What the hell was that tone supposed to mean... did this man think Alec was too good for me, too?

I openly frowned at the man who quickly cleared his throat and said, "Forgive me, I think out loud sometimes... Yes, I know Alec. I am an old friend of his."

Now it was my turn to be shocked.

"From America or Ireland?"

The man chuckled. "America... we go way back."

Wow.

"Really? Might I ask your name?"

"Of course sweetheart." The man smiled wide.

"My name is Marco, Marco Miles."

"Nice to meet you, sir, I'm Keela."

Marco smiled as he accepted my outstretched hand and raised it to his mouth were he kissed my knuckles.

"The pleasure is all mine, Keela."

I smiled. "Alec will be so surprised to see someone he knows here."

Marco chuckled. "Trust me sweetie, he will be more than surprised to see me."

I grinned. "A good surprised or a bad surprised?"

Marco wiggled his fingers. "I'm going to go with the latter, but Alec is a free spirit so I can't really be sure."

"I doubt that, sir. Alec is always happy, I doubt anythin' could upset him."

Marco looked out to the dance floor. "You'd be surprised."

What?

"I'll excuse myself so I can seek out your uncle, business can't wait today it seems." Marco smiled.

I nodded to him. "It was nice to meet you, sir."

"Marco please, just Marco. I'm no sir, sweetie."

Umm, okay?

"It was nice to meet you, Marco."

Marco bowed his head to me and said, "Until our next meeting."

With that said he moved away from me and got lost in the crowd of people. I spent a minute or two trying to spot Marco again but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Well, that was weird."

"What was weird?"

I jumped at Alec's voice.

"You frightened me!" I snapped and smacked Alec who was now laughing at me as he retook his seat.

"Sorry, kitten."

I waved him off. "It's okay, I was in a world of me own."

Alec nodded to my belly. "Is there still a threat of your stomach exploding?"

Smartarse.

I shrugged. "Press on it and you can find out."

Alec pulled back from me. "Uh, no thanks."

I snickered and said, "So how was dancin' with Jason's tramp of a sister?"

Alec raised his eyebrows at me. "Is she a tramp for dancing with me or for another reason?"

"For dancin' with you and for another reason," I replied.

Alec shook his head. "Damn, who would have ever guessed you would be possessive of me."

"Not me," I muttered.

Alec nudged my leg with his knee. "I like it," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah? Well, I don't. We're only datin' two days and have known each other five. It's too soon for either one of us to feel possessive."

Alec snorted. "Not in my world, kitten."

"Your world is mess up."

"That is already known knowledge," Alec teased.

I tried to keep a straight face, but I caved and giggled when he leaned into me and kissed my face.

"I could eat you up."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh, really?" I asked suggestively.

Alec narrowed his eyes. "Don't even think about whatever it is you're thinking."

I crossed my eyes. "Your words confuse me."

"Bitch," he murmured and latched onto my neck with his teeth making me convulse with laughter.

Alec pulled away looking very pleased with himself, so for some weird reason I leaned forward and flicked his ear with my fingers.

"Oh dear God! That hurt!"

I almost choked on air from laughing so hard.

"You're damn evil. Small, but evil."

I shrugged. "You speak the truth."

Alec rolled his eyes and rubbed his ear. "What were you thinking about when I frightened you?"

"Huh?"

"You said something was weird."

Oh, Marco.

"Oh, an old friend of yours is here at the weddin'! How cool is that?"

Alec dropped his hand from his ear and turned to face me. "An old friend of mine?"

I nodded. "Yeah, he said you by name."

Alec furrowed his eyebrows together. "Did he say what his name was?"

I nodded. "Yeah, his name is Marco Miles. Do you know him? Because he knows you, he said you both go way back."

Alec stared at me for a long moment without blinking or saying anything. I was about to repeat my sentence because I didn't know if he heard me or not, but he suddenly reached for my hand and held it tightly in his.

"We're leaving, right now."

I pulled my hand back from his hold. "What? Why?"

Alec was on his feet and looking around our surroundings before I even finished my sentence. When he looked back down at me his eyes scared me.

"Alec, what's wrong?"

He licked his lips and said, "Marco is not my friend Keela, he is my old... boss."

Excuse me?

"I don't understand."

"I know and I know I'm probably scaring you right now, but you need to leave with me before he comes back."

I felt my heart start to pound against my chest.

"I don't know why you're freakin' out, but it's okay... He is off with me uncle somewhere, you don't have to worry about him."

Alec instantly retook his seat and placed his hands on my cheeks.

"What does your uncle do for business, Keela?"

I tried to look down, but Alec wouldn't allow me. "Baby, this is important."

I sighed. "I honestly don't know what he does for business. Me uncle is very private and never spoke of business around myself, or Micah... But I know whatever he does, it's not exactly legal."

"You said your uncle’s name was Brandon Daley, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that's his name."

Alec shook his head. "I've never heard of a Brandon Daley, and if he is in business with Marco I should know him."

I bit down on my lower lip. "I don't think me uncle is involved in the escort business, Alec... No offence."

Alec looked at me and his eyes wavered. "Marco was my boss Keela, but he was also my brothers' boss."

What?

"I don't understand, you said your brothers had different jobs-"

"They did, but we all worked for the same man. Marco has a hand in a lot of different trades."

I laughed. "Are you sure? Because he was nice to talk to, he doesn't look like a man who would-"

"Manipulate a family by using the life of one brother to control the rest?" he snapped.

I jumped when Alec's hand encircled my arm.

Ow.

This was the first time he had ever snapped at me and handled me to the point where I got scared.

"Alec, you're hurtin' me... let go of me arm," I said, my voice firm but also cracking.

Alec looked down to his hand, but before he could say a word or remove his hand, a man appeared next to him and sucker punched him in the gut.

"Oh my God!" I screamed.

Alec bent forward and grasped his stomach with both hands. His mouth was open, but no sounds came out and that freaked me out.

"Keela!"

I jumped up and swung around when I heard my named being bellowed.

I relaxed a little when I saw my uncle Brandon, but frowned when I noticed his pissed off look as he stalked in my direction.