Chapter Sixteen

Brad

Pulling up to the shooting range, I contemplate putting the ute back in drive and going home. This is going to be a shit show, but I need to do it. I told Dylan I'd tell Dominic about us getting married, but I also called in back-up and am meeting Chad and Ralph here as well.

Figured it can't hurt to have witnesses around. It's only been a few days, but I need to start telling our family before they find out from others. I have no idea how they are going to react—not well, is my guess.

I've never thought about marriage before. It's not like I was against it. I'd just never met a woman who made me want to make such a serious commitment. I don't know if I'm even husband material, but Dylan makes me want to try.

Granted, I didn't think it would happen this quickly.

A tap at my window breaks through my thoughts. Chad stands on the other side with a goofy grin on his face. Grabbing my phone from the holder, I pocket it as I get out of the ute and mentally prepare myself.

Maybe doing this at a shooting range was a bad idea. When Dom found out we were dating, he punched me. Now he will have multiple guns close by when I tell him I'm marrying his sister.

Shitty planning on my part.

"What the hell are you smiling at?" I ask Chad by way of greeting. A quick glance around the carpark reveals both Ralph and Dom's cars, so they must already be inside.

He punches me in the shoulder and smiles even wider, kind of freaking me out.

"Who would have thought you'd be the first one to tie the knot?" His shit-eating grin and statement have my steps faltering.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I try to keep my voice even, but call it twin tuition; we've never been able to lie to each other.

"You and Dylan are getting married, right?" I want to slap the stupid smile off his face.

There's no point trying to deny it, as it's the reason I asked them all here after all. "Who let the cat out of the bag?" I know it wasn't Dylan who told him—they have barely spoken.

"Logan. . ." Chad starts.

"Motherfucker," I grit out.

Chad laughs again and I start to panic. If Logan knows, who else could he have told?

"Relax, bro. Apparently Dylan got a little buzzed the other night when she was sitting in the apartment drinking in a wedding dress. She was talking to Vada and Roman when Logan came home, and Vada told him. She didn't realise it was a secret. He only told me before I left the bar to come here. He didn't want me to be blindsided because he thinks you'll need someone in your corner when you tell Dom. That's why we're all here, right?"

Fucking Logan. While I appreciate him ripping that Band-Aid off for me, Chad was the only person I wasn't worried about telling. He's the most chill of all of us.

"I knew Dylan living with Logan was a bad idea," I mumble while kicking a rock across the gravel parking lot.

"Don't avoid the question." Chad smirks. He knows the answer, he just wants me to say it.

"Yes, that's why you are here. I told Dylan I would be the one to tell Dominic. I just wanted some witnesses around when I did."

"And you thought a shooting range was a good place to do that?" Chad snickers, and it's my turn to hit him.

"Poor planning on my part, but if Logan knows, I need to do this before everyone finds out." The last thing I need is for Logan to tell Mady, and then all the girls will find out before Dom does.

"I have no idea how you guys got to this point, and you owe me a drink and a chat to give me the full story. But I've got your back, and Caleb is on standby just in case you need to be patched up," he says, nudging me in the direction of the door.

"Deal, but you don't think he'll actually shoot me, right?" I really hope not. I don't think Dylan would forgive him easily if Dom shot her fiancé.

Fiancé.

Shit, that sounds weird to say, even if it's just in my head.

"Who knows? But let's go find out."

We walk through the door to the range and check in before picking up some guns and heading over to Ralph and Dominic.

Eyeing the exit, I wonder if I could slip out unnoticed. As if Chad can read my mind, he positions himself to stand between me and freedom. Dragging my feet, I make my way over to a table behind the lanes the guys are using and wait for them to finish their round and join us.

Part of me wants to drag this out, but the other part of me just wants to get this over with.

Ralph walks over first and gives me a brief hug so he can whisper in my ear, "You look like you are going to puke. Breathe."

I step out of his grip and eye him suspiciously. Does he know as well? No idea how he'd know already, but I don't have time to dwell on that.

Dom removes his earmuffs and heads over. "Thanks for the invite. I haven't been to the range in ages," he says as he joins us.

"No problem. Thanks for coming. There is a reason I invited you all here today." I clear my throat and glance between the three of them. Ralph appears concerned, Chad gives me a subtle nod of encouragement, and Dominic just looks confused.

"What's up?" Dom says as he pulls out a chair at the table. Ralph and Chad follow suit and it's not until Chad kicks out the spare chair that my feet move.

Maybe sitting will make this easier. It'll be harder for Dom to get to his gun.

"I need you to not freak out and shoot me—just hear me out." I try to clear my throat, but it doesn't help. I avoid looking at Dom and continue. "Dylan and I are engaged. We're getting married in six weeks, and before you ask, no, she isn't pregnant."

Ralph chokes on the swig of water he just took from his bottle, and when I finally look at Dom, he is glaring at me, but not speaking.

If looks could kill . . .

I'd be a dead man.

"Long story short, she came into the bar wearing a wedding dress and eating a wedding cake and started spurting some crap about it probably being the only time she'd be able to do that. The look on her face damn near killed me. I could see all the hurt and insecurities in that moment, and something inside me snapped. I told her if she wanted a dress, the cake, and a celebration... we'd do it." I gulp down some water from my own bottle and savour the cool against my throat.

"Why the rush?" Ralph asks.

Looking over at him, I'm relieved there's no judgement. He's just trying to understand.

"Honestly, I thought by picking a date that was soon, it would mean she'd say no. I wanted it to be her choice. But I wanted her to know marriage was on the cards for her, and she wasn't destined to be alone forever," I explain. It made sense in my head. Saying it out loud, though, makes me sound a little crazy.

"Last time we spoke, you said you didn't know what the future had in store for you two," Dom says in an eerily calm voice. I'm surprised he hasn't hit me yet. If I was in his shoes, I'd want to flatten me. He has more control than I do.

"That's still true. I just know I'd do anything to see her smile and show her that she is wanted and loved. If it means we do things a little backwards, so be it. I'm expecting her to call it off, though, which is okay, but I won't be the one to postpone the wedding."

"You always were stubborn," Ralph says, shaking his head.

"I know. But it would mean the world to us if we could have your support." I look around the table and make eye contact briefly with all of them. "All three of you. If we are going to pull this off, we'll need all the help." I sit back and touch my cheek where Dom got me last time.

"Your face is safe. I won't hit you again," Dom reassures me with a laugh, and my shoulders relax. I didn't realise how much tension I was carrying. "I'm not happy about this, but I will be supportive because you are right. Dylan deserves to have everything she wants, and if that's you, I'm not standing in the way. Hurt her, though. . ."

"Yeah, I know. They'll never find my body." I chuckle, and the moment of levity feels nice, even if it's regarding my possible disappearance.

"Good, at least we're on the same page. Now can we shoot stuff? Because I really need to shoot something, and I don't think Isabelle or Dylan will speak to me if I accidentally shoot you in the foot," Dominic jokes as he stands.

I get up to join him, and he surprises me by coming over for an awkward guy hug. "I mean it, Brad. Look after her. It's hard for me to step back, but it's her life, and I know you make her happy. So don't fuck it up." He pats me on the back harder than necessary before turning on his heel and heading over to reload his gun.

"Why did you not look surprised?" I ask Ralph, and he lets out a full belly laugh. It's not something we see often from Ralph. Usually, he's all business and strait laced.

"Because I knew."

"How?" I ask. I don't think Logan would have told him, and I know Vada and Roman wouldn't have said anything.

"I won't reveal my sources, you know that. But just remember, I have eyes and ears everywhere," he jokes.

"That makes you sound like some mobster," Chad adds before heading over to where Dom is.

"Why don't you talk to Ella about helping with the planning?" Ralph changes the subject, and I'm still stuck on wondering how the hell he knew. "She's just had a minor procedure and is stuck on couch rest at the moment. She's driving everyone a little nuts, so having something to do might be good for her."

"I'll chat to Dylan and give her a call. Thanks for being okay with this." I drop back into the chair with a sigh.

"You are my brother; I'll always be in your corner. But I always thought it would be Chad who got hitched first."

"He said the same thing. Thank you."

"Stop saying thank you—it's what family does. Now let's go shoot stuff. You look like you could do with letting off some steam," Ralph says as he pushes his large frame out of the chair.

I nod and follow. Today didn't go as I expected.

I'm excited to tell Dylan tonight.