Chapter 19

The day is here for me to put Beckett in his place. Enzo didn't come here, and I'm going to handle Beckett in a way that he and Marco won't suspect that I'm up to something much, much bigger. The entire plan is coming together, and I'm a fucking wreck for what is to come after today.

I needed to sneak Poppy in here. Because the second I stand up and put a stop to the wedding that's about to happen, Walker is going to want his girl. But to get her here, she needed a disguise. One she looks less than thrilled to wear.

"This is so stupid," Poppy whispers to me, clearly annoyed, as she looks down at herself. "Why do you get to look like James Bond, and I'm over here, looking like I just stepped out of the Cake Boss show?"

I keep my face straight, only smirking a little when she points to the hat on her head.

"A baker's hat? Really?" She shakes her head. "Here I am, supposed to be looking like hot shit to remind Walker he's not marrying that incredibly sexy Monica Bellucci look-alike. Only from, like, thirty years earlier. And you got me showing up here, looking like the Pillsbury Doughboy." She continues to glare at me. "You are so not allowed to be in charge of our disguises anymore."

"First off, why are we suddenly tied into having disguises together?" I shrug, unfazed. "Second, I'm friends with the lady who owns the bakery that Beckett ordered this annoyingly huge cake from. So, getting her to let us deliver it was an easy in." I point to her black wig and glasses. "Besides, Beckett will never notice you behind the cake when you look so different."

"Yeah, unless he notices my chest looks a little too flat in this white jacket. Then, Dr. Boobs will suddenly be using his nephew's wedding day to drum up some business," she growls. "Come on. Let's get this over with. Run through the plan one more time."

"Once we're in, I guarantee it won't take Walker long to spot you. But he's going to play it cool. Once it's time for the ceremony, it will only be the Romanos, Walker, Briar, Natasha, and Beckett. He's hired me to be on standby to make sure nothing goes south. You'll be hiding behind the ginormous, stupid fucking cake that I can't stand the sight of—"

"Do you have something against cake?" she blurts out, cutting me off. "Twice, you've talked about this cake in a negative way." She points to it. "It's cake. A huge, beautiful, likely delicious cake. What's to hate?"

I do hate the cake. I hate the sight of it. I fucking hate weddings altogether because they are just another reminder that the woman I married is dead. But I'm not about to tell Poppy all of that. Today is going to be a happy day for her.

"There's hardly anyone coming to this. Why the fuck do they need a cake this big?" is all I give her.

"I have no idea, but is it weird that I want to take some home?" She says the words as serious as a heart attack. Like she's actually pondering what she just said. "Yeah, okay, it's weird. Do I care? Hell no. I'm taking it home. My roommates will love it."

I stare at her, unsure of what to even say. It's cake that we're talking about. Why the fuck is she talking about the cake and bringing it home to her roommates when we literally have a wedding to stop?

Poppy gives me a strange look before she attempts to signal something to me. Eventually, I figure out she's trying to tell me to turn around. And when I do, I swear my heart stops beating, and it takes everything inside of me not to run toward the woman walking toward us and kiss her senseless. But that isn't in the plan. Pretending like we don't give a fuck about each other? That's the plan. Because there are too many eyes on her right now. And people thinking that there are no ties between Briar and me is the only way the next step in the plan is going to work.

The plan where we send her back to Enzo so that she can lead us to Vittoria Island.

I stiffen. Thoughts of us never finding her or something happening before she gets there are damn near unbearable. But the Romanos will never let her be free from them. This is the only way that everyone wins.

"Hudson," Briar says with no emotion.

Good job, baby. Play the part. Look at me like you hate my guts while I picture fucking you next to the house during the ceremony.

"Briar." I give her a curt nod, letting my eyes drink her in for a moment too long, but I can't fucking help it because she's all I've thought about since the last night we spent together.

"Didn't realize you were working today," she utters, still coming off completely unimpressed.

Her gaze moves to Poppy before her eyes widen.

"Poppy?" she whispers, stepping closer. "Holy shit, is that you?"

"It's me," Poppy says softly. "Please, don't say anything."

"I would never," she says, grabbing Poppy's hands. "I can't believe it's you. You're here."

"I can't let him marry her, B. Your brother deserves to decide who and what he wants too," Poppy blurts out, going completely fucking rogue, which is so not part of the plan. "So do you."

Before Briar can answer, I interject. I told Briar I'd get her away from the Romanos, and I meant it. Meanwhile, I told Poppy and Walker I'd help make sure Walker didn't end up married to someone else, and I meant that too. But I'm trying to keep it so that everyone isn't talking to each other about all these plans to blindside Beckett, Marco, and even Enzo. So, making deals with Poppy and Briar separately … it's for their own good. The less they know, the better. The only thing that matters is that they are going to be safe.

"We need to get this cake inside. It's the last thing they are waiting for."

Briar stops and looks at me—like, really, really looks at me—and suddenly, I feel paralyzed. I'm fucking frozen, unable to look away. I've missed her so fucking much, and I can't even show her. Right now, we have to pretend like we're practically strangers, even though that's the furthest thing from the truth.

She opens her pretty mouth to speak, and I have no fucking idea what's going to come out. "Whatever you're planning, he won't let you get away with it. You know Beckett."

Good girl. She's playing along, just like I told her to. She doesn't realize that she doesn't need to in front of Poppy. But that's okay. It's safer this way for her to act like she's on Beckett's side.

I lift the cake and brush past her. We barely touch when I walk by, but it's enough to set my entire body on fire.

"Walker doesn't want to marry into the Romano family. We're here to stop that because Poppy actually gives a flying fuck about him." I look straight ahead because I know nothing I'm saying is true, but like I said … you never know who is actually listening. And right now, it's best to pretend like she hates me. "You go on and get married, Dove. I won't be there to save you."

I march on, not looking back. Even though I'm just playing the part, I hate saying hurtful things to that woman. I fucking hate it so much.

Even as the ceremony begins, I feel his eyes on me. The only people here right now are Gia's parents, Beckett and Natasha, and Hudson and me. Oh, and Poppy. Though she's hiding behind a huge cake.

Even Rossi seems to have disappeared. Then again, I think he and Hudson switched shifts.

My brother is standing next to a beautiful woman, and yet it's like he's not even there. He doesn't look at Gia with any sort of love or adoration, though that shouldn't surprise me at all.

"Is there anyone here who has reason to believe that Gia and Walker should not be wed?" the pastor says, looking around at all of us standing outside.

When his eyes land on Beckett's, he grows nervous. I'm sure Beckett didn't want that question to be asked to begin with.

"Actually, yeah. Yeah, there is," Hudson's deep voice drawls slowly, shocking me to my core and sending my mouth hanging open. "These two are barely adults. They don't know each other, oh, and they aren't getting married by choice either." He takes a step forward, keeping a harsh glare on my uncle. "As a matter of fact, both are in love with other people."

"Jesus Christ," Beckett growls, and the pastor immediately looks pissed.

"Consider yourself fired, Hercules," Beckett snarls at Hudson. "And see yourself out."

"Nah, think I'll stay," Hudson replies with a smirk. "My friend here isn't leaving without cake." He waves his hand toward Poppy, who, reluctantly, magically pops out from behind the cake. "After all, we went through all the trouble of toting the fucking thing here."

"Motherfucker," Beckett huffs before he looks anxiously toward Marco. "Sorry about this. I'll get him sorted out. Nothing to worry about."

"Nah, I don't think you will though." Hudson speaks each word with a certain sharpness. Something that shows he isn't going to stand down. "See, Dr. Boobie, I have dirt on you. Loads and loads of dirt. So much that I could bury your ass alive right now if I wanted."

Hudson then moves toward Marco. "And don't think you're getting off scot-free, my friend. I have videos of your business receiving pretty large drug shipments. You know, Mr. Romano, I figured you were smarter than that. Turns out, you're just like this clown." He jerks his thumb toward my uncle.

"Now, here's what's going to happen. This whole insane fucking wedding is called off. Beckett, you're going to leave your nephew and your niece alone. If that's what she wants." He waves toward Walker. "I already know this kid wants to sever all ties with you.

"And, Marco, you're going to let Gia live her life and leave her the fuck alone and keep her out of your twisted little games." He stands taller, somehow appearing bigger and more jacked, even though I have no idea how that's possible. "And if you don't, then you can kiss everything you've both worked for goodbye because this is just a drop in the bucket of the shit I have on both of you."

Marco is fuming mad, but he doesn't fight back. "Fine. Gia, let's go." He jerks his thumb toward his wife, snarling at her. "What are you standing around for? Let's go."

"Oh, and, Marco? If Mrs. Romano wants away from you, your ass is going to give her a divorce and a big lump sum of money." He gives her a playful wink. "It's all in the body language, ma'am. I wouldn't want to be married to a dick like him either. Even if he is filthy rich."

"And has good hair," my brother says, pointing toward Marco's head of luxurious hair.

Hudson bobs his head up and down in agreement. "Really good fucking hair. So unlike Dr. Boobie."

"Yeah, it's pretty obvious those are hair plugs, Unc," Walker chimes in again, making my uncle's face even redder with anger.

"Oh, yes, and that goes for you too, Natasha. If you want to leave his obnoxious, heavy-breathing ass … you go ahead. He won't make it hard for you," Hudson says, jerking his head toward Beckett. "Right, Boobie Man?"

I have no idea what Natasha might do or say back.

But when she says, "Thank you, Mr. Bailey," and winks, I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face. Not because of their little inside joke from when she got his name wrong, but because I get the feeling that, finally … she might leave him. And she should. She should have long ago.

Gia runs toward Hudson, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you, Hudson. I could never repay you. But I appreciate all you just did so much."

"It's all good," he says as she releases him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a card from his wallet. "If your old man tries anything stupid, just give me a call. I'll straighten it out."

She laughs lightly, glancing at her dad. "Will do."

As she prances off and Walker and Poppy start hugging and celebrating, I so badly want to believe everything is going to be fine. In Walker's world, I'm sure he thinks that. But the family Hudson just pissed off? They don't just … walk away. In the pit of my stomach, I know this is only the beginning of whatever hell is about to unfold.

Hudson just started a war. When he thinks no one is looking and I watch his face fall and his body tense, I know he knows it too.