This Cruel Love (A Dark Hearts Stand-Alone Novel Book 2)

by Nikki J Summers

  Now, onto my reason for writing this letter. I know it’s not the tradition for the best man to do the whole ‘something old, something new’ thing, but I’ve never been a traditional kinda guy. So here is my little pre-wedding gift, just for you, Ryley. I hope it puts a smile on your face for when you walk down that aisle. Oh, and remember, even though I look insanely hot in a tux, you’ve gotta keep your eyes on the groom. He gets crazy jealous when it comes to you.

  Something old…. You do know your man is nine years older than you? He’ll be needing a pipe and slippers soon, so I figured you’ve already got the ‘something old’ part covered. P.S Don’t tell him I said that. I like my balls right where they are.

  Something new…. Now I could be cheesy and say you have a new dress, new life, blah, blah, blah. But that’s boring, and I’m never boring. So the pink parcel is your something new, something Jax will appreciate looking at too.

  I reached into the box to pull out the present wrapped in pink tissue paper. When I saw what was inside I laughed. Two string bikinis, one white, the other black, but both had the words ‘Mrs Caine’ written on the back of the bikini bottoms in tiny diamonds. I loved it, and it was very Cill.

  Something borrowed and something blue…. For these, I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone. Your something borrowed is on loan from me. I do expect these babies back, and I think you’ll both appreciate the blueness of it.

  All my love, your new brother, Cill x

  At the bottom was a gift in blue tissue paper, and when I tore it open I was thankful my mum wasn’t in the room to see this. Great, Cill had wrapped up his extensive and rather eclectic porn stash just for me. School of Cock, Throbbin Hood, Edward Penis Hands and The Sperminator were just a few of the cringy and hilarious titles. Only Cill.

  He really was one of a kind, and I loved him dearly. I hoped he’d find his happily ever after soon, he deserved it. He pretended he loved the single life, but I knew better. There was a fire behind those eyes just waiting to be ignited by the right girl.

  “Are you ready, sweetheart?” Mum was poking her head around the door, so I beckoned her into my room.

  “I was born ready. Get me into this dress and let’s get this show on the road.”

  Mum took another look at my feet, shook her head, and chuckled. “Your gran would’ve loved all this. She was a sucker for a good wedding.”

  Mum laced up the bodice of my dress and helped set my veil and tiara in place. I’d left my hair long so that the curls fell over my shoulders. It was how Jax liked it, and I wanted to look perfect for him.

  “They’re all ready for you downstairs.” Mum’s eyes sparkled and she wiped a stray tear from her eyes before it could fall down her cheek and mar her immaculate makeup. “You look so beautiful, Ri. Just like a princess. He’s a very lucky man.”

  “I’m a lucky girl,” I replied, hugging my mum.

  Dad appeared at the doorway and gasped. He didn’t have any qualms about letting his tears flow down his cheeks.

  “I don’t want to give you away. You’re my princess,” he said on a cracked voice.

  “I was yours first, Dad. That won’t ever change.”

  Mum choked out a sob and walked out the door, mumbling that she needed more tissues as she went.

  “My princess first. His forever.” Dad sighed and pecked me on the cheek. “You’ll always have a home here, Ryley. No matter what happens, our door is always open for you. I don’t think I’ll need to worry about that though, will I?” I shook my head at him and smiled. “I don’t think he’d ever let you go. And if I don’t get you down there in the next five minutes he’ll be storming up here to get you himself.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “He’s nervous. I think he just wants to get the ceremony over with. He doesn’t like being on show, does he?”

  “No, he doesn’t.”

  We hadn’t written vows for each other. I know most people do that these days, but we decided we’d said everything we needed to say to each other in private. We didn’t want to share that with anyone else, it was ours. There was also the fact that Jackson hated public speaking and being put on the spot. So we decided to stick to the standard wedding vows. That way we could concentrate on each other and getting to the end goal, saying I do.

  I threaded my arm through my dad’s and we headed down the spiral staircase to where my bridesmaids Daisy, Chloe, Lisa, and Maddie stood, looking stunning in their aquamarine silk dresses.

  I was impressed that Chloe’s tiny figure had snapped back so quickly. It’d only been four months since she’d given birth, and I wasn’t sure she’d be able to step up as my bridesmaid, but Chloe wasn’t the type of girl to ever let anyone down. Sure enough, she made it today looking radiant and fresh faced, despite her baby girl giving her three hours sleep last night.

  Sophie Maria Marquez was the prettiest baby I’d ever seen. With a shock of dark hair and the cutest little button nose, she was a daddy’s girl through and through. Whenever Jackson and I had visited she was screaming the place down, and although she settled somewhat in Chloe’s arms, no one could soothe her like her daddy, Luca. He was a natural. He only had to peer down at her and ask her what all the fuss was about in his deep, gravelly voice and she’d stop, staring up at him with her huge green eyes like he was her whole world. I watched Jackson during those times, and I could see the longing in his eyes. He wanted that too, and I’d give it to him. I was all for a honeymoon baby. I was all over that idea. I didn’t think we’d be getting much sun on our honeymoon, what with all the baby making I had planned for us.

  “Ryley, you look beautiful.” Chloe grinned over at me and the other girls agreed.

  We took our places at the back door as the wedding co-ordinator clicked her fingers, and the air filled with the sound of Bach, settling my nerves and steadying my racing heart. It was the perfect music to walk down the aisle to. The soundtrack to my happily ever after.

  Once the girls had made their way down the aisle in their pairs, I was able to get a better look at the garden. The whole area looked stunning, with cream chairs lined up and filled with every guest, straining their necks to get the first glimpse of Dad and I. Flower displays filled with white lilies and gypsophila lined the aisle, and were threaded through the arch over the makeshift altar. Jackson was standing with his back to me. I could tell he was beyond nervous, even though I couldn’t see his face. I knew that man better than I knew myself sometimes, and the way he held himself told me everything. In that moment, seeing how tense his shoulders were, I had to fight the urge to run to him.

  “I get it now, Grandma.” I thought. “Damn, let’s get this formality over with so I can get that ring on his finger and make him officially mine.”

  Cill was stood next to Jax, beaming with pride, and when he saw me, he nudged Jax’s arm.

  The music continued to play, but I couldn’t hear it. People turned around and made appreciative murmurs, but I didn’t see them. All I could focus on was him.

  He turned to face me, swallowing down as he did, and his eyes told me what his mouth never could. He was so overwhelmed he was speechless. But all I could see reflected back at me was pure, unadulterated love. He wiped at his eyes and took in a deep breath, but he held my gaze as I walked down towards him.

  Dad unhooked my arm and as we reached Jackson, Dad said, “Take good care of my girl, she’s the most precious thing I have.”

  Jackson smiled back at Dad and then took my hand. “She’s the most precious thing I have too, and I’ll take very good care of her.” Then whispering into my ear, he said, “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I love you, my angel.”

  I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. I was so happy, I thought I might burst.

  “I love you too.” I squeezed his hand, and turned to let the officiant begin the ceremony, smiling to myself at what we’d said to each other the day before.

  “When we tell each other ‘I love you’, it’s not gonna be some
thing we’ll say out of habit. It’s not just some throw away comment we’re making. It’s our way of telling each other we are each other’s everything. You are my life, and I am yours.”

  The End.

  For now….

  Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed Jackson and Ryley’s story, then please spread the word and leave a review.

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  After darkness, always comes the light.

  The darkness is where I’ve lived ever since they took me all those months ago. Dragging me into the shadows to play their sick and twisted games. I don’t know why they took me. They talk about an eye for an eye, but I don’t know these men. How can I be punished for a sin I know nothing about? A sin I didn’t commit.

  They love to watch me suffer, they live to make my life hell. I thought my life was over.

  Until him.

  He blazed through my darkness like a lightning bolt, shining through the void of nothingness. He was a force to be reckoned with.

  They thought they’d broken me, that somehow they’d won. But they didn’t expect him. I know I never did. And now, my life will never be the same again.

  Chloe Ellis

  What you're about to read is my story, my truth. A truth that spans over twenty years of a love for two brothers. A love that was cruel, sometimes harsh and raw but for me always honest and true. An adopted little sister to one, but to the other so much more. Ours was a love that defied all reason. It pushed us to our limits. It was never easy, but nothing worth having ever is; and Luca Marquez is so worth having. He's mine, he always has been and no one will take him away from me.

  Luca Marquez

  I’ve loved her forever but I couldn’t make her mine, not until the day she walked into my club and needed my protection. She brought light into my darkness and warmed my stone cold heart. Chloe Ellis is my whole world, but she doesn’t know that yet.

  Luca’s world stops on the day his precious Chloe is taken from him. Faced with an impossible situation he will stop at nothing to save her. Even if that means slaughtering anyone who gets in his way, or tearing down whole cities to find her. He’ll do anything for her and he’ll never let her go again.

  A happy ever after romance with no cheating and no cliffhanger.