Page 48 of Tossed into the Mob
Brock and I had been in an immediate family bubble since my parents and Niles arrived. We showed Niles the sights, and my fathers tagged along because they wanted to get to know Brock’s dad and spend time with us. And I was glad we did because Niles and my parents lived in the same town. Though my alpha father, Shawn, had met Niles at the library previously, they were now family.
Niles had been uncertain about coming but wanted to be at the wedding. While Gale and his mate were staying with Grandpa and Rudy, my folks and Brock’s dad were in the apartment where Brock had discovered his father’s photo. Flint had asked Niles if he wanted the photo, and he accepted it, saying he only had one pic of Emilio.
Brock was stressed because it was a balancing act where everyone welcomed Niles as Brock’s dad, but didn’t want to mention the circumstances of Emilio’s death. He’d have to tell Niles at some point, but we agreed, our wedding wasn’t the best time and place to devastate his father.
Flint and Tony had let us stay in their guest house, and when we weren’t sightseeing, we’d all been swimming in the large pool and sunning ourselves. Rudy and Grandpa had refused to let us help with the wedding arrangements. I’d worried Niles would feel left out, but he was happy to be with me and Brock and enjoy the day like the rest of us. He admitted he was pleased not to be doing all the work, and my mate and I agreed.
We’d flipped the order of a traditional wedding ceremony and reception. The food would be laid out, and we’d be able to graze before we said our I-do’s. Brock had been to a lot of weddings, and he said the guests were often hungry while waiting for the photos or their transportation.
“Let people eat, and after we’re married, they can eat some more.”
“Here’s the cake now!” Grandpa had been haranguing the baker because the cake should have been delivered this morning.
I left him to speak with my parents who were pointing at dark clouds on the horizon.
“The weather forecast said it would be sunny with no chance of rain,” my alpha dad noted.
“Fingers crossed we get finished before it pours.”
Madd had just flown in and would leave again tomorrow. Whatever he was doing for Flint, he didn’t share it, and I was fine with that.
“Today’s the day. Wasn’t sure I’d make it.”
“Glad you did.”
A loud shriek from Grandpa had my dads and me running over to him. He was staring at the cake that had just been unloaded. From a distance it looked a little different to the images Brock and I had chosen.
“Is this a joke?” Grandpa’s mouth was set in a hard line, and he was glaring at me, my dads, and Uncle Gale who’d just arrived.
I held up my hands in surrender, pleased I’d taken no part in the arrangements.This was our wedding day. There were no practical jokes allowed, and Ranger had been warned. But the man himself had just strolled out of the house with his jacket slung over one shoulder. Everyone swirled toward him.
“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it.”
Grandpa jabbed a finger toward the offending cake. The inscription read, “Good Boy. Your training is complete.” There were pawprints, dog bones, and a little plastic fire hydrant on top. While Grandpa was fuming and his face was getting more red by the second, the rest of us burst out laughing.
Ranger guffawed and said it was nothing to do with him.
“It’s okay, Grandpa. Brock and I will remember this cake and how it amused all the guests.” I hoped my mate would agree.
“What’s going on?” Brock appeared at my shoulder, looking very smart in a gray suit with no tie. Niles was with him.
“Ta-da.” I put an arm around his waist. If he was upset, I’d race out and get something more appropriate and Grandpa could decorate it. I refused to have a cake ruin his day. “There’s been a mix-up.”
My mate and his dad leaned over the cake. Brock giggled. “Is this a Durand family tradition?” He glanced around. “Is the dog supposed to be a wolf?”
“No!” Our wolves would never pee on a fire hydrant, or so they told us.
Flint wandered out of the house with Tony beside him. Their kids raced up to the cake and their cousins followed. They surrounded the cake, and Lottie read out the inscription. They all clamored for the candied dog bones, and after getting the okay from their parents, we picked them off the cake. There were just the right number bones for the kids which made me wonder if this really had been a mix-up
“I love that we’re doing this wedding our way.” Brock kissed me. “Many of the weddings I’ve been to would have been ruined by the wrong cake or kids wanting to eat the edible cake toppers.”
My cousins’ kids loved the bones and wanted more, but unless another cake was being delivered, that was it. There was a minor tantrum from Storm, and while we were trying to entertain the kids or offer them something to eat, there was a huge crack of thunder.
That was the only warning before rain pelted down.
Shit. The food, the cake. Oh my gods, Grandpa would be frantic.Brock’s hair was already stuck to his face as he grabbed platters of food, and Rudy herded his grandchildren inside. But they did an about-turn and turned their faces upward.
“I’ve got the cake,” Hunter yelled.
