Page 88 of A Sip of Sherry

“Alec, I don’t care if they fell off into the Atlantic Ocean,” I said as I thrust my hand through my hair.“They need to be here no later than nine a.m.tomorrow, or I won’t be able to keep this from Sherry or Murray.I’m trying to do a solid for you here since I feel bad that I accused you of working for my dad.”

“And I appreciate it,” Alec said.“Look, it’s late, and I just dropped off my last shipment.I’m still waiting to hear back from the stop I went to before yours.I have a feeling they got mixed in with their order.I’m going to swing by there and check myself.”

“Thank you.Keep me posted.”I hung up and sent up a silent prayer that this man found those chargers.It felt like such a silly detail, but thanks to Sherry, I was more aware of how every little detail pulled everything together to make those big impactful statement looks.She needed her damn chargers.

I’d been able to keep her off the trail so far, purposely keeping the chargers off the checklist, but come tomorrow, if there were no chargers, she’d definitely notice.After she told me she trusted me.I never wanted to break that trust again, but I also didn’t want to worry her.

She’d been working her ass off for the last month to pull this wedding off while balancing the other events she had planned throughout the month.She was a rockstar, and I didn’t want her to worry.

I slipped my phone into my pocket, locked the barn, checked the locks on all the doors since I wasn’t taking any chances, hopped in my car and got the hell out of there.

The night spread out in front of me, the soft glow of the few streetlights along the road guiding me to Sherry.My mind drifted, thinking of her naked body, water sluicing down her body, her nipples tight.My cock pressed against my jeans, and I was about to push harder on the gas when a disappointed sigh came up my throat.I slammed my hand against the steering wheel and cut the wheel, making a U-turn back to the vineyard.

I was in such a rush to get the fuck out of there I had forgotten the damn seating chart.It was a custom-made, hand-calligraphy seating chart Sherry had commissioned from a designer in New York.The one she threatened to frame if it survived the weekend.Though Domenique already had her own copy that I was sure would be framed.It was a piece of art and a great detail to the wedding, something Sherry was amazing at.

Though, if this particular seating chart got ruined or smudged, she’d have my head on a pike.Groaning, I hit the gas and sped my way through Vine Valley and back to the vineyard.

I turned into the parking lot and headed straight to the barn.I unlocked all the locks and hurried inside.The seating chart was exactly where she had left it—propped up against a side table, still in its protective wrap.I gently swiped it up, not even hesitating as I pivoted toward the door.

The warm air of summer was finally settling in.I locked all the locks and turned for my car.My phone buzzed, and I was about to text Sherry back to let her know I was on my way when movement caught my eye.Shadows shifted near the tent, just beyond the barn, too large and deliberate to be an animal.

Using the darkness as my shield, I pressed against the barn and moved closer.My eyes landed on two men dressed in all black, baseball caps pulled low over their eyes.One of the men crouched down near the rope tied to an anchoring spike.

He lifted his hand.The silver of a box cutter glinted in the moonlight.

“Hey!”I shouted and lunged out of the darkness toward the bastards, the damn seating chart tucked under my arm.“Get the hell away from that!”

Everything Sherry had worked for was under that tent.If they cut even just one of the ropes, the entire thing would come crashing down.I couldn’t let that happen.

My heart slammed against my chest, gravel and dirt kicked up as I ran as fast as my legs could go.Each step propelling me harder and faster.

The man who was standing turned to me, and I immediately recognized him.

“Mario, don’t fucking do it.”

“Walk away, Ben.This doesn’t concern you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.This is all about me.”I stepped around him and glared at the prick, Stanley.“I saw you before I even came out here.Cops are on their way.I already called them, and if I remember correctly, you have a warrant out for your arrest,” I lied.

Stanley’s hand stilled on the rope.“So fucking what?”he spat, but his fingers twitched.He looked at Mario, who didn’t flinch.

I stepped closer, calmer than I ever expected.I wasn’t scared.Not of them.Not anymore.“Unless you’re looking to spend the night in county, wearing zip ties and explaining to a judge why you sabotaged a wedding, I suggest you drop the rope and get the fuck out of here.”

Stanley narrowed his eyes, and for a moment I thought he’d walk away.Then an evil glint consumed his gaze.“Fuck this.”He yanked the box cutter against the rope in one clean slice.

The tension snapped, and the corner of the tent began to sway.I leaped for the rope, grabbing hold of the shredded fibers.The force yanked me forward, but I slammed my foot into the ground, anchoring myself to the earth.

My muscles strained as the weight of the tent fought me.

A boot slammed into my ribs.Pain, hot and sharp, pierced through my side.My biceps burned, but I didn’t let go.

“Let it go!”Stanley shouted as his steel-toe boot slammed into my already throbbing ribs.

White searing pain exploded through my entire body, radiating where his boot focused.My jaw clenched, my body tightened, but my grip held strong.

This was Sherry’s entire life’s work, accumulating into one massive wedding, and I couldn’t let my father take that away from her.

“I’ll break your fucking ribs,” Stanley bellowed.

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