22
Holly stood in the bridal suite with her favorite cousin Isis, watching her get ready for the wedding. Sahara and Candy were helping her get dressed while Holly quietly observed. Isis looked over at Holly, who was fiddling with the bridal bouquet.
Candy noticed there was a sadness behind Holly’s eyes and nodded to Sahara. “Why don’t we go grab something to drink and let Holly and Isis have some family time?”
Sahara nodded, and the ladies left quietly.
Isis walked over and sat next to her cousin and leaned her head on Holly’s as they always did. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“Isis, do you miss your dad?”
“Every day. Especially today.”
“Do you think Mama and Papa would have liked Colt?”
“Yes. I think your mom would have loved him the most. Colt’s a kind soul. I never understood why people thought he was such an ass. He just likes to joke around a lot and people think he’s just cocky. Plus, he doesn’t take any crap from anyone, so they get mad when he has no filter and tells them like it is. He’s pretty upfront about things.”
“Yeah. Mama was a tough cookie, too. Since I moved back home with Cyrus, I think about her a lot.” Holly scrunched her nose up to fight the tears threatening to come.
“You’re just like her. You love to argue and fight. Your dad didn’t have a chance with that woman.” Isis nudged her and they giggled together.
“I hate that Cyrus got burned from the accident. We were just kids then, but I remember how bad he had it in school after it happened. He was strong and people didn’t fight him as they did us. People called him a monster until he got in high school.”
“Yeah. Then all the girls wanted him. I still don’t understand why he’s so self-conscious. Under that beard is a handsome fella.”
“He is. I think he hated seeing us being bullied because he knew what it was like for him after the wreck. Wraith, on the other hand, was always a ladies’ man. Still is, even though everyone is afraid of him.”
“Yep. That’s why Cyrus won’t cut that fuzzy beard. He still thinks the scars are bad, but they aren’t. Except for Wraith, who was away in the military, we all thought we were going to foster care after the accident. Wraith took care of all of us until Cyrus was old enough to step up too. My mom wasn’t able to care for us. She barely took care of herself. He had to come home from the marines and give up his entire life to care for us. I always wondered if he resented having to take care of us.” Isis looked over to see if Holly was feeling the same.
“No. Wraith and Cyrus are all about family. I think it was a way for Wraith and his wife to feel like they had kids of their own. By caring for us all, they had a family. Lilly couldn’t have kids, and she treated us like her own daughters. Then Cyrus grew up and took over by being way too overprotective.”
Isis sighed. “Since my mom couldn’t afford to take care of me on her own, they had to deal with me being out of control. Mom lost it when dad died. I always hated that I made things tough on all of them.”
“We both gave them all a hard time. If it weren’t for my brothers, we would have ended up in prison. Just like mom almost did that time, she kicked that kid’s ass for bullying us.”
Isis laughed. “We were in elementary school and that junior high boy didn’t see it coming. She was short and little, like me. Aunty spanked him across the football field in front of the entire team.”
Holly chuckled, thinking how tough her mom was. She and Wraith took after her. Cyrus was the spitting image of his father and just quiet.
A knock came on the door and Cyrus and Wraith stood there in their suits. Isis squealed with excitement and quickly ran to Cyrus.
Holly slowly walked over to him in awe as a goofy smile crept across her face. He was cleanly shaven with a total makeover. No longer hiding the scars on the side of his face. Both girls hated that he hid for so long. He was so handsome under all that facial hair; it was a shame to hide it.
“Cyrus! You had a makeover? You look great.”
He blushed. “No more mountain man. I was thinking maybe I should embrace who I am. Watching you girls’ changes, I realized I was the only one staying the same. So… this is the new me.”
Both girls rushed and hugged him. Wraith the tall, tattooed, and handsome bodybuilder chuckled. “What the fuck? Does he get all the attention? I look hot as hell in this suit and I get nothing.”
Isis and Holly turned to him, and Holly giggled. “Eh. You’ll do in a pinch.”
Wraith looked over the girls in their dresses. “I’m proud of you both. My girls are finally smiling. Isis, baby girl, you're the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, besides my Lilly. Now I have to get this one married off so I can retire happily.” Giving Holly the side-eye.
Cyrus smiled. “Nah. We’re too young to retire. We still need to get them teamed up with Doom Brothers. IWX wouldn’t know what hit them with the Evans clan all on one team.”
Holly laughed. Everyone at IWX feared all of them but sweet Isis. “I think they are already getting an idea of who we are. Trouble.”
Isis covered her lips, giggling. “Yep, two overbearing brothers and the crazy Evans girls.”
Wraith huffed. “Overbearing?”
Holly nudged him. “Dude. You set us up to get men you picked out for us. Don’t think we didn’t notice. Good thing you were right.”
Wraith smirked. “I’m always right.”
Cyrus rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Can we get the show on the road? This suit is itchy.” He tugged at his collar.
Wraith gave his arm to Isis. “What do you say, little one? Ready to become Mrs. ‘Twelve Inch’ Gage?”
“Ready! Let’s roll.”
They headed out together, and Holly just watched her cousin heading to the altar in pure joy.
Cyrus stopped. “Are you coming, sis?”
“This was supposed to me.” Holly wanted to cry and turned her head away.
Cyrus went back to her. “Sis?”
“Today was the day we were going to get married; Adam and I. Isis doesn’t know today was the date we had set. Please don’t tell her. Adam left me because I wouldn’t have sex with him. I caught him cheating with my best friend at the sideshow. I lied. He didn’t just break up with me.”
“The one who taught you to throw knives?”
Holly looked up and nodded yes.
“Oh, sissy. I didn’t know. Adam didn’t deserve you. But I know a guy waiting to see you in this pretty dress who does.”
“Colt?”
“Yes. As much as I hate the idea of you two together, he cares for you. Today might not have been your day to get married, but someday it will be. That day will be so much more special with someone who really loves you.”
Holly hugged Cyrus. “You’re right. Let’s go get our girl married. I want to dive into that cake.”
“I know something that will cheer you up.”
“What?”
Cyrus smirked. “The wedding gift I wouldn’t tell anyone about.”
“What did you do?”
“Those two are freaks. They think I am oblivious to the kinky shit they’re into. I got them a pink sex swing. It’s Isis’s favorite color. I swear she and Candy are going to kill me with all this pink crap.”
Holly started bursting out laughing. “That’s hilarious. I got her a dominatrix outfit with a gag ball. It’s pink too.”
“She’s going to kill us.”
“At least we die laughing. You know Gage only has one nipple now, right?”
“What? Why?”
“Oh, Cyrus, my brother. We have so many stories to catch up on.” Holly put her arm through his and headed to the wedding. “So many stories.”
