Total pages in book: 217
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
She looks up from the couch. Takes me in. Swallows. She knew the outcome of this.
Except she doesn’t.
Getting up, she comes to me, taking in my broken body, the blood, the bullet holes. Her lip quivers. “Don’t cry, baby,” I say hoarsely, staggering forward a little, feeling a bit light-headed. She catches me and eases me down to the couch, feeling over my jacket and shirt, looking for the bullet holes. “Doc’s on his way,” I assure her.
She nods, slowly lifting her eyes to mine. “Is he dead?”
I stall. Swallow. Take a deep fucking breath and use my last piece of energy before I pass out. “Yeah.”
EPILOGUE
Miami — Five months later
JAMES
I’m suffocating. In this suit, in this room. “Stop fidgeting,” Danny breathes from beside me pulling in his own tux. “You look like you’re having second thoughts.”
“I am,” I admit.
“What the fuck?” Brad moves in, putting his ear closer to me. “Did you say what I think you just said?”
“Yeah, he said it,” Otto confirms, throwing me a filthy look. “What the hell do you mean, you’re having second thoughts?”
“We’re happy as we are.” I feel like such a chump, especially since it was me who pushed for this all along. But back then, I needed reassurance. I don’t need it now. I needed a light to follow. I don’t need to follow the light anymore. It’s just . . . there.
“Suck it up.” Danny smiles, his blue eyes beaming. “It’s thrilling dicing with death every day.”
“Speaking of dicing with death,” Otto says.
“What?” Danny asks, quickly searching for his mother.
“I’m not happy about your mother doing everything around the house.”
Danny bursts out laughing, offering his hand to Otto. “If you can convince her we should have a housekeeper, I might start accepting this shit between you two.”
Otto snorts. “Like you have a fucking choice.” He ignores Danny’s hand and takes up position beside me.
I face forward, crazy nervous, and come face to face with Lawrence. I shake my head, taking in his holy man garbs. He really has taken this ordaining shit seriously. “Are you ready?” he asks.
“Nope.”
His nose wrinkles. “The big scary assassin scared of a few wedding vows?”
The boys chuckle, and my stressed sweat increases. I’m pathetic. “How did you do this twice?” I ask Danny seriously.
“Lots of Scotch.” He pulls out a hip flask and hands it over to me, before pulling out another for himself and swigging. “Drink up.”
I do, and it’s fucking glorious, the others all pulling flasks as well. I feel a tap on my shoulder and look back.
Pearl is holding up a white rose. “You forgot your buttonhole.” She forces me to turn and starts fiddling with my suit jacket.
“You look lovely,” I say, not just for something to say, but because she really does.
She smiles as she works. “Thanks.”
“Yeah, lovely,” Danny chimes in, nodding at her emerald-green satin gown. “Doesn’t she, Brad?”
All eyes turn onto Brad. He’s scowling. Standard when Pearl is around. “Lovely,” he grunts, turning his back on her. What the fuck went down between these two? They fucking hate each other. But . . . don’t.
“There.” She pats my pocket and fixes the jeweled hair comb keeping one side of her red hair off her face. “You’re ready.”
“Am I?” I laugh, facing Lawrence again, just as he gasps, loud and dramatic, very Lawrence-esque.
“Oh, here she comes.”
“Fuck,” I breathe, unable to look back.
“Music, please!”
My mouth falls open when London Grammar’s Strong starts playing, and I’m turning before I know it, searching for her. “Oh, Jesus.” She floats. She fucking floats. That’s how light she is. I swallow the lump in my throat, roughly wipe at my eyes, overcome by . . . everything. Her, me, this, the feelings overwhelming me.
I don’t take my eyes off her. Can’t.
I also can’t wait for Goldie to get her to me, so I push through the men, going to her, meeting her halfway up the aisle. Her head tilts in question as I bend and pick her up. “What are you doing?” she asks.
“Taking you into the light.” I move in, ready to kiss my bride already, humming when my lips brush hers.
That’s as far as our kiss gets.
“Oh shit,” Rose cries, winning the attention of everyone in the room. Her silver gown is taut over her bump, her long hair resting on top of it. Danny’s head bats back and forth between his pregnant wife and us. “It’s fine,” she declares, waving a hand flippantly. “I’m fine.”
Esther, looking incredible in a scarlet gown, moves into Rose’s side, whispering something in her ear. Rose smiles tightly, her body definitely folding over a little. “She’s in bloody labor,” I breathe, setting Beau on her feet.
“No, I’m not.” Rose laughs. “Braxton Hicks.”
“Mom, please.” Daniel passes her, going straight to Danny. “Her water broke in the bathroom this morning.” He looks at his mum. “She made me promise not to tell.”