Clearing his throat again, Justin said, “That’s awful nice, Noah. Now, her curfew is midnight—”
“One a.m.,” Charity chimed in. “No later.”
“Okay, one,” Justin conceded.
Just then Beau barreled into the room, struggling with his red bowtie. “Hey, mom, a little help here?”
Charity giggled as she took the tie from him, straightened it out, and hooked it for him. “Is the horned helmet really necessary, honey?” she asked, nodding to the Viking helmet he held in his hand.
Beau ran his fingers through his hair and said, “Only for the crowning of the Prom King. Remember? I won it when they crowned me Homecoming King and now I have to turn it over.”
Justine giggled and said, “The way all the girls fawn over you, I’m sure you’ll just be bringing it right back home.”
Beau did a double take when he saw his sister and said, “Whoa, hashtag-Sis-is-looking-beautiful! Well, I gotta run. I’m late to pick up Sarah.” Like that, he was gone.
Charity groaned. “I didn’t get a picture of him!”
She positioned Noah and Justine in front of the fireplace mantel, which was crowded with pictures of the kids as they’d grown, and took their picture together. Ransome handed Justine the little sparkly evening bag that matched the blue in her dress and she gave him and Val hugs.
Justin caught Noah around the shoulder as they made their way to the door and growled, “Remember one thing, son. She’s my princess, not your conquest.”
Noah nodded and looked him in the eye. “I will treat her with the utmost respect, sir.”
Justin looked over his shoulder at Val and Ransome, who were staring quite convincingly and said, “Good, because they don’t mind going to prison if it’s over their little girl. That’s what she is to them.”
“Understood, sir,” Noah said with a smile.
“He gets it,” Charity whispered as Noah escorted Justine down the walk to his truck, which looked like it’d just been detailed.
Suddenly, Justine stopped in her tracks, made a disgusted sound, and turned, holding something up in her hand that had come out of her bag. “Pepper spray, Ransome? Really?”
“Hey, it could come in handy!” Ransome called. “You know, with molesters…and handsy dates. Just watching out for our girl!”
The two teenagers laughed and Justin was pleased to see Noah opened her door and helped her into the truck before going around to his side.
With a giggle, Charity said, “He’ll probably be a perfect gentleman.”
“If not, the machete is nice and sharp.”
“Oh my gawd,” Charity said, holding back laughter as she went back to the house.
“Niiiiice,” Ransome said.
Justin bumped fists with the guys and waved to his angel as she left on her date.
* * * *
Justine had been preparing to leave the prom, allowing plenty of time for Noah to get her home early, when they’d heard a rumor circulating among the other prom-goers.
Beau and Sarah had reconnected with them, a worried look on his face. “Everyone is talking about heading out to a keg party at the Martinez place, on the Divine Creek Ranch. That doesn’t sound right.”
“Angel and Joaquin don’t strike me as the type to throw whatever kind of party high-schoolers would attend,” Justine said, already knowing that Teresa certainly wouldn’t.
Beau frowned and said, “No, but Luka and Matthias might.”
Justine’s heart had stuttered at the thought. When she’d been younger, she’d had a major crush on the younger Martinez brothers after meeting them at Teresa’s wedding. They were handsome devils, total players, who were developing a reputation in Divine for partying. In the last few years, the kind of women she’d seen them with had killed her crush.
Turning to Noah, Justine said, “We have to go see what’s going on.”
At first, Noah shook his head, obviously wanting to avoid trouble, but Justine insisted that they get to the bottom of the rumor. That was Teresa’s home, and her children’s, that they were supposedly hosting a party at. A party she knew could get totally out of hand if word had spread to the prom crowd.
When they got there, they’d realized it was too late.
Now she stood in the trashed, barely recognizable living room of the lovely home Teresa had put together. The scent of beer and spilled liquor permeated the air, along with vomit.
“We need to get out of here, Justine,” Noah said, tugging on her hand. “I don’t want you here when the shit hits the fan.”
Justine shook her head. “We have to find Luka and Matthias and put a stop to this. They could go to jail.” She was angry at what they’d allowed to happen but she didn’t want to see them arrested.