Page 33 of Monster
“Because of you Angela. Him going inside for the Family means you will be free. Free and protected for life. He's doing it for you.”
26
MONSTER
“Honestly,I don't know whether she’s going to be happy with that.” I threw my hands up exasperated. Everyone seemed to have a say in how my wedding was going to be. Everyone except me and Angela. The two people who should have a say. Personally, I couldn't care less. I would have quite happily gone to the courthouse and done it all quietly. Gio had other ideas though. He wanted it to be a spectacle. One big final middle finger to her father. For a crime lord, he was petty as fuck.
I might not care, but Angela was female and girls always cared about that kind of stuff. “I'll have to ask Angela and see …”
Gio cut me off. His finger tapping on the screen on Cyber’s laptop. My best friend looked none too happy to be using his laptop to plan a wedding. It would have made me laugh under other circumstances. But it was my wedding.
My wedding.
Shit, even the thought should have sent me into a panic. I was Monster. The last person anyone with half a brain cell would think would ever get married. I didn't care about anyone but myself and my club, and the latter was only when it really suited me. And now there I was, about to be married and I was ok with that.
Better than ok, I wanted to give my angel the kind of wedding she deserved. I didn't want things to be rushed and half-assed
“These ones, I think Keeley would look lovely in that colour, don’t you?” Gio’s face turned towards me, and I blinked at him in shock. What the hell did my cousin have to do with the colour of bridesmaid dresses?
Why the hell were we sitting in Fang's office picking out bridesmaid dresses anyway? Surely that was something Angela and the girls would be arranging on their little shopping trip?
“I can imagine she looks good in pale blue,” Gio continued, oblivious to the scowl on my face. “Pure, you know.”
“Angela would prefer red or black.” I gritted out between my clenched teeth. “And I don’t know if she even wants fucking bridesmaids. If she did, I'm not sure Keeley would be her first pick. She has friends of her own and…” I shot a look at Cyber. “The only person I would put forward is Cyber’s little girl.”
“Oh Keeley has to be a bridesmaid - she’s your family, and...”
I cut him off, slamming both my hands down on the desk with so much force that pain radiated through my palms and up my arms. “Gio?”
“Yeah?”
“Stay the fuck away from Keeley.”
Gio leant back, his eyes searching my face. He didn't look scared, or intimidated, if anything the look that settled on his features was one of boredom. “And what if I don't want to?” There was no threat to his voice but it was there bubbling under the surface.
Gio had his own dark monster inside, usually, he did a better job than me of hiding it but every now and then it sparked to life in his eyes.
“If I'm going to do life in prison for you, Gio, I want your word that you will leave my cousin alone. She’s a good girl. She has plans for the future.” I levelled my eyes on him unwavering. “I don't know what has happened between the two of you but I want your word that you will end it.”
I wasn't blind. I had seen the way he’d looked at her at the party. How quick he was to put his arms around her and offer her his insincere comfort. There was only one thing a man like Gio wanted from a girl like Keeley and he wasn't going to get it. I would put a bullet in his brain before that happened.
“I know what she is, Monster. She’s like a spark of light in the fucking darkness that is my life.” He held up his hands. “But nothing has happened between us. She’s .. how did you describe her…? A good girl.” He grinned. “Don’t get me wrong, I was tempted to try and corrupt her but the reason I want her so badly is because she is so fucking good. Keeley is safe from me. You do this for The Family, and I'll make sure she is looked after. You don't have to worry about me touching her. Even if she would let me, I wouldn't. My word is my bond.”
“You best be telling me the truth Gio…”
The door to Fang's office bounced open, rebounding off the wall only to be shoved open again. Angela stood there. Her beautiful features twisted into a frown so deep I was surprised she hadn't given herself a headache.
“Hey, Angel, you're back early.” It was good to see her and I put all that feeling into my voice.
“You son of a bitch.” Her slap rocked my head back. Around us, a gasp went up, only punctuated by Cyber’s chuckle.
“Do you fancy telling me what I have done this time, Angel?” Idly, I massaged my cheek where her hand had made contact. “Or is that for something you think I'm going to do in the future?”
Black eyes blazing, Angela stepped into my space. “Gypsy told me what you're planning to do. And…” she looked around wildly as if suddenly aware that everyone's eyes were on her, “I won't let you, Monster.”
I didn't say a word. I would talk to Fang later about keeping his woman in line but not right then. Slowly, I closed my hands around her hips. “It's done, Angel.”
Her eyes sparkled in anger. Her lips curled. “Undo it then, Monster. I will not have you give up your damn life for me.” She stomped her heeled boot. “That wasn't part of the deal we made and…”
