by Logan Chance
“I’ll stay on the phone with you until you get here.”
I take a deep breath. “Change of plans. Why don’t you and Troy come to Gabriel’s and spend the night?”
“You got it. Give me thirty minutes to get our things and I’ll meet you there.”
We hang up, and then, I let the officer know I’ll be returning home. The cop car follows closely behind on the ride back, and when I arrive safely, I thank him and take a sleeping Tenny inside to his room.
Gabriel is nowhere to be found, so I let Amy know I’m having guests and she makes sure a room is ready.
When Erin arrives with Troy, Tenny is awake and Faye takes the excited boys to the playroom. After Erin is settled in her room, we convene in the kitchen for a much needed drink.
“This is the life,” Erin says, sliding into a stool at the island.
I remove two wine glasses from the cabinet. “I’m glad you came.”
“Are you ok?”
I nod while she makes quick work of opening a bottle of Chardonnay and pouring it into our glasses. I take a long pull, letting it settle my frazzled nerves. I’m still shaking.
“I’m sure it was nothing.” Erin’s face is completely serious, and I want to believe it.
“I’m sure too.”
I’m also sure I need to tell Gabriel. I need to tell him everything. I trust him, may even love him, and he needs to know.
“I got the picture you sent of the dress,” Erin says. “It’s breathtaking.”
I smile, but still can’t shake off the fear. “Thanks.”
Erin takes a sip of her wine. “I know the wedding isn’t real, but I still think it’s going to be beautiful. I’m really happy for you.”
“It’s only for a year,” I give her what feels like a pre-recorded answer.
“Clem, I see the way Gabriel stares at you.” She runs a finger around the rim of her glass. “And the way you stare back.”
My cheeks heat. “I don’t stare at him any particular way.”
Erin smiles. “Yes, you do. And it’s ok. He’s gorgeous. If I were marrying him, I’d be staring that way too.”
“It isn’t like that.” I move to the fridge and open the door. “I have some fruit. Want some?”
“Fruit? Got any cake in there?”
I laugh. “Actually, yes. The wedding cake.”
Erin hops up and crosses to me. “Let me see.” She takes a peek at the four tiers I baked and decorated earlier today that will be assembled tomorrow. “It’s gorgeous.”
“We could eat a little piece of the top,” I suggest with a grin. “Three tiers is plenty.”
“No, that would be wrong,” she says with a laugh. “Wouldn’t it? What about the tradition of freezing the top of the wedding cake and eating it a year later on your anniversary?”
“You mean on the divorce?” I eye her seriously. “It’s not a real wedding.” I pull out the small top and place it on the countertop. “It’s little. No one will ever miss it.”
After I find a knife, forks, and two saucers, I slice through the white fondant roses with edible pearl centers and plate the pieces of cake.
“Oh man, this is heaven,” Erin says, after taking a bite.
“Gabriel really liked it,” I say. My belly gets that familiar ache in it remembering the tasting and his words comparing it to sex.
“He seems to care about you.”
I swallow my bite of cake. “Why do you think that?”
She shrugs. “Sometimes you just know things.” She takes another bite. “You can’t see it because it’s happening to you.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
She laughs. “It is. Just like when you’re dating a loser and everyone else can see it, except you.”
“Yeah. But I don’t think that’s the case with Gabriel. Have you seen Jordan since that day?” I ask her, changing the subject.
“I forgot to tell you,” she says, with a grin. “We’re going to catch up next weekend.”
I smile. “That’s great. I’m really happy for you.” I can see Erin getting everything she’s ever dreamed of. At least I hope she does. I hope we both do.
WHEN EVERYONE IS SETTLED in bed, I search the house again for Gabriel. I find him in the study, sitting behind the desk, a glass of liquor in his hand. When his dark eyes meet mine, it’s almost like years have come and gone between us. He’s not like the same man I woke up next to this morning.
“Are you ok?” I ask, crossing the hardwoods, until I’m behind his cherry-oak desk. “You don’t look so good.”
He swirls the glass of amber liquor, causing the ice to clink, and then takes a sip. “We can’t find Bishop.”
My heart aches at the scratchiness of his voice. “Are you drunk?”
His eyes meet mine. “Are you pretending?”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Maybe it’s just stress.” He laughs a short laugh that sends chills deep into my bones. “Maybe it’s just everything.”
“I was followed to Erin’s house tonight. She brought Troy here instead and they’re spending the night.”
“How come I didn’t hear about you being followed?” He takes another sip, slamming the glass down a bit too hard.
“Well, I didn’t have Mayer drive me.”
“Who drove you?” I see the muscle tick in his jaw. “Who?”
“I drove myself.”
He laughs again, but there’s no humor there. “How am I supposed to keep you safe when you run off and do things by yourself?”
I don’t really know how to answer that. In good times and in bad, right? “I’m sorry.”
“Clementine, don’t you realize Bishop Blackstone is trying to hurt you? And I can’t find him to stop him.” He runs a hand through his hair, causing the strands to stand on end. “I can’t protect you if you don’t obey.”
“You’re right.” It was stupid of me to try to go to Erin’s by myself. I just figured the quick trip would be ok. “I’m sorry.”
“Clementine,” his eyes bore into mine, like he can see straight through me, “I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you.”
I lean forward, placing my hand over his. “Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
“Clementine,” he breathes out, leaning back in his chair.
I move and straddle his lap. “Nothing’s going to happen,” I say again, running my hands up his chest.
His hands grip my hips as his lips find mine in a fervent hungry kiss.
I rock against him and his dick grows hard beneath me. “Gabriel, you’ll keep me safe,” I tell him once he breaks the kiss.
His eyes own me as his hand runs through my hair. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers. “So fucking pretty.”
My whole body comes alive. “You’ll protect me.”
Gabriel presses his forehead against mine. “With my whole life,” he breathes out.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” Tears flood my eyes, hoping Gabriel doesn’t hate me the moment he learns the truth.
“Tell me.” His chest moves up and down with each ragged breath, and I focus on each button of his stark-white shirt.
A tear falls down my cheek and he swipes it away. “I haven’t been completely honest with you about a lot of things.”
“About what?”
“I think I know why Bishop doesn’t want us to get married.”
Gabriel’s hand shakes when he reaches it up to swipe another tear from my face. “Why?” he asks, barely audible.
“Because, he’s Tennyson’s father.”
NINETEEN
Gabriel
* * *
THE WORLD’S on fire and no one can save me.
It’s been three hours, forty-five minutes, and three-seconds since Clementine dropped a bomb on me.
Tomorrow, I’ll be married. Tomorrow, Clementine Bright will be my wife.
The only woman I’ve ever loved will be mine.
Only, th
is isn’t a sweet victory. It’s a tragic ending to an all too-consuming love story.
The moment Clementine told me Bishop Blackstone was Tennyson’s father, I was enraged. I sent her crying from my office, my own heart completely shattered.
I couldn’t even look at her the same.
I couldn’t look at myself either.
The powerful realization of how much I love her slammed into me the moment she called me an asshole and left.
I’ve been debating now for three hours, fifty-two minutes, and eighteen-seconds on whether or not I should chase after her. I’ve been trying to think of the right words to say to her when I do. Because, of course, I will chase after her.
I love her.
“We’re all set for tomorrow,” Dean says, entering my study, taking a survey of the room. “Whoa, what happened here?” His eyes land on the remains of my shattered glass of Woodford’s Reserve bourbon on the floor.
“Bishop is Tennyson’s father.”
“Holy fuck.” Dean shuts the study door and then runs both hands through his short-cropped hair. “I’m bumping up the security.”
“It’s already as bumped as it can be. Did you find Bishop? Ronin said he’s planning something for the big day.”
“Listen, Gabe, it’ll be fine. The second we see that asshole, we’ll get him.”
“Shoot first, no questions later, right?”
Dean smiles. “Exactly.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to make sure everything’s all set for tomorrow.”
I nod as he leaves the room.
Before I head off to bed, I debate on seeing Clementine. I walk down the hallway, knowing she’s probably worried about tomorrow.
With all the shit going on, my main concern shouldn’t be if she’s pretending with me, but it is. I want to know when I kiss those rosy lips if her moans are real or fake.
I stand at Clementine’s door, wondering if I should knock or head to my own room. I even raise my hand, balling my fingers into a fist to rap on the door. I drop my hand.
I decide it’s better not knowing.
TODAY’S the day I say ‘I do.’ I arrived at the venue early to go over the security details with Dean. We’ve added a few more men to the payroll, but we still haven’t been able to locate Blackstone.
We know he’s here, probably slithering in the grass like the snake he is, and we’re keeping our eyes open.
I’ve asked Ronin where Bishop is hiding, but he’s no help. I haven’t seen Ronin since the night at the dog track, and I’m guessing he won’t be at the wedding.
I mingle and shake hands with the guests, keeping my eyes on the crowd of people entering the Juniper, trying my best to spot anything suspicious.
When I’m done playing the part, I wander over to the door leading out to the garden where the wedding ceremony will take place.
“We have men watching out for Ronin as well,” Dean says, stepping up beside me, checking his phone one more time.
“Everyone’s in place?” I ask him.
“Yes. Don’t worry,” He pats me on the shoulder. “If Ronin or Bishop show up, you’ll be the first to know.” He laughs. “This will be better than the last wedding I was at.”
“Good thing.”
“You can head to the altar now,” Lana tells me. “I’m just going to check on Clementine. I haven’t seen her yet.”
I nod, adjusting my tie, and making my way down the aisle, ready to get this show on the road.
A woman, playing a harp, creates soft music for the wedding as people file to their seats. I smile and shake the hand of the preacher, waiting for it all to begin.
Dean stands near the entrance, watching the garden fill up like a hawk, and speaking into his ear piece. I’m impressed at his attention to detail as he guards this garden as if his life depends on it. That’s a good friend.
After a few minutes, Lana speed-walks back down the aisle toward me, a look of concern splashed all over her stressed out face. “Mr. Prince, I need to speak with you.”
I steer her away from the preacher and anyone else who may be able to hear what she has to say. “What is it?”
“Clementine,” she says.
“What’s wrong?”
“She isn’t here.”
“What? That’s impossible.” I head toward Dean, with Lana on my heels, wanting to let him know we’re missing a bride. With an uncanny intuition that something is wrong, he rushes closer, already speaking to his team through his earpiece to stay alert.
“What is it?” he asks, before I can even get a word out.
“Clementine has disappeared.” I turn to Lana. “Will you handle the guests? I need to find her.”
I stalk to the women’s lounge to where Erin’s on her phone, frantically tapping away at the screen. “Where is she?” I ask.
Erin’s eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know. She was here one minute, and then the next she was gone. She received a phone call right before...” she doesn’t finish her thought, her worried eyes settling on her son, Troy.
“Did she say she was leaving?” I pull out my own phone to see if I have any missed messages from her. Our fight. Thoughts of her and Ronin running off together invade my mind.
Erin shakes her head. “She didn’t say anything.”
Dean enters, talking into his earpiece, and I hear him say Ronin’s name. Last night’s fight floods my mind with images of my anger surfacing and how I couldn’t hear a word Clementine said to me. My whole world blurred, but obviously it was all too much for her.
She’s gone for good. And I deserve it.
I’m not a saint. I’ll admit I was wrong, but I know she didn’t leave here on her own. She had help. Ronin.
I’m not going to wait to get answers. I’ll find her, and I’ll make sure she knows exactly how I feel about her.
“Did you check with Mayer?”
“Yeah, he hasn’t seen her since he dropped her off here. I’ve got local law enforcement checking the bus stations and airports now,” Dean says, fingers flying across his phone. “They couldn’t have gotten far.”
“Contact everyone,” I grit out.
“Already on it,” he says, sliding his phone into his pocket. “I’ll get the car.”
I’ll find her. I have a lot of people in this world who owe me a favor. Different types of people. You can’t become as powerful as I am without making the types of deals I’ve made. Without making the types of friends I’ve made.
And I’ve made plenty.
I want Ronin, Clementine, and Tennyson found. And right now.
I’m so angry, the only color I see is red when I give Lana the task of telling a garden full of hundreds that the wedding will no longer be taking place.
I feel like an idiot. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did last night. I’ve pushed her away. Right into the arms of a waiting Ronin.
She’s mine. And I want to prove to her how much I care about her. I love her.
And it’s about time I told her.
I wish I could take back my reaction from last night. Take away the anger of finding out Bishop is Tennyson’s father.
“Ok, bathroom break is all taken care of,” Faye says, entering the room. Her smile drops when she sees me. “What’s going on?”
I glance down at the one thing Clementine would never leave behind. Tennyson. He’s in his new suit, holding Faye’s hand.
“I’m Bruce Wayne,” he says with a big smile.
And my whole world spins out of control. My heart slams in my chest as the realization Clementine didn’t leave me slams into my mind.
It wasn’t the fight that drove her away. She was taken from me.
And there’s only one name that comes to mind.
Bishop.
TWENTY
Clementine
* * *
“YOU NEED TO LET ME GO,” I say with conviction, trying my best to talk some sense into the man with a black hoodie and ski mask. “You’re too scared to
show me who you are?”
He shakes his head, not saying a word.
“Let me go.” I pull my legs closer to my chest as I sit in the back of the small jon boat. “You can’t just kidnap me,” I call out over the roar of the motor.
My words are futile, I know. Because he did. And I can’t escape. I could attempt to push him from the small swivel seat he’s sitting in, but if I fail, it could prove disastrous for me. I sigh, glancing out into the vast night air. Nothingness surrounds us. Except, the lights of a sailboat floating about a hundred yards away.
I never should’ve answered Ronin’s call the morning of the wedding. And I never should’ve gone outside to talk to him. The next thing I knew, I was tied up and tossed in the back of a car, heading out to God knows where. But, God clearly isn’t around, because it’s been a hellish day, filled with bright lights and dark hideaways. I must have been drugged because I barely remember any of it, other than the grogginess as I was tossed from car to plane to boat.
Not that it matters anyway, I know where he’s taking me.
To the devil himself.
“Where are we?”
The man shrugs, his brown-owl eyes meeting mine. “Atlantic Ocean,” he says, with a Southern twang. It’s a voice I’ve definitely heard somewhere before.
But where?
I glance around the boat, looking for a weapon I can use. I blow out a deep breath, my anger only subsiding for a moment, before I recognize the voice of my captor. “You’re the man. The one I met at the art gallery. The cowboy.”
He laughs. “You’re good. Name’s Duke.”
He removes the ski mask from his face and looks exactly the same as I remember him.
Big bushy moustache. Bushier eyebrows. And a row of crow’s feet framing each eye.
“I am good, and you should pray you’re better, because I won’t let anyone hurt me,” I warn.
His face softens. “I promise you, it’ll all be over once we get to the Bahamas and Mr. Blackstone gets what he wants.”