Page 30 of Reckless Promises

“I’m going to tell you this once, Shane.” I hold my glass up at him. “Disrespectmy wife,and we won’t be business partners, much less family.”

Shane smirks, narrowing his hazel eyes at me, clearly amused with my reaction. “Understood.”

That’s the problem with younger brothers. Show them a weakness, and they’ll poke at it. It doesn’t matter how powerful I am now that I’ve taken the helm of the family, to him I’ll always be the kid who came up with pranks thatgot us in trouble. And even if he pisses me off, he’ll always be the little brother I spent my childhood protecting.

He might be grown now, and he might have seen his fair share of death and destruction operating under my father’s guidance over the past eight years, but I can’t help wanting to still shield him from it. It won’t do any good with his cocky need to be the center of attention, but I keep trying.

“Well, you did good, brother.” Shane lifts his glass once more in a peace offering. “Even if you did have to buy her.”

“Fuck off.” I shake my head and down my drink.

“Just saying, thanks for proving me right. Told you I’ve always been better with the ladies.”

I can’t help but chuckle because he’s full of shit, and he knows it. But at least the ease of having my family at the wedding makes it more bearable. I’m standing in the middle of a room full of people who would probably stab me in the back the first chance they got—my wife included—but Shane and Fallon are loyal.

They’d have my back through any disagreement or resentment. Even as Shane stands here trying to push all my buttons.

While I’m eight years older than Fallon, I’m only three years older than Shane. We were best friends growing up and had everything in common. We’d prank the staff and find creative ways to sneak out and get into trouble.

But things started to change when I turned eighteen. Dad invited me into his circle and started introducing me to his business partners, assuming I’d follow in hisfootsteps. After all, I’m the oldest; it was meant to be my role.

What Dad never understood was that I didn’t want it. So when I walked away from the family to build my own empire, part of me expected him to put a hit out on me for disowning him.

Instead, Shane took my place. Dad made him a filler for a role I refused to take. He fed him hope that someday he’d be the Cross family heir. When really, he never intended to keep that promise.

Dad was always one step ahead. He kept secrets I didn’t learn until he died, and I tried to liquidate his assets. Which is why I can’t walk away now, no matter how much I want to.

Sacrifices to protect my family.

“So, what’s the deal with Davenport?” Shane turns to me, changing the subject.

“I’m not talking business at my wedding.”

“Come on, Cill. Respect me enough to admit this wedding is bullshit.” He chuckles.

I pause with my whiskey halfway to my mouth and hitch an eyebrow at him. “You know exactly what this wedding is. Doesn’t change the fact that we’re still not talking business.”

He shakes his head, annoyed. While most people in this room fear me, my brother knows me too well. It’s why family is my only weakness.

“Fine.” Shane drains his drink and hands the empty glass to a passing waiter. “I guess we’ll move on to my gift then.”

“What gift?” Fallon pops up between us, with Odette slowing to a stop at her side.

I should be happy to see my wife when her emerald eyes meet mine, but she’s a reminder of the mistakes I’m continuing to make, so the sight of her turns my stomach over.

“I wasn’t talking to you, sis.” Shane wraps his arm around Fallon’s shoulders, pulling her into his clutch and ruffling her hair until she scurries out of his grip.

“You’re messing me up.” Fallon swats at Shane, but he manages to duck away.

“The only thing messing you up is that awful pink dress.” Shane laughs as Fallon tries to hit him again. “Fine, fine. You win.”

He holds up his hands in defeat, and Fallon glares as she backs off. But then his attention moves to Odette.

“I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Shane takes a step forward and holds out his hand to her. But as she reaches out to take it, I slip my fingers through hers and pull her to my side.

“Odette, this is my brother Shane.” I glare at how he’s grinning at us. “Shane, this is my wife.”

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