The pen in my hand snapped in half when I signed my name.
“I had a wonderful assistant for a while,” Henry mused while the man with the bird nose rushed to the get the papers away from the spreading ink. “She found these three hiding out in the kitchen. You may have met her. In fact, I believe you danced with her tonight.”
I cringed. “Angela. The waitress from the Derrick.”
“Yes,” Henry said. “You’ll be happy to know that Sindra trained her, and in return, she got the same treatment she gave you all those years ago. Sweet justice, isn’t it?”
I found myself agreeing to the absurdity of the logic as I glared at Sindra. What she did to me was unforgivable.
“However,” Henry said, eyeing Sindra with disgust but for entirely different reasons. “Angela is dead. She was a traitor, just like Sindra is, and she made the mistake of threatening me, which is never a good idea.”
Sindra hung her shorn head and leaned against Davis with closed eyes. The deep-cut white gown she was wearing shifted to expose too much of her chest, which was bruised, and I realized that the dark shades under the sheer fabric that hugged her thin body were more bruises. Although I didn’t feel sorry for her, I snarled at the snake lawyer who was openly leering.
“So, here’s the deal,” Henry said. “You, Mr. Oliver Bennet, are going to sign all these papers. My lawyer has assured me that it will make the marriage completely legal. The moment you kiss the bride, I’ll let Stephan and Davis walk out the door.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said.
Henry seemed truly offended. “On my honor, Oliver. I promised my daughter that I would let her friends go if she married you and she agreed. I have her in another room signing her life away, too.”
There was no way Henry was going to let anyone walk out of here alive. Absolutely no way. He could do whatever he wanted with Sindra, I didn’t care. But Stephan? And Davis? I had to be smart.
“They get to leave, now,” I said. “And that includes Arnold in security and the maid, Ella.” Stephan’s eyes were wide, as if he was trying to relay a message to me telepathically. “And William in the kitchen,” I added.
Stephan’s shoulders relaxed, but Davis tensed. His eyes held mine, unblinking, and it was the first he acknowledged me since he came in the room. When his head tilted toward Sindra, I knew what he wanted.
“Sindra too,” I said, cringing. “They all walk out of here right this minute or I’ll just take this pen…” the hawk had just placed a fresh one in my hand so I pressed it against my neck, “and end all of this.”
Henry sighed. Shook his head. “What’s with everyone wanting to kill themselves today? Geez, it’s sickening. So much drama.”
Henry might have been joking, but he knew me well enough to realize I was not faking. What he didn’t know was that I was dying already and probably would be doing myself a favor by getting it over with faster.
“All right, fine,” he said with an exaggerated wave of his hand. “You…” he pointed at a guard with a swollen eye and bloody nose. “Take these three and the others outside. Lead them through the gates and let them go. Record it and send it to me so I have proof for Oliver and make it fast. We’ve got a wedding starting soon.”
They were ushered to the door.
“Oh, and Sindra,” Henry said. She froze. Terrified. “I suggest you disappear rather thoroughly because eventually I will find you so we can discuss your betrayal.”
Sindra’s eyes lifted to meet mine, and I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. She conveyed the words thank you to me, as did Stephan, but Davis walked off without a glance back.
The excitement in the ballroom escalated when a long red carpet was rolled straight down the middle. I stood at one end with the hawk, and Henry at the other with a microphone.
His arrogant voice ignited the room. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am so honored for you all to be here. Any moment now, my beautiful daughter will marry her long-time love, Mister Oliver Bennet. This is a father’s dream come true!”
Cheers and clapping. Someone said ‘whoot’. Then the gossip followed. I thought Kaya Lowen wasn’t real… no one has ever seen her. Maybe she’s unfortunately ugly. Who is the poor groom?
I had to tune it out and concentrate on the inky splotch from the pen on the tip of my finger. I wasn’t sure what to do or how to feel. I was being manipulated again. Used. And even knowing that Stephan and the others had made it safely across the bridge and hopefully out of town, I stood there like a lump. Doing nothing. Henry’s words rattling around in my head.
I’m going to give you everything you’ve ever wanted… my daughter.
She truly was everything I ever wanted.
But not this way.
I needed to cause a scene. Make a run for it. But Kaya would be walking down the aisle toward me any moment now. I would be expected to hold her hands. Say vows. Kiss her… kiss her… kiss her… and what if she kissed me back? What if she changed her mind and now wanted me the way I wanted her?
Ugh. I had to snap out of it. The lines of reality should not be so blurry.
But since I was dying anyway, maybe just for one moment I could pretend that I really was about to have what I always wanted.
The wedding song lilted through the room, light and airy. The women got teary-eyed. The men, impatient. At the far end of the room, Henry beamed as if he’d inherited the world, and then up behind him came my bride to be. She latched on to his arm, stood straight as an arrow, squared her shoulders, and held her head high. Henry didn’t even so much as glance at her, intent only on leading her down the carpet toward me.
She was the most beautiful bride. Her mask of feathers and glittering jewels did not conceal the upturned corners of her perfect bow-shaped mouth. The dress—a ridiculously blingy thing with a long train and bodice that barely covered her top half—flowed behind her as she walked. She was breathtaking, stunning, self-assured, and without the slightest hint of weakness or fear about her.
And most definitely not Kaya.
The closer she got, the more it became obvious that the dress was meant for someone shorter and thinner. Not that this girl was heavy by any means; she was perfectly curvy with an ample chest, toned bare shoulders and arms and almost as tall as Henry. She owned the room. I was captivated. Everyone was captivated—except Henry. He was so busy watching the reaction of the crowd he didn’t even realize the girl on his arm wasn’t his daughter.
The girl’s eyes gleamed with mischief, twinkling like the devil was dancing in them. When she came to stop mere feet from me, she winked and smiled so brightly I couldn’t help but smile back.
Henry had moved off to the side, leaving her to walk up onto the small stage alone. She kept her back to the room as her hands reached for mine. I noted right away the roughness of her skin and the calluses on her fingertips as I held them. Hawk man was saying stuff… words and blah blah… but I was awed by the strength of this girl’s hands. I let the feel of them dull the chatter. It was just her and me. Me and her. And I was saying I do… and so was she… and we were exchanging rings, and a strange heat expanded and fluttered in my chest in the most inexplicable way.
“You may kiss the bride,” the hawk said, adjusting his glasses.
Had the room grown so quiet my heart could be heard? It pounded madly. I was supposed to remove this girl’s mask and kiss her… and I found my hands trembling.
“Waiting ain’t gonna make me any prettier,” she said with a grin.
I reached for the ribbon at the back of her head, released the bow, and unveiled the most beautiful face I’d ever seen.
I forgot where I was.
“You may kiss the bride,” urged the hawk.
I put my trembling hands on her cheeks. “I’m Oliver,” I said.
Her brown eyes levelled on mine. “And I’m Marlene.”
Marlene. I kissed her. Never had I kissed anyone other than Kaya, but I kissed this girl. And I didn’t want to stop. I felt my
hands shake as I held her cheeks, letting them glide across her skin when she finally pulled away. When she turned to face the crowd, they began clapping and cheering—and that’s when Henry’s face fell.
It took a nose dive.
Crashed.
Hit the dirt.
And it was awesome to see.
Marlene raised our clutched hands and silenced the crowd. “Thank you all so much!” she said loudly, and suddenly a pin dropping would have sounded like a drum set falling over. “It is so wonderful to finally be able to meet so many of you fantastic people and have you here at my wedding!”
Henry still hadn’t picked his jaw up off the ground.
Marlene smiled madly. “You know, after being ill for so long, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to marry, but with the love and dedication of my dear father and his medical research, I am healed! It’s my dream come true. Healthy and married to the man of my dreams. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Daddy.”
Her excitement seemed so genuine that the kiss she blew to Henry slapped when it hit his cheek.
“I know this is an unusual request,” she went on as I watched her in complete awe. “But then again, this is an unusual wedding. I am hoping that all of you will escort me and my husband,” she winked at me deviously and squeezed my hand, “into town to mark the beginning of our new lives together. Walk with us! Let us celebrate with all of you as we head off on the start of our new lives together!”
Brilliant. Absolutely bloody brilliant.
There was more cheering. A surreal level of excitement filled the room as this girl, Marlene, led the way with the air of a queen. The crowd broke in behind us, following obediently as we headed for the doors. No one tried to stop us. Not one guard made a move. We marched out of the ballroom, through the grand lobby, down the marble steps into the cool night, and through the gates.
I felt freedom on so many levels.
But we were exposed now. Anyone could be carrying a weapon, or working for John Marchessa, or taking the rare opportunity to kidnap the billionaire heiress and exact revenge on her father. The threats hadn’t changed.
I switched into bodyguard mode, just as desperate to protect this girl holding my hand as if she were Kaya, and a cough stalled me. Tripped up my feet. Marlene tugged me forward not slowing for a second.
“I got you,” she said softly. “Just follow my lead, all right, big guy?”
Guests were close behind, some marching along beside us now, cell phones in hand.
“You’re a target out here,” I said, eyeing the bridge coming up. “John Marchessa—”
“Yeah whatever,” she said, cutting me off. “I know all about that weasel pimple. He can kiss it. Just stay close, I’ll look after you, Oliver.”
I didn’t know if my voice would work. “All right,” I said, stunned and rather lightheaded.
We made it to the bridge, and I didn’t have to glance back to know that Henry and his men were completely unprepared to have hundreds of people escort us into town. They were getting directions on their earpieces, and the command would be to protect the asset. Me. I was still valuable, Marlene however, was not, and I had no gun, no backup, no—
“Almost home-free there, hubby,” Marlene said as the bridge shook beneath us.
Her skirt was kicking up around her feet, exposing black hiking boots, the toes scuffed and worn. “Who are you?” I asked through a fake smile and noise bordering on chaos.
“Kaya is my best friend,” she said.
I almost stopped walking. “That’s ridiculous. She’s—”
“Safe.”
Marlene kept smiling as cameras flashed, people called her Kaya, and the crowd pushed us ahead. I wanted to break into a run now that we were across the bridge, but thought it might incite panic. Things were becoming out of control.
“We both love zombie movies,” Marlene said, or practically yelled, her grip on my hand not letting up. “Hate mayo and would rather eat rocks than cook. She’s with Luke by the way.”
A sudden weariness gripped me from out of nowhere. I felt myself slow, and Marlene marched faster, practically dragging me down the street.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“I have a car waiting. Just up ahead.”
My body was defying me, and Marlene was having none of it.
“Come on. Keep up, it’s not far,” she hissed.
But that cough came at me and stopped me dead in my tracks. Marlene stopped too, then turned around abruptly and yelled at the mob.
“Stop!”
She held her bouquet high in the air, and the squeals from the women trying to shove their way to the front of the line were deafening. Marlene was stalling so I could catch my breath, and while she waited until she thought I was okay, time stood still. The wind had scattered her hair around her face, the pins were gone somehow, and there was such determination and strength in her eyes I became as awestruck as the crowd.
“Are you ready, ladies?”
Cheering. Squealing. Marlene had the power and control of everyone behind her with a bunch of stupid flowers—I would never understand girls.
With her back to the crowd again, Marlene swung the flowers over her shoulder and sure enough, panic ensued. You’d think she’d tossed a bucket of diamonds by the way the pushing and shoving escalated. We took the opportunity to run, just as shots rang out.
I didn’t bother to look back or even try to figure out who was shooting at whom, all we could do was head for the car. I’d always thought Kaya was fast for a girl, but Marlene was faster. I had a tough time keeping up with her and could barely catch my breath once we got into the backseat.
“You all right there, big guy?” she asked.
I nodded, and with tires squealing and headlights gleaming, in her eyes I caught a glimpse of a life I hadn’t known I’d wanted until now.
On the edge of town in a motel parking lot, I was vaguely aware that we were switching vehicles, and with Driver Dan at the wheel of an old truck, we headed out of town under a blanket of stars. I should have had a thousand questions for Dan, but I could only watch Marlene practically shred the dress trying to get it off as if it were suddenly acid. When she caught me watching her out of the corner of my eye, her voice lowered in warning.
“Quit being a perv. You keep your eyes in your head and your hands to yourself or I’ll smack the crap outta ya.”
“Sorry.”
I had no doubt she would. But she was pulling a black T-shirt on over perfect golden skin and a white lacy bra, and then cargo pants over a flat stomach and a knife strapped to her ankle.
“Hey, what did I tell you?” she barked, turning to face me, brown eyes boring into mine.
I fumbled. “I’m sorry, it’s just that… I, uh… well…”
She blinked at me, waiting for an answer, and I noticed her cheek had a darkness to it, a bruise maybe? The highway lights only momentarily lit her face. Before I could stop myself, I was reaching for her.
Only to have my hand slapped practically right off my wrist.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” she said.
“I’m sorry, I thought—”
A cough came and stole my words. Ripped them right from my tongue. The tang of blood filled my mouth, and I hoped in the dark of night, she wouldn’t see it on my hands. I was swallowing hard. My mouth dry. Out of the blue, I felt incredibly dizzy. My mind was drifting. Her face was coming in and out of view, and the look in her eyes changed from wanting to kill me to concern.
“Ah crap. How many glasses of champagne did you drink, Oliver?”
Her voice fluttered through my ears, and I thought of the hawk, handing me a glass and then another, and in my nervousness, downing two more off a waiter’s tray. Or, was it three? They were small glasses.
“Five, maybe,” I said. “Not sure.”
“Five? Who drinks five glasses of champagne? Especially a dude? Oh well.” Marlene was smiling, her fingertips were on my forehead pushing me back
gently into the seat. Was she bunching up her discarded dress and putting it behind my head? It smelled nice.
“Georgia spiked the champagne. She may have sedated half the town.”
“Who is Georgia?” I asked, although I didn’t care.
Marlene snorted. So unladylike. So perfect. “A really annoying blonde chick with too much time on her hands.”
The truck ambled along. “Where are we headed?” I asked, but my words were slurred.
“To that place you’ve always wanted to go. The one that’s ‘in your dreams’.”
Was she mocking me? Oh well. I didn’t care. I closed my eyes.
“Well, nighty night there, big guy. Don’t worry about a thing. You and most of the town will sleep well this evening.”
“Yes. Goodnight, Marlene,” I tried to say, but darkness swiftly took over. Marlene. Marlene. Such a beautiful name, Marlene, I didn’t want to forget it. Not ever. It was so perfect, so perfect… Marlene.
“Yeah, whatever, weirdo,” I heard her say.
I woke with the sun in my eyes and the smell of gasoline in my nose. It took a minute to get my bearings; I was in the backseat of a truck—a rusty thing that should be in a junkyard—and Marlene’s wedding dress was stuffed underneath and around me, cradling my head and keeping me warm. There was a ring on my finger…
Marlene.
I sat up. The sun was directly overhead, beating down on lush foliage and green weeds surrounding a crumbling gas station. We were just off a highway, and the mountains were only pin pricks in the distance. It was warm. There was no snow. How long had we driven?
I noticed the top of a head of amber hair from someone leaning down beside the truck, and I rolled down the window.
“Mornin, Oliver,” Marlene said as I got out of the backseat and stretched. “Flat tire. I hope I didn’t bend the rim.”
There was dirt on her hands and a dark smudge on her cheek. No one was helping her.
“Where’s Dan?” I asked, scanning the area.
“I dropped him off at the last town. He needed to get back to his kids.”
The truck was jacked up, and Marlene was pulling off the flat. Some kid in beige coveralls and knockoff Ray Bans was leaning against the gas pump, uselessly watching. I gave my head a shake at the putz.
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