Chapter 7: I'll Take a Bullet for You

Sami threw the newspaper away and dropped onto the bed groaning. "EJ, this has gotten completely out of hand. We have to tell them the truth!"

"I can't believe my brother brought the rest of the family into this." EJ said pacing the floor.

"Are you listening to me EJ? We have no choice but to tell them that we're not really engaged!" Sami reiterated. She threw a pillow at EJ to get his attention.

"He must have tipped off the newspapers…" EJ said muttering to himself as the pillow smacked him on the side of the head. "What?" EJ asked finally giving Sami his attention.

"EJ you have to tell your family the truth! Your mother scheduled a meeting with a wedding planner for later today and just booked out the Ritz for our reception for two weeks from now not to mention that I'm being fitted for a wedding dress I've never seen in an hour." Sami said panicked.

"It's too late to tell them the truth Samantha." EJ explained gently. "They'll believe that I'm only saying that because I'm trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what? Nevermind! We'll just have to make them believe that we don't have feelings for each other." Sami insisted.

"If we end up convincing them that there's nothing between us they'll take out their disappointment out on you. Believe me Samantha; you do not want them as your enemy." EJ warned.

"Then what are we going to do?" Sami asked frustrated.

"Have you gotten a hold of Austin yet?" EJ said changing the subject.

"No, he must have turned off his phone. I've been trying to reach him all morning. God, Kate must be ecstatic. I'm sure she's waiving the paper in front of him and telling him all about what a two timing bitch I am." Sami said bitterly.

"Look, Austin gave his consent about you standing in as my fiancée." EJ reminded Sami.

"That was before the NY Times announced our engagement!" Sami countered. "What am I going to tell my family?" She picked up her cell phone and flipped it open noticing that she had just received a new message. She pressed the button to retrieve the message from Lucas. "Oh crap! Lucas read the newspaper and wants to talk to me." She looked up to see that EJ had left the room.

Sami pressed the speed dial to call Lucas.

Lucas picked up after the first ring. "Sami? Where in NY are you? I have something to tell you and it'll be better if I tell you in person."

"Oh my god! Has something happened to Will?" Sami asked worried, her heart in her throat.

"No! Will is fine! He's still at camp. It's something else. I'll tell you more once my plane lands." Lucas promised.

"You know the newspaper thing… I'm doing a favor for EJ and it's gotten complicated. Austin said that it was ok but now I'm not sure. I haven't been able to reach him on the phone. He knows that I'd never cheat on him right?" Sami asked nervously.

"Don't worry about that, in fact Austin has no room to judge you at all." Lucas said cryptically.

"What do you mean by that?" Sami asked.

"I'll explain when I get there." Lucas rushed out. "I gotta go…" He said hanging up the phone.

"Lucas, wait…. Lucas!" Sami cried out. "Damit it! I didn't even get to tell him where I'm staying."

EJ poked his head into the room. "Samantha, can come into the living room, I want to make an announcement to my family and you should be there."

Sami followed him into the living room where EJ's mother Elle, grandfather Ace, older sisters Brenda aka Bree and Catherine aka Cat, and Jane were waiting.

"Where's Derrick?" EJ asked looking around for his errant brother.

"I'm sorry EJ, Derrick had to take care of some urgent business. He said he'll be back as soon as he can." Jane replied apologetically.

"No matter, I'll fill him in later." EJ said dismissively. "I asked you all here because there is something I want to make clear to you all." He gave Sami a reassuring glance and an affectionate smile, which did not go unnoticed by the rest of his family.

"Samantha and I really appreciated everyone's good intentions and assistance with the wedding preparations but everyone needs to take a step back." EJ said sternly. "We will not be getting married in two weeks."

"Bollocks! Why are you delaying things, it's about time you settled down and produced some children." Ace exclaimed gruffly.

"EJ darling, two weeks is plenty of time to throw Samantha the wedding of her dreams!" Elle protested.

"I think you're misunderstanding what EJ is trying to say." Sami tried to clarify. "We're not going to get married not…"

EJ interrupted her. "Until we're good and ready and not a moment before. Samantha and I still are getting to know each other and though we became engaged in a short amount of time, we are planning to have a very long engagement. We are not going to be rushed and if you push, we will leave and never come back." EJ threatened.

Sami looked at EJ startled. That was not the announcement she was expecting.

Before anyone could speak again a strange woman walked into the room pulled out a gun.

"Die you cold bastard for ruining my life!" She said aiming the gun at EJ.

Instinctively, Sami thrust herself in front of EJ to push him out of the way just as two gunshots were fired. "EJ watch out!" She cried out as two bullets tore into her back twisting her around and away from EJ's outstretched hands.

"Samantha!" EJ cried out as he watched in helpless horror as Sami fell as if in slow motion. Her head slamming against the corner of the glass coffee table shattering it. Once he regained his balance, EJ quickly rushed to her side. The shocked awareness in her eyes was quickly fading into unconsciousness.

"Stay with me darling!" EJ commanded as he tried to staunch the blood oozing from her bullet wounds. There was just so much blood. "Don't leave me Samantha, please don't leave me!" EJ pleaded over and over.