As I leave the police station, I spot Alice chatting to a colleague. She watches me pass and I head straight for my bike without even a smirk. If she’s still at work, that means Hannah is alone.
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” screams Molly in excitement. I wrap her in my arms and smell her strawberry shampoo. It calms me. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, angel.”
“What are you doing here and how did you get in?” snaps Hannah. “If Alice finds out, she’ll go mental.”
“Since when was Alice the boss of you?” I snap. “Is she controlling you? Because that’s mental abuse, yah know.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then why is she telling me I can’t see my daughter and my pregnant woman?” I snap.
“I’m no one's woman,” she snaps back. “Especially not yours. She’s trying to keep us safe.”
“I can keep you safe,” I say. “How is being here alone keeping you safe?”
“We’re fine here. That crazy man doesn’t know where I live,” she says and I laugh.
“Are you mad? He knew your car details, so of course, he knows where you live.”
She pales and I feel bad for scaring her. “Stay at the club just while I sort all this out. Alice can come too if she really wants.”
“Alice won’t come,” she mutters.
“Please can we go, Mummy?” begs Molly.
“You know it makes sense to have people around you all the time. Being here alone makes you vulnerable,” I say and I see her wavering.
“Let me talk to Alice,” she says with a sigh. She leaves the room, taking her phone with her.
“I hope we can come,” says Molly. I don’t tell her that I don’t give a fuck what Alice says because my girls are coming with me even if I have to carry them out of here myself.
Twenty minutes later, Chains arrives in a car to take Hannah and Molly to the club with their bags. Just as I place the last bag in the boot, Alice pulls up. She looks pissed as she gets out and stomps towards us. “You hung up on me,” she accuses Hannah.
“You were yelling,” says Hannah.
“Because I can keep you safe here. I have a cop posted right there,” she snaps, pointing to a car with dark windows.
“You can come too,” I add with a grin.
“I’m seconds away from putting in a call to the drugs squad about your container,” hisses Alice.
“Don’t do that,” says Hannah, taking her hand. “It’s temporary until this mess is sorted. Don’t you want me and Molly safe? You know I hate being alone all the time and you’re working extra to find that ass. I’ll feel safer being surrounded by people.” Alice responds with a sigh and Hannah kisses her gently. I turn away because I can’t handle that shit.
“I love you,” Hannah whispers.
I turn back just in time to see Alice rest her hands over Hannah’s stomach. “I love you all,” she says in return. I catch Chains watching their interaction with a huge grin on his face. I scowl and he looks away.
Hannah and Molly get into the car and Alice looks at me. “Thank you for giving the statement.”
“No problem.”
“We need to nail this guy asap so we can get back to normal,” she says.
“Agreed,” I mutter, getting on my bike. “Let’s work together. It’ll be much easier that way.”
Chapter Eleven
GIA
I stare impatiently at Miss Smith as she browses through the dress brochure. Eventually, she holds up a picture of the dress she likes and, just as I predicted, it’s awful. You kind of get a nose for these things once you’ve been doing it a while. I’ve met every bride going from unfussy to over-the-top fussy and subtle to loud. This bride is loud. She wants her bridesmaids to wear teal. At the reception, she’d like them to perform a dance in front of the guests. She’s requested thrones for her and her beloved to sit on throughout the reception, including during the sit-down meal. The dress she’s chosen is big. The train alone will be the length of the aisle.
“With fifteen bridesmaids and three maids-of-honour, there’ll definitely be enough people to hold the train,” I say with a fake smile. I pass the brochure over to Eva. “Can you call the dress makers and book Miss Smith for a fitting?” She nods.
“Can they add pink diamantes?” Miss Smith asks and I glance at Eva, who presses her lips together to hide the smile.
“Check that, please, Eva. Get them to draw it up so we have a clear picture of what it will look like.” Usually, I’d try and talk sense into my brides, but today, I have nothing to give. I feel flat and drained.
After the client leaves, I flick through the brochure myself. “Shall I ask Kay to make up two of those dresses?” asks Eva with a smirk.
“Don’t you dare. I want something plain. Maybe this?” I hold up the picture of a slim-line dress. It’s backless, sleeveless, and the exact sort of thing I love.
“Don't you want to make more of a statement? This is your wedding day!”
“No. I want all eyes on anything but me,” I mutter. I hold up another picture and Eva shakes her head.
“You need to set the exact date or you’ll be lucky if you manage to get a dress.”
“Then I’ll wear one off the rack,” I say and Eva gasps.
“You can’t marry a mafia boss in a dress off the rack!”
“I hardly think Ricardo will notice. He hasn’t bothered to call me or even send a text. You’d think he would, just to say he’s happy I accepted,” I say.
“Have you called him?” asks Eva. I shake my head. “Then why are you complaining? It takes two to make it work, yah know.”
“Maybe that's just it, Eva. None of us could give a shit if it works or not. Perhaps he’s not invested in this idea either.”
“Call him, ask
