REMEDY: A Mafia Romance (Return to Us Trilogy Book 3)

by M. K. Gilher

  I grab my bouquet of coral roses while linking my arm through his. We take our positions and wait for the music to start.

  I can't believe it's my wedding day, and we're getting married on the spot Jacade's old trailer used to be. I remember how thrilled I was the day Jacade, Jett, and I stood on the dirt road and watched the depressing relic go up in flames. In its place, Jacade erected this magnificent cathedral hall with 360-degree floor-to-ceiling windows. I'm honored to be the first of many brides that will stand nervously in this entrance with their fathers—or grandfathers.

  The processional music "The Moment" by Kenny G begins, and my heart skitters as Raymond and I step through the white gauze drapes. Uncle Bernie loved Kenny G.

  Blush rose petals line the edge of the silken aisle runner. The only light in the space comes from the setting sun and the rustic, globed lanterns dangling on wire garland from the ceiling.

  At the top of the stairs, the man of my dreams awaits me in a black Armani tuxedo, cream shirt, and thin charcoal tie. I'm certain Giorgio Armani had a picture of Jacade's beaming smile and turquoise eyes when he designed that tux. To Jacade's right, Jett and Shane stand sentry in tuxes matching Jacade's but with slate-gray ties—a stunning lineup of hot men, all waiting for me to trek down the aisle.

  To Jacade's left, Frank clutches a binder and smiles at me. He's ready to marry us. We couldn't think of any other person we wanted to officiate. When we asked him, a tear fell from his eye, and he bolted to his office to research how to become ordained. Next to him, Bryn looks youthful and angelic in a form-fitting, knee-length, coral bridesmaid's dress. Aunt Helen radiates from behind her in an elegant, pastel-yellow dress.

  Thirty-five of our closest friends sit in silk-covered wooden chairs with bountiful coral bows tied around the backs. The guests rise when they hear the Kenny G song. Armond and Tabitha grin at me from the front row. Dix and Rory look spiffy in suits.

  "Are you ready for this life, my dear?" Raymond tightens his hold on my arm.

  I sigh and look to Jacade. His mouth curves up in a proud smile, and he winks at me.

  The untamed passion emanating from him sends my stomach diving. This impossible man is going to be my husband.

  "Yes. Wholeheartedly, yes."

  He guides me toward the stairs…

  Oh no. Stairs.

  I am not falling down those things in this dress. Raymond slows his pace, so I can lift the front of my gown and negotiate the treacherous stairs. We make it to the platform at the top without incident, and I hand my flowers to Bryn. Jacade shakes Raymond's hand, and Raymond pats his shoulder. Raymond takes his place next to Aunt Helen, and Jacade and I join hands.

  Frank speaks to the crowd. "Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the union of these two people."

  Tears. Darn. Oh well. Bye, makeup.

  Frank talks about love and marriage for a while but I can't hear him. All I can see are the indigo tines in Jacade's eyes. The authority in the brawn of his neck. The power in the width of his shoulders.

  Jacade's deep baritone breaks me out of my stupor.

  "Ivy, since the first time I saw you, my soul knew you were mine."

  Shoot. I almost missed his vows. I need to pay closer attention.

  "You make me want to be not just a better man but a better human being. There's nothing you could ask for that I wouldn't move mountains to give you. I vow to put a smile on your face every day, to encourage your dreams, and comfort you when you feel defeated."

  The conviction in his words rings through the cathedral hall. No one here could ever doubt his fidelity to me.

  "And, baby, I promise to share all my office supplies, possibly my cars, and love you in limitless imaginative ways."

  That evokes a giggle and a blush from me.

  "Ivy?"

  Huh? Frank's looking at me. "Yeah?"

  "Your vows?"

  "Uh… yeah." I pull a crumbled piece of paper from my décolletage and hear a few snickers from our onlookers.

  My eyes water and I clear my throat. "Jacade, I love how you made me yours. Your generous and humble heart loves me without judgment."

  Jacade wipes a tear from my cheek with his thumb. My hands shake, and Jacade's grip tightens on my fingers.

  "Sorry. Okay, where was I? You're my protector, my king, my last puzzle piece. I vow to be your devoted queen and put you first above all else. I promise to be true to you and fight by your side till the end of time. I promise to always check the backseat before I steal a car and," I lean in and whisper, "foster your kinky imagination."

  He laughs and sneaks a kiss by my ear.

  Frank looks at Bryn. "The rings?"

  Bryn holds up the ring pillow, and Jacade takes my bling from it.

  I give him my left hand, and he smiles at the band we had tattooed there last week. He said, I've always been married to you in my heart, but this tattoo marks our true union. The wedding ceremony is just a formality… and a party for our friends.

  I replied, I'll marry you a million times, Jacade.

  "This ring is my eternal promise to you that no matter where life takes me, I will always return to us." Jacade's voice hums with the resoluteness of his love.

  I can't take it. This is too much.

  "As I place this ring on your finger, I give you all of me and all that I will become."

  Jacade slips my mother's band and the flawless rocks he bought me over the tattoo on my ring finger.

  Frank nods to me.

  "Jacade, this ring is my eternal promise to you that no matter where life takes me, I will always return to us." My fingers tremble as I slide his simple titanium wedding band over his tattoo.

  "As I place this ring on your finger, I give you all of me and all that I will become."

  "You may kiss the bride," Frank says with a smile. Jacade's wicked smirk scares and thrills me. He smashes his warm lips to mine and bends me back. I'm afraid I might fall, but his sturdy arm catches me— like it always does… and always will.

  "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jacade Jordan. What God has joined, let no person put asunder."

  The crowd stands and bursts into applause. Tears streak down Tabitha's face, and Bryn wipes her cheeks. Jacade's triumphant smile could light the darkest night.

  "Take Me Home Tonight" plays as we laugh and walk down the aisle. He stops me halfway through to kiss me again, and the photographer snaps away.

  I'm so lucky. Some people never find their soul mate, and even if they do, they don't always get to marry them in front of family and friends. But the stars have aligned and given us this blissful moment I'll remember forever.

  We make our way to the reception hall attached to the cathedral. Coral and burgundy roses surround a thick pillar candle in the center of each table. The sparkling Waterford crystal and antique bone china place settings were a wedding present from Raymond.

  Everyone greets us and gives us hugs and congratulations.

  We sit down to a delicious gourmet meal of filet mignon with braised baby red potatoes.

  The DJ calls for the bride and groom to take the dance floor. The song Jacade picked for our first dance resonates in all the cells of my body—a dulcet acoustic version of "Only Girl in the World."

  I almost cry again, but manage to stave it off. He holds me so close, sways with such grace, he's irresistible. We should go home right now and consummate this marriage on our living room floor! I wiggle my hips and tease his hard cock through the thick fabric of his tux jacket and pants.

  He senses my hormone surge and whispers in my ear, "Later."

  The song ends, and after our kiss and some applause, the DJ announces the bride-grandfather of the bride dance. Raymond sweeps me onto the floor, and my dress swooshes behind me. "You look beautiful, little one."

  "Thank you. And thank you for the family china and crystal. It means a lot to me that it would have been my mother's."

  "My pleasure. Are you happy, granddaughter?"

  "Elated. Could
not be more ecstatic."

  "Good. It's about time."

  Jacade told me earlier he preferred not to dance with Aunt Helen, so I honored that. Shane and Bryn also made it clear they would not be dancing, so the DJ opens the floor to the crowd and the music picks up tempo.

  Jett walks backward, with one hand in Lizzie's and one hand holding Lindsey's. He breaks into some sexy Jagger moves with his two busty blondes. Those hips, oh the plunging those hips have done. He's giving the twins a preview of what's to come later. Lucky girls.

  Shane and Bryn are keeping a cool distance. Darn. I'm about to make a move to get them together, when a man with buzzed hair walks in and hands Shane a letter.

  As he reads it, his face morphs into red-hot agony. His shoulders pull back like he's been shot with an arrow. Shane snaps a quick photo of the letter with his phone. He takes two long strides to the nearest table and burns the note and the envelope in the flame of the candle. He watches it incinerate with the beaded eyes of a pyromaniac.

  Whoa! What kind of evil phantom has just been cast down on Shane?

  He turns from the charred dust and marches straight to Bryn. He grabs her upper arm without a word and hauls her out of the room. When they're gone, I rush over to Jacade where's he talking to Jett. His eyes are on the door Bryn and Shane just passed through.

  "Did you see that? Shane got a letter and left with Bryn."

  "I saw it. I'll check on them."

  Jacade walks toward the exit, but Bryn stumbles back in before he gets there.

  She takes shuffled, uneven steps and looks awkward on her heels. She tries to wipe the tears that are coming way too fast for her to keep up.

  Jacade looks to me, and I nod that I've got her. He pushes the doors open and exits.

  I run to Bryn and encompass her shaking frame in my arms. "What happened?"

  "He said goodbye and kissed me. Then he just walked away. I stopped him and begged him to explain."

  "What did he say?"

  "He said he didn't want to hurt me, but he has to leave on a mission."

  "A mission?"

  "Yeah. He said he has no choice. I don't think we'll ever see him again."

  She sobs into my shoulder, and I rub her back.

  "Oh, Bryn. I'm so sorry."

  Jacade returns through the doors and walks to us with his head down.

  "Did you catch him? What did he say?"

  "Yeah. He's taking an emergency leave of absence."

  "Leave of absence? So he's coming back?"

  "I don't know."

  "Did he mention a mission?"

  "Yes, but I didn't ask the details. We have to let him face this alone."

  "Okay."

  Shane's abrupt departure dampens the mood of the wedding reception. Jacade tries to reassure me, but it's hard not to worry about Shane.

  "Drink." He offers me champagne in a Vera Wang bride's flute. A fizzing strawberry bobs at the bottom.

  I take a sip and stare at him.

  He watches my mouth turn down. He steps over to the DJ for a second, then returns.

  "Dance." He sets my drink down on a table and pulls me to the floor.

  The thumping anthem of "Shut Up and Dance" blasts out, and Jacade shows off his stripper moves, popping his hips in his tuxedo like Channing Tatum. Jett gets up and shakes his disco booty.

  Bow chicka wow wow.

  With a little help from the champagne and two sexy doctors getting jiggy with it, I'm able to push my concern to the back of my mind. I even catch Bryn laughing at their antics.

  "You're a good dancer, husband."

  "Don't tell anyone, wife."

  "They can see you."

  "True."

  "Are you having fun at your wedding, husband?"

  "I am. And you, Mrs. Jordan?"

  "The time of my life."

  "We've only just begun. Many good times ahead, wife. I promise I'll make up for all the years we lost."

  "You already have. And then some."

  "Good. Now lift your skirt, my teeth are hungry for your garter."

  He always knows how to make me laugh.

  We get a chair set up, and he dives under my gown, evoking catcalls from our friends. While he's concealed, he takes advantage and licks my underwear a few times. I try to hide my shock at his lude act, but I have a feeling they knew Jacade was pushing some limits under there.

  He wraps his lips on the garter and takes a sharp bite of my flesh before he pulls it down. Ow!

  Jacade emerges with his prize and holds it up in the air. He stretches the lacy band and catapults it at the crowd of waiting single men.

  Jett catches it in one fast swipe. He quickly tosses the hot potato to Rory.

  "Ha! No way, Jett, you caught it."

  No getting out of it.

  You're next.

  Epilogue

  Five years later

  Jacade

  My dick's gonna explode. "Push 'em together."

  Ivy's beneath me on her back. I'm on my knees with my hands braced on the headboard. She mashes her glorious tits around my cock.

  So fucking good.

  My tip nudges her chin with each stroke. "Stick out your tongue. Lick it."

  She groans and lowers her chin. Her tongue flicks the head of my dick. She tries to catch it in her lips, but it's moving too fast for her.

  A few more thrusts and I'm toast. The point of no return.

  I grunt and blow my load on her neck and face. Her sexy tongue emerges to clean off her lips. "Good girl."

  I collapse beside her and grab a towel from the nightstand to wipe up her pearl necklace. Man, she looks good draped in my jizz.

  After she's clean, she rests her head on her I on my pec.

  "So, Mrs. Jordan, is your bucket list complete? Have you learned to swim?"

  "Yes. I like swimming now."

  "Traveled the world?"

  "Yes. Thank you for our trip, Trip. You literally gave me the world."

  "Ahh, funny girl." I tickle her ribs and she arches her back squirming to get away.

  "Stop! T-O! T-O!"

  "No timeouts for you, missy." I tickle her a little more before letting her off the hook.

  We stop laughing and I press my lips to hers. "Have you fallen head over heels in love?"

  "Yes. Like an Olympic gymnast."

  "Sensational. Then I've done my job."

  "You have. I'm content."

  "Mmm. And what's on your list now?"

  "Make Evelyn ours."

  "Me too. Top of the list." Two years is too long for our five-year-old foster child to wait in limbo.

  "I want to raise our daughter to be a badass." Ivy continues telling me her revised bucket list.

  "She'll have a well-qualified teacher. What else?"

  "Nothing. Just stay here and love you as much as I can every day and enjoy my family."

  "That's all?"

  "Oh, and get my black belt in jiu-jitsu."

  "You're on your way. We can add a session each week if you want to advance quicker."

  "Okay. If you have time."

  "Always time to go a few rounds with you, my love."

  My phone buzzes on the nightstand. My legal advisor, Parker Quinn.

  "Hello."

  "Trip?"

  "Yeah, what's up, Quinn?" I put the call on speakerphone.

  "I have news."

  Ivy's eyes light up.

  "Go ahead. Ivy's listening."

  "Evelyn's bio parents relinquished their rights to her. The case was dismissed, and the adoption was finalized by the judge today. Her name's officially Evelyn Vera Jordan. She's yours. Congratulations."

  Ours.

  I cough and try to speak through the joy clogging my throat. "Thank you. Good job." I hang up and stare at Ivy.

  Her eyes blaze with love. "She takes your name today, Dr. Jordan."

  "Yep, just as you did five years ago. My two girls have my name."

  I gaze at the framed black and white photo
on the wall of the day I kissed my bride in the aisle. A prime moment of bliss in my fucked-up life.

  "Let's celebrate," Ivy says, excited. "An adoption party. We'll commemorate this day every year. I can't believe after six hundred and forty-one days of foster care, she's finally ours. I was so worried we'd lose her."

  "It was clear to everyone she's better off with us. Just took them time to let go. But they did. For her sake."

  "Shall we throw the party at the center?"

  "Anywhere you'd like."

  "Let's invite the kids from the gym. The others who've been adopted and their families. They'll understand what it means to her."

  "Invite anyone you want."

  "Thank you, Jacade. For this life. For making me a mother and a wife. I never dreamed I'd have a family like this. It's all I ever wanted and more."

  "You're all I've ever wanted and more. I love you, my sweet Ivy."

  "I love you, my big jerk!"

  "Hey!"

  We laugh and make love again.

  And again.

  I'm gonna keep fucking her and fucking her.

  Forever.

  ###

  About the Author

  M.K. Gilher is a best-selling author of heart-pounding romantic suspense with a medical twist. She spends her days at her job in the healthcare field plotting prurient stories in her mind. She writes rough around the edges, sweet on the inside, alpha-male doctors and relishes in making them suffer to get to their happily ever afters. She lives in the Chicagoland area and loves to root for her real life heroes; the Cubs, the Bears, the Bulls, and the Hawks.

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  Missionary Sneak Peek

  Missionary (Shane's book) is a standalone military romance based on a true story. Expected publication spring 2017.