Page 61 of Face Off

Briggs moved closer, his hands leaving his pockets as every trace of humor disappeared from his face. “You’re not facing him alone.”

“I don’t need protection.”

“We know,” he said. “You still have it.”

Cade had remained silent near the window, watching the estate grounds while the rest of them crowded my room. He finally turned toward me. “The castle has cameras covering the entrances, corridors, terraces, and most of the common areas. I verified it before we arrived.”

I stared at him. “You verified the security cameras at your own wedding?”

“I didn’t have them installed. They belong to the estate, and a wedding with this guest list requires security.” His voice remained calm, carrying the kind of authority that made arguing feel like wasted energy. “If Lance corners you, stay somewhere a camera can see you.”

“I’m not letting that motherfucker chase me through a castle until I find decent lighting.”

Rider’s mouth moved, but his attention stayed hard. “The cameras aren’t there to protect you from him.”

“They’re there to protect the truth,” Easton added.

Briggs clasped the back of my neck and squeezed once. “And if the truth needs witnesses, you have four.”

Something tightened beneath my ribs before I knocked his arm away. “Are we done planning for a confrontation I have no intention of starting?”

Cade held my gaze. “As long as you understand you won’t finish it alone.”

Easton’s amusement faded. “Are you good?”

“I’m buzzed, hungry, and surrounded by men who refuse to leave my room.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

I dragged both hands over my face, exhausted by questions I couldn’t answer when I still hadn’t figured out how to fucking breathe around her. “Chale, ya. Déjenme respirar.”

Briggs came closer and clasped my shoulder. He knew enough about the last fifteen months to recognize the difference between refusing to answer and having no fucking idea what the answer might be.

“We’ll leave it alone and let you breathe,” he said.

Rider nodded before grabbing Easton by the back of his shirt and steering him toward the door.

“I can walk,” Easton complained.

“You can also interrogate Ryan for another twenty minutes, and Aura will blame me when you’re late.”

“She won’t blame you.”

“She blamed me when you lost your phone.”

“You hid my phone.”

“I moved it away from the puddle after you spilled tequila.”

Their argument followed them into the corridor. Briggs went after them, pausing long enough to give me one final look before pulling the door closed.

Cade remained near the window.

I unbuttoned my shirt. “The groom is also being asked to leave.”

“The groom has authority.”

“The groom has thirty minutes to put on something Bliss approves of.”