“You know, I’ve seen families come together in times of joy and sorrow, but I’ve never actually seen them form a posse,” Armando Savage noted from his position against the kitchen counter. Scooping another spoonful of Rocky Road ice cream between his lips, he watched as another woman walked through Molly’s front door. “I need to find a way into this familia, Sami,” he told his mutual friend of the jilted fiancée. “Are you sure there’s not a gay brother hiding in a closet around here somewhere?” he asked hopefully.
“Not to my knowledge,” Sami replied, watching as Molly shoveled another piece of cheesecake between her lips, “but, you’ve already been adopted by this family, Mannie. You made sure you got her home safely even though you barely know her. That kind of loyalty counts for a lot in this family. You did good, sweetie.” She patted his arm.
“I wasn’t gonna let the chica drive in her condition, Samantha. By the time she got to her car, her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn’t even get the door open. And the tears…” he muttered, shuddering as he remembered how those big, fat tears had slid down her cheeks. She hadn’t made a sound which had made it even worse. Molly’s pain had been completely silent and bone deep. It was horrible. “I’m a lover, not a fighter, but I wished I had pounded on Delancy’s face a little. I grew up in the ‘hood. I could have done some damage to that perfect, handsome face of his.”
“And ruined a perfectly good manicure?” Sami teased, nodding to the other model’s elegant fingers. “I don’t think so. Besides, the torture that this group of women will inflict? It’ll be much more fitting,” she remarked with a nod toward the filling room. So far, Molly’s mother and sister-in-law had arrived with a cheesecake, Vivian had followed bearing a nice bottle of wine, and she herself had made it here from her photo shoot in record time armed with a nice selection of calming pharmaceuticals.
“Where are the men in Molly’s family?” Armando asked curiously, looking around the room.
“Nobody’s told them yet,” Sami answered, sipping from her wine glass as she watched Molly reach for another tissue from the box her mother had slid in front of her plate. “If we did, Devil would die too quickly. We wouldn’t want that,” she said with a ruthless smile.
“I know that look, chica. The last time I saw it, you put a photographer in traction after he copped a lingering feel to those glorious ta-tas.” Mannie gestured at Sami’s pert breasts. “You’re planning a long, torturous death, aren’t you?”
Smiling tightly, the woman nodded. “Let’s just say that what I have in mind will make the Salem Witch Trials look like a day in kindergarten.”
Walking into the kitchen just in time to hear her best friend’s response, Viv plopped onto a nearby bar stool as she added, “Oh, I’m all for burning his sorry carcass on a stake, sunshine. Devil Delancy ain’t getting out of this alive, but I’ll be damned if I don’t get in a few licks before the bastard burns in a fiery, pain-filled death.”
Quickly reaching for an empty wineglass, Sami frowned as she filled it and pushed it toward the other woman. “How is she now, Viv?”
“She finished the cheesecake and just moved to the bedroom. She’s curled up in the fetal position on her bed with an icepack on her eyes to keep them from swelling any more than they already are,” Viv reported, her forehead furrowing as she took a fortifying sip.
“Is her mom still with her?” Sami asked, glancing down the hallway toward the bedroom.
“For now. Molly’s alternating between rounds of rampant cursing and violent tears. At this rate, she’s gonna strain her vocal chords and dehydrate at the same time.” Smiling grimly, Viv leaned forward as she added, “Although, I’d say that the shit is about to hit the fan in ways Devil has never imagined. Momma Ramsey’s about to pull out the big guns.”
Mannie’s eyes widened, and he took a hurried gulp of his wine as he pressed his free hand to his heart. “She’s not gonna bring in Molly’s papi, is she? Sami says that would bring a quick end to the festivities.”
“Oh, Momma’s got something even better up her sleeve.” Pausing as she drained the last sip from her wineglass, Viv dropped the empty glass onto the bar. “She was calling Nana when I left the bedroom. And when Devil’s grandmother finds out what her dumbass of a grandson has done to the woman that she loves like a granddaughter, that man will be wishing he was six feet under and fertilizer for her prize roses.”
Lifting her eyebrows, Sami raised a glass in silent toast. “Compared to Nana, my methods will look like child’s play.”
“Word.” Vivian tipped her glass to clink it to Samantha’s.
Looking between the two women, Armando sighed. “Seriously, what about a gay cousin? Anything?”
~~***~~
Viciously cursing Atlanta traffic, construction and fate in general, Devil groaned as he pulled into the cul-de-sac where Molly’s condo was located. Cars littered every available space, and he recognized instinctively that he was about to march into an army of estrogen.
“Fuck,” he swore succinctly, pulling his Mercedes behind Molly’s mother’s Buick and eyeing it warily. Alone, Molly would be a force to be reckoned with. Armed with her momma, this battle was going to be a bloodbath. Sighing heavily, he shoved open the car door and climbed from behind the wheel.
It didn’t matter. He’d face Hell, itself, if it meant getting Molly back.
“William Delancy, you soddin’ waste of maternal work, you stop right there, lad!”
Freezing, Devil’s eyes widened as that familiar Irish brogue sent a shiver through his veins. Turning, he blinked. “Nana?” he yelled as his grandmother hung out the window of Grant Ramsey’s SUV and glared at him. “What are you doing here?” he asked as Grant pulled his vehicle behind the Mercedes. “You should be home, resting,” he worried out loud as he hurried to open the door for her.
He immediately realized that was a tactical error when she lifted her arm to slap the back of a wooden spoon against his head. “Ouch! Nana!” he hissed, grabbing his stinging temple as she landed another blow against the back of his head. “A little help wouldn’t be remiss, Grant!” he yelled as the wooden instrument of torture continued to land against his skull.
Pointing his phone at his best friend, Grant shook his head. “Can’t help you, asshole,” he growled, continuing to film the beat down the elderly woman was delivering. “This is going straight to YouTube. I’m calling it, ‘Senior Citizen Hands Ass to Billionaire Grandson!’”
“Of all the idiotic, foolhardy, completely unacceptable things ye’ve ever done, lad, this takes the cake!” Nana railed, hopping out of the vehicle with the agility of a woman half her age. Rage fueled her movements as she backed her grandson down the sidewalk. “How could you? After I spent just this afternoon assurin’ that bonny lass how much she meant to you? You’ve shamed me, Willy! You’ve shamed the family!” she admonished, shaking her spoon underneath his nose.
“I didn’t do anything! And how did you find out, anyway?” Devil asked, shaking his aching head as he looked toward Grant. “Don’t tell me that you bothered Nana with this crap?” he barked sharply toward his so-called best friend.
“I’d be careful about what you term crap, man,” Grant warned, his eyes narrowing as he took a step forward. “Seeing as how you’ve made my sister cry, I’m not inclined to be kind. And it wasn’t me who called your Nana.”
“His momma was the one who told me about your tomfoolery, Willy,” Nana proclaimed, her smile grim as she heard his grunt when her spoon made perfect contact with his elbow.
“Nana, quit beating me to death with that spoon!” Devil declared, taking a step backward.
Nana shook her head as she hitched her oversized purse higher on her arm. “Death is too good for you, my boy. But if’n the Lord be inclined to see your days ended, I wanna be the vessel he chooses to take you out over this foolishness.”
“It was all a mistake, Nana!” Devil insisted, rubbing his hand over his jaw as he glanced over his shoulder. If he could just get in there to Molly and explain all of this, then he could get his relationship back on its matrimonial track. Couldn’t he?
Obviously, Nana was in tune with his thoughts. “I know what’s running through your noggin,” she said imperiously, drawing herself up to her full five feet. “And your silver tongue and quick talkin’ won’t be in your favor, boy. That girl is too good for you. I canna believe I spent the noon hour swaying her to believe you were offerin’ true love.”
“Nana, I need to see Molly. You’ve got to help me get in there,” he urged, thrusting his arm toward the door. “I’ve got to make this right.”
“Do you know how many people are in there waiting to spill your blood, man?” Grant asked, shaking his head. “The best thing you could do is get in your car and go home.”
“That’s not happening, Grant.” Devil stared at his best friend. “I admit this was a fucked up afternoon, but I didn’t cheat on your sister. I’d never disrespect her like that, and I think you already know it or you would have already laid me out.”
“I might yet,” Grant snapped, his irritation growing. “Karen called me and said that Molly was sobbing. Sobbing, you asshole. My baby sister rarely cries, and she never sobs. What the hell did you do?”
Shit. Molly was crying. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he all but yelled, “It was a misunderstanding! Amanda showed up at my office.”
Grant’s eyes widened in surprise. “The Aussie with attitude? That’s not a misunderstanding, Devil. That’s a freaking catastrophe. I can only imagine what my sister thought.” He shuddered. “I thought you said you’d never see that nightmare again. You’ve been messin’ around with her this year?”
“No! She called a few months ago and wanted to get together. I said no. When she read about the upcoming wedding…”
“It raised her jealous hackles,” Grant surmised with a heavy sigh. “I warned you that chick was bad news when you met her, man. I told you that women like her are good for one thing. Making trouble.”
“Well, your point was proven this afternoon. Congratulations on being right again,” Devil snapped, gazing longingly at the front door. “Look, I love Molly. You both already know it. Hell, everybody inside that house knows it except for the one person that needs to know it. Please,” he begged, looking between Grant and Nana, “Get me in there.”
Katy Delancy exchanged a look with Grant before addressing her grandson. “If I take you in there, lad, you realize that you’ll have to face a sea of women that’d like your head on a bloody platter, don’t ye?”
“Including my wife,” Grant added pointedly, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at his best friend with something approaching sympathy. “My wife that likes sharp, pointy things, and at the moment, she’d like them buried in your heart.”
“I don’t care if I have to face Satan himself. Molly’s worth it,” Devil stated firmly, already moving toward the steps.
“Well, there might be hope for you yet, lad,” Nana murmured, following her grandson at a more sedate pace. “Move, boy. They might not have a problem evicting you from the premises, but me, they love,” she grumbled, shoving her grandson aside with a rough hand before using her wooden spoon to jab at the doorbell.
Fortunately for Devil, it was the nicer of Molly’s two best friends that jerked open the door. Vivian’s doe eyes widened as she caught sight of him on the porch. Lifting his hands in surrender, he quickly vowed, “Vivian, I come in peace.”
“Peace?” Vivian echoed dumbly, blinking. “You came here in peace?” she asked, her voice lifting. “Are you insane or just plain stupid? I hope it’s insane. Insane you can’t help. But stupid? Stupidity will get you very, very dead, Devil.” Shifting her gaze to Nana, Vivian shook her head quickly. “Nana, if you love him, hide him. Hide him far, far, far, away from….”
“Oh, my God!” Sami shrieked from behind Vivian, her words echoing off the walls and out onto the small brick porch.
“Too late,” Vivian said weakly as they all heard Sami storming toward the open door.
Resigned to facing Molly’s avenging angel, Devil sighed. “Let her have her pound of flesh, Vivian,” he recommended heavily as the brunette caught Sami’s arm when it would have swung at his head. Stepping over the threshold, he met the model’s jade green eyes. “She’s got the right, and I can’t really get angry that Molly’s got such protective friends.”
Deflating like a balloon, some of the heat went out of Sami’s eyes and Devil could see that he’d shocked her. “Take your swing and then get out of the way so that I can save my relationship with Molly. Please.”
“You think I’d settle for a piddly pound and a single swing? You think that’s gonna satisfy me?” Sami questioned waspishly, lifting her chin despite the fact that Devil had thrown her for a loop. Shaking her head, her eyes narrowed.
“I know you’re angry, Samantha. I know you’re all angry,” he amended as he looked around Molly’s cozy living room at the sea of faces staring angrily at him. “If I’d done what you think I’ve done, I’d want to rip my head off, too.”
“It’s not your head I want to cut from your body, Devil” Sami replied with a vicious smile. “Well, not the one on top of your shoulders,” she added sweetly, sliding her eyes down his body to glare at his crotch.
“Alright, that’ll be enough crass, lass,” Nana returned with a hard look at the younger woman. “Cutting off my grandboy’s manhood won’t bring Molly any peace of mind.”
“But it’d give her a nifty parting souvenir,” Armando mumbled from behind Grant and Karen.
Glancing at Molly’s newest supporter, Devil sighed. “Armando, I know what you thought you saw, but that wasn’t the whole story. Not by a long shot.”
Looking over his shoulder at the lanky, handsome Latin man standing behind him in leopard print hot pants and a flowing white shirt that revealed a ripped chest, Grant raised an eyebrow. “New addition to the family and nobody told me?” he asked his wife out the side of his mouth.
“Great new addition,” Karen agreed, linking her arm with Mannie. “Armando is the office assistant that Mols hired to cover for her while she prepared for the wedding. More importantly, he was Molly’s guardian angel today. He got her home after the asshole formerly known as your best friend broke her heart,” she explained to Grant, glaring at Devil as she spoke.
“Welcome to the wacky family,” Grant offered with a choked laugh before turning his attention back to Devil.
“I know I saw some skanky ho put the moves on you with Molly watching. I know you knew her, up close and personal-like, too. Or, do you show off those tattoos you’ve got to everybody?” Armando asked, his accent thick and heavy as his dark eyes narrowed.
“You have a tattoo, lad?” Nana asked sharply, her keen blue eyes appalled as she looked at her grandson.
“Not really the point right now, Nana,” Devil deflected, focusing his attention on more important matters. “Mannie, she knew about that because we had an extremely brief fling. Once. Years ago.”
“The Australian hussy made it sound a lot more current than that, chico. She might be a passable model, but…,” Armando retorted, lifting his chin defiantly.
“That’s because Amanda is a master manipulator,” Devil groaned, interrupting the other man and running a hand over his already disheveled hair.
“Wait,” Sami interrupted suddenly, throwing up a hand to stall the conversation. “Amanda? As in, Amanda Morgan?” she asked, voice shocked.
“That’s the one,” Mannie nodded. “Biotch Extraordinaire.”
“You didn’t tell me he was banging Amanda Morgan!” Sami yelled, casting Armando a withering stare.
“Does it really matter who he’s boinking if it’s not Molly?” Armando argued, his tan cheeks flushing as he met Sami’s irritated face.
“In this case, yes. You’ve not been doing the modeling gig long, Mannie. You wouldn’t have known, but that witch is known for creating these kinds of situations. I’ve seen her destroy more than one relationship with her games.” Sighing, the blonde woman turned back to Devil. “You know she’s poison, right? She’s been looking for a nice, rich benefactor for years. Modeling is just a stepping stone for her. She’s looking for a golden ticket.”
“I don’t care,” Devil retorted, the sharp pulsing pain in the base of his neck cinching tighter and tighter. “I was with her one night three years ago. I’ve seen her socially during the intervening years, but I’ve never seen her like that again, Samantha. I love Molly,” he shouted.
Looking between Devil and Sami, Vivian stated hopefully, “So, Devil’s innocent.”
“I didn’t say that,” Sami grumbled under her breath. “He has lousy taste in lovers.”
“Prior lover and former lousy taste,” Devil corrected quickly, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m quite happy with the woman I’m with now, and I know I can make her equally happy if you people will just let me get to her.”
“He’s right,” a quiet, calm voice said from behind them all. “Devil needs the chance to have this discussion with Molly,” Anne Ramsey agreed, moving through the assembled group to reach Devil. Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked him up and down. “You’ve created quite the mess here, young man.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Devil replied because, really, what could he say? He had been the source of their current drama. And disagreeing with Molly’s momma at this point in the ballgame would surely ensure that he’d be thrown out of contention completely.
“Hello, Katy,” Anne greeted the elderly woman, ignoring Devil for a moment to kiss the elderly woman’s wrinkled cheek. “I’m sorry I dragged you out here this afternoon. At the time, I really didn’t know what to do,” she offered wearily, squeezing Nana’s hand.
“Our children are going to be the death of us, aren’t they, Annie, my girl?” Nana asked with a tired smile.
“They are at that,” Anne agreed as she exchanged an understanding smile with the older woman.
These two matriarchs were going to be the death of him, Devil thought silently as he waited with barely contained impatience for them to address him.
“I don’t know what to do with this lad,” Nana continued, jerking her silver head toward her grandson. “Chance after chance, he’s had with your girl. Keeps mucking up, he does.”
Sparing Devil a scathing look, Anne nodded her head. “I can’t deny that, but Molly’s not perfect either. She should have stayed and skewered him there, but she was hurt. Deeply hurt,” she repeated, with a hard look at what might or might not be her future son-in-law.
“Miss Anne, I won’t deny that I had rotten taste in women until I fell for your daughter,” Devil began, opting for his best negotiating voice.
“Amanda Morgan is not a woman,” Sami corrected coolly. “She is a man-hungry, gold-digging, soul-sucking, sequin-wearing shark masquerading in a woman’s body.”
“I agree with all of that,” Devil stated quickly, pointing at Samantha. “I don’t know what I was thinking three years ago…”
“Probably, I’m about to get laid,” Grant muttered, grunting when Karen’s pointed elbow found his sternum. “It’s true,” he whined.
“…but I know what I’m thinking now.”
“And what is that, Devil?” Vivian asked softly, her eyes kind as they met his.
“I can not lose Molly. I won’t. She’s the missing piece to my puzzle. She’s everything I never expected to have and more than I have ever deserved, but she’s mine and I’m not giving her back. I’m not walking away. Yell at me. Beat me half to death if you want. Punish me in whatever torturous ways you deem fit, but know – all of you - that I’m not leaving this house until I find a way to make her understand how much I love her.”
Everyone was silent a long moment after Devil’s impassioned speech before Molly’s mother tilted her head and smiled. “All right, troops,” she said softly. “I think it’s time for all of us to retreat and allow Devil the time he’s requested to change my daughter’s mind about not marrying him.”
“You sure, Annie?” Nana asked with a sidelong glance at her best friend.
“Your boy wouldn’t lie,” Anne declared quietly, still staring into Devil’s grateful eyes. “I trust you’ll make this right, Devil.”
“I’ll move mountains to make this right, Miss Anne,” Devil promised, his heartbeat kicking into high gear as he watched women begin collecting their coats and bags.
Grant guided Karen toward the door, then he paused long enough to narrow his gaze to Devil. “No matter how guilty or innocent you are, you still made my baby sister cry, man. You’ve got this coming,” he warned an instant before his fist landed in Devil’s gut.
“Oomph,” Devil grunted, bending slightly as the impact knocked the breath out of him. “Feel better?” he growled, straightening.
“Marginally,” Grant muttered, pulling his wife closer.
“Fix it, Devil,” Karen ordered, her own hazel eyes glittering ominously. “Or Grant’s fist will be the least of your worries.”
Devil nodded as they moved out the front door only to be faced with Armando next. “Go ahead,” he invited the younger man. “Hit me if you need to hit me.”
“I don’t punch. I bitch slap,” Armando informed him with a sniff. “But I’ll put it in reserve and see if you can salvage this. Do I still have a job tomorrow?” he asked curiously.
“You took care of Molly when nobody else was there to do it. You have a permanent job with my company if you want it; just lose the hot pants,” Devil advised, still holding a hand to his aching stomach.
“Really?” Armando asked, wriggling his dark eyebrows suggestively.
“In favor of a suit, man,” Devil bit out, rolling his eyes.
“Buzzkill,” Armando returned with a sigh, sweeping out the door with a sway of his hips.
Vivian and Sami faced Devil next. Looking at the two women that knew Molly best, he grimaced. “Tell me the truth; do I have a chance in hell with Molly or have I totally fucked this?” he asked them quietly.
Patting Devil’s arm, Vivian smiled. “With love, all things are possible.”
“Fucking Confucius,” Sami muttered, shoving Viv toward the door. “Be honest and tell her the truth, and you’ve got a shot. Lie to her, and you’ll lose big. You’ll lose everything, Devil.” Sami glowered. “In turn, Molly will lose everything. Then, I’ll have a reason to find you and finish the job I’m about to start.”
“What job?” Devil questioned blankly.
“Why this one, sugar,” Sami answered sweetly a second before she introduced her knee to his groin. “That was for being stupid enough to sleep with a slut three years ago and for making my best friend cry like a baby,” she added, stepping back to admire her handiwork.
Devil heard Nana and Anne gasp as he stumbled against the wall, gasping for air. “Noted,” Devil choked, gripping his crotch as he fought for air.
“Wonderful,” Sami commented with a satisfied smile as she followed Vivian out the door.
Somehow finding the strength to straighten, he faced the remaining women. “Nana already beat the hell out of me, Miss Anne, but you’re more than welcome to get a few licks in, too,” he offered weakly, leaning against the wall.
“And mark your pretty face up for the wedding album?” Anne tsked with a small, negative shake of her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Thank you,” Devil said appreciatively, and he wasn’t talking about her lack of a violent reaction. “Miss Anne, Nana…I meant what I said. I love Molly. I would never deliberately hurt her, and I damn well won’t allow anyone else to hurt her. I’ve taken care of Amanda. She won’t make any more trouble for any of us.”
“Now that woman, I’d love to hit,” Anne muttered, her small fists dropping to rest on her hips.
“I wouldn’t mind having a go at her myself,” Nana agreed with a nod, her hand instinctively reaching in her purse for her wooden spoon.
“It’s not necessary; I’ve sufficiently inspired enough fear to take care of the problem,” Devil assured them both. “There’s not anything I won’t do for Molly. If it means wiping that woman off the earth, I’ll do it.”
“Just let her know what you’ve told us,” Anne replied gently. “When I left her, she had closed her eyes, Devil, but I don’t think she’s actually sleeping,” she explained, shrugging on her own coat before helping Nana with hers. “I’ll take your grandmother home. You get into that bedroom and convince my daughter that you adore her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed instantly, holding open the door for both women and kissing them on the cheek before they left.
Finally alone, he sagged against the closed door and closed his eyes. Releasing a long breath, he focused his mind on the objective at hand. Nothing mattered above making Molly understand how much he loved her. It was time to get into the bedroom and prove himself.
He made it exactly one step.
“Oh, c’mon,” he moaned as Chanel barreled off the couch and attacked his left ankle, latching onto the tender skin and biting viciously. “I didn’t do anything,” he pleaded as Coco arched her back and hopped off the sofa, hissing her own feline threat from beside the dog. “Just let me find her and tell her that,” he muttered, trying to shake the Pekingese off his leg.
Stumbling toward the hallway that led to Molly’s bedroom, he managed to free his leg from Chanel’s piercing mouth. Disheveled and rattled, but in one relative piece, he reached her open door and found her on the bed, her back to the door. Walking inside the room, he closed the door behind him and twisted the lock, effectively shutting out the rest of the world and the yipping terrors. It was fitting since his world had been narrowed to the woman lying in front of him. Shedding his jacket, he tossed it toward the nearest armchair and loosened his tie. “Molly?” he murmured, moving forward. “Honey, we’ve got to talk.”