Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
She studied me for a few heartbeats. “A one-night stand is one thing, but marriage? That’s what I’m trying to avoid.”
“I understand that,” I said. “But from where I’m standing, this is the option that keeps you safe. I’ll never harm you. I know you don’t know me that well, but you can trust that.”
“What about your family?”
“What about them?”
She huffed a little. “Won’t marrying the daughter of a rival family cause problems? Even if it isn’t anything real? Even if you’re doing it as a favor?”
“I’ll handle them,” I said, shocked she was worried about any issues this would cause for me when her life was on the line. “I promise, they won’t hurt you either.”
She swallowed hard. “You want to do this?”
“You’ve called in your favor.”
“This isn’t what I asked for.”
“No,” I said, sighing. “But it’s what you need.”
Something settled in her gaze before she glanced down at herself. “I suppose I am already dressed for the occasion.”
I allowed myself to take in the white nightgown one more time, the silk and lace covering her supple body in all the ways that begged to be uncovered. It would do.
“So you're in?”
“I'm in,” she said.
I stood up, hunting down my phone and firing off a quick text to my assistant. He quickly texted back.
“The jet will be ready in forty-five minutes, and the plane ride will be about two hours. I'll have my witness meet us there.”
I shot a text to my oldest friend, not wanting to get anyone else outside the life involved, so that excluded Asher, Crossland, Weston, and Ethan, even though I knew they’d all be more than supportive if I called them in.
“I need to get changed,” I said, heading back into the closet as I searched through my luggage for a suit.
“Where are we going?”
“Vegas.”
The next three hours passed by in a flurry of chaos that I could barely keep up with. Thankfully, Brooks, my best friend from Chicago, had already been in Vegas and was more than willing to stand as a witness as Serenity and I took our vows.
He hadn’t asked a single question. That was the thing about Brooks. He was loyal, discreet, and deadly as fuck. I hadn't called him in for that last quality of his in years.
“And do you, Serenity O'Brien, take Gareth Maxfield to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and health, for as long as you both shall live?”
My heart pounded against my chest as we stood across from each other in the tiny church, the first one we'd been able to find with an opening so quickly. I'd only had time to grab a simple solitary diamond ring from the hotel store to slide on her finger.
“I do,” she said without a hint of hesitation in her voice. I’d grabbed a platinum band for me, and now we’d both said our I dos and were wearing rings to prove it.
“By the power vested in me, by the great state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the officiate said, smiling at us both.
Serenity was the first to move closer, and I dipped my head, planting the barest of kisses over her soft, silky lips.
Jesus fucking Christ, I wanted more. I wanted to slide my hands around her waist and haul her to me, to steal her breath and kiss her so intensely her lips would swell with proof that she was mine.
I pulled back quickly, just barely registering the hurt in Serenity’s eyes at the move.
But this wasn't a normal wedding. This was about protecting her, which I would do at all costs. And part of that protection meant keeping her safe from me, too.
Brooks clapped and grinned at me as the officiate motioned for us to be on our way, the next couple waiting to get married already lined up in the hallway outside the main room.
I took Serenity's hand in mine, not wanting her to try to run off after the official words had been said. She didn't seem skittish, not like I expected her to be. There was a calm sense of acceptance washing over her, her eyes going distant as we stood outside the chapel while we waited for my driver to pick us up.
“I can’t wait to see what Dante says about this,” Brooks said after I had successfully put Serenity in the back of the car.
“I’ll deal with Dante,” I grumbled.
Brooks laughed. “Famous last words of countless men.”
“I’m not afraid of him.”
“I am,” Brooks said, feigning a shudder.
I rolled my eyes. “Bullshit,” I said. “Your fearlessness is one of the reasons you’re so terrifying to everyone but me.”
“Don’t lie to yourself, you know you’re a tiny bit scared of me.”
I shook my head. I’d never admit it. But I knew better than anyone how lethally quiet, determined, and skilled Brooks really was. Truth was, I’d rather face Dante’s wrath than Brooks’s any day, and that was saying something.