Chapter 4

That pendant was the Keene family heirloom, passed down from my great-grandfather to my father.

It was also the only thing my parents left behind.

Walt and June had personally returned it to me on my wedding day.

So how...

How had it come back into their possession, wrapped up as a gift for the two people who'd betrayed me?

Before I could get my head around it, Mallory's voice came through the speakers.

She clung to Colin’s arm and put on an affectation of bashfulness.

"There's actually one more thing I want to tell everyone today. Even Colin doesn't know.

"I'm pregnant."

It went off next to my ear like a thunderclap.

After the miscarriage, she'd been left with complications.

She'd clung to me when I finally made it back from out of state, crying until she couldn't breathe.

It had hurt like something was being cut out of me.

I had sworn inwardly that I would never let her suffer such agony again.

And now she was carrying another man's child.

Everything in front of me blurred.

I heard the wire that had been pulled tight inside me snap.

Then somebody tapped my shoulder.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Excuse me, are you with the bride's family or the groom's?"

I turned, and the smile dropped off her face.

"Mr. Keene... I'm... I'm so sorry..."

Kayla Briggs recognized me, bowed in a fluster, and started to back away.

I caught her before she could.

I leaned down and said a few words in her ear.

Her eyes went wide. Then she nodded and hurried off.

My phone buzzed with messages from the groomsmen.

"Adrian, we're out front."

I looked up. Across the room, Mallory and Colin were still basking in their moment of joy.

A cold smile tugged at my lips.

Let's see how the two of you get out of this one.

Out at the entrance, Kayla had already taken the welcome board away.

All seven of them came jogging in, sweating.

My eyes stung before I could stop it.

Some were childhood playmates of Colin and me, some our school classmates.

A few were brothers I’d met while intervening to save others in emergencies.

But now they were about to watch Colin and me end.

"Where's Mallory? She didn't come out to celebrate with us?"

Ben stuck his head around the others, grinning, with no idea.

I took the confetti cannon out of his hand to cover my face.

"She went in ahead of us."

He raised an eyebrow and gave me a mischievous grin.

"Adrian, you two better get moving. I'm still waiting to meet that kid of yours."

I made myself nod along.

Then I turned and pushed the ballroom doors open.

A warm, sentimental atmosphere filled the banquet hall.

Mallory was up on stage, singing a love song with her whole heart in it.

"Oh, so Mallory's on singing duty. Colin really knows how to cut a budget. I'm doing that at my wedding."

"Come on, you know what Adrian and Colin are to each other."

The seven of them were still ribbing each other.

"Where's the groom and bride, anyway?"

Ben had barely finished asking.

Colin came out from the far side of the stage.

"Damn. I’ve got to admit, Colin looks quite presentable all dressed‑up."

"That suit looks familiar..."

Theo muttered it, and something complicated crossed his face.

I pressed a hand down on his shoulder. He'd already started wondering.

The other six were still clapping along with the crowd.

Right up until Colin reached over and took Mallory's hand.

They all stopped, and turned to look at me, not knowing what to do with their faces.

"Adrian, what... I'll straighten that little bastard out for you, just say the word."

"No, I get it. The bride's a friend of Mallory's, and Mallory set them up!"

Theo's fist closed, and his face went hard.

He was about to charge the stage when I pulled him back.

"Wait a minute."

I wanted them to witness every bit of Colin’s true nature with their own eyes..

He blew out a long breath, but the cords in his neck stayed standing.

"Hey, hey, look. There's someone on the other side. Here comes the bride."

She walked out into the lights.

All seven of them went rigid where they stood.