CHAPTER ONE

Baja—

Watching the bride walk down the aisle, I immediately realize two things without a doubt.

She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

And my selfish prick of a brother doesn't deserve her.

My jaw tightens as I stand next to him at the altar.

It's not your business, Baha. You're only here because Ma wanted you to be Elliott's best man. Said it wouldn't look right if you didn't do this for him.

I lost the ability to give a damn about doing anything for Elliott a long time ago. Ma's the only reason I'm here. I guess there's a shred of maternal love in my twisted heart for the woman who gave me birth. That and the fact that I'd thought about ruining this whole thing for Elliott like he ruined so many things in my life. But looking at this girl, I know I can't do it. I can't ruin her big day just to spite my brother, no matter how much he deserves it.

So here I am, standing in a tux, the long sleeves covering my tattoos, and my shaggy hair hanging past my collar, studying the bride.

I have to wonder what she sees in my asshole brother, and how he could fool her, and if her family has any inkling of doubt about the man she's about to marry. But then, Elliott's always been able to mask his true nature. He can turn on the charm when it suits his purpose. I imagine there's something in this for him, besides the beautiful woman of course. If I know my brother, he wouldn't tie himself to responsibility unless there was a payoff.

My eyes stray to the bride's father as he escorts her down the aisle. He looks like the country club type, so maybe there's money to be had. My brother always could spot a mark.

Looking over at the bride again, I see her tear-glazed eyes lock solely on my brother, and a shot of red-hot jealousy spikes through me, making me suck in a breath. I've never in my life been envious of Elliott, except when it came to the love he garnered from our parents.

My plane was late getting here, and there wasn't time for introductions. I wonder if anyone thinks it's weird they've never met the best man. I wasn't even invited to his bachelor party. I'm sure he gave some bullshit excuse that made me look like an asshole.

Since I was so last minute in arriving, I've not met this gorgeous woman who has no idea the life she has in store for her, and there's no time to warn her now. Pity. She's one lady I would have liked to have saved. But it's too late; her father is passing her off to Elliott, and the minister is beginning the ceremony.

Standing here, knowing this girl is about to give her life away, I wish I'd never come. I wish I'd made excuses and blown this whole fucking thing off, no matter how much it disappointed my mother. Why do I give a damn?

Now I'm stuck watching this whole farce and listening to my brother give vows I know he'll never keep. He'll never honor this woman. He'll never cherish her. And I know damn well the ‘forsaking all others' part is a joke to him.

I catch the eye of her maid of honor. She's the only one in the bunch of girls standing in a line of pink sherbet gowns who seems to look at Elliott with judgment. Maybe she's seen through him.

"Elaina, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? To love, honor, and cherish him, forsaking all others, to care for him in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, until death do you part?"

Say no, Elaina. Turn and run.

But she doesn't, and I can't help the sorrow that seeps into my heart for this girl I know nothing about except that she has a sweet, loving smile.

I wonder how long I have to stick around at the reception until I can cut out and hit my hotel room.

The cheers from those in attendance shake me from my thoughts as the bride and groom kiss and are presented to the congregation. I and the rest of the wedding party troop down the aisle behind the newlyweds. I pass smiling faces, all happy to see this union—all of them fooled. But when I glance over at the maid of honor as I escort her out, I notice her smile is tight and doesn't meet her eyes. Good. At least someone will keep a close eye on my brother.

After an irritating amount of time taking photos, we finally make it to the reception.

I sit through the introductions, the first dance, and the meal.

I tried love once. Thought maybe I could have it all—the club, an ol' lady, even a family someday. Fate had other ideas and showed me exactly how foolish I'd been. I learned my lesson well one rainy fall day almost six years ago. When my love went to her grave, she took our child with her. It took me almost a year before I cleared out the nursery that we'd painted pink and decorated with unicorns. Sophia would have started kindergarten this year. I close my eyes and will myself not to think about it. If I go down that dark hole again, I may never find my way out.

"Would you like more champagne, sir?"

I nod at the waiter who fills my glass and moves on. I down a big swig and grimace. Champagne's not my thing, and I don't know why the hell I told him to refill it, except that I need alcohol.

I try not to think about Hannah and our daughter. These days I've resigned myself that all that just isn't in the cards for me. I'm better off this way—no responsibilities, no one to worry about except myself… no one to get hurt because of me and the Royal Bastards MC.

I wasn't meant to have that life. My club is the only family I need.

When the meal ends, the music starts, and I rise from my seat, intending to stride toward the bar, grab a real drink, and sneak out the nearby exit, but the DJ interrupts to announce the cake cutting, and I lower to my seat to watch the happy couple and wait for another opportunity.

Something in my brother's expression has a tingle of déjà vu running up my spine, and I flash back to when he shoved my face in my birthday cake when I was seven years old.

He's going to do it to his bride. Goddamn it. I jolt to my feet, my chair shoving back, but he's too far away, and I'm too late.

The photographer is poised to catch the shot. They cut the cake, then he kisses her, and there goes that hand to the nape of her neck. In one quick flash he jerks his arm and that beautiful unsuspecting, smiling girl goes face-first into the cake.

Stunned silence fills the room for a moment, and then the laughter starts, mostly with Elliott's idiot sophomoric buddies. I'd heard them chuckling about something in the ante room before the service. Now I wonder if this was it.

I scan the ballroom, and everyone is laughing it off, some more nervously than others, like they're in shock and don't know how to react.

"Elliott, you promised," Elaina cries.

My gaze follows her as she dashes from the room. I feel for the poor girl. My eyes snap to Elliott. This time my asshole brother isn't getting away with this stunt. Not this fucking time.

I stride across the room and grab him by his tie, jerking his face to within an inch of mine. "You're going to apologize to that sweet girl, the one you don't fucking deserve, and if I ever hear you pull another stunt like this, I'll hunt you down and beat you to within an inch of your life. Understand, brother ?"

He wants to laugh in my face, but I'm not the same kid who went off on that military bus so many years ago. Now little brother is the bigger man with a height and weight advantage.

Still, there's shock and the resistance. He's never had to do what he was told his entire life. Until now. That shit stops today.

I turn my attention to the room. "You think this is funny? My asshole brother pulls this stupid stunt, shattering that sweet girl's trust, humiliates her, breaks her goddamn heart, and you all think it's a fucking joke? Is that how friends and family treat each other? Every last one of you should be ashamed of yourselves." I can't imagine any of my MC brothers disrespecting his own or a brother's ol' lady like this. Fist fights would break out. And they call us Royal Bastards the uncivilized assholes.

"He didn't mean any harm, Dylan." This from my father.

"Is that how you see it? Is there no line too far with him, Dad? Is Elliott always so damn perfect in your eyes? You never see him for what he is—a selfish, cruel asshole."

A murmur goes up around the room, but I don't give a shit. I grab my brother's arm and drag him out the exit. He tries to fight me, but gives up when he realizes its useless.

Elaina's maid of honor stands down the wide, carpeted hall at a door, like she's talking to someone through it, and I know Elaina must be on the other side. It must be the ladies room. I haul Elliott that way, and the girl turns when we approach, her eyes getting huge.

"Hey, I'm Dylan, this idiot's brother," I introduce myself, extending my hand. She hesitantly takes it.

"Maggie."

"Is she in there?" I tip my head to the door, and she nods.

"She locked the door and won't let me in."

Lifting a hand, I tap a knuckle on the wood. "Elaina? Can I talk to you a minute, sweetheart?"

The lock flips, the door opens a crack, and I see a sliver of her face, rubbed red from scrubbing the cake off, I imagine. Her eyes widen when she sees me.

"Hey, honey. I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to meet before the ceremony. I got in late. I apologize for that. Are you okay?"

She shakes her head, and tears spill over her lashes.

"Can you open the door? My brother has something to say to you."

She sucks her lips into her mouth, and for a second, I'm not sure she's going to do it, but then the door swings open a foot. I jerk Elliott forward.

"Apologize, moron."

"Elaina, I'm sorry you're upset."

I slam my hand into his shoulder. "That's not an apology."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done what I did. It was all just supposed to be funny."

"Well, everyone laughed, so you got what you wanted, even though I told you repeatedly I didn't want any dumb stunts at our wedding and you promised me, Elliott— promised me —you wouldn't do anything like this."

"It's no big deal. You're overreacting, Elaina."

"No big deal? My dress is ruined. It cost a fortune. So is my hair and makeup. Things I paid a lot of money to get perfect for this day. But none of that matters to you, does it? You humiliated me, Elliott. For what? A laugh?"

"You're blowing this out of proportion."

"Is she?" I cut in. "I know better than anyone how cruel you can be when you want to. This is just another example."

"This isn't about you, Dylan. Stay out of it," he snaps.

I grab his shirt and jerk him forward. "You made a promise not to do this shit, and then you did it, anyway. What a fucking dick you are, Elliott. I should haul you outside and beat the crap out of you."

"Don't bother. He's not worth it," Elaina says.

That gets asshole's attention. "Come on, sweetheart. I said I was sorry."

I release him with a shove, and he stumbles back. "Like that's all it'll take to fix this? Go back to your guests, Elliott."

"Fine. Stay in there, Elaina. I'm going to get a drink." He stalks away, practically shoving Maggie out of his way with a glare.

Once he's gone, I turn to his bride. "Do you have the marriage license?"

"I have it," Maggie volunteers. "It's in the tote bag she gave me for safekeeping."

"Why do you want to know about the marriage license?" Elaina asks.

I lift my chin to Maggie. "Could you go get the bag?"

She nods and hurries off.

I meet Elaina's eyes. "If you don't file the license, you're not legally married."

"But the ceremony…"

"Doesn't matter. Here's your chance to end this before it begins." I can tell she's thinking about it, and I feel this could be my one good deed in this life—to warn her off Elliott and save her from a life of misery.

Maggie dashes back with the bag and passes it over.

I peer down into it, seeing the long white envelope "Hey, do you have a change of clothes in this tote?"

"Yes," Elaina replies. "Why?"

"Slip out of that beautiful dress and come with me. I want to tell you about my brother before you go in there and let him talk you into believing that stunt was all in fun."

She bites her pretty lip, considering for a moment. "All right. Give me ten minutes."

"I'll help you," Maggie offers and slips inside.

The door closes, and good to her word, it's only ten minutes before they reappear, Maggie with the gown over her arm. But my eyes are all for Elaina. She's dressed in a pair of leggings and an off the shoulder soft sweater in autumn gold that make her honey blonde hair and green eyes pop. Her makeup is fixed, and her hair is twisted in a messy bun which shows off her long slender neck and bare shoulders.

She was beautiful in the wedding gown, but somehow, I find her even more stunning.

"I'll just take this to my car, honey," Maggie says, the wedding gown over her arm.

"Thanks, Mag." Elaina hikes the tote bag on her shoulder.

After Maggie hurries off, I take Elaina's hand and lead her to the bank of elevators, hitting the up button. It's the first time we've touched, and I like the feel of her hand in mine.

"Where are we going?" she asks.

Stepping inside, I hit the button. "There's a bar on the top floor. I doubt they'll look for us there."

Five minutes later, we're sitting at a table near the windows, overlooking a stunning view of the Denver city lights.

A waitress brings us our drinks—a whiskey on the rocks for me, and an espresso martini for her.

I lift my glass in toast. "Here's to the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

She tries to smile, but her eyes are sad. "Thank you."

I give her a moment to sip her drink, then start in.

"I want to tell you about Elliott. What kind of a man he is."

"I thought I knew."

"He hides his true self well." I lean forward, swirling the ice in my glass. "Growing up, my parents always took my brother's side. They let Elliott get away with everything, including mistreating me on a regular basis. They blew it all off as boys being boys."

"I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

I take a sip of whiskey and study the lights. "He'd embarrass me in front of my friends. Belittle me. Torment me. He once convinced our father I was asleep in the backseat of our van, and left me purposely at the state park, then later claimed the same thing he did tonight with you… What's the big deal, little brother? It was just a joke ."

"Oh my God."

"He stole my girlfriends. Even set me up to take the fall for a string of bad things."

"What kind of things?"

I shrug. "Like stealing our parents' liquor, stealing money from my dad's wallet, wrecking the family car. There's a long list."

"That's horrible."

"He made me out to be the black sheep, so I became one. Now I'm the goddamn wolf."

"You and Maggie are the only ones who came to check on me. You're not a wolf."

"I am, darlin'. As soon as I was old enough, I joined the Marines just to get out of the house. The Marines made me tough, and life has made me a mean son-of-a-bitch when I need to be."

"Like tonight?"

I huff a laugh. "That was nothing, angel."

"I'm sorry he treated you that way. I've never seen that side of him before."

"Look, Elaina, I feel the need to warn you. If you go through with filing that license, it won't end with tonight. My brother will hurt you. He'll belittle you. He'll make you think you deserve that kind of treatment. He'll gaslight you into thinking you did something wrong when you didn't. He'll make you doubt yourself. Until you're broken inside. And in the years to come, he'll do it to your children."

Her face turns ashen.

"You think I'm exaggerating? I'm not. My parents let him get away with everything, but that stunt tonight, on the most important day of your life? That is not how a man behaves. That is not how a man treats the woman he loves. Even I know that.

"When I saw Elliott shove your face in that cake, it took me right back to the time he did it to me. It was my seventh birthday, and all my friends from school were over at our house for the party, all my classmates, even the girls. Mother made me invite everyone.

"Elliott shoved my face in the cake, and everyone laughed. Then he taunted me. What's the matter Frosting Face? After that I never lost the nickname. I was Frosting Face all through elementary school."

"I'm so sorry. That's horrible."

"Tonight, watching Elliott do it again, to someone he claimed to love and cherish not an hour ago, I knew I couldn't let it go. I couldn't stand there and let you be treated the same way. It was like déjà vu, and I saw the life you'd have in store for you. It flashed before my eyes. Years of emotional abuse until you're broken, too. I don't want that for you, Elaina."

She dashes the tears from her cheek. "An hour ago, I thought my life was perfect. I thought I had it all. Now I feel like the rug has been yanked out from under me. I don't know what to do. I love Elliott."

"You love the man you think he is, but that man doesn't exist, sweetheart. And it doesn't matter how much you love somebody; nothing is worth losing your self-respect. You don't bow down to any man. And no man worth a shit should ever ask you to do that."

"I'm so humiliated. I can't go back and face that crowd."

"Then don't."

"There's a ballroom full of three-hundred guests. How can I just disappear?"

"Easily."

"Where will I go? We're supposed to be in the honeymoon suite. I can't even go to my apartment. I moved all my stuff into Elliott's condo last week. Even my dog is there."

"You can have my room. I'll get another one."

"The hotel is booked solid."

"What about your friend, Maggie?"

"She's staying with her mother while her apartment is being painted."

"Your parents?"

"My God, my parents. They spent a fortune on this wedding. They love Elliott. They'll tell me I'm being silly. God, I suddenly feel like I can't breathe."

I take her hand. "It's going to be fine. I think you need a day to think about this before you go back to him, which I'm praying you don't do."

She huffs a choked laugh. "I can't believe this is happening."

"I'm being honest with you, Elaina. I know exactly what a life with Elliott will mean for you, and it won't be pretty. It certainly won't be the life you deserve. And he'll be a horrible father to any children you two have."

"Oh, God."

I wave over the waitress and order us another round. Then lean forward, my elbows on the table, getting close. "How in the hell did a sweet girl like you end up with my brother?"

"I started working for your father's company. Elliott was my boss."

"So, an office romance."

"He seemed indifferent to me at first, then about six months ago, he really started pursuing me. He took me to fancy restaurants and bought me flowers. I thought I'd finally found my Prince Charming."

"He's no prince, Elaina. I promise you."

"I feel like such a fool."

"It's not your fault." I cock my head. "What do you do at my father's company?"

"I'm Elliott's personal assistant."

"And what does that involve?"

"Anything he needs, really. Keeping track of his schedule and appointments, making travel arrangements, handling correspondence, that kind of thing."

"So, without you, he's lost."

She grins. "I suppose so."

"Then I suppose shit will hit the fan when he goes to the office, and you aren't there."

"You mean quit?"

"That's for you to decide, but if you break things off with him, how could you work for the man? I'm sure he'd take his revenge out on you, probably fire you, or at the very least move you to another position, replace you with some other girl and then hit on her in front of you. He'll make things unbearable. My brother has no limit when it comes to the lengths he'll go for revenge." I drain my glass and watch my words sink in.

Elaina stares at the city lights, sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

She shakes her head. "You're right. If I break things off with him, I'm out of a job."

"Do not let that stop you. You hear me?"

She huffs a little laugh. "Easy for you to say, but I've just given up my apartment. If I break it off with him, I'll lose my job and my home in one fell swoop."

"And you'll bounce back. But going through with this sham of a marriage will destroy you."

"Maybe… or maybe I'm overreacting."

"Look at me." I take her hand, and she swings her gaze to me. "He's not worth it, Elaina. He's not." I search her worried eyes. "Can you go home to your parents?"

"That's not an option." She shakes her head, and I'm sure there's a story there, but she's not sharing.

"Okay. Then you can come to Durango with me. I've got plenty of room. There's a guest room with a private bathroom. You can relax and think things through with no outside pressure. A few days in the mountains might do you good."

"You're sweet to offer, but I couldn't do that."

"Why not?"

She shakes her head again.

"It's a few days out of a lifetime. Surely, you deserve that much time. This is a big decision. You need to give yourself time to think about everything I've told you."

"So, leave my wedding reception?"

"Yup."

"And go off with my groom's brother?"

"Who better to look out for you? I swear to God, you'll be safe with me."

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip. "I don't know. It's a lot."

"It is. But that's all on Elliott. If he has to go in there and explain, too bad. He brought this on himself."

"I wonder what he's saying to people."

"Probably telling everyone you're being unreasonable." Her face flushes. "I'm sorry, but it's the way he is. Nothing is ever his fault. Ever."

She stares at the tablecloth, her fingertip circling the rim of her martini glass.

"You don't want him for the father of your children, Elaina. If you can't do this for you, do it for them."

"The children I don't have? The children I may never have? I'm in my mid-thirties, Dylan. The window is closing."

"That's not a reason to go through with this, sweetheart. Please listen to what I'm telling you. There's got to be another guy out there for you—a good man who deserves a woman like you."

She's quiet for a long moment.

"We can head to Durango first thing in the morning. You can leave my dipshit brother a note."

"I have to get my dog."

With those words I know she's giving in. "Then we'll get your dog."

"That means I'll have to see Elliott."

"I'll be right by your side."

"Won't this cause problems with your family?"

"I'm already the black sheep."

She grins. "You said you were a wolf."

"I am. They just haven't seen that side of me."

"Tell me this isn't crazy, Dylan."

"This isn't crazy, Elaina. This is as real as it gets."

She meets my eyes with her beautiful ones. "All right."

I feel the tightness in my chest ease, like bands of steel unraveling, and I take a deep breath and smile. "All right."