Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
He sat down beside her, concerned. “Whatever you need, I have your back. You know that.”
“I’m married.”
Hugo was on his feet again before he could catch his breath. “You’re what?”
“Please don’t make me repeat that. It’s too horrible.”
He forced himself to look at Solomon. Back in uniform, his hair still shoulder-length, but confined with a hair tie that made him look like a pirate. He looked tired, handsome as ever, but tired. “Does anyone want to elaborate?”
“It seems that your sister was out having drinks with a friend when she ran into…the man in question. He convinced her to have a few more rounds, and she woke up with hazy memories of Niagara Falls and karaoke.”
Hugo had to sit down again. “You went all the way to Niagara Falls last night?”
Bronte held up her hands, shrugging. “I think so? I remember a short flight, and that we only had two hours before we had to fly back home. Then we went out to celebrate the wedding.”
She sniffled. “It sounded true when he said it.”
“When who said it? Who got you drunk and flew you out of state and away from your family?”
That’s all it took for Hugo to witness a rare event that he hoped he’d never have to see again: Bronte, still a little drunk from the night before, sobbing uncontrollably against him. “The punk ass leprechaun,” she cried into his sweater.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” William fucking Finn?
Unbelievable.
Hugo glared over Solomon’s shoulder. “Where is he?”
“Interrogation with Brady, Ken, Seamus and Uncle Shawn. For his own protection.”
“For his protection? He accosted my sister. He’s the man we’ll be pressing charges against. She’s the one that needs protection.”
Solomon rubbed his jaw and shook his head. “There’s video of the ceremony. She was drunk, but visibly willing. She’s also the one who gave him his most recent black eye. And she did it in front of a dozen policemen.”
“He deserved it.” Bronte pulled away from him and mumbled into her Kleenex. “And if he comes anywhere near me talking about conjugal rights, I’ll punch him again.”
“Would you mind if I talked to my sister alone?” It was difficult, being this close to him and trying to wrap his head around what Bronte was saying.
“Of course, Hugo. Take all the time you need.”
He wasn’t sure where to begin. “You don’t drink.”
“Rarely,” she corrected. “I rarely drink. But Erica from pediatrics has been having a rough time with her husband. When we went out the week before last, all we did was talk, so I thought it would be fine.”
“So how did drinks with a friend turn into Niagara Falls?”
She blew her nose. “The third place our driver took us to was a little bit shady. I think the waitresses were strippers, or their uniforms were bikinis, I’m not sure. I should have known he’d hang out there.”
The third place. So they weren’t just drinking, they’d been bar hopping. “What happened next?”
“He got rid of some jerks who were trying to pick us up, and then he gave Erica some really detailed advice about her situation.” She bit her lip, looking up at him self-consciously. “Good advice. She got excited and called her husband to come pick her up.”
That must have been really good advice. “What happened to the driver?”
“He took us to the airport.”
Hugo sighed and curled an arm around her shoulder. “Okay. Somewhere between good advice and the airport there’s a reason that makes sense. I know there is.”
Bronte wiped her eyes. “Is there? I’m forty-one and he’s foolish enough to make me laugh when I didn’t feel like punching him in the face. Isn’t that reason enough to do the man a favor when you’re drunk?”
“This isn’t a favor, Bronte. You didn’t loan him your car. You legally tied yourself to a stranger so he could stay in the country. That’s against the law. It’s called marriage fraud.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Bronte looked like she might cry again. “Younger is fixing it for me.”
“What do you mean? Unless he’s shipping William off to Ireland today—”
“He called in reinforcements. The Finns are on task in a crunch. Apparently they were already taking care of things for William without filling him in. He didn’t need to get married at all.” Her lower lip quivered and Hugo held her tighter. “I didn’t catch everything, but I know it’s good news. So we’ll get this annulled and no one will ever have to know. Except for most of the Finns, this police station and you.”
She whipped around in her chair, and grabbed his chin firmly in her hand. Her eyes pleading. “Repeat after me, Hugo. No one will ever have to know.”
“I won’t tell anyone, Bronte.”
“Specifically?”
He snorted. “I will not tell Cassandra and Foster Wayne or any of their children, especially the one that lives with me since he can’t keep his mouth shut.”