by Ryan Michele
“Don’t ruin her makeup,” Mrs. Davenport chastised him, biting back her own tears.
The day was perfect. I was surrounded by the people I loved most in the world.
“I’m ready.” I gave a nod, and Carrie and our moms left me in the hallway with my father, waiting our turn. My pulse hammered in my ears with excitement. Butterflies fluttered in my belly.
“It’s not too late to make a run for it. Got a car running.”
I knew my father was teasing me, trying to ease my nerves. He loved Conner like his own son.
“Stop it.” I smiled.
“I’m serious, princess.”
“I can’t stay your little girl forever, Daddy.” I squeezed his hand.
The wedding march sounded, and I knew it was time. A woman opened the doors to the chapel for us.
“This is it. The first day of the rest of your life.” Dad kissed my temple. He made it hard for me not to cry.
“Oh, Dad.” I sighed, and we entered the chapel. The pews were dressed in white satin ribbons and red roses. Drew stood at the front next to Conner. Carrie waited on the opposite side as my maid of honor. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Conner dabbed under his eyes with a handkerchief as did my brother. Carrie sniffled into her flowers. My man looked handsome in his three-piece tuxedo. Those sky blue eyes I could gaze into for hours penetrated through me, searing my skin as I marched toward my soon-to-be husband.
“Who here gives this woman’s hand in marriage?”
“Her mother and I do,” my father answered, placing me in Conner’s hold.
“We are gathered here today to join together Conner Davenport and Quinn Landis in holy matrimony. Quinn and Conner have opted to write their own vows. Conner, I’ll let you take the lead, son”
“Babe.” He grinned, holding me captive under his gaze. I heard my father chuckle, but I couldn’t tear my attention from Conner if I wanted to. I was rooted to the spot, mesmerized by his words. By his love for me. “The day I first met you I felt something I couldn’t explain, but I knew you were special. That you were someone to be treasured. As time went on my love for you continued to grow, but I was young and knew I wasn’t ready to give you what you needed from me. I’m just glad I didn’t wait too long and lose out on the best thing to ever happen to me. Love is patient, strong, and kind. My love for you is pure, and you’ll never question where you stand with me because you’ll always be by my side as my equal. My partner in all life throws our way. I want to grow old with you, Quinn. I want to live my life devoted to making you happy and secure. I can’t wait to start a family with you. I love you.”
“That’s a tough act to follow. Way to make it easy on me. No pressure, right?” I giggled. “My father said something to me before we entered the chapel that resonated with me. He said, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life’, but that’s not true. The first day of the rest of my life already happened. It was the day I met you. I crushed on you hard from afar. I thought I was being sneaky stealing glances your way, but apparently everyone caught on to the fact I only had eyes for you. That still holds true today, and it always will. I love you more than you’ll ever know, and I can’t wait to make beautiful babies with you.”
Conner grabbed my hand and made like he was about to run out of the chapel with me. Everyone laughed, and his little tease lightened the heavy and emotional tone of our vows.
“Do you, Conner, take thee Quinn to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he murmured, gaze never leaving mine.
“Do you, Quinn, take thee Conner to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“I’ll ask now that you exchange your rings. These rings symbolize the unbreakable bond the two of you share.”
Drew stuck a hand in his pocket and handed Conner my ring. Carrie had Conner’s attached to her bouquet.
Conner slipped my wedding band onto my finger, and I repeated the act, pushing his over his thick knuckle.
“By the power vested in me and the great state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Cheers erupted around us, but I only had eyes for my husband.
Conner embraced me, holding me tight and dipping me backward as his mouth closed in on mine. Hot and needy with lots of tongue, my man kissed me deep and wet.
“Babe?”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s blow this place and get started on them babies, yeah?”
“Absolutely.” I smiled.
THE END
Continue on for a Sneak Peek of Killian (The Fearless Few #1)
Killian (The Fearless Few #1)
Killian Graham ©2020 Wicked Words Publishing LLC—Ryan Michele (unedited and subject to change)
Chapter One
Ellie
Ride or die. The expression had been used often around me. I knew it to my core. That deep meaning of one person that you stick with through thick and thin no matter what happens, you have each other’s backs, it resonated in my soul because I had my ride or die.
That was what Bri was to me. My person.
Brianna Waverly has been my bestest best friend since we were in third grade and she tried stealing my Oreo cookies at lunch when she thought I wasn’t looking.
I was and we got into it. Full blown rolling on the floor and pulling hair, yelling, and not stopping until teachers were there yanking us apart—fighting, the real deal. Oreos were the best cookies of all time and of course I had to stand up for the chocolaty creamy goodness. Nobody touched my snacks, ever.
Fun times, great memories. To this day we fought over them.
Needless to say, our parents were called and we were a match made in heaven from then on bonded by a cookie. Through all the phases in life, she was my person. The one I’d do anything for, even take a bullet without blinking an eye.
It was the reason I was currently parked on the street in front of a well-lit house wondering what the hell Bri had gotten into now. She could be a bit of a wild child and a free spirit. I loved her for it, but sometimes it landed us both up shit’s creek without a paddle. Cars lined the streets on both sides and music could be heard clearly even though I was quite a ways a way and my windows were up. None of this surprised me when it came to Bri. Apparently, it was a hell of a party.
Even one that I could see Bri and I going to for a night of fun back in the day. We were a bit rambunctious as my mother would say. She was using that term very loosely with me. Always said I was a handful the moment I came into the world screaming and making my presence known.
Mostly my partying happened at my bar instead of these kinds of parties now, but Bri still went ‘living out her years’ as she called it getting in a few more before she got old. And who was I to judge except maybe right now because of this.
Twenty-five minutes ago, Bri called from the bathroom of this house sounding scared out of her mind and needing me to come and get her. Even though I was at the bar helping because it was a rush, I dropped everything and motored as fast as I could to get here. All the while my mind ticked off every passing minute worrying for my friend.
Bri was a wild child and not much fazed her, so getting a call where she was scared, wasn’t like her one bit. Therefore, I risked a very high speeding ticket just to get to her in five minutes instead of the twenty it would usually take.
The cell in my hand rang and I answered seeing Bri’s name. “Where are you?”
“In the bathroom.”
Saying “duh?” would only delay this process and there was no time for that. “What side of the house are you on?”
“The right.” My eyes went over there seeing light peer through the curtains into the night. “No wait. My right. Your left.” She went back. I loved her, but if she didn’t pull her shit together, I’d get her out of this mess and strangle her
.
“Bri seriously. Focus, snap out it, and tell me what window I need to go to.”
We were opposites. I tried to think things through where she was the walking definition of scatterbrained. Bri mostly went with the flow of things. Loved to have fun and just be. She had a very free spirit and sometimes was a bit forgetful. Loved her, but it was the truth. It added to her wild child ways and one day they were going to really catch up with her. Today wasn’t going to be that day if I could help it.
But right now was not the time for her to get confused. I wanted get her and out of here as soon as possible.
There was some wrestling on the other side of the line like she was shaking her head, then said, “Looking at the front door, on your left side. I’m in the back corner.” Pulling her shit together, yes, that’s my Bri.
Just then the sounds of banging on a door filled the line with some muffled screams, like ‘open the fuckin’ door’ and ‘bitch I’m gonna get your ass’.
“Bri?”
She started to whisper. “I’m okay, but I have to get out of here now.”
“You have some serious explaining to do.” I got out of my Jeep Wrangler, black with black interior and a ragtop. She was one hell of a ride. Quickly, I moved to the left side of the house. Luckily there was only one man outside smoking and he was on the opposite end from where I was headed. Not that it would matter much considering I had no weapon.
I should’ve grabbed my bat from the bar, but didn’t think of it at the time being in a hurry and all. The least I could’ve done was grab a knife from behind the bar. Note for next time, hopefully though there wouldn’t be a next time.
“Get ready to jump out.” There were more muffled words, but I concentrated on my surroundings. With the cloak of darkness hiding me well, I survived the home. The area was pretty dark with a few street lights off in the distance giving a very eerie glow.
The first two windows had curtains and when I peeked through the tiny cracks, saw a living room packed with people and a bedroom in the other. Someone was getting lucky in the latter. None of them noticed me. A small stroke of luck, but I’d take it.
A puff of blonde hair came from the furthest window down and my heart squeezed seeing my girl. I may want to kill her for putting herself in this position, but I loved her all the same and raced to her.
The phone was shoved into my back pocket as I reached out for Bri.
“Thank god you’re here. These guys…”
“Later.” I ordered hearing the door crack behind her from whoever was pounding on it like their life depended on it. They obviously were going to do anything to get inside including smashing the door down. We didn’t have much time and needed to get the hell out of here, now.
Bri began to swing her legs out and I was ready for her. Suddenly a huge crash came from the room and Bri let out a little scream as she started to fall. I pulled her the rest of the way down, my arms around her. She stumbled on the heel of her sandal and a large beefy man with a black and gray goatee stuck his head out of the window then reached his arm out trying to get at Bri. His eyes were filled with rage watching my best friend.
What the hell did she do to him to make him so mad? That was a question for another time.
Luckily, she was far enough he couldn’t get her, but that didn’t stop his furious face from taking both of us in. Plus, I didn’t know who he was friends with here and we were far from being in the clear—meaning the safety of my Jeep!
“You little slut! Get back here!” he charged reaching as far out the window as he could. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he fell out at this point he was so far out.
Screw that and screw him. Bri and I knew from experience how parties could go bad in the blink of an eye. We’d had our fair share. Add in the sneaking out to go to them and drinking, we’d seen it just about all.
This though, was new, in that no one had actually gone after one of us. We didn’t like this much.
“Come on!” I gripped her arm and started to pull her in the direction of my Jeep hearing the man behind us. Luckily it appeared he was too big to get out of the window. Bonus for us.
A strong arm came across my stomach pulling me back and Bri with me since we were attached. A scream left me and a hand clamped over my mouth while Bri was torn away from grasp.
Fear gripped me. I shook my head trying to get a handle on my emotions. One thing I knew, always keep your head about you. Meaning, I couldn’t get wrapped up in fear. I had to be prepared to fight.
“Ellie. Shut it.” The low growl came from deep in whoever this man was chest.
Freaked out was taking it lightly on how I felt. My mind went into hyper drive. Inhaling, he smelled of man and I was trying to decipher the exact description as I tried to fight free. His voice was calm, firm, and deep. His arm around my waist was thick and firm as was the body behind me that he pulled me against. He was taller than me and easily maneuvered me the way he desired.
Wait, he knew me? On an inhale the smell of bourbon, honey and leather wrapped around me, but I didn’t let it detour me because I continued fighting and could hear Bri doing the same next to me.
The one who had me was strong, holding me with little effort and fear like no other crawled through me. Was this one of the guy from the window’s friends? Was this a set up to get us out here and take us out?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
This man picked me clean up off the ground, into his arms and took off running as if he were out for a Sunday jog and not carrying a woman kicking, clawing and fighting.
“What are you doing?” A muffled screech left me hearing Bri’s voice beside me then seeing another man carrying her. Clawing the guy’s arm to get his hand removed did nothing and I dug my nails in deep. Kicking did nothing. Hitting did nothing. Shifting my body, same, nothing. He completely ignored every move I made.
When I looked up at the man ready to scratch his eyeballs out, because that was something I learned watching television, a good scratch or poke to the eyes would have anyone throwing you to the ground, everything inside me froze.
Hell, even my eyelashes stopped blinking briefly as I stared in astonished amazement. I had to be seeing things. Had to. This entire situation had to be a figment of my imagination and I had a damn good imagination, but still, I’d never had a scenario like this before.
Killian Graham was holding me in his arms.
The very Killian Graham, mind you, that I hadn’t seen in years, but here he was carrying me away from a house where my best friend was scared out of her mind.
Was he friends with these assholes?
No, he couldn’t be. Could he?
At my apparent shock, he removed his hand. “What are you doing here?” I bit out because you only lived once, and frankly, I wasn’t much for having a filter on my words.
“Saving your ass.” He growled low and I swore I felt the words race through my body like small cars. Gravelly. That was his voice. A combination of that low rumble, but with a rough edge to it. One you could listen too for hours and never get tired of it.
Killian set me on my feet next to a black Escalade with tinted windows. “Listen.” He said grabbing my attention, Bri getting set next to me. “You get in and do not move.” He ordered and by the look on his face, he truly expected me to obey.
What the hell?
Since when did he think he could command me to do something? No one ordered me to do anything. Bri and I had to get out of here before the beefy man saw us again.
My hands went to my hips ready to give him some serious attitude, because what the fuck, he moved in closer his body heat pressing against mine throwing a bit of the wind out of my sail. “Bad guys, Ellie. We don’t have time for this shit right now. Get. The. Fuck. In.”
The seriousness of his tone had me reigning myself in for a moment. It had to be the bite of edge to his tone that did it because there was simply no other reason for me to comply so easily. Yes, it had to be something. I was not a woman who got o
rdered around and told what to do. I’d worked too hard for it, but this... this was next level.
“What are you going to do? My car is,” I started to point off to where my Jeep sat but he cut me off.
“Now Ellie.” This time he didn’t wait for me to contemplate his words. He opened the SUV door, lifted me clean off my feet, put me in, then put Bri in and the door was shut then locked. My mind was racing trying to focus on Killian.
Only he was already gone. Like a figment of my imagination, just up in smoke, as if I dreamed this entire evening’s actions. Blinking didn’t wake me nor did the customary pinching of the skin so it must be real.
Turning to Bri her mouth was hanging open and I asked, “You did see Killian, right?” needing her to confirm what I’d just seen.
Her head shook unable to form words.
“And he just grabbed us from that house and ordered us in here, right?”
She nodded again.
“Say something!” I cried out in frustration. So, I was a bit freaked out and pissed by the turn in events, but she was my bestie she’d get over it. I needed something from her. Not that I knew what, but something!
“Girrll…” She drawled out like we weren’t in this crazy situation but instead sitting at her house drinking. “That was so him. Where did he come from?”
“Hell, if I know.” I looked out the window seeing nothing but light still filtering from the windows of the house. We were much farther away from it now, but still I saw no trace of Killian or his friend anywhere.
“I haven’t seen him in years. You remember all the rumors?” Bri asked and oh boy did I remember the rumors. Killian Graham was the talk of the town. The stories were wild. Anything from Killian worked for the CIA, to a mercenary, and some even eluded to him being a drug kingpin. No one actually knew what Killian did and that aura of mystery made the man utterly intriguing.
It was then, everything went off the Richter scale crazy. Police sirens heard in the distance were fast approaching and within a couple of seconds, at least that’s what it felt like, the entire house was bathed in the headlights of police cars and was surrounded by cars and SUVs. The officers hopped out, guns at the ready and standing behind their vehicle doors.
