Binding Rose: A Dark Mafia Romance(16)

“Looks like it’s showtime,” I announce, my gaze landing on the tarmac and on the private jet that is quickly traveling down it. “That must be them.”

Colin nods in reply.

“Shit. I pity my fucking brother. To have to marry a Hernandez, of all people, feels like someone is stabbing a blade into my heart. I can only imagine how he must be feeling right about now.”

“He’s the boss. He doesn’t have to feel.”

I lean off the hood of the car so I can stand up straight and stare at my cousin.

“If I didn’t see with my own two eyes that you bleed red just like the rest of us, Colin, I would swear you’re a fucking robot. Of course, Tiernan feels. Just because he’s the boss, as you put it, doesn’t mean he can switch off his feelings just by snapping his fingers. We are human, you know?”

Colin refuses to acknowledge me, his focus still directed to the now landed plane behind me.

“I bet you feel shit, too, don’t you, Mr. Roboto?” The corner of my lip tugs upwards. “Yeah, I bet under all that hard demeanor there is just a teddy bear dying to get out. I bet when no one is looking you’re the type of guy that watches Hallmark movies with some red wine and a box of tissues.”

When he growls under his breath, my head falls back in a cackle.

“You are too fucking easy to wind up, chol ceathar,” I joke, even though my remark couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Don’t say shit like that in front of Alejandro,” he warns.

“Please.” I roll my eyes. “I know how to deal with that fucker.”

“Hope that’s true because he’s heading this way.”

I turn around to face one of our greatest enemies, ready to wind him up just as I successfully did with Colin, only to have the wind taken out of my sails. All the air in my lungs vanishes as I watch Alejandro and the infamous Rosa Hernandez walk in our direction.

Alejandro is in his usual business attire, looking like a million bucks. No shock there, since the fucker has more money to spend than most. It’s the creature walking at his side that really takes my breath away. Long brown hair flows in the wind over her shoulders making way for all of us to see her perfectly-sculpted face. I’ve never been one to admire works of art, but Rosa’s face has all the distinctions of a great masterpiece. Cupid bow lips centered low on a heart-shaped face, with high cheekbones and eyelashes that go on for days. Wearing a white full-length coat and killer heels to match, I doubt her intention was to summon images of said heels digging themselves into my back when she put them on this morning, but here we are.

Huh.

Here I was thinking my eldest brother was about to marry a girl version of Alejandro, who is one scary-looking, ugly motherfucker, when in reality Tiernan is going to walk down the aisle with the most exquisite woman I have ever set eyes on.

Suddenly my brother’s fate doesn’t seem too bad to me.

Some fuckers have all the luck.

“Fuck me,” I finally vocalize my lascivious astonishment. “Is that Alejandro’s sister? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Do you know if he has any more stashed away?”

I’m about to clean the drool from the corners of my mouth with my sleeve, when Colin slaps me across the back of my head.

“The fuck was that for?!” I shout.

“For eye-fucking your brother’s wife, asshole.”

“She’s not married to him yet.” I wiggle my brows, jutting my tongue out as I walk backwards in the direction of the Hernandez siblings.

Colin’s scowl is deeply engrained on his face as I turn around and meet the new addition to the Kelly family, as well as her prick of a brother.

“Kelly,” Alejandro utters in greeting, looking none too pleased to see me here.

“Long time no see, Hernandez,” I counter with a smug smile.

“Not long enough, I’m afraid,” he retorts, his gaze falling behind me and onto my undoubtedly brooding cousin.

“Aw, don’t be like that. We’re family now.”

“Not yet we’re not. Where is Tiernan?”

“Tied up on business,” Colin explains, now beside me, his frown still in place.

“I see,” Alejandro replies at the vague excuse.

“We have express orders to take you to him later today,” Colin explains all business-like.

“Good. There is much we still need to discuss before the wedding tomorrow.”

My eyes fall on the bride herself, head held unapologetically high while the grown-ups talk.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Reluctantly, Alejandro nods at me before making the introductions.

“This is my sister, Rosa. Rosa, this is Shay Kelly, your soon-to-be brother-in-law and this is Colin Kelly, your fiancé’s right hand.”

“Actually, I’m Tiernan’s right hand. Colin is his left,” I joke, picking her hand up and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

Rosa pulls her hand away before my lips have had time to taste her warm olive-tone skin, but doesn’t reprimand me for my forwardness.

“A man that needs two extra hands to do his business doesn’t seem like much of one,” Alejandro chimes in, not hiding his resentment at my brother not showing up to greet him here.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. There is a lot more that a man can do when he has two sets of extra hands. All you need is a little imagination.” I arch a suggestive brow.