Vow (Andino + Haven Book 2)
Page 26
“And she wouldn’t have left those, you think?”
“Probably not.”
“I have every reason to believe Valeria was taken by force, but in such a way that it would look to you like she decided to take off again.”
God, she didn’t want to ask.
“By the cartel?”
“The Gomez cartel,” Dante confirmed. “She’s married to the son who runs the majority of the operation—Andino said you had that information.”
“She never told me that, though,” Haven admitted. “She never told me anything about why she ran from Mexico.”
“Because she probably didn’t want to be married to him.”
That prickling feeling behind her eyes was back. The tears were threatening to fall again. Dante didn’t miss it.
“Haven,” he said gently, “we know, and so that allows us to do something now. Or call someone who can do something for your friend. This is something for another day. And we will get to it, I promise. Today, though, is all for you.”
“Soon?”
“As soon as we find the right man to retrieve her safely.”
What else could she say?
The only thing that felt appropriate was simply, “Thank you.”
Dante waved a hand. “It’s a little thing, that’s all.”
Haven didn’t think it was so little … nor would it be easy, or safe. She didn’t know a lot about cartels, but what she knew was enough to tell her this wouldn’t be easy at all.
For Val, though …
Well, it might be worth it.
“Also, my wife mentioned something,” Dante said, bringing Haven’s attention back to him for a moment. “Your father is stuck somewhere, huh?”
“Engine problems.”
Dante frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“Shit happens.”
“At the worst possible times.”
That made her laugh. “Right?”
Because where was the lie?
“I was hoping,” Dante continued, “that you might give me the honor of walking you down the aisle. I want to welcome you into our family, Haven, and make it very clear that this is where you belong to anyone who might be wondering where I stand. And what better way than to be the one who walks you to your future?”
Haven stared at the man, quiet and still. “Really?”
“Really. If you would allow me to. It would be the greatest honor for me to do this for you, Haven.”
Well, then …
“Okay,” she said.
• • •
Dante peered around the grand hallway that led into the main ballroom. All the sheer tulle hanging from the ceiling only accentuated the vaulted aspect. Soft lavenders and pale pinks melted together in all the decorations.
It was beautiful.
“They really came together for this, didn’t they?” he asked. “Our wives certainly know how to decorate this place.”
Haven agreed. “It’s something else.”
“As long as you like it.”
“I do.”
And she was so grateful.
The music changed in the ballroom—the muffled noise filtered out beneath the cracks of the closed door. Haven took a deep breath, and relaxed. It was almost time.
Dante smiled down at her. “Ready?”
“You don’t even have to ask.”
“Thought I should give you one last chance to escape the Marcello craziness. It’s only fair.”
“Nowhere I would rather be.”
Dante squeezed her hand that was tucked into his elbow. “Well, then let’s get you married, Haven. By the way, your father’s plane landed twenty minutes early, and with the way my man drives … he will get here in lots of time to see you before we move to the reception.”
The doors opened in front of them as relief swept through Haven. “Tell him not to drive too fast. My mom needs someone, too.”
Dante chuckled. “Not to worry—as of tomorrow, your mother will have the very best doctors working on her case, and there won’t be a single thing she has to fret over except getting better. And she will get better, Haven.”
Haven stared straight ahead even as Dante’s words filtered into her mind, and the people stood from their chairs. With a gentle tug of his arm, Dante moved them forward one slow step. She barely even realized how quickly they walked the aisle, and that she smiled the whole way.
Because once she laid eyes on Andino, nothing else really mattered. Once she saw him waiting there just like he promised … everything else faded away.
As it should be.
Tall, dark, and handsome. Three-piece suit, as always.
Her entire life was waiting.
He was standing right there.
Andino had a hand out for her to take the second she was close enough to do just that. Heat shot through her palm when her skin connected with his. An electric sensation that passed through her soul, and touched her very heart. Soft, and sure, yet his grip was firm, and possessive. She answered that back by tightening her own hold on him.
“Thank you,” he said to his uncle.
Dante nodded. “Always, nipote.”
Dante left her side, then, and while the priest said something … she was too busy staring at Andino. He was looking back, too.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Andino smiled. “Ti amo. Sempre. That’s my vow to you—forever, Haven. I will love you forever.”
She knew it was true.
This ending of theirs—this happily ever after—was not really the end. Not all endings were tied in a perfect little bow. Not everything could be easily summed up when their story was one with many roads yet to go. There was more yet to come for them.
More love.
More life.
More everything.
This ending was their beginning. They were just getting started, and life had so much more to offer and teach them.
And she couldn’t wait to learn.
A NOTE!
Thank you so much to all the people who helped me to get this book to the end, and to everyone who cheered for Andino and Haven to get their true HEA. This book was very much about the journey, in a way, considering a great deal of my readers already knew Andino and Haven had their HEA moment—sort of—at the end of one of John’s books in his duet. So yes, this was all about finding out the way they got to that point. And I hope it was a good trip for you all.
Thank you to my editor, Eli, for your hard word, as always. You make the words shine. To my cover artist, Mignon, for making the covers beautiful. To my proofreaders, Tracy, Mia, and Felicia, as well as my PA, Tori, who keeps the pages and fans engaged while I put all my energy where it needs to be the most—making the words go.
Sasha, thanks for loving these two. For all those conversations. For making me laugh. For the edits. For being wonderful. Never forget you’re wonderful.
London, for being my favorite. What else needs to be said?
To the readers … you already have my words, and my love. You’ve got it all.
To my hubby … thanks, babe. Just, thank you.
Until next time, loves.
—BK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and three dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, a snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a spouse calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something ... when she can find the time.
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OTHER BOOKS
Andino + Haven
Duty
Vow
John + Siena
Loyalty
Disgrace
Cross + Catherine
Always
Revere
Unruly
The Companion
Naz & Roz
Guzzi Duet
Unraveled, Book One
Entangled, Book Two
DeLuca Duet
Waste of Worth: Part One
Worth of Waste: Part Two
Standalone Titles
Effortless
Inflict
Cozen
Captivated
Dishonored
Donati Bloodlines
Thin Lies
Thin Lines
Thin Lives
Behind the Bloodlines
The Complete Trilogy
Filthy Marcellos
Antony
Lucian
Giovanni
Dante
Legacy
A Very Marcello Christmas
The Complete Collection
Seasons of Betrayal
Where the Sun Hides
Where the Snow Falls
Where the Wind Whispers
Seasons: The Complete Seasons of Betrayal Series
Gun Moll Trilogy
Gun Moll
Gangster Moll
Madame Moll
The Chicago War
Deathless & Divided
Reckless & Ruined
Scarless & Sacred
Breathless & Bloodstained
The Complete Series
The Russian Guns
The Arrangement
The Life
The Score
Demyan & Ana
Shattered
The Jersey Vignettes
Find more on Bethany-Kris’s website at www.bethanykris.com.
Copyright © 2018 by Bethany-Kris. All Rights Reserved.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted material is illegal and punishable by law. No parts of this work may be reproduced, copied, used, or printed without expressed written consent from the publisher/author. Exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in reviews.
eISBN 13: 978-1-988197-73-9
Editor: Elizabeth Peters
Proofreaders: Tracy A., Mia B., Tori W. and Felicia F.
Cover Design © Mignon Mykel from Oh So Novel Designs
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organizations, corporations, locales and so forth are a product of the author’s imagination, or if real, used fictitiously. Any resemblance to a person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.