They started up the stairs. Ahead, she spotted Princess Alea and her husbands being announced. They entered, Dane leading the way. On either side of Alea, Landon and Cooper surrounded her. She was protected by them.
Her sister's husbands would enter in the same formation, Talib in the lead.
And Tori would bring up the rear. Alone.
"I'll take that bet," Kade said.
"I don't know. I think Tal knows something we don't. Do you think our visitor will be a problem?" Rafe asked as they moved toward the top of the stairs.
"Visitor?" Tori asked.
"We have many visitors," Tal explained. "Tonight we will celebrate Bezakistan's founding. It should be a wonderful occasion. And very entertaining. Shall we? The boys are downstairs with their nanny. We'll greet the party and let them make a brief appearance."
She so hoped her nephews pooped on a dignitary. Or the press. That would be fun. Maybe all her clients from now on should be babies. They were sweeter than most of her clientele and they rarely made as big a mess. Michael and Sabir's dirty bottoms had nothing on a Thurston-Hughes scandal.
She followed her family up the steps. At the top, they were presented to the guests with all appropriate pomp and circumstance. As they descended into the ballroom, guests clapped and cheered in support for the royal family. Tori hoped no one noticed she was struggling with her shoes. Piper had picked out a gorgeous strapless Gucci gown in a luscious cream color and to-die-for Charlotte Olympia shoes, but the dress was slightly too long, the heels definitely too high. And Tori wished she had a wrap. She was showing a lot more cleavage than she ever comfortably revealed.
Breathe. She tried not to look out over the glittering crowd. During times like this, she realized how far her sister had come. Piper was regal, gracefully managing each step while she smiled and nodded to the crowd. She was at ease with their attention and the three men who made up her world. Tori bet her sister would have handled the situation with Oliver and Callum differently. Piper was strong. If she'd been caught in that conference room with Callum's hand on her hoo haw, she wouldn't have stood there in shame. She would have told Oliver to stop whining and join in or get the hell out and let her enjoy her time with Callum. Piper would likely have walked right up to Rory and kissed him, then laid out the law to all three of them.
Piper could also weather the storm that would follow.
No. She'd decided. She was going back to Texas. She would accept the Black Oak Oil job she'd been offered not an hour before. Eventually, she would find a nice guy and live a quiet life. That was her speed. No cameras. No paparazzi. No crazy headlines. Just her and a nice man and some very normal children.
She made it to the edge of the last step, focusing on the back of Kadir's shoulders rather than the waiting sea of faces, when she released the side of her dress. Then she somehow stepped on her hem. As she lost her balance and started to topple over, she heard the gasps of the crowd. Flashbulbs flared, and Tori could see the headline: Royal Celebration Ruined by Clumsy Sister. She was going to break a leg. She couldn't watch. Her ankle was twisting as she went down.
Right before she hit the floor, muscular arms surrounded her, cradling her from the fall. She opened her eyes ready to thank whichever al Mussad brother had caught her.
"Are you all right, sweetheart?" Rory's stare delved hers.
Rory was here? Or had she taken a header down the stairs and conked her skull? Was she now seeing things? Maybe she had a concussion. Could those cause realistic visions?
"Love?" Another familiar voice hit her ear. Callum.
Flashbulbs popped again. Whispers and gasps all around them resounded.
"Mindy, what happened?" Piper whirled around to her, then sent a warning stare to Rory and Callum. "What are you two doing here?"
At least her sister hadn't known.
Tori tried to get to her feet, but Rory's arms tightened around her.
"They are my guests." Talib took Piper's hand. "And they seem to have the situation in hand. Gentlemen, I suggest you take her someplace private for a chat. This reunion does not require gawkers."
Talib had known, damn him. She pushed her way out of Rory's arms, struggling to find her feet in the tight dress. "Your guests? You invited them here?"
"Tori, please. The press," Piper whispered.
She glanced around. Everyone was staring. Oliver shouldered his way through the crowd, wearing a fierce frown. The whole gang was here. Yippee. They would all get to witness her humiliation.