A whole month after Milo and I found the listening device in his car, and Fawn has not made any indications that she's on to us. If my nerves weren't shot before, they sure as hell are now.

After we got home that night, Milo went out and bought a shit ton of burner phones for me, Miko and himself. That way we could still discuss everything without our phones getting tracked. And if Fawn found out about the phones, we had a bunch more to use still.

"Alec? Are you ready to leave?" I sighed and grabbed my watch off my dresser before opening the door. There stood the cause of my high blood pressure dressed like she was going to the Emmys instead of to an engagement party.

"I'm shocked your brother invited me to come along." She said with a giddy smile. "I absolutely adore engagement parties. It's a shame I never got to have one." Her pout made me want to curl my lip but I resisted as I remembered I needed to pretend to be her friend. So instead, I smiled.

"Well, that's why your wedding is going to be so fantastic it'll make up for it." I stepped out of my room and closed the door before offering her my elbow. She slid her arm around it and we started off towards the stairs.

"Yeah, that's if I ever have it. It keeps getting pushed back because my stupid father can't pick a date when he'll return from Estonia."

Yeah. Cause her father was definitely in Estonia and not working with her brother on how to subdue her. After some long secret discussions with the brothers and their father, we all decided that me carrying out the contract to kill Fawn for Cornelius was a bad idea. Alfonso found it very sketchy as well. So he contacted Fawns father and they all got together, under the guise of discussing wedding plans and gifts from the families, and instead talked about an easier way to stop Fawn and her obsessive creepy actions.

With a decision made to get some dirt on her so she can no longer use what she has on Milo, the two brothers left the country, leaving me alone to deal with this psycho bitch.

As we made our way out of the house and into the car waiting for us in the front, I could tell something was on Fawns mind as she stared out the window and didn't want to talk. However, I needed her to talk because I needed to know what was going on in her head.

I cleared my throat a bit before speaking. "You alright there?" I waited for her to answer and she finally sighed before looking at me.

"Do you really believe the reason Milo and Miko left?"

Oh fuck me.

"What, you don't think they're on a buisness trip?" That was the cover they gave her, but I was also briefed—as was Carlo—on multiple stories to explain in case she started catching on to something. Like now.

"It's just so sudden. And why did both of them have to go? Seems suspicious." I was silent because I was actually getting a little nervous. She was good at realizing things. Really good. Fawn must have sensed I was uncomfortable and offered me a smile and a pat on the knee. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start spewing out accusations. It's just...what you said that night at the restaurant...all that stuff Milo did to you and put you through. It's been making me question a lot of things. If he could so easily hide things from you, what's to say he wouldn't do the same to me?"

Don't roll your eyes Alec.

Do not roll your eyes.

"Okay, fine. I really didn't want to say anything but I feel horrible now, so I'll tell you the truth." And with that, I don't think I've ever seen Fawn look so eager for some information before. Of course, she wasn't going to be getting what she was expecting.

"Your dad and Alfonso came up with a gift to present both of you at your wedding, but where they need to get it from was causing problems. So the people agreed that if the two handsome brothers came to pick it up, they would willingly give it to them for free. So, that's why they left so quickly." Judging from the excited grin on her face, I thunk she bought it. "But if you tell either of them I told you or even hint that you know, I will never forgive you!"

"Oh, you have my word!" Fawn gasped and I mentally snorted at that. Yeah, like your word means shit. "Do you know what it is?" Wow she's wasting no time.

"I don't, no. They refused to tell me that much. Probably cause they knew I would blabber it to you and looky looky, I've gone and done just that!" We both laughed and chatted lightly as the driver took us down a long gravel driveway before stopping in front of a small building. Sean chose to have the party at a vineyard and the only reasoning I had as to why was so he could get free wine. But he constantly denies it so who knows. Once exiting the car, I was immediately greeted by my mum, who pulled me into a vice grip of a hug.

"Oh goodness I'm so happy you're here. And thank you so much for helping set this up, your brother is in heaven right now." Now, I know you're probably wondering, 'But Alec, Sean has crippling anxiety. How is he in heaven at an engagement party full of people?' And to that question I give you a simple answer.

A good therapist and medicine can do you wonders.

"Fawn, deary. You look stunning." My mum greeted the bitch with a hug before my dad did the same. "You two go on in, I'm sure Sean and Josh will be excited to see you." I watched her leave and enter the  tent opposite of the building that probably housed the bathrooms. I could hear the soft music, chatter and glasses clinking from where I stood and I just knew it was going to get crazy once the night hit. There's no way all the young adults attending weren't going to miss a chance to get their party on.

"So where Milo and Miko?" My mother asked me and I really couldn't get into it since I didn't know where exactly Fawn was so I just shrugged my shoulders and changed the topic.

"I may have helped book the venue but I have to say you guys did a wonderful job setting up." I glanced around making sure I identified exits and escape routes in case things went tits up. Never know what could happen when you have the Queen bitch around.

"Oh your father and I just helped pick up supplies. Sean's the real mastermind." She smiled at me and I could tell it filled her heart with joy to see her youngest getting better with his illnesses. I could also see the regret she probably still carried for being the cause of them. Her and my father both held strong regret for everything they put us through and they made sure to apologize profusely every chance they got. But I didn't want to talk about the past with them anymore because they worked hard to turn their lives around and that was all that mattered.

"I'm gonna go see the two grooms now, you guys gonna be alright out here?"

"Oh yeah! Just a few more guests to greet and then we'll head inside." My father told me and I nodded my head before giving them each a hug and turning around to walk inside the tent. I couldn't help but snort at the decorations and could immediately tell that Sean definitely had a hand in everything. Fake ivy was lining the sides of the tent and ran up the walls and towards the ceiling where it looped down and met at the center. Tangled in the ivy were fairy lights that helped give some ambient lighting that I'm sure would look more breath taking in the night time.

I hurried over to the bar before anyone had a chance to grab me and ordered a glass of wine. I wanted whiskey but I didn't want to be utterly trashed at my brothers engagement party so I decided against it. Gotta play it safe.

After getting my glass, I nodded my thanks to the bartender and put some money in her tip jar before moving aside to gather surveillance of the place. While I was almost a thousand percent sure nothing horrible would happen, I was accustomed to always making sure I knew where every possible entry and exit was and all the escape routes I could take. But we were in a big tent—so there's not much to survey. I did, however, get a chance to see who all was here. Obviously Sean didn't have maby friends from the times he was in school and Josh was a dick to everyone he met, so I was curious who all the guests were when I first arrived.

There were some people I recognized from school, but the rest seemed to be family I hadn't seen or talked to in ages and frequent customers from the bakery. Through the crowd, I noticed Sean was standing in the front by a table talking with my parents and Fawn, but I didn't see Josh. I frowned and quickly downed the rest of my wine before setting the cup down on the bar and walking outside.

I didn't see him in the front so I decided to head to the back and felt relief when I saw him pacing back and forth, chewing on his thumb.

"Josh, what's going on?" I asked him as I got closer and he stopped waking when he heard me.

"I just—I'm...I'm scared." He admitted and I looked at him confused.

"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."

He rolled his eyes and scoffed at me. "No you idiot, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm worried about what might happen."

I blinked a couple of times to let him know I had not the slightest clue what he was going on about.

"Oh for fucks sake!" He groaned. "Your brother got shot last time we were out in a crowd in public. What if something like that happens again?"

Oh shit...that's right.

"Josh, I told you at the hospital that night that I would never let anything like that happen ever again. Remember?" He nodded his head, but didn't look relieved. I walked closer so I could speak quieter. "Her dad had cut off all her ties with any small groups around here. So she literally has no way of pulling a stunt like that again unless she does it herself. And I think she knows better than to do it when I'm around."

"Yeah, you've got a point." Josh sighed. "Still doesn't make it any easier."

"And I don't expect it to. It's only been a few months since that happened so I know the trauma is still there, but if the guy that actually got shot is in there having a ball right now, I think you should be too."

"Better get back in there before he cuts my dick off later." Josh chuckled and I smacked him on the back.

"I am happy for you two, by the way. I'm very glad you stuck it out with him despite his ups and downs." Josh smiled at me and slapped his hand on my back.

"I love you man." He said with a smile and I snorted at him.

"Yeah, I guess I love you too."

We were now doing that awkward bro hug where we grab each other's shoulders. We both laughed and pushed each other away before heading back into the tent. I let Josh go over to Sean while I went back to the bar to get some more wine. Wanted to at least have to glasses since I couldn't have my beloved whiskey. As I sipped on my drink, my phone rang and I pulled it out to see it was Milo wanting to FaceTime me.

That's weird. He never FaceTimes me.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked after answering and he looked as handsome as ever.

"Figured I could be there in spirit to congratulate the two love birds." He said and I shook my head with a smile. "Soon it'll be us doing that."

"Yeah, OK." I said sarcastically and he started laughing. I noticed the music was being lowered and looked up to see Josh being handed a microphone. "Oh boy, here comes a speech."

"Turn the camera so I can see." Milo asked and I taped the camera icon so the camera switched to the back one.

"Thanks guys for being here and celebrating our engagement with us." Josh announced and everyone applauded. I glanced to the corner and saw Fawn standing with my mom, both of them smiling and talking to each other. At least she was behaving.

"I won't make this long cause I know we all want to keep drinking and eating, but I just wanted to say to Alec, my best friend and soon to be brother-in-law, I love you dude and I'm so glad you threw your wooden block at me in grade school, otherwise we would've never been friends and I would've never met your brother." More applause and laughter after I made sure to give him the finger. "And to Sean, I love you with all of my heart and I can't wait to marry you and spend the rest of my days—" Before he could finish speaking, I saw something hit him and he staggered a bit before a red dot formed on his forehead and he fell backwards.

"Oh my god." I screamed and dropped everything in my hands to run to the stage.