by Ali Vali
“I’m still so sorry she got hurt, especially after she agreed to be brought in and questioned, then act as bait. I planned to draw Nicole to me, but Nicole surprised us. I had to play it that way because I didn’t know if Nicole had another Larry Nobles feeding her information, but I wish I’d figured it out sooner to at least save Gretchen and Roger.”
“You did your best, baby, and because of you, there won’t be any more victims,” Keegan said.
“You’re good for my ego, love,” she said and kissed her. “The night she broke into Carla’s for the second time, the sisters finally decided to show imagination with the crossbow. To follow Perlis’s case, they needed another person to blame, and this time they picked Carla for some reason. It was the double reason for the choice of Ibeji as their last successful altar. It honored the divine twins and the doctors they were. That one of them was Damain was a bonus as an homage to Perlis picking Damien as his scapegoat.”
“You got that she was trying to frame Carla from that?” Jaqueline asked.
“The receipt that Carla had purchased the statues at the scene made me realize they were trying to frame Carla. To me that’s the most amazing thing about this whole situation.”
“What? That she tried to frame Carla?” Melinda asked.
“No, ma’am. That they planned that far in advance. Carla’s trip was a week after Perlis was caught. Nicole was still in California finishing her last book, and Darla was researching all of us but chose to start with Carla.”
“Thank you for what you did to catch these monsters and for making today possible,” Melinda said.
“Thank you for not shooting me all over again when you found out about Carla.”
“You can make it up to her later,” Della said, making a shooing motion. “Get out of here, and don’t forget to turn off your phone. If it goes off today, I’ll shoot you.”
“Yes, Gran, and we’ve got some news for you later,” she whispered in Della’s ear as she kissed her cheek. Then Keegan kissed her on the lips to shut her up.
* * *
The courtyard behind the restaurant was decorated beautifully, and the guests were seated and waiting. Sept stood at the altar watching the garden gate, looking forward to seeing Keegan walk down the flower-lined aisle.
“Are you nervous?” she asked Carla as she stared in the same direction.
“Are you?” Carla asked, placing her hand on her shoulder. “This will be you in a couple of months.”
“I can’t wait, and I’m really happy for you.”
Carla laughed and nodded. “Me too, but when Della Blanchard tells you to propose to her daughter or face certain death, I dropped to one knee. Thank God I love Melinda more than anyone I’ve ever known.”
“Don’t worry. That means Della’s come to love you. She doesn’t bother to threaten if she doesn’t care.”
They stopped as the music started, and Sept couldn’t believe that her eyes watered when she saw Keegan. While the trial was going on, they’d decided to wait until it was done so they could enjoy the ceremony and what came after. That gave Carla and Melinda the chance to go ahead with their wedding.
“Our family has enjoyed feeding people and being present for so many of their celebrations,” Della said as she stood for the first toast after the ceremony was over. “Those moments are even more special when they’re your own. Today we celebrate two of the most important things in life—love and family. They are the cornerstones on which our lives are built. Today I welcome Carla into our family and thank her for loving my child and committing herself to her happiness. A mother couldn’t ask for more. Take care of each other, and I wish you years of happiness.” Della raised her glass, and everyone did the same. “To Carla and Melinda.”
That got the party started, and an hour later Della sat with her and Keegan. “Great party, Gran,” she said, opening her mouth since Keegan held up a piece of cake.
“Stop trying to kiss my ass and tell me the news,” Della said.
“You know how much I love your granddaughter,” she said and smiled.
“Enough to repeat this party with even more people in a couple of months,” Della said, accepting a piece of cake from Keegan.
“You know that, and how I’m going to love her forever,” she said, and Della slapped her arm as if to get her to talk faster. “Go ahead and tell her, love.”
“When we stand at the altar, we won’t be alone, Gran.”
“I know that, but what’s the news?” Della asked, missing the point completely.
“We won’t be alone because it’ll be me,” she pointed to herself, “Keegan,” she kissed Keegan and smiled, “and our babies.” She placed her hand on Keegan’s abdomen, a new habit she’d developed from the moment the doctor verified and showed them the sonogram of their twins.
“Babies,” Della said with a huge smile. “As in more than one?”
“Two,” Keegan said, putting her hand over Sept’s. “We’re having twins, so she’s got to make it up that aisle.”
“Congratulations,” Della said, kissing them both. “You certainly have been exciting to have around, Sept Savoie. I’m happy for you both.”
“Thanks, Gran, but we’re going to dance while I can still see my feet,” Keegan said. “We’ll fill everyone else in tomorrow at brunch before Mom leaves for her honeymoon, but Sept wanted you to be the first to know.”
Sept put her arms around Keegan and swayed to the music away from the crowd. “You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen,” she said, holding Keegan tighter. “And I can’t wait to put that second ring on your finger and meet these guys.”
“Could be girls, you know, or one of each,” Keegan said kissing her neck. “But you’re right. I can’t wait.”
“Dad offered me the desk job again,” she said, willing to go along with whatever Keegan wanted.
“Seven,” Keegan said, tugging her toward the corner of the yard. “Your job scares the shit out of me.” Keegan placed her hand inside her shirt over the scar the arrow had left. “You’re really good at it, though, and you need to keep doing it. Only tell Nathan it’s his turn to get shot or whatever next time.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as I am about the great future our babies and I are going to have with you. Our adventure is just beginning, but you finding and convicting people like the Voles family is part of that. The world needs you, Seven, but I’ve got first dibs.” The kiss Keegan gave her was full of promise for later and for years to come. “Are you ready for all that?”
“I love you, so I’m more than ready for anything and everything as long as you’re with me.”
About the Author
Ali Vali is the author of the long-running Cain Casey “Devil” series and the Genesis Clan “Forces” series, as well as numerous standalone romances including two Lambda Literary Award finalists, Calling the Dead and Love Match, and her 2017 release, Beauty and the Boss. Ali also has a novella in the collection Girls with Guns.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family’s traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
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