His Best Friends Daughter- BK1 TPBS 1st draft

-47-

Not edited.

The box landed on the floor behind them. Red's spitfire appearance told them all without a doubt that there was something wrong.

Her teeth clenched "That fucked up bastard stole her dress!"

"What?" Voices around the room echoed each others shock.

"Her dress is gone! He took it. We spent hours looking for that dress. Now Anna's in shock."

Michael got up as quickly as he could "Red go back and keep helping her. I'll be there in a minute."

Red looked at the people in front of her. The group now grown to include he father and Ben's fiancée Lisa.

"Find him" her words spoken through clenched teeth "no one fucks with my girls wedding dress!"

"Ra..." her father started to scold before being cut off.

"Don't Dad" she warned before racing out of the room and back up the stairs to be met by Michael as he was going to Anna's door.

Her eyes widened and Michael grinned. Slowly a smile made it's way to her face.

"Mr B... you may just have saved yourself from years of me earbashing you?"

They laughed until the door swung open and Veronica stood glaring at them both. When she saw Michael her eyes softened.

"I need a moment with my daughter."

"We'll wait outside" Veronica said as she moved out of the doorway to stand beside her daughter.

Michael walked in closing the door behind him to see Anna throwing clothes out of her closet.

"Red help me I can't find anything!"

"I may be able to help with that."

"Dad?" She stepped out from the closet to see her father standing just a few feet away from her. She looked down and her hands flew to her face.

"Daddy.... "

Michael swallowed the lump in his throat as he saw the tears building up in her eyes.

"I had this dry cleaned before I left just in case you'd want to use it."

She simply nodded unable to speak.

"I've made some serious mistakes over the past few years" he held his hand up as she began to protest "I know I have Anna. I'll suffer for them for the rest of my life but I hope that one day you and I can get to know each other properly again."

"I'd like that." She flung herself at him and they held each other in a moment fitting that of a father and daughter.

Rustling plastic brought them away from each other and looking down.

Her mothers' wedding dress.

"I know that your mother would be proud to see you wearing this. She was so beautiful on our wedding day. I thought I was the luckiest man on earth. When she got sick I tried to forget that, how lucky I was to have her to make it easier for me when she died. It didn't work and I ended up feeling ashamed and pulled back from you too. I'm sorry sweetheart."

"Dad. We both made mistakes. I hated knowing what you were doing and I pushed you away too. I didn't understand..."

"No. You were too young. The blame stops with me. It's my cross to bear."

A soft knock at the door brought them back to the reality of what was happening.

Michael looked at his daughter.

"I'd be honoured to escort you down the stairs when it's time."

Anna grinned "You better!"

Michael grabbed his daughter into a tight hug before letting go.

"Be back soon!"

Anna watched as he passed by the two women acting so patient at the door. Once he was gone they raced in and once again Red was counting minutes.

In the office downstairs four men were going through serveillance footage left by cameras Steve had installed. While there were none showing Anna's entire room there was one with a clear shot of her door.

All tensed as they watched the door slowly open to reveal the silhouette of a man carrying a small bag. He moved swiftly from view leaving them all sweating as they wondered what he was doing.

His return just a minute later had them all stand up and take notice of what he was carrying. Anna's wedding dress was drapped over his arm.

They watched as he slowly opened the door again and looked hesitantly outside in the hallway. They could tell that he was listening when all of a sudden he moved and pulled the door open wide. They watched as he quickly made his way across the hall and into the doorway opposite. He'd entered one of the rooms that had held a false wall.

Seconds later they watched as Steve and two of his men walked past the door.

"Holy shit. So fucking close!"

"Man's got some balls."

"Not for long."

Damon sighed a sigh of welcome relief. It took place two days ago. There was no way he could get into the house now. The walls were gone and soon Gregory fucking Frazer would be found. His life was coming to an end but right now Damon was planning on concentrating on his bride and the start of their life together.