Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(93)

“You poor dear,” Marlene said as she enfolded Grace in a hug. “You’ve been through so much and now this. This family is enough to overwhelm anyone. But welcome to our family. Your family. You’re one of us now. Just like Rio, though he’d probably twitch at the thought. He’s just as much my boy as any I gave birth to.”

“Thank you,” Grace whispered.

As soon as Marlene released her, Frank enfolded her into a huge hug. She’d never felt so loved as she did right now, surrounded by all these people. Family. It boggled her mind.

Standing on Frank’s other si19;s othde was a young woman that he pulled forward. “This is Rusty. She’s a Kelly too. The only Kelly sister to the horde of boys.”

Rusty’s face lit up and Grace could swear her eyes glistened with tears at the way Frank introduced her.

“She’s going to UT,” Marlene said, beaming with pride.

“Welcome to the chaos,” Rusty said as she hugged Grace. “It’s pretty crazy and overwhelming around here.” Then her gaze softened as she stared at her family surrounding her. “But it’s the very best kind of crazy.”

“Let’s all go inside,” Marlene suggested. “We have a wedding to get ready for. I’m sure Grace is tired from her trip and would like a shower and something to eat. We’re only down to a few hours, girls. Better get on the stick.”

Everyone dissolved into laughter and then there was a chorus of “yes ma’ams” all around.

“NATHAN, Rio, I need to see you both for a moment,” Sam murmured.

Rio and Nathan, who’d been standing together talking in Sam’s living room while the women were dressing for the ceremony, turned in Sam’s direction.

Rio frowned. “What’s up?”

He motioned them away and they stepped onto the wooden deck that overlooked the lake in the distance.

“Resnick wanted to come. I told him no.”

“What the hell? Shouldn’t he still be in the hospital anyway?” Nathan asked.

Sam shrugged. “Probably, but I think he was more afraid to stay where he was vulnerable. He’d rather risk getting out so he can protect himself from any assassination attempts.”

“You didn’t tell him about Grace.”

It didn’t come out as a question. Rio said it fiercely, more of a demand than anything.

“I told him what Hancock put in his report. That she died,” Sam said quietly. “Which is why I wouldn’t allow him here. If he does ever come into contact with Shea, she can’t let on that Grace is alive. It’s not that I don’t trust him—I don’t fully—but I don’t want any leaks where Grace is concerned and I know you don’t either, Rio.”

“Fuck no,” Rio growled.

“He was devastated when I told him Grace had died. He feels responsible. He’s tried to protect them since they were young. He’s long suspected that he’s their biological brother or at least half brother. Chances are Grace and Shea aren’t even full-blooded sisters and maybe not even half sisters.”

“It doesn’t matter to them,” Nathan said quietly.

“Yes, I know. But I wanted to tell you both. Rio, you’ll need to get Grace out soon after the ceremony. I don’t want to take a chance on Resnick not taking no for an answer.”

Rio nodded.

Sam nudged Rio on the shoulder. “And hey, man, for what it’s worth, I’m damn glad she saved your sorry ass.”

Rio smiled faintly because he still couldn’t think about what she’d done without a cold fist clutching his gut. The thought of losing her, even so many weeks later, sent him into an instant sweat.

Just as they reentered the house, Marlene swept into the living room, arms waving. “Okay, everyone, let’s get this show on the road. Places everyone. Outside. Shoo shoo.”

The men all laughed and then grumbled but good-naturedly fled outdoly fled ors.

It was a wedding fit for the lifestyle of KGI to a T. Although outdoors, the area where the ceremony was being held was between Sam’s and Garrett’s houses, but on the exposed sides, huge, bulletproof glass barriers had been erected, one facing the lake and the other facing the building referred to as the War Room.

Nobody let that get them down. The family had been through enough that no one took security lightly. Marlene had insisted on draping flowers from one end of the bulletproof barriers to the other. There was an awning with flowering vines from top to bottom, and rows of chairs lined the pathway from the house to the archway, where the preacher waited.

Rio ushered Grace into the back row and sat next to the open pathway, placing Grace on his other side. The wedding was small enough that neither bride was having attendants, but they’d immediately pounced on Elizabeth, welcoming the shy little girl into the fold and declaring that she had to be the flower girl for the occasion. Elizabeth had been so excited that she’d fairly danced down the aisle, sprinkling rose petals and honeysuckle as she went.

Nathan and Garrett waited at the end and smiled indulgently as Elizabeth took her place next to them. Then Shea and Sarah made their way toward their future husbands, their smiles big enough to light the darkest night.

Rio stared around him, soaking it all in. He squeezed Grace’s hand, his heart so full of love that he could barely get out what he wanted to say.