Begin Again novel Chapter 227

The botanical gardens were in the northern part of Rock Castle, and on a good day, it would have taken them under ten minutes to get there from Van Holt Industries. But, it took them almost twice as long because, by the time they left the doctor's rooms, every man and his dog was out and about, running their morning errands.

By the time they arrived, the place was almost packed to capacity. Everywhere they turned, they were greeted by people on their picnic blankets with their wicker baskets; others were on camping chairs under big shady umbrellas, already sipping beers and turning sausages and steaks on their braai stands even though it wasn't even 10:00 AM yet.

"Look at this place," Eden murmured, her eyes flitting everywhere. "We can't let Aiden out of our sight. I don't want a repeat of the aquarium. What if Aleksei is here?"

"He's in jail, remember?" Liam reminded her as he lifted her chin. "He can't hurt us."

"But his brother is around—"

"Listen to me," Liam shook her gently as Aiden squirmed in her arms. "Andrei won't try anything stupid. You and Aiden are safe here."

"Okay," she nodded, but the worry in her eyes didn't vanish with his assurances, and it broke his heart that even with Aleksei behind bars, Eden was still terrified something would happen.

He was scared out of his wits as well. That's why he'd beefed up their security detail today. But he should be the only one worrying about their safety. Not Eden.

"Edie!" Her friends screamed and waved at her from the refreshments stall.

"Go ahead," he took Aiden from her and pushed her towards her squad.

"But you're not well—"

"I'll be fine," he lied. He wouldn't. The short walk from the parking lot had done a number on him, and he felt weak and exhausted.

"Okay, call me if you need anything," she said as she quickly kissed both him and Aiden and ran off.

"Just you and me, Kool-Aid?" He bounced his son in his arms as they watched Eden's friends squeal over her engagement ring. She hadn't seen them since the proposal because she'd spent every waking moment at the hospital with him.

"You think Mommy's happy Kool-Aid?"

"No!" Aiden promptly shook his head and pointed at his nanny, now chatting to Steven and James. "I want Brenda!"

"Okay, let's go say hello."

But they'd barely made it across the grounds to Brenda's shady spot when they were accosted by a horde of office support ladies from the 23rd floor. They all fawned over Aiden, gushing over his hair.

"I didn't know you have a baby Dragon—"

Liam gave the dark-haired girl with buck teeth an icy glare.

"I meant a baby, Sir." She finished off feebly. "He's so cute."

He was okay with them gushing at his son from two metres away, but when they tried to touch him and give him shit to eat, his Mr Nice Guy mask fell off, and he nicely asked them to move along.

"But—"

"He's tired," he explained. "And I am as well."

"Of course, Sir. It's good to see you back. We were all so worried," they nodded and moved along, taking with them their crestfallen faces.

"Do you always have to be an asshole?" Matthew asked from behind him.

"Someone has to be," Liam smirked. "We all can't be saints like you, you know!"

"Give him to me!" Matthew said and snatched Aiden from him, and they began walking through the crowds, occasionally stopping to chat with the board members and their families.

"So, where's Julian?" Liam asked when they eventually made it to their spot under a massive gazebo that looked so flimsily put together he wouldn't be surprised if it collapsed from the slightest of breezes.

"He ran off somewhere after he set up the gazebo."

"Now, how did I know this was his shoddy work?" Liam chuckled and grabbed a beer, but Matthew quickly snatched it from him and gave him bottled water instead.

"Eden's orders."

"We're not even married yet, and she's already bossing me around," Liam grumbled and crashed in the camping chair.

His cousin sat beside him and popped his beer can, and Liam stared at him, his face green with envy.

"Have you guys set the date yet?"

"Yeah, three Saturdays from now."

Matthew almost choked on his beer as he coughed and spluttered liquid everywhere, much to Aiden's annoyance.

"No, Matt!" Aiden yelled at him and firmly left his lap, only to jump on Liam's.

"Dude, that's like tomorrow soon," his cousin groaned after his coughing fit had passed.

"What's tomorrow soon?" Julian appeared beside him, glassy-eyed and flushed, and Liam knew it wasn't just from the uncharacteristically warm weather for mid-June or the six beers he had drunk already. His cousin looked properly fucked, and he hoped it wasn't Lydia Edwards.

"Tell me it's not Lydia Edwards!"

"What?"

"The smell you're reeking of!" Liam groaned.

"What do you take me for?" Julian was affronted. "I don't bang my wards, and I most certainly don't eat where I shit."

"Good!"

"I'm offended by your suspicions!" Julian carried on. "You assigned me to be her handler, and I did a good job handling her. Did you even hear her maiden speech? The crowd loves her."

"She's not the president of the country or a parliamentary member!"

"So?"

"So she doesn't make maiden speeches!" It was Matthew's turn to sigh dramatically.

"I knew that!" Julian insisted. But both Liam and Matthew knew he didn't. From the three of them, they always teased him about having the lowest IQ.

"Anyway, that's not even the point," he grabbed a chair, unfolded it and sat down and glared at the two of them. "As I was saying, my protégé did a fantastic job. The board members love her. The women want to be her, and the guys want to bang her, all thanks to my tutelage."

"Thank you, sensei," Liam mocked him. "On a serious note, though, the wedding's in three weeks. Our moms are eyeballs deep in preparations, and I need you two to be my best men. Are you in?"

"Why is that even a question?" Julian asked. "Who are the bridesmaids?"

"Why is that even a question?" Matthew retorted.

"Anywho, prepare to have the wildest last night of freedom. You have to go out with a bang! I'm talking strippers—"

Liam quickly covered Aiden's ears with his hands. "Do you mind? Aiden's right here."

"—keep covering his ears," Julian smiled his approval and proceeded to outline his detailed bachelor party plans. "—where was I? Oh yes, strippers, eating sushi from the half-naked bodies of the hottest models in town. And did I mention sipping champagne from their navels?"

"I have a question?" Matthew raised his hand.

"Go ahead, son, speak!" Julian nodded.

"Are the said navels clean?"

Liam burst into roaring laughter, regretting it almost immediately as a spark of pain shot up his side.

"Did you have to go there and spoil my fantasy?"

"Someone had to bring you back!" His brother said.

"I don't want a bachelor party," Liam announced.

"But you gotta finish strong and go out with a bang! Everybody goes out with a bang on their last night of freedom."

"I almost went out with a bang, like literally. So thanks, but I'll pass!"

"What happened to you? Eden's got you by—"

Liam covered Aiden's ears again, and his son was not impressed with him.

"—cojones!" Julian finished off. "She's got you by the cojones!"

Before Liam could think up a smart comeback, James appeared at his side with a disturbing message. He leaned over, whispered for his ears only as he flipped through the phone and showed him high-resolution photos of Eden handing out drinks not too far from where he sat.

"How do you want to proceed, Sir?" James asked.

"Give me a minute," Liam growled, his pulse roaring fiercely in his ears, his blood boiling.

"Of course," James nodded and walked away, leaving him ashen.

"What's going on?" Matthew asked as they all watched James rustle up his troops.

"Andrei's trying to get my attention!"

"Jesus, Liam!"

"Why?"

Liam didn't reply, but his silence spoke volumes. His twin's bail hearing was fast approaching. He most likely wanted him to drop the charges.

"Will you see him?"

Liam nodded. "What other choice do I have? He just sent me photos of Eden. He's watching her."

"I don't like this," Julian reached for another beer. This time when Liam took one as well, no one stopped him.

"Not a word to Eden about this," Liam warned them as he guzzled down the bitter liquid, drained the can and reached for his second beer.

When he was done with that one too, some six minutes later, he stood up and swayed on his feet, his head spinning a little.

"Where are you going?" Matthew asked. "It's almost time for your speech."

"You'll handle it for me," Liam said. "I need to get Eden and our son out of here."

"Call us if you need anything!" Julian called after him.

Eden was still hard at work, handing out snacks and refreshments with her friends. But she stopped everything when she saw them.

"What's going on?"

"I'm not feeling too great," he lied.

"Okay, let's get you home," she nodded. "Give me a second to grab my stuff."

Five minutes later, they were in the car on their way to Green Point.