Vindication: Of Demons & Stones
Tri-Stone Trilogy, Book Three
Anne L. Parks
Fireside Publishing, LLC
Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Eight
Epilogue
Get a Free Novella from Anne
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Anne L. Parks
Copyright © 2017 by Anne L. Parks, Fireside Publishing, LLC
* * *
All rights reserved.
Visit my website at www.alparksauthor.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Editor: Helen Hardt
Cover Designer: Drue Hoffman
Photography: Kruse Images & Photography
Model: Stephen Landers-Hughes
Dedication
To my best friend, sister from another mister, and the person that keeps me grounded—LeighAnn Sughrue.
You have been there from just about the first word I wrote on the page, reading everything I wrote, helping me figure out storylines, and falling as hopelessly in love with my characters as I did.
I would not have published any of Alex and Kylie’s books without you urging me to share them with the world.
Thanks for the encouragement, hugs, and kicks in the ass!
Love you, SB!!
One
"Marry me." Alex's gorgeous blue eyes are soft but anxious.
Every part of my body tingles. My mouth is cotton dry. "You want to marry me?"
A smile spreads across his face, his gaze locks on mine. He cocks his head slightly to one side. "Marry me, Kylie."
This can't be real…
Adrenaline surges through me like lava rushing to the surface of the volcano, words spewing from my mouth before my brain registers what's happening. For the first time in my life, I'm certain of what my future holds.
"Ky—"
"Yes!" Throwing myself into his body, my arms wrap around his neck, and my lips crash against his. Pulling back, I drag in a ragged breath. "Yes, Alex, I'll marry you."
He grabs my hips, and pulls me against his body. Everything is spinning around me, I'm floating and—God—I hope I never come down from this high. Everything I have never allowed myself to dream is coming true. And the man with the beautiful blue eyes, gazing at me like I have just given him eternal life, is the sole reason for every single one of them.
"I love you so much, Alex."
He mouths, I love you, too. Loud cheers fill the tent.
Holy crap! I totally forgot we're in the midst of a New Year's Eve party. A hundred or so people are standing, clapping and a few are whistling. Patty and Ellie, Alex's sisters, and my best friend, Leigha, stand at the edge of the dance floor. All have wide grins and tears in their eyes.
Next to them, Paul and Ryan are clapping. I run to the two men who are as much family to me as if they were blood related, throw my arms around both of their necks, and squeeze tightly.
"We're so happy for you, darlin'," Ryan whispers in my ear. I kiss him on the cheek and turn to Paul.
He leans in close to me. "He's a good man, Kylie. I never would have given my blessing if I didn't believe he'd always love and take care of you."
I nod, and try to talk over the lump lodged in my throat. "I love you both so much, and I'm so happy you are here for this," I answer, looking at one and then the other. They pull me back into an embrace, and we stand there, embracing one another tightly.
Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn to and face my fiancé.
Fiancé!
"I think we forgot an important part of this ritual," he says. In his hand is a small black box. Nested in the black velvet is a ruby ring. Smaller diamonds encircle it, with another row of rubies around the outer edge. The band is platinum, with a center row of rubies and two outside rows of diamonds.
I gasp, and my hand splays at the base of my throat. "It's stunning."
Alex removes it, places it on my ring finger, and kisses it. "It's red hot, like you, baby." He winks.
I laugh, remembering the times he has given me something red, and provided that same explanation.
Harold, Alex's uncle, comes up beside us. Shaking Alex's hand, Harold edges Alex out of the way, and wraps his arms around me. "I was hoping I'd get to call you daughter," he says, and hugs me so hard he nearly crushes me.
I smile when he releases me, rest my hands on his forearms, and I give them a loving squeeze. "I'm so honored to be a part of your family."
One after the other, Alex is congratulated and I am welcomed into the family. Except for Francine, his aunt—and the woman who raised him after his mother was murdered—who stands with her arm around Alex's waist, whispering into his ear. He's smiling, but it doesn't reach his eyes, and he's shaking his head.
I sigh…I doubt I will ever get Francine's approval. So, why try? And why let it ruin the happiest moment of my life. I smile at Alex, and reassure him that nothing she says matters. "You and me," I mouth to him.
He smiles, steps away from Francine, and takes a hold of my elbow as he leads me away from the crowd. Jake and Thomas stand in front of us, blocking us from any other well-wishers.
"I have one more question…well, request, actually."
"And what's that?" I ask, as he lifts my hands to his lips, his eyes never leaving mine. At this point, I can't imagine what else he could be asking. He just asked me the biggest question of my life.
"Marry me now."
And my heart stops again. I should know by now that Alex never ceases to surprise me with his requests. "What?"
"Marry me—right now. I want you to be my wife by the new year." He allows our hands, still clasped together, to fall to our sides.
"Right now?"
He nods. "Yes, right now."
I stare at him, and I'm pretty sure my mouth is hanging open, but I'm numb. "Alex, we have a house full of guests—we can't run off to Vegas, or wherever, to get married."
"We don't have to go anywhere. We can get married right here, in front of all our friends and family."
I chuckle and tilt my head to the side. God, this man is adorable in his impetuousness. "Babe, that's very romantic, but we can't just get married. We have to do cer
tain things, like get a license—"
"Already taken care of," he assures me.
I freeze. "How—" Alex opens his mouth to respond, but I hold up my hand. "Never mind, I don't want to know."
He releases one of my hands, snakes his arm around my waist, and pull me in close to him. "So what do you say?" His voice drops to that low, sexy growl that pretty much assures that I will give him anything he wants. "Do you want to be Mrs. Stone by the time the clock strikes midnight?"
I gaze into his eyes. Marry Alex tonight? We just got engaged? Can we do this? Even in my current state-of-mind, I can't think of a single reason why we should wait.
"Yes, I do want to be your wife by the time we ring in the new year."
He kisses me—a quick, hard peck on the lips—and turns to his family. "Let's have a wedding."
* * *
Leigha and Ellie, each take an arm and guide me towards the house. "Time to get the bride ready for her walk down the aisle, "Leigha says, a silly grin still on her face.
I chuckle, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Jack sitting at his table with his wife, Annabelle. Jack is my boss and mentor. Most importantly, he has been like a father to me. I come to an abrupt halt. "Hey, can you give me just a minute? I have to do something."
They nod, but it barely registers with me, and I head towards Jack. He and Annabelle stand as I come near. I give Annabelle a hug and kiss on the cheek as she offers her congratulations.
"I have a favor to ask," I say to Jack, who is half way embracing me.
He leans his head back, his eyes narrow just slightly, and says, "Of course, anything you need. What can I do?"
I take a deep breath and exhale. "Walk me down the aisle?"
Jack draws me into his embrace, and murmurs, "It would be my honor."
"Thanks, Jack, " I whisper. I step away, and as I turn, Alex is across the dance floor, watching me. He smiles, nods, and winks. I can only assume he understands what I just did, and approves. My head is spinning, so much is happening, but it all seems to be coming together perfectly—as if it was meant to be.
"Okay," Ellie says, and makes a beeline into my ensuite, dragging me behind her. "I think we'll just put some of your hair up, and leave the rest down…maybe put the curling iron to the curls again, just to make sure they're a little more defined. Not so loose, like earlier this evening." She sets the curling iron on the counter, and stands behind me, checking me in the mirror.
"What do you think, Leigha? Just a little touch up on the make-up? I don't think she needs much."
Leigha is busy setting out various brushes and powders, and glances up at my reflection. "I agree, just add some powder, clean up the eye shadow…" She smiles at me in the mirror. "Then we can get you in your dress."
"My dress?" I look at the red gown Ellie brought for me. "I'm not wearing this?"
Ellie giggles. "Why would you wear that when there is a custom wedding gown hanging in your closet?"
I gather up my dress so I don't trip over it, and sprint into the closet, the two woman following close behind. Once inside, I come to a stop, and pull in a sharp breath. A silvery white dress, fitted, with what looks like a very short train, is on a dress form in the corner. I take a few steps closer, and take it all in. Gold stitching adorns it in an intricate pattern that spans from the right breast, across the midsection, and wraps around the left side of the skirt.
"Ellie designed it," Leigha brags.
"But Alex insisted on the gold embossing, which I absolutely adore," Ellie says.
I let my fingers drift over the embellishment. I can't take my eyes off it. "It's gorgeous, Ellie. I've never seen a more beautiful dress." I glance over my shoulder at her. "It's perfect."
She smiles, and her cheeks flush. Waving her hand in the air, she says, "We better get moving before Alex comes in here with his briefs in a twist over what's taking us so long." She links her arm through mine, and we walk back into the bathroom. "He can be a little impatient—especially when it comes to you."
"You think?" Leigha snickers, and I can't help but laugh. These women—I love them so much—and they are going to be my sisters soon. All because a man saw something in me that I still have a hard time seeing in myself, and decided he couldn't live without me. And would love me forever.
I'm still not sure I completely deserve Alex, but I'm going to try my damnedest to be the best wife, lover, and friend I can, and hope that comes close.
Two
How did I get here? In a few minutes, I'll be exchanging my vows with a man who swore he was incapable of love, and yet here we are. The world believes Alex is a confirmed bachelor, but since we first met, this has been a relationship destined for forever.
I can't stop staring at my reflection in the mirror. The wedding gown fits perfectly, with just a couple minor adjustments by Ellie. The shimmer of the silver satin clinging to my body. My fingers trace the subtle gold accents that add such a dramatic flare.
The bedroom door opens, and I glance up to see Alex come in. He stands behind me, his eyes roam over my body, back up to my face, and meet my smile. I gaze at him in the mirror. His black tuxedo fits perfectly, as if Armani himself hand stitched it to Alex's body. "How on earth did you get past Ellie and Patty? I figured they had this room on lockdown until the main event."
"I employed Will and Leigha to distract them." He places one hand on my hip and kisses my shoulder. "Do you like the dress?"
"I love it."
His fingers follow the lines of the gold thread. "Ivy," he says, "it signifies wedded love and fidelity."
He brings his other hand around from behind him, and hands me a beautiful bouquet of all white flowers bound together by a thick silver ribbon. The tips of his fingers lightly graze one of the five-petal flowers with a golden center. "Primrose. It symbolizes that I can't live without you."
Lifting delicate drooping bulbs, he says, "Heather—signifies protection and dreams coming true."
Protection. It's always been such a big part of our relationship from the beginning. The moment Alex discovered John laid a finger on me in anger, he vowed to shield me from any further violence.
He points to the lily of the valley. "My favorite," I whisper, choking up.
His gaze locks onto mine. "It means you've made my life complete."
I face him. "You picked out all these flowers?" He nods. Tears fill my eyes, and my heart nearly bursts with love for this man. "It's perfect, Alex…" For one of only a few times in my life, I'm speechless.
He swipes the tears from my cheek with his thumb. "You're perfect—for me. We're perfect together, and I can't wait another minute to marry you." He raises my hand to his lips, and starts to walk toward the door.
I pull on his hand to get him to stop. "Wait."
He looks at me, and raises his eyebrows.
"I'm so happy, Alex. I have been since the day I met you. No matter what we've been through, or who's tried to come between us. I never thought life could be this good." I squeeze his hand, and smile. "Thank you."
He slides his hand around my waist, and steps into me, pressing his lips against mine. He turns, and leads me to the door, and toward our new future.
Together.
Three
Jake places the keycard in front of the card reader, and the door of the Queen Anne Inn unlocks. Propping the door open with his foot, an overnight bag in each hand, he waits while Alex and I enter the lobby of the eighteenth century hotel. Alex has a firm hold on my hand as we enter the elevator. He presses the button for the top floor, take my hand through the crook of his arm, and fidgets with the wedding ring on my left hand. I glance down at it, then back at our reflection in the gold paneling of the elevator walls, and grin when he looks up and smiles at me.
"Are you happy?" he asks.
"Excessively," I answer, and squeeze his arm. "I can't believe you got us a room here for our first night."
His eyebrow shoots up, and one side of his mouth quirks up. "We had a deal, remember?"
"Yes, I remember." And I did, every word of the conversation came rushing back to me. It could have been one of the worst days of my life, but it turned out to be one of the best. Alex had reserved a suite for myself, Lisa, and my client, Anthony Trevalis, to wait out jury deliberations. Tony had been charged with the first degree murder of his wife. It was my first high profile murder case, and I was the lead attorney. I could not have been under more stress, but Alex was there, and managed to think of all the little things that made a huge difference. Like having a suite ready in a very popular inn across from the courthouse, complete with food and drinks, so we could get away from the courthouse, and the media.
"You made me some promises if I brought you back here…promises I intend to hold you to, Mrs. Stone."
A flush hit my cheeks, Oh, yes, I remember, too. I'm not sure there were specifics attached, but I do recall stating that I wanted to make love in the gorgeous bed, and some other areas of the suite. Alex chuckles softly, and lifts my hand to his lips.
The elevator doors open, and Jake takes our bags into the suite, comes out and hands the key card to Alex. "See you both in the morning to take you to the airport," he says, and re-enters the elevator. Once the doors close, Alex swoops me into his arms.
I let out a little yelp of surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Carrying you across the threshold, of course." He steps through the doorway, takes a few steps in and sets me gently on my feet. "It's tradition." He leans in and gives me a quick kiss, a hint of champagne still on his lips.
The suite is exactly how I recall it. The morning light is barely coming in through the windows. The night is over, the new day is breaking, and the new year is here. And I am Mrs. Alex Stone.
I should be used to how fast things move with Alex—because nothing has been slow about our relationship—but married at midnight on New Year's Eve, before we have even known each other for a year…
Vindication: Of Demons & Stones: Tri-Stone Trilogy, Book Three Page 1