Page 50 of What Doesn't Kill You…

Whatever.

You share one mind-blowing kiss with a guy, and he thinks he owns you.

Men.

Rodrigo rubbed his chin. "Have to say, I have some concerns. So far there's been mention of drugging, handcuffing, a knee to the balls, and now gagging." He considered Violet. "Should I be worried?"

"Nope," Max replied for her, proving once and for all that he had a death wish. "This is how Violet and I communicate."

"Well, you might want to work on your communication style because the boss is heading for the island. I spoke to her last night and she's worried about us. She'll be here this afternoon, along with the missing two-thirds of the triplets."

"Doesn't she trust us to get the job done?" Violet asked feeling deeply offended.

"I think it's more that she's afraid we're stretched too thin. Which is understandable considering Damien is amassing an army and your family will need protection while we work. There's no denying a few more hands would help."

She couldn't argue with that. "Speaking of my family. We've all been ordered to breakfast on the terrace. Apparently, this is what families do at weddings. They all hang out together, twenty-four-seven, until the bride and groom are finally freed from their obligations and can run away."

"You mean go on their honeymoon?" Rodrigo asked, his eyes dancing.

"All I know," Violet said, "is that we're being held hostage until the wedding is cancelled, so prepare for family breakfast, lunch, and dinner because there's no getting out of any of this. Trust me. I tried."

"This is probably a stupid question," Katrina said. "But what would happen if we told your family the truth."

Violet mimed a nuclear explosion.

"Okay, then we don't do that," Katrina said with a nod.

"Can't we send them off on a tour of St. Patrice?" Max said.

"They won't go." Violet gritted the words out. "There are wedding traditions to perform. I'm told they're set in stone."

"Like?" Rodrigo asked.

Violet clenched her fists, feeling her nails bite into her palms. "My mother and sister want to see my dress."

Katrina made a strangled sound. "That might not be a good idea." She gave them an anxious glance. "I picked it up in a sale, got the cheapest one because I figured it was purely for show and you'd never wear it anyway. I don't even think it's your size, but it definitely isn't your style." She cleared her throat. "Have you looked at it?"

"No," Violet said stalking through to the closet. "But I'm doing it now."

Her team followed her, and Katrina helped her to get the dress out of the bag.

"What is this netting stuff?" Violet poked at the skirt. It was all netting. An abundance of it. More than any fishing trawler would ever need. "And is that lacework?" She closed her eyes for a second. "My granny, on my dad's side, used to have doilies that looked like that." She faced Katrina. "Netting and doilies?"

"Cheap," Katrina said. "I never thought anyone would see you wearing it."

"And they won't." Violet stuffed it back in the bag.

"Um, Violet," Katrina said. "Your family is going to want to see you in the dress."

Violet stopped zipping up the bag. "Before the wedding?"

Katrina nodded. "Yep."

Violet looked at the men. "Is that normal? I thought the dress was supposed to be a secret before the ceremony."

"Usually, the mother or sister have input," Max said with authority. "Most times they'd go shopping with you and give you an opinion on your choices." He shrugged. "I've been through this, remember? I’d have been happy to share my knowledge, but it would have meant talking, and we all know how you feel about that."

Violet glared at him. "This is your fault. I should be thinking about ways to get into Damien's estate, but instead I'm worried about my family giving me a hard time over a dress I didn't pick and have no intention of wearing. If I could, I'd shoot you."