It had only been three weeks since I'd seen her, but I missed her so much. Normally we talked almost every day. I was a bit nervous about my speech, but I wanted to make sure that Willow and Travis were happy and relaxed.

  I spotted the two of them in the center of the room, surrounded by their friends. They looked truly happy, like they didn’t have a care in the world. I couldn't help but smile. It was a beautiful sight.

  I could feel my mother's presence as soon as I stepped into the room. She had a way of ruining any event with just one glance, and tonight was no exception. I moved across the ballroom toward her table, prepared for whatever might happen next.

  When I reached the table, she was already deep into her third glass of Chardonnay. By now, my sister Willow had caught wind of the situation and quickly pulled me away before anything embarrassing could occur. I rolled my eyes and whispered to Willow, "Mum's already working on her audition for Drunk History."

  My sister just laughed and nodded her head in agreement. Instantly, I felt better knowing that Willow understood how our mother functioned in such a situation. We wandered around the room together for a bit, saying hello to guests and making sure everything was running smoothly.

  Eventually it was time for my speech. I nervously took the microphone and tried my best to focus on making an eloquent yet heartfelt toast to Willow and Travis. As expected, there were some chuckles when I stumbled over a few words here and there, but overall, everyone seemed pleased with my efforts.

  As the evening progressed, my mother's inhibitions faded along with her sobriety. It was only a matter of time before the monster emerged.

  "Drake," she slurred, "you seem like a nice guy. But I don't know what Daphne's told you about me." She waved her wine glass around, sloshing its contents precariously close to the white tablecloth. "She's got this wild imagination, you know. Always making up stories about me."

  Before I could react, Drake stepped forward and calmly said, "Actually, your daughter has never said anything bad about you." He looked into my mother's eyes and gently added, "She’s the kindest, most selfless person I know."

  My mother's face fell before she mumbled something incomprehensible and took another sip of her wine. Everyone else in the room seemed to be holding their breath while they waited for her next move.

  Finally, after an eternity of silence, Mum looked up at me with tears in her eyes and acknowledged what Drake had said. Then she stood up from the table and pulled me into a tight hug.

  I stiffened, but there was no way to extricate myself from her hold. And she knew that. This was a demonstration that she still had power over me and would always have that power.

  Drake's grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel my face grow hot with anger. But he leaned in and whispered, "Focus on me. I'll protect you."

  Despite my roiling emotions, I tried to keep my composure when she finally loosened her grasp. "Mum, don't do this," I said quietly, trying to keep the venom out of my voice. "I haven't said anything to Drake about you that isn't true."

  Willow's eyes darted back and forth between us, clearly puzzled. She'd never heard the stories of how our mother had hurt me when I was younger. Willow had been spared the emotional and physical torment I'd endured.

  Mum scoffed and took another gulp of wine. "Oh, please, Daphne. You've always been such a liar. I never hurt you, or poisoned you, or whatever nonsense you've made up in that twisted little mind of yours."

  Drake had obviously heard enough. He stood up, towering over my mother with fire in his eyes. He began his dressing down of her, and it was a sight to behold.

  "First of all," he said, his voice cold and unyielding, "You should know that I've seen the scars, both physical and emotional, that Daphne carries because of you. She's not a liar, and it's beyond despicable that you'd try to gaslight her like this."

  My mother tried to interrupt, but Drake held up a hand to silence her. "No, you're going to listen for once. I've watched Daphne struggle to come to terms with the abuse she suffered at your hands. She's worked tirelessly to overcome the lasting effects of your cruelty, and she's grown into an incredible, resilient woman in spite of you, not because of you."

  Willow stared at our mother in disbelief, her mouth agape.

  "Third," Drake continued, his voice steely, "You have no right to try to poison the one relationship that has brought Daphne happiness and stability. I am here to support her, and I will not allow you to tear her down any longer."

  My mother sat there, her face red and her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. She had no retort, no defense.

  "And finally," Drake concluded, his voice now soft but firm, "Daphne is not the one who's crazy here. It's you. You are and always will be unfit to be a mother. You never deserved her love, her loyalty, or her time. From now on, we are her family, the family she deserves."

  The room had gone silent, everyone in the ballroom watching the scene unfold with a mix of shock and awe. My mother looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

  Drake turned to me, his eyes full of love and determination. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

  I nodded, tears of gratitude and relief streaming down my face. "Yes, thanks to you."

  He pulled me into his arms and held me close, whispering, "I'll always be here for you, Daphne. You’ll never have to face her alone again."

  As I clung to Drake, I couldn't help but feel a sense of closure. Finally, someone had stood up to my mother, exposing her for the manipulative, heartless woman she was. Willow, still stunned, reached out to take my hand, and I knew she finally understood.

  The rest of the night was a blur, but one thing was clear; my life was changing for the better. And with Drake by my side, I was finally free to let go of the past and embrace the love and support I'd found in him, the love I'd always deserved.

  Drake

  Once in the bedroom, Daphne was still riding high from the reception, looping her arms around my neck, she whispered, “Thank you.”

  I slid my hands into her curls, fisting gently, angling her head and I leveled my gaze on her. "I protect what's mine. Even when you don't need protection. I want you to know you have someone there to back you."

  "I don't know what to say."

  “You are mine. Do you understand that?”

  “Somehow I think, I’ve always been yours.” Her gaze met mine and lingered as if looking for something. Maybe she was looking for an assurance that I meant it.

  The words eluded me. All I could do was show her, so I did.

  When I pressed my lips to hers, I wasn't gentle. I tugged her body into mine, holding her in place and savaging her mouth, taking everything I wanted from her.

  Daphne moaned against my mouth, her hands sliding up my chest and gripping the lapels of my jacket. She responded with a passion that equaled mine and suddenly I couldn't help myself.

  I took control, pushing her down onto the bed and covering her body with mine. Her legs encircled me and she clung to me as the intensity between us increased. When our kiss ended she gasped for breath, still clinging to me desperately.

  "You're mine," I said again, feeling the possessive words burn through me. "You have been from the moment we met."

  Daphne opened her eyes and watched me for a few moments before nodding slowly in agreement.

  "Yes. I know."

  I crushed my mouth against hers once more, at a loss for words. My erection throbbed against the zipper of my slacks as I held her small body to mine. I never wanted to let go.

  I wanted to fuck her. I wanted to strip her and fuck her until neither of us could move.

  There was no doubt. I wanted everything with her.

  When we broke apart, I dropped my forehead on hers, breathing heavily.

  Daphne tilted her chin up, her lips coming into contact with mine. For some reason what should have been a sweet kiss, turned the fire banked inside of me to incendiary.

  I couldn't wait, I needed to be inside her. Roughly, I gathered up the tulle of her dress, desperate to find out if my kitten was wet for me already. When my fingers encountered bare pussy, I growled.

  I sank two fingers into her pussy, and she cried out as she arched against my hand. Daphne threw her head back, her body arching of its own accord, her soft moans filling my ears as I worked her body. The telltale flute of her pussy happened quick with one stroke of my thumb on her clit.

  "That's my girl. Always ready to go off for me."

  "Always," she breathed, arching against me. Her nails dug into the muscles on my shoulders as she clung to me, riding my fingers.

  With one more stroke she was flying and I was swallowing her moans with a deep kiss. I knew enough to wait for those aftershocks. As she came down, I pulled my fingers from her body, then brought them to my lips. "Fucking delicious."

  Clumsily, we fought with my trousers, then pushed my pants down and freed my cock. I lined the head of my dick up with her slick opening and thrust forward, sinking into her tight heat in one stroke.

  Together we cursed as we held onto each other desperately. I had to bury my face in her neck to muffle my groan of pure bliss when she wrapped her legs around my hips and urged me on with her heels against my arse. I held onto her, my face buried in her neck as if it were an anchor as I lifted my hips and pounded into her.

  I might have even sworn I was having a stroke, it felt so good. I was too close. I could feel it coming as I fought for control. “Daphne, look at me.”

  Her eyes snapped open and caught mine. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she rode my cock, her moans loud in my ears. Her pussy clenched around me and I was undone. I let the pleasure claim me.

  With one last stroke, I exploded deep inside her, my cum filling her pussy.

  I could feel her second orgasm through mine and it was a heady thing as I fought to hold on for her. “Fuck.”

  Daphne threw her head back, her whole body arching into me as she rode that last wave of bliss.

  "Holy shite."

  Still fully clothed, I tucked her into me knowing exactly why it was so good with us.

  She'd been made for me.

  36

  Drake

  So far, there wasn’t a sign of Massimo.

  I was tense and riding the razor’s edge as I searched the crowd, watchful as I studied each guest, assessing them.

  The mood at the wedding reception was a far cry from the night before. Much less tense and more celebratory. The late afternoon sun shone brightly through the ballroom windows, and the air smelled floral and fresh. Everyone was in high spirits, especially Daphne and Willow.

  As the two of them twirled around the dance floor, laughing and smiling, I couldn't help but grin. It was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere at the rehearsal dinner, where their mother's constant nitpicking had put a damper on the evening. But here, in the midst of wedding festivities, that all seemed to be forgotten.

  The music filled the ballroom, providing a joyful background for the sisters' graceful movements. I couldn't take my eyes off Daphne.

  You fucked up, Webster. You fucked up and fell for her.

  If everything went right and we grabbed Massimo today, this would all be over. She was going back to her life. Because I didn’t want the kind of life that I led for her, where people like Massimo could scurry out of the woodwork. I wanted to give her everything. I hadn't told her I'd already taken care of her gran’s care bill for the next two years and had set up automatic payments so they would just bill me after that.

  I knew how worried she was about it. And to me it was just money that I might as well put to good use. Between her and Reginald, it made me happy to do things for them. And knowing she was happy and safe, that needed to be enough.

  Their mother stayed by the bar, glowering at her daughters. Since I had told her off, in my own charming way, of course, she was now giving us a wide berth, probably afraid of getting burned again. Yeah, I may have been a little harsh, but come on, it was a wedding rehearsal dinner for crying out loud. Tension and family drama had no place there.

  The music changed but the two sisters kept dancing, their faces lit up with joy. Soon, other guests began to join in, and a full-fledged dance party broke out. It was fun and light, just the way it should be. I leaned against the wall, watching Daphne and her sister from a distance, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the champagne I'd been sipping.

  Gabe suddenly appeared beside me. He was one of the few people who knew about my line of work, and he had seen me through some pretty dark times.

  Gabe chuckled and shook his head. "You've got it bad, man," he said, nudging me with his elbow.

  I rolled my eyes, trying to remain cool and collected. "I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied, but I knew I wasn't fooling him.

  He raised an eyebrow at me and smirked. "Come on, mate. I've known you for years, and I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at Daphne."

  I sighed and had to admit that he was right. I couldn't deny my feelings for her any longer. "I can't help it, Gabe," I said earnestly. "She's bloody… amazing."

  Gabe clapped me on the shoulder in understanding. We stood together in silence for a moment as we watched Daphne and Willow sweep around the dance floor with their mother watching from afar with a sad expression on her face.

  My heart ached for them all. It seemed as though every move they made was clouded by a deep familial tension that couldn't be ignored or erased easily.

  At last the song came to an end, and Daphne looked up at me with a radiant smile that immediately set my heart racing. She had such an effect on me. We locked eyes for a single moment before she grabbed Willow's hand once more and they exited the dance floor together, laughing brightly as they went.

  Gabe cleared his throat beside me, breaking the spell of her presence and bringing me back to reality with a bang.

  Gabe nodded, his expression turning serious. "I know, man. And I want you to remember something. Our line of work takes a lot from us. You can't let it take love away too. Hold her close, cherish every moment, and don't let anything come between you two."

  The only problem was that if I held her close, no doubt, I’d put her right in the path of danger.

  Daphne

  My feet hurt. My back hurt. And if I was being honest, my face hurt from all the smiling. Willow was so happy. And she got the day she deserved.

  But I'd been so tense all day, waiting for Massimo to jump out from somewhere. But Travis had said that they'd uninvited him from the wedding. And while I was glad he hadn't ruined their wedding, I was also terrified that Drake and I had gone through all of this for nothing and we’d still have to go to the auction in Italy. I would have much preferred getting this over with and being done.

  I hadn't seen Drake’s friends. But I had a feeling if they were anything like him, I wouldn't have seen them. Granted, I got the impression that some of them were there because Willow was talking about some very hot men she'd never seen before in her life. If Drake's friends looked anything like him, I assumed it was them.

  Slipping my shoes off, I headed toward the dressing rooms. All I needed was a minute of peace. The last three weeks had been a whirlwind.

  In the quiet hallway outside the bridal suite, I paused a moment to catch my breath, the music and laughter of the reception fading away. I could hear the hum of the air conditioner, the only sound in the otherwise empty corridor. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the suite and stepped inside.

  I found myself helping Willow change into her honeymoon outfit. You know, something sexy but not too revealing. She had a plane to catch, after all. Between you and me, the girl had packed enough luggage for a month-long vacation, but who was I to judge? A sister's gotta have options.

  As we sorted through the bags and clothes, Willow and I shared one of those heart-to-hearts that make you remember why you love your sibling so much, despite their quirks and occasional snarky comments.

  Willow, being the sensitive soul that she was, took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eyes. "Daphne, I need to say something," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry I invited Mum to the wedding."

  I sighed, not really wanting to talk about our mother. But hey, it was Willow's big day, so I let her continue.

  "I had no idea what she put you through," she added, tears welling up in her eyes. "If I had known, I never would have asked her to come."

  I looked at my sister, her face a mixture of pain and regret. And in that moment, I felt my heart soften. I had spent so many years resenting my mother for the things she had done to me. But that resentment had also kept me from opening up to Willow, from sharing my truth with her.

  "It's okay," I said softly, giving her a hug. "I understand why you did it. You wanted your day to be perfect and felt like inviting Mum was the right thing to do."

  In that moment, I knew that it wasn't just about the wedding; it was about forgiveness and understanding. And although I couldn't bring myself to fully forgive our mother yet, I knew that I could forgive Willow for trying.

  There was so much I hadn’t told her. Where the hell did I even start?

  "I should have told you," I admitted, my own voice cracking with emotion. "But I didn't want my nightmare to become yours. You had a right to your own story and relationship with her."

  Willow hugged me tight, and for a brief moment, we were just two sisters, sharing a bond that couldn't be broken. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and our moment of sisterly bliss was about to be shattered in the most dramatic way possible.

  No sooner had we pulled apart than the door to the bridal suite burst open, revealing three masked men. My heart immediately raced into a gallop. I grabbed Willow and tucked her behind me before wrapping my hand around the bottle of champagne in the ice bucket.

  One of the intruders came forward. Not saying a word, he grabbed for me, and I swung the champagne bottle in a wide arc, making sure the end met his temple.