Pastor Stanley looked at Smoke and said, “You might want to unveil her for this part.”
Gently, Smoke took the veil in his fingertips and lifted it up over her face.
“It’s me,” Sid said. She was a perfect vision of beauty with a little sparkle to her skin. Her dark eyes were enigmatic and captivating. “You were worried, weren’t you.”
“A tad.”
“I couldn’t resist.”
Pastor Stanley handed them the rings. “Now the couple will recite their vows. It’s always one of the most exciting parts of the ceremony that I so enjoy, particularly because they agreed to the vows that I already have memorized.”
Smoke looked deep into Sid’s eyes, and she looked back into his.
Smiling, Pastor Stanley added, “But first, for the sake of fun and tradition, I have to ask that if anyone objects to this couple being joined in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
The audience was all smiles, and Sid offered Smoke a childish grin and a little shrug. “Whew,” she whispered.
They turned their attention back to Pastor Stanley. Just then, the double doors at the top of the aisle burst open. Allison and Megan appeared, and they weren’t alone.
CHAPTER 20
Necks craning and clothes awkwardly twisting, everyone turned to see who had entered the room. Sid grabbed Smoke’s hand and squeezed it. Under her breath she said, “I can’t believe it.”
Smoke’s jaw clenched.
Allison stood tall and proud in a black, knee-length dress. Decorated in jewels, she twinkled with the allure of a movie star. Sid’s niece Megan was taller now, her sweet face more slender. She wore a pink dress like a little lady, but her expression was distant. The third person of the trio was Reginald the doppelganger. His suit was a sleek dark grey, and a smirk spread across his face.
Nobody said a word as the three of them strolled down the aisle with the haughty look of royalty and sat right down in the front row beside Sid’s parents.
Sally and Keith’s expressions were blank.
Smoke felt Sid clenching his hand like she wanted to break something. He ran his thumb over the back of her hand and said under his breath, “Almost there.”
Sid faced him again. Her cheeks were a little flushed, but she gave him a quick nod.
“Er, it seems we don’t have any objections.” Pastor Stanley’s eyes slid over to Allison, then he focused again on Smoke and Sid. “So let us continue. Where were we?”
“The rings,” Smoke said.
“Yes, the rings. We will start with you. John, repeat after me,” Pastor Stanley said.
“It’s okay, Pastor. I got it.” Smoke slid the wedding band over Sid’s finger and said, “With this ring, I thee wed, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as we both shall live. In the eyes of our Lord, I pledge my undying faithfulness.”
Sid’s eyes watered up.
Sally started to sob and sniffle.
“And now it’s your turn to recite your vows, Sidney. Will you be needing my assistance?” Pastor Stanley asked.
She nodded and said, “I think I will.” She slipped the gold ring onto Smoke’s finger.
Pastor Stanley led her through the recital of the vows. Smoke wiped the tears from her eyes as she did so with his own heart trying to burst from his chest.
“Now, with great pleasure I can say that by the powers invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.” Pastor Stanley smiled and said, “Now, Mister Smoke, you may kiss the bride.”
Smoke hauled Sid into his arms and kissed her soundly.
In a strong voice, Pastor Stanley finished up the ceremony, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you Mister and Missus John and Sidney Smoke.”
***
A well-decorated but modest reception was held in the church’s fellowship hall. Smoke and Sid met with everyone, friends and family, and posed for plenty of pictures. The time quickly came to cut the wedding cake, and both of them did their best to stuff cake into each other’s faces. Finally, after about two hours of eating and shaking hands, Sid kissed Smoke on the cheek and said, “I need to spend some time with Megan.”
He nodded and said, “Okay, Mrs. Smoke.” He tickled her as she walked away and she giggled, and then Smoke reached over and patted Guppy on the shoulder. “I’m going to get some air. Will you cover for me?”
“Sure thing,” Guppy said.
On his way out, Smoke spied Sid sitting at Allison’s table with Megan on her lap. They both had smiles and tears on their faces.
Good.
After pushing his way out through the fire doors, he followed the sidewalk around to the front of the church. Reginald was stooped over the side of the concrete bridge, smoking. He flicked the butt into the creek and lit another one. A pair of older women who were crossing the bridge frowned at Reginald as they walked by.
“Nice day, isn’t it, ladies?” Reginald said, lighting another cigarette.
Smoke stepped up on the bridge. “What are you doing here, Reginald?”
“We just came to see the pair of you off to a good start is all.”
“Uh-huh.” Smoke moved across from Reginald and leaned back against the rail. “You aren’t one to mince words. You’re here. What’s going on?”
“Allison and Megan begged to be here, and I was charged with being their escort. That is all.” He puffed on his cigarette and eyed Smoke up and down. “You clean up pretty good for a country fellow. Not good enough to fit in with the royal types, but you could pass for something a footstool short of noble if you had to.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Smoke asked, “How’s your boss Kane doing?”
Studying Smoke’s eyes, Reginald tilted his head. “You still think you can take me, do you? I mean, most men don’t survive the beatings I give them, but you did. Do you really want another shot at me?”
“If the opportunity ever presents itself, I’ll be ready.”
Reginald glanced around. “It looks like an opportunity has presented itself.”
“Not today, messenger boy. Now tell me about Kane. You say Allison had to beg someone to come, and it must have been him they were begging. I’m guessing Vormus didn’t get the best of him?”
“Vormus? Hah! That vomitus pisswaller went back to Europe in pieces.” Reginald reached into his coat and revealed a pack of cigarettes and extended his hand. “Take a smoke, Smoke.”
“Nah. So what’s the end game here? Does Kane want Sid back? Because that isn’t going to happen.”
“If he wanted her back, he’d have her back and you’d be dead already.” Reginald blew smoke out his nose. “This little marriage ceremony, it’s just entertainment to us. It humors us that you find something so meaningless to be so meaningful. Your eyes watered, and you’re supposed to be a tough guy. I beat the hell out of you and you didn’t shed a tear. But now I know where that soft spot is. Your wife Sidney. Your family and friends. It’s all such a weakness. No, Kane’s got bigger fish to fry, but he’s going to make you suffer. You’ll come around, or you’ll die.”
“What do you mean, come around?”
“Just like Allison, one or both of you will become part of the family.” He tapped his temple. “And I saw the faces of your own family, too. Mom and Dad. Wouldn’t you hate to see their funerals?”
Smoke uncrossed his arms and stood tall. “So your wedding gift is a warning.”
Reginald tossed yet another cigarette butt into the creek and watched it float under the bridge. He said to Smoke, “Either you join, or you back way off. Or else things are going to get sticky. Real sticky.”
CHAPTER 21
Things perked up at the reception after Allison, Reginald, and Megan departed. The crowd of friends and family was filled with happy faces and waving hands as Smoke and Sid drove off in the Hellcat to the sound of a roaring engine and the rattle of tin cans. He was driving. Sid pick
ed rice grains out of his hair. “You didn’t tell me you had lice,” she said with a goofy grin.
“You didn’t ask.” He smiled.
She started kissing his neck. “Do you think you can last until we reach the hotel? It’s a fifteen-minute drive, and I’m not sure I can wait that long. You look so handsome.”
Aroused, he replied, “Maybe we should change the subject, briefly. How’s your sister and Megan? I didn’t get to speak with them.”
Sid eased back into her seat. “Weird. I’ve never seen Megan so distant, and Allison, she’s not Allison. She gave me chills. I just feel like she’s trying to reel me into some deep and bottomless well. Everything she said was nice, but it all had a veiled warning behind it.” Sid put her warm hand on his arm. “But I’m not going to let anything she said ruin my wedding day.”
“Me neither.” He leaned over and quickly kissed her on the lips, keeping his eyes on the road.
“So you disappeared for a while. What happened to you?”
“I was talking to Reginald.”
“And you didn’t try to kill each other? Smoke, look, I don’t like you around him. I saw what happened the last time you two tangled, and it scared me half to death.”
“I was having an off day that day.” He turned the air conditioning fan up. “Man, these tuxedos get pretty hot.”
“That’s because of me.” She traced her finger over his ear and down his lobe. “So what else did Reginald say?”
“He gave me the ‘join or die’ speech. He says Kane’s alive and well, too. Are you going to be okay with that?”
“I’m okay if you’re okay, John. I say screw ’em. I’m not going to play their little head games.”
“They’re all talk, aren’t they?”
“So far as I’m concerned, yes. The only thing that matters right now is today, and I plan on making it the most memorable day ever.”
“More memorable than werewolves, minotaurs, and harpies?”
In a soft, seductive voice, she said, “After tonight, you’re not going to remember anything but me.”
***
The hotel suite was much better than nice but far from extravagant, with a distant view of the capital city. The lamp was a small beacon that warmed the dimness. Classic music played on the radio that sat on the nightstand.
Smoke was sitting on the bed wearing only a pair of black boxer briefs. Sid had told him to wait and vanished into the bathroom. She’d been in there for over fifteen minutes, and it felt like an eternity. He rubbed his bare feet on the carpet and smoothed over the sheets with his hands.
Sid came out of the bathroom in a black silk negligée. Long hair cascading over her shoulders, she slunk closer to him with hungry eyes. “Do you like it?”
Her exotic fragrance filled his nostrils, and he said, “You look stunning and smell incredible.” His hands reached out for her thighs, and he drew her body into his. With his free arm he pulled the sheets back while he kissed her. Picking her up in his arms and still kissing her with passion, he lowered her seat-first into the bed.
She broke the kiss off, panting, and said, “Take me.”
With gentle fingers he lifted her negligee off her wanton body. She peeled his boxers down off his legs and pulled him into the bed. Under the sheet, the tussle of lovemaking began, lasting on and off through the night until the dawn woke them from their slumber.
Snuggled up in his powerful arms, Sid said to him, “That was special.”
Propped up on the pillows, Smoke said, “I never thought a word like ‘consummate’ could be made so erotic.” He squeezed her closer to him and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you, Sid.”
“I love you too, Smoke.”
“Are you hungry?” Smoke asked.
With a brilliant smile, she giggled. “I’m famished.”
CHAPTER 22
“It’s been an extraordinary two weeks.” Sid was sitting at the patio table of their beachfront hotel suite that had a splendid view of the sun setting over the ocean. The salt air was warm and breezy. She reached over and clasped Smoke’s hand in hers. “And I mean that with a big X in extra.”
“It was certainly the best honeymoon I ever had,” he said.
She leaned back in her chair and said, “Oh really? Are you implying that you’ve had a honeymoon before or that you anticipate another?”
“Well, given the nature of this one, I thought perhaps a second or third honeymoon would be an excellent plan.”
“Good answer. Good, good answer. You really do have a knack for squirming out of dangerous things.” She took a sip of coffee. “You know, husband, you really did surprise me.”
“How so?”
“Well, even with all we’ve been through, I just didn’t anticipate that we’d live every day like it was our last day together. It’s been incredible. Joyful.” She set the rose Fiestaware cup down. “I just thought we’d keep it simple, but you made it incredible and fun. I mean, most honeymoons are spent in one place, but we’ve had three or four honeymoons in one.” She offered a different giddy smile for each one as she counted them off on her fingers. “Beach bungalow at Paradise Point in California. Vegas, lounging at the Venetian—which was incredible, by the way. Niagara Falls. And now here, snuggled up by the sand at Hilton Head, South Carolina. I just never envisioned it this way, did you?”
“I just wanted it to be special.”
“Oh, it was special all right. Especially all of the nocturnal festivities.” She pushed her hair back out of her eyes. Still smiling at him, she said, “Thank you, John.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So, you know, we never talked about money, and merging accounts and things like that, but are there any issues paying for all this?”
“Nope.”
“I mean, I have … I just…”
“Don’t worry about it, Sid. I’ve had a nest egg for quite some time, set aside for a special occasion like this. It really built up a lot while I was in prison. That’s one thing pretty good about prison. You can’t spend any money.”
“Yeah, well, I guess I’ve just been having so much fun that I haven’t even taken time to think about things. Like, are we moving in together? Do I keep my apartment? Do we live in your garage?”
“I don’t know,” he said, “but one shared place is fine with me. We can look for another place if you want to.”
She sat up in her chair and leaned toward him. “You’d do that for me?”
“You’re my wife. I’d do anything for you.”
“I know, but you’re so damn agreeable.”
“I’m just not that attached to places and things. The only thing I want to be attached to is you.”
Sidney’s body sagged as if her heart had melted from within. She said, “That’s so sweet. Too sweet.” She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. “I guess we’re going to have to start packing sometime. Man, why can’t life be like this all the time?”
“Someday it will be.” Smoke stood up and stretched his limbs. He picked up their breakfast plates and napkins and started heading toward the kitchen. “But in the meantime, there’s work to be done.”
“You’re getting restless, aren’t you.”
From inside the sliding doors, Smoke fired back, “Well, sort of.”
Sidney eased her body out of her chair, rushed over to Smoke, and hugged him. She let out a deep sigh and said, “Thank God. I thought it was just me, and I didn’t want to be rude.”
“You’re bored?”
“No, no,” she said, “just complacent. I miss my runs and my guns.” She pretended to draw her Glocks from her hips and then relaxed her posture and clasped her hands around his bicep. “At least I have these guns to hold me over, but with all of this travel, I’ve felt a tad vulnerable without them.”
“Ditto that. I say we get rolling too.” He kissed her forehead. “How about I clean up and you pack?”
“How about I clean up and you pack?” she said.
“Sure,
honey.”
She gave him a little punch in the arm. “Quit agreeing with me on everything. I don’t like that.”
“It’s just a little thing.”
“Yeah, but you pretty much go along with everything I say. That’s not you, so stop doing that. I still like the mystery about it and I don’t want to lose that.”
“I got it. Crystal clear, honey.”
“Good. Now that that’s settled,” she said, walking her fingers up his arm. “Why don’t you join me in the bedroom for a final honeymoon farewell?”
“No,” he said.
“No? What do you mean, no?’
“I’m just not in the mood.”
Dropping her hands to her hips, she said, “Why, do you have a sudden headache or something?”
Chin up and looking away, he said, “Maybe, and looking at this kitchen, I have a lot of work to do.”
She started pulling Smoke toward the bedroom. “You’re coming with me.”
Feebly holding himself back, he said, “But I don’t want to.”
After pushing him into the bedroom, she shut the door behind her. “Good. That turns me on even more.”
CHAPTER 23
Washington, DC. Home of the greatest truths and the greatest lies. The sparkling city of deceit.
Smoke sat on the sofa in his garage apartment, staring at the television. Senator Wilhelm was on FNN News giving a rousing speech.
Sid sat at the computer desk, shaking her head at the screen. She was back in her normal clothes, blue jeans and a navy-blue shirt but with a shoulder holster on, looking official.
“It’s good to be home, isn’t it?” he asked her.
Strapping on an ankle holster with a tiny automatic gun, she said, “One thing I certainly didn’t miss was the smell of bullshit.”
Laughing, Smoke said, “Agreed.”
They’d been back for two days, and for the most part they had spent their time back at Smoke’s place and seemed to be settling in.
“You kind of like my spot, don’t you?”
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files: Special Edition Fantasy Bundle, Books 6 thru 10 (Smoke Special Edition Book 2) Page 20