Bang Bang(28)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

Like Trace said, it was a killer dress. I was going to ask to spend every anniversary in it.

Or maybe every day.

“He’s here.” Nixon popped his head in the room. “So I need you guys to be ready.”

“Now?” I squeaked out. “But the ceremony’s about to start, you’re going to… to shoot him before I say ‘I do’?”

“Course not.” Nixon grins was ice cold. “I’m going to shoot him before you walk down the aisle…”

“Comforting.” Trace nodded to her husband. “Good job, Nixon.”

With an exaggerated eye roll, he closed the door while I tried not to hyperventilate.

The sound of Mil loading her gun wasn’t helping.

Or Mo pulling a knife from her bra.

When I turned to Trace for help she was busy loading a pistol.

“You guys are all insane,” I breathed.

“I prefer prepared.” Mil grinned, then stuffed the gun back in her small clutch. “No worries, we just want to make sure you’re protected. I’d like to think both me and Trace are amazing shots, and Mo can take a guy down with a single blade. Don’t worry, we won’t let anyone ruin your day.”

“Right.” I suddenly felt like I needed some sort of weapon, but just the idea of it made me feel a bit lightheaded.

Another knock sounded at the door. “Ready?” Tex poked his head in.

“But—”

“No worries.” Tex opened the door wider and offered his arm. “I’ve got it covered.”

“Covered?” I looked around. “You mean my father?”

“Oh, he had to go… um… he just had to go.”

“Who got the shot in?” Mo crossed her arms.

“Stupid Chase,” Tex grumbled. “I almost had him too and then Chase goes and decides to be a hero.”

“So damn sexy.” Mil laughed.

Tex narrowed his eyes. “He didn’t want me getting blood on my suit on account that I’m important.”

“Just keep telling yourself that, big guy.” Mo handed Mil a twenty.

“Wait.” Tex pointed. “What’s that? Why’s money exchanging hands?”

“Oh crap, sorry.” Trace reached into her clutch and pulled out a twenty and handed it to Mil.

Tex looked ready to kill. “Explain.”

“We made a simple wager to see which one of you would get the bad guy first.” Mil shrugged innocently. “I win.”

Mo covered her mouth with her hands and hid her laughter then stepped up to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. “You tried really hard though, and that’s all that matters, sweetheart.”

Tex grumbled something under his breath but seemed momentarily pleased at the fact that Mo was praising him like he’d just conquered the world. His chest puffed up a bit, and then he softened when she whispered something in his ear. His hand tightened on her waist.

“Wedding.” Mil clapped. “You guys can play later.”

“Right.” Tex reluctantly let his wife go and offered me his arm.

I stared at it.

He kept his arm out.

I stared some more.

“Okay then.” Tex chuckled. “I’m walking you down the aisle, thought Ax told you.”

“You?” I blurted.

The girls laughed. Tex frowned. “Why not me?”

“You’re the Cappo.”

“Say it again.” He winked.

“Down boy.” Mo thumped him in the chest.

“I mean…” Heat flooded my cheeks. “I’m just a De Lange, you shouldn’t be walking me down the aisle… wouldn’t it be… wrong?”

Tex reached for my hand and squeezed it. “You’re not just a De Lange, you’re family and nothing would make me more proud then to walk you down that aisle in front of the most powerful families known to our kind. So, will you take it?”

Not trusting my voice, I nodded, and took his arm, shaking as the sound of classical music invaded my ears. The girls rushed past me and then slowly made their way outside and down the aisle. It was lined with white candles of all shapes and sizes.

The sun was setting, casting a rosy glow on the white chairs and the people sitting in them.

The wedding march began.

I clenched Tex’s arm tighter, but he didn’t move. Curious, I looked up at him, thinking maybe he’d changed his mind. Instead, he turned to me and whispered in my ear. “Your own father’s a bastard. I’m not saying I’m anything but ugly… what I do is ugly… but it’s moments like this that make life beautiful. I promise to protect you until my dying day. I promise our families will do everything in their power to make what was done to you right… So when you walk down this aisle and accept that man’s hand, know that we take those vows right along with you guys. And if Ax ever hurts you, mentally, physically, hell if he forgets your anniversary, you just let me know.”

With a watery smile I launched myself into his arms and hugged him. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” he said gruffly. “Now let’s get you married.”

Ax’s eyes never left mine. He was beautiful. I’d always wanted to be with him, and now I was marrying him. It was weird, how I’d always been afraid of the very type of people who were now offering me love, life, and happiness. I fought a smile as Nixon elbowed Chase and then pointed at his shirt. Naturally a spot of blood was poking out on the white. Chase rolled his eyes and shrugged as if to say, what can a guy do?

I didn’t want to know what happened to my dad or my brother. I knew Ax would tell me when the time was right, but I also knew that I needed to let my past stay there — in my past. Whatever my father had planned for me would have led to my torture, and probable death. I could only hope that in the end, my brother didn’t meet the same fate.

Ax reached for my hand just as the priest said, “Who gives this woman?”

Nixon, Frank, Mil, and Phoenix all took decisive steps towards Tex and in unison they said. “We do.”

It wasn’t just the Cappo who gave me away.

The heads of the five Families, each boss, gave me away. Gave me their approval, in front of everyone. I almost lost it. And then Ax nodded slightly to the left, I turned.

My brother was sitting in the front row.

With my father.

Both of them were bleeding. My father looked irritated. My brother had a smile on his face and I could almost imagine, my mother in heaven finally being at peace.