“Daria, sweetheart,” Alex sniffles through the cell. “That’s beautiful.”
“What do you think?” I ask Mom and Emily, who are both wiping their eyes.
“Mom, it’s beautiful. You look amazing.”
“You look gorgeous, honey.”
I look down at Jess, who sobs. “You look absolutely stunning. It’s you.”
“Ty, come look at Daria in her dress!” Alex calls Tyler to come to look.
“You sure it’s okay for me to see?” he asks.
“Yes.” I see him appear on the cell, and he disappears as quickly as he came on the screen.
“Ty? Are you okay?” Alex asks him. “Aww, Ty, are you crying?”
“Shut up,” he mutters, unhappy that she’s outed him. He pops back on the screen. “Daria, you look amazing. You’re like a second daughter to me, and I can’t wait to see you marry the love of your life.”
I smile at him. “Thanks, Tyler. You’re like a dad to me, and I have a special role for you at the wedding.”
“You do?”
“I’ve spoken to Striker and he agreed. I want you to be a groomsman.”
“I would be honored, sweetheart. Now, I’m going to get a beer and threaten someone.” He clears his throat, disappearing.
“I better go, just in case he gets himself arrested.” Alex rolls her eyes. “We’ll see you in a week.” We say goodbye and hang up.
“Do you want to try on any more dresses?” the assistant asks.
I take one last look in the mirror, grinning widely. I feel like my face is going to split in two. “No, this is the one.”
Finally, everything is falling into place, and I’m on my way to get my happily ever after.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Striker
“What did you tell Daria you were doing today?” Dad asks me as I help Evan eat his lunch. I look away from this innocent, mini version of Daria. His hazel eyes penetrate me and judge me for the lie I told her this morning when she left.
“I told her we were going on a fishing trip.”
“Striker.” Dad sighs. “What happened the last time you lied to her? Nico and I had to lock your stubborn asses in a room.”
“This is different. I had to. I said I wouldn’t do anything to the…” I cover Evan’s ears. “…dickhead. I
can’t sit back and let everyone else have the fun.”
“Why not just tell her?”
“Because she doesn’t want any more blood spilled because of her. I’m not going to cause her to trigger back to the way she was.”
“By not telling her, you’ll trigger it tenfold,” Dad warns.
“I’m keeping my promise to her. I’m not killing him. I will, however, help him on his way.”
“Son, you’re playing a dangerous game.”
Again, I cover Evan’s ears, otherwise he’s going to have a very colorful vocabulary before he’s one.
“Dad, the bastard raped her when she was sixteen.” I lift Evan up out of his highchair, taking him to get his jacket on, ready to go with Dad.
“I know, but by lying to her about where you’re going today, you’re going to put your relationship back twenty paces.”
“She won’t find out.”
“Son, she’s a woman. Women find everything out eventually, and you and I both know Daria can sniff out a lie a mile away.”
“Look, Dad. I’m doing this. I’ll deal with Daria if it comes to that.”
“Okay.” He sighs again, taking Evan and his bag. “Just be careful and make sure there are no witnesses.”
“Of course.” I kiss Evan’s head. He giggles, chewing on his toy. “I’ll pick him up tomorrow morning.” He nods and leaves.
I shoot off a quick text to Nico, Austin, and Travis to tell them it’s time. They all message back quickly. Austin and Travis came to Phoenix two nights ago. Austin was going through some shit with Yazz. He needed space, so they both came back to their parents’ house while they were on vacation.
Time to go see the doctor.
***
“How’s Daria?” Austin asks as we approach the bar we followed Fitzpatrick to.
“Fine. She’s with Lauren, Jess, and Emily discussing wedding stuff,” I say smugly.
“You haven’t married her yet.” He narrows his eyes on me, obviously knowing what I’m doing. “There’s still time for her to leave your sorry ass.”
“Enough.” Travis looks between us. “Keep the pissing contest for another day.”
“He’s leaving.” Nico watches Dr. Fitzgerald leave while I have my back to the exit. “Let’s go.”
We follow him outside, and he turns the corner into an alleyway where Travis grabs him, covering his mouth with his hand.
“Don’t say a word or I’ll snap your neck.”
Fitzpatrick nods. Austin puts what looks like a dark pillowcase on his head as Nico brings the van around and we push him in the back.
“Who are you? What do you want? I can get you money. How much do you want? Please, please don’t kill me,” he pleads.
“We don’t want money. We want justice,” Austin growls. I know he’s trying his best to keep a lid on his temper until we get to the warehouse, just like I am. I want nothing more than to slice my knife across his throat right now and watch the life leave his eyes.
“Justice?” His voice quivers and he clears his throat. “Justice for what?” The van comes to a stop, and we drag him out and sit him in the chair in the middle of the room.
Travis pulls the cover off his head, he blinks a few times, trying to get his eyes to adjust. His gaze lands on Nico and me, and his breathing becomes heavy, his chest rising and falling quickly. His eyes squeeze shut, as if not believing we’re real.
“Please. My receptionist told me to report you two for barging in.” His chin wobbles, and his eyes dart around the room to find an escape route.
“You remember what I said to you?” I circle him and stop behind him, his hands shaking behind him trying to free his hands from the cable ties Travis put on him in the van. I lean down close to his ear. He flinches and jerks his head away from me when I start speaking again. “My brother-in-law doesn’t like it when people touch his sister without permission.” I grab his hair when he looks away from Nico’s hard gaze, making him look over at him. Nico is cracking his knuckles, his nostrils flaring, ready to kill, with Austin and Travis either side of him, looking equally murderous. “None of us take kindly to you touching someone we love.”
“I…” He swallows, his Adam's apple bouncing up and down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You forced Daria to have sex with you.” Austin sneers.
“What? That’s crazy. I would never ask a teenager to undress for me.” I walk around and stand in front of him, lick my lips, and tilt my head.
“He didn’t say you asked her to undress for you,” His eyes bug out of his head when he realizes he fucked up. “Now, Piers, let’s try that again, shall we?”
“I only did what I was paid to do. Denise told me to break her in before the boyfriend got to her, so she would be ready for him. She didn’t want her to be a virgin. She wanted to make her look like a slut who sleeps around,” he babbles.
“You agreed. You’re just as much to blame as that whore of a stepmother. Were you sleeping with her back then too?” He looks down, ashamed, telling me that he was. “You took something without permission. You screwed her against her will. She was fucking sixteen. A child!”
“Please, please. I’m sorry. I had to do it. Denise told me if I didn’t, I would lose everything. Please. This isn’t my fault.”
Not his fucking fault? Is he shitting me?
“No-one physically forced you to stick your cock into her!” I roar.
“It should be Denise in this chair, not me.”
I’ve heard enough. I completely black out.
I come around to Travis pulling at my arm, and I see Fitzpatrick under me, blood pouring from his cheeks, nose, and mouth.
“Let us have some fun,” Travis says with an evil grin.
My knife plunges between Fitzpatrick’s legs, and he screams out in pain when I withdraw it. I grab his shirt, bringing his face up to mine.
“You ever think of my woman like that again, and you won’t have these guys to stop me.” I drop his body with force, his head smacking on the concrete with a sickening thud. He whimpers, unable to speak with a broken jaw.
“He’s all yours. Make him suffer,” I say, walking past Nico, Travis, and Austin, my chest heaving as I leave them to it and go back to my fiancée.
I kept my promise.
I didn’t kill him.
***
I walk into the house and it's quiet. It looks like Daria is still out with Lauren, Jess, and Emily, thank God. I don't need Daria to see the bloodstains on my shirt and her adding my own blood to that. Nico text me before I walked into the house that it was done and taken care of. That was all he said.
“Is he dead?”
I almost died right there. My heart stops for a second when I hear Daria's voice. I see her in the sitting room. She's holding a glass of something, likely wine. “Well?”
“Is who dead?” I walk farther in and sit beside her. How the hell does she know?
“Don't insult my intelligence, Striker. Where’s Evan and the fish you caught?” Her eyes snap up to me. “You weren’t on a fishing trip with your dad and Evan. You went to seek revenge, didn’t you?”
Tipping my head back, I rest my head on the back of the sofa as I run my fingers through my hair and sigh. “Yes.” I wait for her to shout and scream at me. But she's silent. Silence and Daria is a dangerous combination.
“I asked you not to get involved.”
“I know.”
“I can see the blood on your shirt. Plus, you wouldn't let anyone else kill someone who hurt me. You forget I know you and how your mind works when it comes to protecting your loved ones. The monster wins all the time, Striker.”
“Okay, I had to get a punch or five in and cause him some pain,” I admit. “I couldn't let him get away with it, Daria. What he did to you?” I stop, taking a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “I couldn't let him get away with it. Imagine he did that to Emily, or to another kid, but younger. We couldn't let him do that to someone else.”
<
br /> “We?”
“Nico, Austin, Travis, and me.”
It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It’s freaking me out how calm she is.
“Look, I'm sorry I lied to you. Although, I didn't actually lie. I said I wouldn't be the one to do it, and I wasn’t.” I take her hand in mine.
“Who did it?”
“Nico.” She gasps, obviously not wanting to think of Nico doing something as bad as killing someone. He’s not a killer. He’s the one that asks the questions, toys with them, then I come in and kill whoever needs to be taken care of. But he couldn’t contain his anger with what that asshole did to Daria. Austin offered to do it, but Nico refused. He wanted to be the one.
“You sure there won't be any blowback on you guys? I couldn't handle you both being in prison.”
“We were careful, and we have an alibi if the cops question us. I promise.” She nods and leans in to kiss me.
“Thank you.”
I frown, because I expected her to shout and scream at me, and I have no idea why she's thanking me. “Why?”
“Just for everything. Loving me at my worst.”
“You love me at my worst too, Daria. There's nothing in this world that will stop me loving you.”
“I was lost before you came back into my life. I was in a marriage that was based on a lie. We had an unconventional first meeting and an even more bizarre reunion filled with so many heartbreaks that could have been avoided if I had just spoken to you, and vice versa. But, it made me realize that I'm stronger and happier when I'm with you. I love you.” She rests her forehead on mine, our fingers entwined together. “You've brought out the best and worst in me. The biggest thing you've given me… it's not just the kids. You've given me my life back.” A tear slips down her beautiful face with a small smile. I bring my hand up, cupping her cheek, my thumb wiping the tear away.
“You, Emily, and Evan are my world, Daria. This is all down to you. I just pushed you in the right direction. I think we just need to talk a lot more with our mouths and not what's in our pants.”
“You love me talking with my mouth.” She bites her lip, trying and failing to contain her sly smile.
Nothing Else Matters (Demons Disciples MC Book 2) Page 29
