I flipped the youngest of the Ross brothers off. Aaron should have known more than anyone how deadly his sister-in-law was.
I’d told Patty the night before that we would make our own traditions, but I knew she wanted to surprise me in her dress. So I didn’t fight as I was shoved out the door by a group of women. Bridget and Daisy joined Kat and Jessica. All four of the women were going to help Patty get ready. Tucker and Missy planned to wrangle the kids most of the day, except for Kinley, who was the flower girl, and Antonio Jr., who was the ring bearer.
Dr. Carter stepped into the room, holding his bible. “Everyone is in place. We can begin if you’re ready.”
I nodded. Patty and I had both been surprised when he still wanted to marry us after the conference room disaster. Everyone followed Dr. Carter down the hall to the back garden.
Before I walked out the door, a hand grabbed my shoulder. I turned and found that it was Neal. “I’m happy for you,” he said. “Now, get your ass out there so we can get this show on the road. I plan to break into that Scotch I saw hidden under the bar.”
“Thanks.” I laughed. “Is she ready? Because I don’t care if her hair is only partially done—you’d better get my pixie down that aisle.”
Neal chuckled. “Oh, she’s ready, and she’s going to knock your socks off.”
“Did Daisy knock your socks off?”
Neal’s face lit up. “Finding Aaron and Daisy was the best thing that ever happened to me. When Patty found you, things changed in my life, and I never knew if I would have what you had. I did, but…”
“What?”
Neal glanced back toward the hallway. “Patty was my only friend for years. We worked with each other, lived close to each other, and then it all changed overnight. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy you are both together, but it’s hard with her so far away. I miss my coding partner at night, and now she’s queen. I knew this day would come, but it’s like I’m losing my best friend.”
I squeezed Neal’s shoulder. “You can run Black Hat Security from here. Aaron isn’t doing movies anymore, and Daisy could also find work. Maybe it’s time you guys came here for a while. I know my wife loves you as much as she loves her sister. And I wouldn’t mind having the second-best hacker in the world helping me. I’m not saying you have to make a decision tonight, but think about it.”
“I’ll talk with Aaron and Daisy,” Neal said. “I’m not saying we would move here, but we could come for a lot of longer visits. I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You won’t be. Now, go get my future wife, because I can’t wait to make her mine.”
“Fuck yeah,” Neal said before turning and walking back down the hall to get Patty.
* * *
I stood at the end of the flower garden, looking at the rows of chairs filled with our friends in one section. Mia, the only woman on Brock’s team, had flown in the night before. She was the second person I’d hired when I opened Blackwood Mercenary. Kat was deadly with a gun, but Mia could take down a three-hundred-pound man in hand-to-hand combat. Most men underestimated her by her size, but I knew she was deadly. I followed her line of sight and saw that she was staring at Tucker. They would make an interesting couple, but Mia had something holding her back from letting anyone get close. I wanted to be around for the day a man finally knocked her on her ass.
Not surprisingly, Bridget and Alex were in the second row. What did shock me was that Mr. and Mrs. Ross sat next to them, holding their grandbabies. I’d always considered them my adopted parents but hadn’t thought they would make the nineteen-hour plane ride for the wedding. It was nice to know my adopted family was here. I’d spent years at the Ross house, growing up. Every time I was on leave, I would show up there for Sunday dinner.
“You know, I have the jet fueled. You could still make a run for it,” Antonio said in a soft voice on my left.
My eyes didn’t leave the back of the garden, where a rose archway had been added. “Fuck you, asshole.”
Brock and Antonio chuckled.
The woman playing the harp stopped for a second before changing songs. Neal stepped through the archway in a black suit and white shirt and made his way down the white walkway. He reached the front and stuck out his hand. I grabbed it and pulled him into a hug before letting go.
Jessica walked out next, her blond hair pulled up with a deep purple flower on the side. Her dress matched the flower. My future sister-in-law’s eyes were glued on her husband, Brock, as she hurried down the aisle. When she got to the front, she whispered, “I love you” to Brock before turning and standing next to Neal.
Kinley was excited about wearing a white dress and one of Patty’s tiaras. My little girl loved dressing like a princess. She walked out holding her basket in one hand and clutching Antonio Jr.’s hand with the other. The young boy smiled at my little girl before they walked down the aisle.
She dipped her hand in her basket and tossed purple petals up. With each step, she threw another handful of flowers in the air instead of in front of her. They rained down around her as she and the boy walked to the front of the aisle.
I smiled as she stopped in front of me. Her blond hair was braided to the side with a purple flower in it. She looked so much like her mother.
“Daddy, Mommy looks really pretty!” she announced to everyone. “I bet you are going to take Mommy to the closet.”
It seemed I needed to find a new hiding spot to pull my future wife into. I went down on one knee and held out my arms. Kinley jumped, and I caught her as she flew through the air. Her basket dropped to the ground. A few people in the crowd said “Awww.” But my eyes were on the archway.
“See, Mommy’s pretty,” Kinley whispered in my ear.
I pressed a quick peck to her cheek. “So are you, sweetie.”
Brock reached over and grabbed Kinley out of my arms. My eyes hadn’t left my future wife. She was breathtaking in her low-cut white dress, showing off her cleavage. The white satin hugged her waist, outlining every curve. Her long blond hair was elegantly twisted, leaving her neck open. She wore the diamond collar I’d given her a few years back. Most would think it was a pretty diamond necklace, but anyone in the lifestyle knew it was a collar. She’d brought both of our worlds together.
She bit a ruby-red lip as she walked down the aisle. I was so transfixed on Patty that I hadn’t noticed her dad next to her. She held on to his arm as they walked in sync together. I couldn’t have imagined anything more perfect than this—my closest friends and family and a beautiful day.
When she reached the end of the aisle, I couldn’t wait any longer, and I took a step forward and met them partway. William Beckett chuckled and held out his hand. “Take care of my princess.”
“I will.”
The older man nodded and sat in the front row. Patty twined her fingers with mine, and I leaned down and whispered, “I can’t wait to strip you out of that dress. You take my breath away.”
Patty’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. “You're not too bad yourself. For the record, I couldn’t wear a bra or panties.”
The music stopped while she was speaking. Neal laughed, but the archbishop shook his head. Patty’s faced turned a lovely shade of red.
While the archbishop gave a sermon about marriage and family, I couldn’t keep my eyes off my Patty. Everything around me faded, and I only concentrated on Patty until Dr. Carter cleared his throat. “Are you ready?”
I nodded, not sure what he’d asked me before that.
“You mentioned you’d written your own vows,” he said.
This was the only thing I’d asked for at the wedding. I wanted to write my own vows to tell Patty how much she meant to me. Patty had immediately agreed. I hadn’t written anything down or rehearsed what I planned to say, but I wanted to stand before my friends and tell her how much she meant to me.
“Patty, you were the light in my dark world the second you walked into my building. I’d seen the worst people for years and didn’t know
that one person could make me forget all the evil. Before I met you, I didn’t believe in love at first sight. That was something written in fairy tales and romance novels. But when you punched Doug in the face, I knew you were the person I wanted to spend my life with. You take care of everyone around you, making sure they are happy even if it causes you pain. I want to be the one who is there for you, always in your corner. The person you turn to at night to laugh and cry with. I promise always to have your back, even if it means building glitter bombs. I promise never to break your trust and still stand by your side in the tough times and the good. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you and our family have the best life because I love you, Patricia Beckett.” I couldn’t handle the tears in her eyes, so I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers, and she wrapped her arms around my neck.
Dr. Carter cleared his throat. “We’re not to that part yet.”
Everyone around us laughed. I didn’t care. The only person who mattered was Patty.
“Sam, you’re my heart, and each time we have a kid, my heart just grows bigger because I know it’s our family. The family we created. Someone might think we do things differently, letting our daughter build paint bombs and obstacle courses, but what I love about you, Sam, is you encourage not only me but our daughter too. I knew before you did that you were someone special. When you agreed to go on this crazy journey with me, I worried I wouldn’t be able to handle it. And to be honest, I don’t think I could have without you. When you see me struggling, you’re there to catch me before I make a mistake. I promise to always be at your side, Sam. No matter what life sends our way, we will get through it because our bond is strong. I love you, Samual Blackwood.
“I love you too,” Kinley shouted from Brock’s arms.
“By the power vested in me by the Catholic Church, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I wrapped my arms around Patty and pulled her in for a kiss. Clapping and catcalls from our friends sounded, but I didn’t let up until Kinley yelled, “Ew.”
Patty pulled back and whispered, “I love you,” across my lips.
I wanted to throw my wife over my shoulder and head back to our room. Instead, I turned toward the crowd.
Dr. Carter boomed, “Mr. and Mrs. Samual Blackwood!”
With my daughter in my arms and my wife next to me, I walked down the aisle. After years of delay, Patty was finally my wife.
18
Epilogue - Wes
Sam invited me to play poker with the guys before most of his friends flew back to Ft. Lauderdale. Over the past week, I worked with Brock to clear most of the staff. A few members worked for the Zarus Church and were let go after interrogating them.
Only half of the women were found. The other half were linked back to Ricker Smith, a Senator in the United States. Brock found documentation of a shipment out of the local port to Miami. There was a special place in hell for people who kidnapped women.
Neal, Daisy, and Aaron planned to stay longer. They were going to have some of their things shipped over and stay in the other castle. Daisy agreed to take the Nanny job, which all the guards were excited about since they no longer had to watch the kids. Aaron was going to work with me, but Neal would run Black Hat from Shialia.
“I heard your mom was looking for Wes,” Sam said to Antonio.
I held my hands up. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Antonio, but your mom scares the crap out of me,” I replied. “She’s under the impression since I’m Patty’s brother that I need a wife. I barely know the woman, and I’m pretty sure she sent my picture to her contact list.”
I was lucky Martha was leaving for Ft. Lauderdale in the morning. In the past, I was burned and learned real quick not to let my heart out again. I preferred the one night stand with no strings attached. Each woman I slept with knew the deal, no repeats.
“She’s not going to stop,” Antonio noted.
I smiled. “Well, as long as I stay away from Ft. Lauderdale, I won’t have a problem.”
Antonio's eyes widened. “You haven’t told him?”
Sam smirked in my direction. “No, planned to share this extremely expensive scotch with him, and once he was drunk, ask.”
I frowned at him. It wasn’t very often I didn’t know Sam’s every plan, but I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like the one he was about to tell me. “Spit it out.”
“The women who are missing are from here. I wanted you to work the case from the states and to make sure each woman gets back here safe. Don’t get me wrong. I like you working by my side. But things are straightened out here, and I can’t go to the states to help. I need you to go.”
Thinking about the little girl upstairs with no mother made the anger course through my body. I would want nothing more than to help find the bastard who took these women away from their families. At least Kathy was locked away, but not talking.
I hadn’t gone back to the states in years. It was time to face some of my demons. I did need to come up with a plan to dodge Antonio’s mother.
“I’ll go.”
“That’s so good to hear.” A cheerful voice announced behind me.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. There was no way to get out of the woman’s sight now. I hadn’t drunk enough to deal with the fact Martha wanted to set me up with every available woman in Ft. Lauderdale.
“I’ll be working a case.”
“Not every night. And this is just in time for the annual auction. I thought I wouldn’t have anyone to recommend this year. Now it seems like it’s my lucky day.”
I glanced around the table, and Antonio held back his laugh.
“What? You plan to auction me off. I’m not sure how I feel about this.”
“Don’t worry,” Martha patted my shoulder. “I’ll make sure good women get you.”
My eyes went to Antonio or Sam for help, but they both shrugged. Neither of them wanted to go against Martha. Hopefully, I could get through the mission quick enough and be back in Shialia before the auction.
* * *
Rachelle Carlton
I groaned as I tried to stretch my toes. I sat at my family’s annual charity auction where extremely hot men walked across the stage, and women in the crowd lost their minds bidding.
All the money went to my family’s charity for underprivileged kids, so it was a good cause, I just hated this event. The one my mother made me attend each year. It was the only one I came to.
My mom leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Martha Ross submitted an extremely good looking guy this year.”
I looked at my mom and rolled my eyes. “I thought all of her sons were married off.”
The Ross boys weren’t only extraordinarily wealthy but drop-dead handsome. I’d gone to school with them. They knew my family, but not me very well. My years in high school were spent in the library studying so I could graduate early.
After high school, I breezed through med school. It wasn’t until I hit my second year of residency that my life plan fell apart. Dating wasn’t something I did much because I had a dream. I wanted to become a surgeon. Long nights studying led to a whirlwind affair. I fell for my attending physician, and he fell for every woman.
And when I got pregnant, he pushed me out of the program. Now I was a twenty-eight-year-old single mom living at home.
The jab to my side brought me out of my depression. “Damn, he is hot.” Her father just shook his head at her mom’s words.
My mom was right, the man was sexy as hell, but he also looked uncomfortable in front of the crowd. Women bid like crazy, and she felt sorry for him. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, just like me.
I raised her hand. “Two million dollars.”
The crowd groaned, and the bidding stopped. He hurried off the stage, not even waiting to see who won the bid. I had a second to think about what I’d done. Money wasn’t an issue for her, but the fact I’d just bought a human made my stoma
ch drop.
And now I had to go on one date with a sexy man. One thing I told myself I wouldn't do again.
The End.
Hacker Auction is the next book in the White Hat Security Series. Make sure to follow my newsletter for when it releases.
OTHER TITLES BY LINZI BAXTER
White Hat Security Series
Hacker reExposed
Royal Hacker
Misunderstood Hacker
Undercover Hacker
Hacker Revelation
Hacker Christmas
Hacker Salvation
Hacker Enclosed
Hacker Wedding
Nova Satellite Security Series
(White Hat Security Spin Off)
Pursuing Phoenix
Pursuing Aries
Pursuing Pegasus
Pursuing Columbia Mar 30, 2021
Pursuing Cygnus May 25, 2021
Immortal Dragon
The Dragon’s Psychic
The Dragon’s Human
The Dragon’s Mate
The Dragon’s Warlock
The Dragon’s Wolf
The Dragon’s Daughter Dec 15, 2020
A Flipping Love Story (Special Forces World)
Unlocking Dreams
Unlocking Hope
Unlocking Love
Unlocking Desire
Unlocking Secrets Apr 27, 2021
Unlocking Lies
Montana Gold (Brotherhood Protector World)
Grayson’s Angel
Noah’s Love
Bryson’s Treasure
Siblings of the Underworld
Hell’s Key
Hell’s Future
Hell’s Vacation
Visit linzibaxter.com for more information and release dates.
Join Linzi Baxter Newsletter at Newsletter
Pursuing Phoenix - Sneak Peek
“He’s out.” Kat sighed into the phone.
Those two words changed my life. Again. My phone shook in my hand. “Are you sure?” Maybe Kat’s person on the inside received the wrong name. Greg was a common name, right? That’s what happened. No way my ex-husband was released from jail. He hadn’t even gone to trial yet.
Hacker Wedding Page 13
