Peyton Griffin's POV

It's my wedding day.

If I know one thing, it's that the bride gets a bachelorette night and a full-on body cleansing, but what I got was a restless night and hours staring at my scar-filled body.

Whoever I end up doing the dirty with should either prepare for a shock of their life, or we are doing it in the dark.

That night may not be pretty based on what stands out first.

I rolled my eyes at my reflection and reminded myself why I do what I do. For the people, I call family and for the person who I killed.

I pulled on the simple dress Chloe dropped in my room in the Wellington mansion. This is not the wedding of my dreams, and I see no reason to wear the dress of my dreams. Since Chloe made it for me, it was still beautiful.

It was made of silk material with long sleeves and a deep V-neck. A small amount of cleavage was on display while the trail wasn't too long because I would at some point have to ditch it if things didn't go as planned.

I decided to at least give my hair a better treatment. I straightened it and pulled it into a half ponytail but leaving out some hair around the edges.

I looked at myself once in the mirror. They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder; I see a person who doesn't hold beauty but has the best interest of those she cares about.

I walked out of the room and went towards the dining room and saw Charlie, Danny, Shane and Chloe in the room.

Charlie barreled towards me and engulfed me in her arms, "Finally."

"We would have caught up yesterday; were you not already knee-deep in a mind-blowing orgasm," I remarked as I glared at Danny, who was using a piece of bacon to hide his face.

Charlie pulled out of the hug with a flushed face, but the ringing of her mom's phone stopped her from speaking.

Chloe gave us a small smile as she answered the phone while walking out of the room.

"Now that the homecoming is out of the way, we have bigger things to attend to." I squeezed Charlie's hand, and she smiled at me gratefully.

I can't stay angry at her because she is doing what I wanted for her; to be with the man she loves, her happy ending.

I sit at the head of the table while Shane adjusts his suit and sits at my left, Danny sits at my right while Charlie sits on his lap.

"When Danny and I have begun exchanging our vows, I need you to get Lola and get your asses out of there," I say to Shane.

Shane shook his head vigorously, "In case you have forgotten, I am a wanted man, more dead than alive. Joey hasn't cleared my name yet. I'm sure he is waiting for the knot between you and Danny to be tied first."

Charlie scoffed but not that I would blame her, "I need you to sneak into Joey's office during the ceremony." I told her.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"What for?"

I drew circles on the table with my pointer finger, "You get the documents which relate to Shane being a wanted man and while you're at it, see if you can find out why exactly he is a wanted man." I threw a glare at Shane, who scoffed in return.

"I suggest you curb your attitude, Li," Danny spoke up for the first time, "She is doing you a favour. You need her, not the other way around. I suggest you tell us why Joey has made people want your head on a spike. If we find out later. The outcome won't be pretty, especially if the problem could have been prevented initially."

We all looked at Shane with expectant looks, but the China man remained unmoved as he and his sister shared a message through their eyes.

Charlie reached for my hand and squeezed it, "Please just trust him for my sake and Lola's."

Smart man.

He knew that I wouldn't question him when he involved them. I sent him a look to show that this conversation was not over.

"So what do I do, Penny?" I turned my attention to my stepbrother and grinned.

"Put on a tux. We have a wedding to attend." I stood up from the chair and poured myself a glass of juice, not trusting myself to stomach more than that.

"Not to be a Debby downer, but what happens if the plan doesn't sail through?"

I downed the glass in one swift gulp, "We get out of there alive and find a way to contact my grandfather or Marcel."

"So, how was your trip to the Bahamas?"

I was saved from answering Charlie's question, but I think my face gave away my answer as Chloe walked back into the room.

"Sorry kids, but you lot are going to the estate without me. I'll join you later. I have a deal to uphold."

She walked up to us and kissed the forehead of her children and me. She slapped Danny on the cheek and kissed it after whispering harshly into his ear.

"Take care." Danny's emotionless face couture to one of fear, but he quickly schooled it and nodded while she walked out of the room.

"Are you going to tell us what she meant? Or do we survive today before we get the answer out of you?" I cocked my head to the side, giving him my undivided attention.

He shook his head negative. Shane sighed and gripped his shoulder, "If we come out of this alive, promise me that no harm comes to my sister."

Another silent message passes through them, and I observe it all with a small smile.

My best friend took this opportunity to whisper in my ear, "If you keep smiling like that, I'm going to start thinking that you are a spawn of Joker."

"Oh, you have no idea." Then I turned my attention to the men before us.

"It's a good day to die, gentlemen, but just so we're clear. If I get a single drop of blood on me, Chloe will have my head on a spike, adopted daughter or not."

Charlie gave me a grin. She knew when it came to handling the people of the empire, you can't expect blood to not be shed. She has had her fair share of it already.

Danny walked in the direction of a guest room to go pull on a tux while Shane followed him.

"So, how was it?" Charlie wasted no time in interrogating me.

I rolled my eyes, "Babysitting a six-year-old is not as hard as you think it is."

"Right, and does that six-year-old bring a small blush to your face?" She raised a brow while I furrowed my brows.

"Are you sure my stepbrother didn't bang your head on the wall while he took you on it? I mean, you do know that I am wearing makeup, right?" I resisted the urge to laugh as she glared at me.

"I thought we agreed to not lie to each other unless the situation was deemed necessary."

I shrugged, "We did, and I would not like to wallow in my non-existent love life."

"Right," She dragged the word while she narrowed her eyes in my direction.

Danny saved me from this conversation as he walked back in a white tux with Shane trailing behind him.

"Would you take offence if I said I wanted to rip the clothes off your groom?" Charlie asked as she focused her attention on Danny while licking her lips.

I resisted the urge to gag, "Have at it, sister, but I think you'd have to wait till we get back."

I looked around. One person was missing from this group of ours. My carelessness landed her where she is, and I will get her out.

We walked out of the house into the heat of the Bahamas weather and began making our way to the Griffin estate.

There was security detail everywhere to prevent unwanted guests, but they didn't know that the guest of honour would make his appearance, whether we liked it or not.