Unveiled Wishes (Iron Shield MC #2)

2. Making Dreams Out Of Nothing

Chapter 2

Making Dreams Out Of Nothing

E mily

“Did you tell your brother that you called off our engagement?” Christopher leaned against the doorframe of my office.

“No, I didn’t,” I said, shifting a few files on my desk to look busy. I didn’t want to engage in this conversation. If I pretended not to be interested, he might go away quicker.

“Embarrassed that you’ve made the worst mistake of your life?” I wouldn’t be so lucky. Christopher didn’t know when to quit, which was one reason I’d called off the wedding.

“Eric wouldn’t care, even if I told him.” I shrugged, telling Christopher the truth. My brother had never conformed to the high society ideals. In fact, he had actively rejected the mold my parents had created for him. I hadn’t been so lucky there either.

“It’s not too late. The announcement hasn’t gone out, and we could just say that this was pre-wedding jitters, Emily. Our families are expecting the companies to unite under our marriage, and you’re throwing years away on some fancy notion.” Christopher crossed his arms over his chest. “The biker has been gone for years. He’s not going to suddenly show.”

I knew that, but it stung to hear someone else say it. He’d had made it clear in his last letter that he was moving on. I had allowed myself a month to grieve the loss, and I had done the same. It had been easier than I expected, which had made me think it wasn't meant to be.

“No, I made the correct decision for me, and instead of accepting it, you’re standing there looking like a tool who can’t take no for an answer. I am not marrying you, and the companies can find another way to merge. It’s not that hard, and you would know that after years of Harvard Law.” I finally looked up at him, my hands properly folded on my desk.

He scoffed, standing straight in the doorway but didn’t unfold his arms. “You’re going to regret this, Em. Keep telling yourself you’re visiting your brother for Christmas. We both know who you’re really going to see,” he said, letting his voice trail off. “I may not take you back, so think carefully.” He smacked the doorframe with his hand, turned on his dress heel, and walked off.

“Good riddance,” I mumbled.

I turned my computer on and pulled up my calendar for the day. My first meeting wasn’t for another hour, which was good. I needed the time to calm down.

I wasn’t Eric. I had been the dutiful daughter until recently. He had made his own way in life, and I had obediently followed the meticulously laid out plan. Prep School. Ivy League college. Harvard Law. Every time I checked another box, I hoped it was the one that would force my parents to pay attention to me. It never was, but I didn’t stop.

I closed my eyes and laid my head back against my office chair, letting my mind replay the past.

***

Seven Years Ago

The Hamptons

It was the last days of summer, and I was taking advantage of the peace. My parents had dressed for some charity function, but I had begged off. I told them I wasn’t feeling well, and that I wasn’t sure I could act accordingly. I rarely used that excuse, preferring to just grin and bear it, but they had believed me. Walking out the door, they told me to go back to bed, and they would see me later. I’d be lucky if I saw them before I went back to school in a week.

Once they were gone, I put my swimsuit on, grabbed my latest romance novel, and headed to the pool in the backyard. Adjusting the beach chair to my liking, I was ready to lose myself in my book and not come back up for a few hours.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been out there, but the side gate opened, and Eric and Tyler walked through in swim trunks. At the beginning of summer, my brother had called and asked if he could come home for rest and relaxation. After spending most of the year deployed, Eric had some time off before his next assignment. I had been excited to see him, but I hadn’t known he was bringing his best friend with him.

Tyler Mitchell stood out in the Hamptons like a sore thumb. He didn’t dress in designer clothes. He was happy doing mundane things, and even though he wasn’t disrespectful towards my parents, he didn’t attend any of the parties they wanted him to. My parents were eager to show off my military brother and his friend. They thought it would earn them patriotic points, whatever they considered that to be worth.

“Hey, Em. What are you doing here?” Eric asked me as they dropped towels onto the other chairs.

“What do you mean?” I asked, slightly confused.

“Weren’t you supposed to go to the hospital charity function? Mom brought it up this morning, and she was making a big deal about us attending in our uniforms. Instead, I made sure we were out all day, so that she wouldn’t call.” Eric stood at the foot of my chair, blocking the sun. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, hoping to bring his features into focus.

“I told them I didn’t feel well, and they bought the excuse.”

“Already using the loopholes,” Tyler commented drily. “Whatever you do, Emily, don’t be one of those asshole lawyers.” He was the quiet one out of the pair, but it was obvious he had more life experience than my brother.

“No, I want to fight for the people who don’t have a loud enough voice.” I honestly believed that.

“Sounds like a dreamer’s plan. You know you’ll get roped into working at the Nelsons’ practice until they marry you off to Christopher.” Eric was still smiling, but I didn’t know why he found it funny. It was actually pretty pathetic.

“Christopher? The fucker at the bar this afternoon?” Tyler asked Eric.

“Yeah. The one and only. My parents have this idea that they’re going to marry Em off to him and merge our import business with their department store.”

“That’s fucked up,” Tyler growled. “She should be free to do whatever the fuck she wants.”

“Yeah, but she didn’t leave like I did.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it also wasn’t the complete truth. I hadn’t found an opportunity to run. “Can you two stop talking about me like I am not sitting here?” I was getting angry at them for reminding me I was a pushover. I had wanted a few hours to myself, and these two idiots were ruining it.

“Sorry, Em,” Eric said, turning around and diving into the pool.

“I’ve seen How’s letters that you send him. He either lets me read the funny ones or quotes anything he thinks I might like. If I left you my address, would you write to me? I don’t have a family that gives a fuck. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.” Tyler ran his hand through his hair and across his face. He seemed almost embarrassed.

It took me a minute to realize what he was asking for. “Of course. I don’t mind, but I am not sure how much you want to know about school. It can be pretty boring.” I smiled.

“Nah, I want to know it all.” He stood from the chair, and as he took a few steps towards the pool, he turned back to look at me. “Don’t marry that fucker. You’re too good for him.” He shifted and looked down at the decking. “If you can’t get out of it, come find me, and I’ll marry you first.” He jumped into the pool.

We never talked about it again. I also never saw him again.

***

Grace

“You sure you’re going to be alright?” Sabre asked me, placing JR in his car seat. He kissed his forehead and stood to look at me. “I can ride out with you or send a prospect.”

“No, I think it will be okay. We’re just going to Aunt E’s appointment. Do you want me to text you when we head to lunch?” I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest, soaking in his strength.

“I’ll come if you want me to, but if you think you’ll be okay, I’d rather stay here. Count and I are working on the end-of-the-year reports. It all fucking sucks, but it has to be done. If Chef doesn’t make lunch, I’ll make a sandwich or something.” He tightened his arms around me. “I love you.”

I stood up and let him go, reaching up for a quick peck. “I love you, too.” Turning towards the driver’s side door, I waited until Sabre opened it before sitting down and starting the car. “You ready, Aunt E?” I said to her.

“Let’s…over with,” Aunt Elizabeth said from the passenger seat.

“Yes, let’s get this over with.” I smiled, holding in my tears until I was in private. I thanked God every day that my aunt and Meredith had survived the attempted abduction, but it had left too many scars on both of them.

They weren’t sure about the extent of my aunt’s traumatic brain injury, but she could no longer process a full thought. She was still the poised woman I had grown up with, but we would often catch her drifting off into her own world. There was always a pause, and we just waited it out. We were taking her to therapy sessions to see if they could stimulate her mind and put her body back together. She was one big cast, and yet she maneuvered pretty well. When she was tired, the older brothers often helped her to her room.

Meredith was a different story. Where my aunt was still emotionally stable, Meredith was not. She hardly spoke, and if she did, it was full of snark. Her smile was gone, and she wore the same sweatshirt and pair of leggings every day. Sabre had told me that Grizz was having to force Meredith to shower and dress. He even had to bribe her just to get her to sit in the main room. If he left her alone, she wouldn’t leave their room, preferring to sleep the day away.

“If you need anything, call me. I’ll be here.” Sabre closed my door and tapped the roof. Walking back to the porch, he watched as I pulled up to the gates and left the clubhouse. I turned the music up and sang along with the radio as we drove down the road towards the appointment. My aunt chimed in every other lyric, and I reached over and placed my hand on her knee. She reached down and squeezed my fingers. It was moments like this that I had to hold on to. Otherwise, the dark would swallow me whole.

We were halfway there when a road sign appeared on the shoulder for the Old McMillan Place. I was taking quick peeks at the sign, but we were going to pass it before I could read the whole thing.

“Honey. It’s ah…it’s for sale,” my aunt said to me, as we passed the sign. “Back. Go.” My aunt was pointing out the window. “We have… Go.” She patted my arm.

“It was for sale?” I asked her, not sure I had heard her correctly.

“Go,” my aunt insisted, her eyes wide as she kept pointing out the window.

I made a U-turn and headed back in the opposite direction until we approached the driveway. I turned in and parked so that we could read the sign. The Old McMillan Place. Banquet and Ballroom.

“You could…” My aunt pointed to the sign.

“You think I should buy it?” I asked her. It had been one of my dreams to own a place like this. I doubted if I had enough time to dedicate to operating it. It looked like it needed a lot of work.

“You’re going to…fly.” She smiled at me.

I chuckled, and her smile became bigger. “You know, we can do this,” I said to her. “With Meredith’s help, we could get this place up and running.”

“Deal.” She slowly raised her hand, and I shook it gently. I didn’t want her to hurt any more than the therapy would. I grabbed my phone and took a quick picture of the sign to research while she was with the therapist. As we drove off, we discussed the parties, the weddings, and everything we could use the center for. I didn’t want to believe that this dream could be a reality, but I couldn’t stop the hope that flooded my veins.