by Jen Davis
Arlo threw the bloody mess of a man onto the table and gathered the ties to strap him down. Jasper untangled himself from Jackie and stood up. He was going to enjoy this. On his way to the task, Dom stood in his way. “I got this.”
“Get out of my way. I get the honor.” Jasper was going to skin that man alive.
“There’s no honor in doing this in front of her.” His friend nodded Jackie’s way. “I know how you feel, but I will never forget the look on Stephanie’s face when I killed Oscar in front of her. She understands this life, but Jackie isn’t from our world. You need to protect her.” Leave it to Dominic, the man of few words, to say the ones Jasper needed to hear most. “Go, get out of here. We’ll finish up.”
The man moaned as Arlo pulled a strap tight, and Jackie could be heard crying. She had a kind heart, too kind to be here. “He’s mentally ill. He has to be.” She would want the man turned in to the police, but that wouldn’t happen. The man would die an agonizing death for what he did to the other woman and for what he intended to do to Jackie.
Arlo’s phone vibrated, and he answered it. “Roman wants the fucker alive.”
“Oh, hell no.” Jasper wasn’t having any of it. “Over my dead body.”
“He might have information we need about the Bratva. We’ll work him over and see what spills out. You take her home.”
“Son of a bitch!” Jasper groaned and clenched his fist. It was the right thing to do. She needed more than they did here. “Give me the damn keys.” Arlo took them out of his pocket and tossed them his way.
“Thanks, guys.” Jasper choked up. It’d been an emotional day. “I owe you.”
“We’re brothers, even if we aren’t blood.” Dom and Arlo nodded in agreement.
Jasper returned and knelt in front of a very pale Jackie. “Are you okay to go now? Do you want me to carry you?” Jasper took her hands in his.
“Just get me out of here.” She let go of his hands and threw her arms around his neck.
“Where do you want to go?” Jasper said in her ear.
“Anywhere as long as it’s with you.” Jackie held him tight, and he wasn’t letting go.
“Don’t worry. I’m never leaving you again.”
Chapter 25
Two months later
Jackie
There was nothing better than being kissed awake by the one you loved. Jasper nibbled on her ear before dropping his mouth to her neck, then her breasts. They didn’t have much time, so their lovemaking this morning would be quick but no less mind-blowing. She’d barely awoken before he was pressed up against her opening, ready to make her his.
A moan escaped her lips as he thrust inside her. The fast pace her man kept was matched only by her own. They’d become so in tune with each other’s needs, it didn’t take long to reach climax when short on time. Tonight would be different. Jasper was an expert at playing her body like a fine-tuned instrument, and he promised to make up for their fast and furious wake-up call.
Her muscles tightened, and before she knew it, Jackie was spiraling over a passion-filled cliff. Jasper shuddered and groaned as he followed after. His hands clutched in hers above her head.
“Have I told you today how much I love you?” Jasper ran his fingers through her tousled hair.
“No, I don’t believe so.” Her cheeks were flushed as she tightened her legs around his, not wanting him to leave her body just yet.
“You’re my angel, and I love you more and more every day.”
“I love you, too.”
Jasper’s phone alarm buzzed, and he rested his forehead on hers. “Damn. I guess I’d better get dressed.”
“Yes. We can’t be late.” They had a ceremony to get to.
***
The wedding of Stephanie and Dominic was something out of a bohemian and medieval dream, with the bride looking like a beautiful princess and the groom a handsome prince. They’d both wanted a low-key ceremony out in the woods, but with tensions high and security a priority, both parties agreed that the nuptials would be best if they took place at Roman and Madison’s place.
It was a beautiful June day. The sun was shining as the boats buzzed by on the lake. Jackie adjusted her skirt as it lightly ruffled in the breeze. She had a front row seat for the festivities. A lot had happened since her arrival in this town. It was home now, and she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Her relationship with Jasper had never been better or stronger. Her cheeks blushed as he winked at her from where he stood. He was the best man today and had never looked more handsome. Both he and Dom were dressed similarly, which was a first. Reluctantly, Dom had let Jasper pick out their clothes for the wedding. They were both dressed in mustard-colored pants, ivory dress shirts, and brown suspenders. The groom wore a tie, while Jasper went without. Dom wore his long hair tied back and had trimmed his beard short.
They stood near a dark wood awning that was draped with wild flowers and navy-blue satin, the accent color of the wedding. There were few people in attendance as both Stephanie and Dominic didn’t like crowds. Just the men and women who were close to them. Jackie noticed Arlo standing in the back, his eyes always searching the distance for threats but often returning to the young woman with long dark hair sitting across the aisle from her. Jackie had finally gotten to meet Layla at the bachelorette party. As everyone had hinted at, the guy really did only have eyes for her.
Just thinking about the girls’ weekend surrounded her with a warm, fuzzy feeling. After her parents’ death, Jackie had distanced herself from friends, and the fun adventures they’d shared already made her feel like a welcome addition to the group, something she’d not experienced in a long time. They didn’t do anything fancy, just got mani/pedis, watched movies, went shopping, and drank wine in the hot tub of the resort where they’d stayed. All were memories which she’d treasure for a long time.
She’d only been gone two days, but it was hard to tell who had missed the other more, Jasper or herself. After they’d saved her from Alexander, Jasper had brought her to the Caponelli compound to see the family doctor. Luckily, she’d only suffered a mild concussion, but he waited on her hand and foot for much longer than was necessary. Alexander, on the other hand, wasn’t doing so well. Jasper would only tell her bits and pieces of what had happened to her captor. They’d kept him alive in the hopes of using the guy against his brother. Whether Fedor would want him back or even care what happened to him was anybody’s guess.
After she’d been rescued, they had worked through their differences. Jasper accepted the fact that he’d been the unknowing part of their trap to catch Andrew Hower, and she’d accepted the fact that, even though he was the best man she knew, his job often skirted and even broke the law. Jasper moved in with her, and the view of the lake had never been better, now that he was by her side.
The wedding march started, and the guests turned their attention to the house. Madison was the maid of honor. She was a vision in blue walking down the aisle to take her place opposite Jasper. Jackie sent her a wave as Maddy dabbed at tears with a lacy handkerchief.
Everyone stood as Stephanie exited the house on the arm of her father. Her dress had been designed by Maddy, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The ivory lace dress was sleeveless with a deep V in the front. It had a full skirt that became a short train in the rear. A blue satin ribbon wrapped around her waist and tied into a bow right below the V in the back.
Her long blonde hair was a work of art. Delicate wisps of baby’s breath and wild flowers were entwined in the curls. Dominic didn’t have to say a word; the look on his face said volumes. Her groom loved her to the moon and back. Jackie’s gaze shifted to Jasper. The man was focused only on her. He mouthed, “I love you.” She clasped her hands in front of her heart and bit back the sigh threatening to escape her lips.
He’d not proposed yet, but they’d talked about marriage. Both agreed they didn’t want to take the spotlight away from the two getting hitched today. There was plenty of t
ime for that later. When the bride reached the arch, her father kissed her cheek and placed her hand in Dom’s. The ceremony was short, sweet, and so perfect. When the minister said it was time to kiss the bride, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. Dominic beamed, and Stephanie gushed with bliss. The groom led his bride down the aisle, and Roman, who sat in the front row, came up to escort the maid of honor, leaving Jasper all by himself.
With a playful glint in his eye, he strode her way and offered the crook of his elbow. “Hey there, Angel. Care to walk down the aisle with me?” It was an offer she couldn’t resist.
“I’d love to.” She wrapped her fingers around his arm. He briefly covered them with his before dropping a kiss to her cheek. Jasper had never looked more handsome. Was it the suit? The occasion? No, she’d just fallen more and more under his spell every day.
They enjoyed a small catered meal from Firenza in the formal dining room. Again, the bride and groom hated attention, so no dance or reception would be taking place. Stephanie and Dominic did sit at the head of the table, which was usually Roman’s spot. He gave up the honor to sit along the side with his emotional wife, who tittered back and forth between laughter and joyful tears.
Everyone took their seats at the large table, and servers filled their glasses with champagne. All except for Maddy, who placed her hand over her flute and asked for ginger ale. Stephanie’s gaze met Jackie’s when they noticed it at the same time.
Jasper tapped a knife against his glass and stood. “As best man, it is my duty to give a toast, but where do I begin?” He paused and glanced around the room before settling his gaze on the happy couple. “I can’t tell you how happy I am for my two friends, Stephanie and Dominic. People always say that, but until you’ve felt that love for another person yourself,” Jasper looked at her and Jackie’s heart nearly burst, “you don’t really appreciate how wonderful that feeling is.” Her eyes watered, and Madison started the waterworks again. “I know Dom didn’t like me when we first met, but I somehow won him over with my charm.” That brought a chuckle from the other diners. “I’m proud to call him my best friend. I wish you both a long life of happiness and love, and I look forward to being with you guys every step of that journey. Salut.” Everyone echoed the toast and drank to the couple as Jasper hugged Dom and Steph. “And I expect to be godfather to some babies also,” he joked before taking a seat.
“Thank you, Jasper.” Stephanie’s face flushed, and she focused on Madison. “But from the way someone’s acting, I think the family will be having a new addition very soon.” All eyes turned Madison’s way.
This time, it was Roman who stood up with a glass in his hand. “Since you brought it up…” He offered a hand to his wife and Madison stood beside him. “We were going to wait a bit before announcing, but I’m so proud to share that my beautiful wife is pregnant.” Now that explained her boss’s odd behavior the last few weeks. Maddy had been concerned about getting pregnant, and here she was already.
Everyone cheered, and the room burst with love and congratulations. Another round of toasts was in motion for the happy couples, and Jasper clasped her hand on the table.
“Thank you everyone.” Maddy glowed with happiness. “Jackie, this means I’m going to be relying on you a lot more in the coming months.”
“I’m ready and happy to do it.” Never before had she been so excited for the future.
“So, do you two have anything to share with the rest of us?” Madison had just put them on the spot, and Jackie’s cheeks burned.
“Soon.” Jasper spoke up. “Very soon.” Again, the room erupted with cheers and good wishes.
When it finally settled down, Arlo hollered, “Are we ever going to eat?” The man was lucky enough to be sitting next to Layla, but it still hadn’t improved his temperament. He soon received more razzing from the others at the table.
“Yes.” Madison motioned for the servers to start the meal, and Roman held his glass up in a toast.
“To family.” He made it a point of meeting the eyes of every person in the room. “Blood and non-blood. New,” he motioned to Stephanie, “old, and future.” On the word “future,” he directed his glass at Jackie. This time, the tears couldn’t be held back, and she squeezed Jasper’s hand. She’d lost her family, and they would always be special and close to her heart, but now, she’d been blessed with a new one.
After dinner, Roman had chartered a yacht to take everyone for an evening cruise. It was a chance to relax and continue the traditions of the day. The wedding couple cut into their two-tier chocolate cake at the reception but brought more onboard the ship. Madison was the one who always debated on whether or not to have cake at the coffee shop, but this time, she didn’t hold back and asked for two pieces.
“Hey, do you want to go up top to sit for a while?” Jasper asked Jackie before biting into the last piece of his dessert.
“Sure. I’d love to.” Everyone had settled into their little groups and barely noticed that they were leaving.
The beautiful day had turned into an equally stunning night. It was warm with a slight breeze. People along the shore were also enjoying their time outside, either sitting on the decks or barbecuing.
“My angel, Jackie.” Jasper guided her eyes to his with his index finger.
“What?” Her nerves kicked in.
“Life is short, and I don’t want to waste a minute of it without you. I love you with all my heart. I promise to be true to you and only you for the rest of my life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He dropped to one knee. “Become Mrs. Lencioni?”
Her mouth fell open. Even though they’d talked about it, it was still a shock to hear. They hadn’t known each other that long, but it really didn’t matter. Her heart pounded in her chest as Jasper reached into his pocket and pulled out a little red box. She melted even more when he opened it and placed it on her finger. It featured two large diamonds in the middle of an infinity shape.
“Since it’s already on her finger, I hope your answer is yes?” Never had she seen the overly cocky Jasper appear nervous, but he was a little pale. The urge to tease him a bit briefly crossed her mind, but she was too eager to give her answer.
She cupped his jaw in her palm. “I love you so much, Jasper. For infinity and beyond, you have my heart.”
“Is that a yes?” He appeared even more anxious.
Jackie nodded as tears threatened her eyes. “Of course, it’s a yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Barely was the last word out of her mouth before his lips were on hers. He tasted like a chocolate cake, champagne, and happily ever after. Loud booms exploded in the background, and they reluctantly broke apart as fireworks lit up the sky over Lake Genoa. It was the end of an absolutely amazing day with an equally amazing man. He’d turned her empty world upside down and overflowed it with love. For today, for tomorrow, and for infinity.
The End
About the Author
Ginger Ring is an award-winning author with a weakness for cheese, dark chocolate, and the Green Bay Packers. She loves reading, watching great movies, and has a quirky sense of humor. Publishing a book has been a lifelong dream of hers and she is excited to share her romantic stories with you. Her heroines are classy, sassy and in search of love and adventure. When Ginger isn't tracking down old gangster haunts or stopping at historical landmarks, you can find her on the backwaters of the Mississippi River fishing with her husband.
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RUSSIAN TATTOOS:
Obsession
By Kat Shehata
Chapt
er 1
Crooked
The old Camry turned onto a narrow driveway, overhung by naked tree branches, and stopped in front of a wrought-iron security gate. Dad popped a handful of mints into his mouth, then pressed an intercom button to announce our arrival. A buzzer sounded, and the gate opened. With barbed wire surrounding the compound and the elaborate security measures, it seemed more like a maximum-security prison than a private residence.
Dad rolled the car forward and eyed me in the rearview mirror. “Thanks for giving up your Friday night, Carter.” He has one of those round, jolly faces that put people at ease, but since his layoff, it was rare to see him smile. “Vladimir is anxious to meet you.”
“No problem. Campus is boring on the weekends, anyway,” I lied. I had no clue why some Russian billionaire had to meet me before he offered my dad a job, but since Dad had been unemployed since the spring, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.
“Fair warning, your dad’s been bragging about you,” my stepmom, Karen, said.
The tires crackled on the gravel as we inched our way toward a humungous estate—grander than any of the houses we had passed on the road. It was hard to imagine a twenty-seven-year-old techie could afford this swanky mansion.
“Where did you meet this Russian genius?”
“Funny story. He was behind me in line at Starbucks and noticed a logo on my computer bag from an IT conference I’d attended last year. We got to talking and it turns out he’s hiring a CIO, so I gave him my business card. I know it’s a big jump from my last job, but…”
I patted his shoulder assuredly. “It must be fate. He’d be crazy not to pick the greatest, uh, IT wizard, programmer, tech support, computer fixer guy ever, right?”