Page 27 of Treasured By 3

“She’s allowed to come to the reception, but not the ceremony. She played nice with your moms and she was worried about me after Yuri, but I know she doesn’t like I’m marrying you three, that I’ve been living with you, and everything else,” I say.

“Have you talked about it?” Chase asks.

Hunter doesn’t argue, and I glower at them both. “You think she’s changed just because she met your mothers and I got hurt?”

“You say communication is key,” Hunter reminds me. “Maybe you should take her to a counseling session and talk things out ... if you want, of course.”

I open my mouth, ready to tell him how pointless that is, but Hunter knows he has me snared. He didn’t want to talk to his mother, and I encouraged it. If I say no, that means he doesn’t have to keep working on his relationship with her.

As the gears click into place, he smiles. “I’ll bribe you.”

“No bribes,” Chase says while wrapping his arms around me. “Valerie can talk to her mother after the wedding.”

“It’s up to you. I’m not thrilled about our father and Vanya being at the wedding, but I know they won’t object,” Hunter sighs.

“We’re not having that option in the ceremony,” Lief decides as he gets home. He smiles at me. “I refuse to let anyone object.”

“Agreed,” Chase says.

“It used to be tradition for the best man to have a dagger so he could fend off anyone who would stop the ceremony. We could bring that back,” Hunter offers.

I roll my eyes. “No one gets to object because it’s our choice. It’s that simple.”

Lief kisses me. “Viper, are you stressing again?”

“Maybe,” I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

“I got a call from the photographer. They aren’t available on our wedding date.”

“What!” I yell.

He holds his hand out. “There are other photographers. We’ll find one.”

“Remember when you said the details don’t matter,” Chase says. “We still have time.”

I take a few deep breaths and nod. More problems roll in as the week continues. The venue has renovations. Some of the mafia guests want to add a plus four instead of a plus one, and I’m worried that it’s not going to be warm enough for me to be comfortable in either dress by the end of April. I want to pull out my hair and no amount of kisses or cuddling with my fiancés seems to help get my growing worry under control.

“I can feel the tension rolling off of you, Valerie,” Lief says. “Stress can lead to more headaches, anxiety, and worse sleep.”

“I know, Lief,” I snap, before making myself take a breath. “I wouldn’t be so stressed if things would just go the way they are supposed to.”

“There’s time for us to make sure everything happens as it should. It’s not just the four of us doing things. My parents are more than willing to set things up. I know Vanya will help if you ask. We have Sophia and her husbands, as well as your brother,” Lief says.

I nod once, but say nothing. Lief pulls me into his arms, first hugging me, then rubbing out my neck, down my shoulders, and continuing down my back. “Once we get dinner started, why don’t we go spend some time in our sauna? Or you can spar with the punching bag.”

“That might be nice,” I agree. “Why do I feel like it’s easier to deal with Chase and Hunter’s enemies than to plan a wedding?”

“Because you tend to have more control in combat, whether it’s mental combat or physical,” Lief answers.

He presses a kiss on my temple. “Send Hunter to take care of things. He can mix intimidation and charm.”

“What about you?” I ask. “You’re plenty sexy and charming.”

Before Lief answers, the doorbell rings. I look around him to the door and he follows my gaze for a moment, then glances at me. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No,” I say. “It could be someone trying to sell something.”

Lief pulls out his phone to check security and his eyes darken. I catch his hand. “Lief?”

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