Owned: An Alpha Anthology Part 41

"I do," her father answered, releasing her hand and lifting her veil. Then he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before stepping back.

Suzy and Joe mouthed some words to each other, which looked like "I love you," as they held hands. After, they made their way to the center of the altar and stood with the priest.

I sat back, watching the beginning of their happily ever after. I wiggled my nose, stopping the tickling sensation from the tears that threatened to fall.

Even someone such as myself, someone against the entire inst.i.tution of marriage, could grow misty-eyed at a wedding. I couldn't have been happier to have Suzy officially become a member of the Gallo family. It only took twenty-something years for me to finally have a sister.

Today would be a new beginning. The Gallo family would be forever changed.

RESISTING BY Ch.e.l.lE BLISS.

5 - Izzy Standing in the reception line had to be the most mind-numbing experience of my entire life. Greeting people I didn't know, welcoming them, and thanking them for coming to my brother's wedding-totally f.u.c.king exhausting.

Then there were the people who liked to pinch my cheeks like I was still a five-year-old girl. It took everything I had not to slap their hands away and keep a smile glued to my face. By the time the line waned and I was able to hit the bar, my face hurt from my fake smile and my feet were screaming for relief.

I kicked off my shoes, pus.h.i.+ng them under the bar and help my hand up to the bartender.

He sauntered over with a giant smile on his face. "What can I get you, darlin'?"

I leaned against the bar, putting my face in my hands, and stared him down. After the hour of awesomeness that was the receiving line, I wanted a drink and nothing more. I didn't feel like flirting or small talk.

"Jack, straight up," I said without cracking a smile.

"Single or double?"

"Double, please."

As he walked away to pour my drink, I turned and took in the room of people. The wedding was ma.s.sive. Between Suzy and my ma, I think they had all of Tampa Bay crammed in the room.

"G.o.d, I need a drink," Mia said as she walked toward me.

"As bored as I am?" I asked as I leaned back, taking the pressure off my feet.

"At least you know all those people," she replied, motioning toward the bartender.

"The f.u.c.k I do. I know maybe half, and even then, I'm sketchy on their names."

"There's a small army here," she said. "Martini, please. Make it dirty with two olives."

"Someone looking to get a little buzzed, like me?"

"Just need to take the edge off," Mia replied. "Weddings make me itchy."

"Like you're allergic?"

"No, Izzy." She shook her head and laughed.

"Well, what the f.u.c.k? Clue a sister in."

We turned toward the bar, picking up our drinks and clinking them together.

"I feel I'll always be a bridesmaid and never a bride."

"You have Mike." I sipped the Jack, letting it slide down my throat in one quick swallow.

Mia sipped her martini and winced before her lips puckered. "I could be an old hag before he finds just the right way to ask me to marry him."

"f.u.c.k tradition. Ask him already."

"He'd die," she said, bringing the gla.s.s to her lips and looking at me over the rim.

I held up my hand, snapping my fingers for a refill. "He'll get over it. Make a deadline, then. If he doesn't ask by a certain date, then you ask him."

"Maybe," she replied, setting her drink on the bar. "I wouldn't walk away if he doesn't ask. I love him too much."

"He loves you too, Mia. It's really sickening how often I have to hear about you." I laughed, tapping my fingernails against the wooden surface as I waited for my drink. "I love you, of course, but Jesus. The man talks about nothing else except for you and the clinic."

She hit my shoulder, causing me to laugh. "Would you rather him talk about Rob and working out all the time?"

Rob was my brother's trainer before he quit fighting. Rob and I had had a "thing" for a short time. It'd ended badly. Mostly for him, though, since my knee had found its way to his b.a.l.l.s and he'd ended up on the floor.

"Well, lesson one is don't refer to women as b.i.t.c.hes."

"I'm sure he learned his lesson," she said, and laughed. "I've heard more than once about your wicked, bony-a.s.s knee. I think he still has a thing for you, Izzy."

I turned, holding my gla.s.s near my lips. "Ain't no way in h.e.l.l am I ever dating him. Never. Ever. He's a total a.s.shole."

Mia's laughter turned into a fit of giggles as she held on to the bar to maintain her balance. Tears streamed down her face and her dark eyes twinkled in the lighting. "I know he is. Total douche, but he has a soft side."

"Mia, stop trying to get me to hook up with Rob." I sipped the Jack Daniel's, the feeling of the first shot already making its way through my system. My legs felt a little wobbly and my core warmed. "I don't want a boyfriend and I certainly don't want him."

"Someday, Izzy, you're going to meet that guy. One who makes your belly flip and toes curl. The electricity between you two will be undeniable. You just haven't met the right one."

"He's like a unicorn, Mia. Totally fictional bulls.h.i.+t."

She shook her head, finis.h.i.+ng the last sip of her martini. "He's not. You just haven't found him yet. I feel those things when I'm with Michael."

"You're obviously mentally impaired," I chortled.

"I can't wait to see the day someone has you all in a fl.u.s.ter. You're going to be totally f.u.c.ked."

"Mia, babe, there ain't no man tough enough to handle all this," I said, motioning down my body.

"Uh huh," she clucked, her shoulders shaking from laughter. "I can't wait to see the d.a.m.n day."

"It's dinnertime, ladies," my ma sang as she walked through the bar area. "It's time to take your seats."

"I could use a little food and a d.a.m.n chair," I said, wondering how I'd make it to the table with my feet feeling like someone was rubbing hot coals on them.

"Me too," Mia said, following behind me.

We both walked gingerly toward the table that was placed on the dance floor and facing the entire room. I felt almost like a zoo animal as I sat down and looked around the large ballroom.

I ate my food and chatted with Mia throughout the dinner. Joe and Suzy were interrupted so many times with clinking gla.s.ses that I didn't have any idea if they were able to consume half their meal. It was cute, and at some point, I thought Joe would tell them to use their f.u.c.king forks to eat, but he didn't.

Suzy did that to him. She chilled him out at times when he was ready to burst. I knew he wanted the day to be special, and did everything in his power to make sure it was perfect. Even held his tongue when I know he had to be biting it so hard that he drew blood.

"I'm hitting the bar again after dinner," I told Mia, hoping she'd join me.

"I'm in," she replied. "Until Michael drags me on the dance floor."

"I wish you luck with that." I laughed, placing the last bit of pasta in my mouth.

I didn't get up immediately. My mother would have given me the stink eye if I'd looked too eager to run to the bar. I sat there staring at the crowd, smiling, and making small talk with the others at the table. Sipping my wine, I counted the minutes until I could stand again on my aching feet and drink myself into oblivion.

Weddings, even my brother's, were bulls.h.i.+t. There was no f.u.c.king way in h.e.l.l I'd be standing on the dance floor later, knocking over girls to get a bouquet of flowers. I wasn't looking for some symbolic nonsense that I'd be the next one walking down the aisle and giving up my freedom. f.u.c.k tradition.

RESISTING BY Ch.e.l.lE BLISS.

6 - Izzy After downing countless drinks and chatting up Mia and all the long-lost family members who'd shown their a.s.ses at the wedding, I turned to see a very red-faced Suzy enter the ballroom. Joe stood by her side, but he looked calm-besides the small smirk on his face.

"Hey, sister," I said as I walked toward her. "I'm so excited to be able to say that and it be true. I've always wanted a sister." I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her a little too tight.

"Can't breathe," she whispered.

"Man up," I said, releasing her.

"I'll be back, ladies. I'm going to grab a drink at the bar with my boys," Joe said before he kissed her cheek and left us alone.

"Where's your sister?" I asked, looking around the crowd.

Suzy had a sister, but they weren't close. The Gallos were closer to her, and more of a family than hers would ever be. I felt bad for her, but it made me love her more.

"Don't know and don't give a s.h.i.+t either." She shrugged and looked at the floor.

"You know you've turned into a bada.s.s with a potty mouth, Suz."

She smiled, shaking her head. "City. It's all his fault."

"I'd like to think I played a part in it, too." I laughed.

"You're always getting me in trouble, Izzy."

"Me?" I asked, holding my hand to my chest.

"Always."

A man cleared his throat next to us and we both turned in his direction. "Excuse me, ladies. I don't mean to interrupt."

"Well then don't," I slurred, looking the stranger up and down. Handsome, well built, great hair, and totally doable. Maybe I shouldn't have been such a b.i.t.c.h, but then again, Jack was talking after I'd consumed more than necessary.

"Don't be rude, Izzy," Suzy said, turning to face him. "How can I help you?"

"I'm a friend of Thomas's, and he asked me to drop off a gift on his behalf." The man held out an envelope and waited for her to take it.

I took this moment to study him further. His muscles bulged underneath his suit as he held out his hands. His eyes were green, but I couldn't tell the shade. His jaw line was sharp and strong.

"Is he okay?" I asked. I hadn't seen my brother in so long, and information wasn't freely flowing lately. He worked undercover for the DEA and was in deep with an MC in Florida. I wanted him home, safe and sound.

"He is, and he's very sorry he couldn't make it," he said, looking down at me.

"Don't mind her," Suzy said to him, her eyes moving from me to him. "Thomas is her brother."

"Ah, you're that Izzy," he said, his lips turning up into a smile. "I've heard a lot about you."

What the f.u.c.k did that mean? I snarled, not entirely liking the s.h.i.+t-eating grin on his face. "And you are?" I asked, holding out my hand for him to take.

"James." He slid his hand along my palm and stilled. "James Caldo."

"Never heard of you, Jimmy," I said, trying to knock him down a peg. I didn't like that he had heard of me, with his "that Izzy" comment, and I'd never even heard his name.

He brought my hand to his lips and placed a kiss just below my knuckles. "Perfect."

His lips scorched my skin. An overwhelming sense of want came over me. I felt the urge to jump into his arms and kiss his very full lips. My toes curled painfully in my shoes as I stared at his mouth against my skin. As he removed his lips from my hand and brought his eyes back to mine, I wiped all evidence of want from my face.

Suzy coughed, ruining my fantasy and bringing me back to reality. "Thanks, James. I'll give this to Joseph for you. Why don't you stay and enjoy the wedding?" She smiled at the man.

"What?" I asked, turning toward her. Suzy played dirty. Her angel act was just that-an act.

"We have plenty of food, and I'm sure the Gallos would love to talk with you about their Thomas," Suzy said, grinning like an idiot.

I gave her the look of death. What in the f.u.c.k was wrong with her?

"You can keep James company tonight, Izzy. You didn't bring a date."

She did not just say that. If it weren't her wedding, I swear to s.h.i.+t I would've smacked her. I could feel my cheeks turning red as his eyes flickered to mine.

"I'd love to stay. Thank you. Izzy, would you like a drink?" he asked, still holding my hand in his.

"Only because Suzy would want me to be a gracious host," I said, looking at her out of the corner of my eye.

"I don't want to put you out or anything. I'm a big boy and can handle myself. I just thought you could use a drink to unwind a bit. You feel a little tense, and that mouth of yours could get you into trouble."

Obviously, he was full of himself. Trust me when I say I can smell a c.o.c.ky b.a.s.t.a.r.d from a mile away. I grew up with enough of them to sniff them out across a room.

"I don't need a babysitter, Jimmy, but I'll take the drink."

"It's James," he said, squeezing my hand.