I pause before allowing myself to get too choked up. “So cheers to you, friend. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything.”
“You and Adrienne are two of the best people that I know. It’s a privilege to be such an important part of your lives.” Lock answers before taking a drink.
He then looks at his watch and says, “Well, I hate to break up the sappy, sausage fest we’ve got going here, but you have a girl waiting to marry you. The guests started rolling in about thirty minutes ago so we should probably make our way down to the ceremony site.”
Present Day
Lana
“Thank you all for coming to the third annual banquet for Carolina Pharmaceutical and Laboratory Industries.”
About an hour into the event, Lock is standing at the podium at the front of the banquet room. He is in his element with his signature, shit eating grin plastered on his arrogant face.
I’m standing next to him, putting on my best Stepford Wife act, trying to maintain my plastic smile while fighting to drive the look of despair from my gaze. As I look out into the crowd, I can’t help but wonder if there is anyone out there with any clue as to what Lock is really like. Does anyone out there realize the hell that I live in, day after day? I sigh a little to myself as my eyes mist over slightly.
“…and it is with your continued support and donations that we are able to work toward making the world healthier, one citizen at a time! Thank you so much!”
The room breaks out into applause and I have to catch myself from rolling my eyes. I feel Lock’s hand touch the small of my back before it slithers its way up my spine and grips my neck firmly.
“The misty eyes were a good touch,” he leans in and whispers in my ear, “some of these people may have actually believed that you were overtaken with gratitude, rather than dripping with self-deprecation and loathing.”
He squeezes my neck roughly before letting go and offering me his arm, as if he were actually a gentleman. I link my arm with his and he leads me back to our table. Just as he is starting to pull my chair out for me, we both notice Skylar rushing toward us and my heart drops down into my feet.
Lochlan
“Boss, I need you to come with me.” Skylar says after rushing over to me once I’m finished with my speech.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Not here.”
“Lana, sit down and stay out of trouble.”
As Lana sits down, Skylar takes me by the arm and pulls me over edge of the ballroom. As he does so, he calls for Reese using his wrist mic and tells him to grab Nelson and Rhodes and bring them over to us. When the whole group is together, Skylar explains the situation.
“The front doors to the lab were blown open triggering all of the automatic safety doors to close.”
“Was the signal rerouted away from the cops, successfully?
“Yes. The failsafe router you installed last year worked perfectly.”
“Who was inside at the time?” I asked.
“A researcher, a few lab techs, two security guards, and the janitorial crew.”
“Were there any casualties?”
“No, but…” Skylar pauses.
“But what?”
“Upon inspection of the floors, the security team located a package in the Black Project sector, addressed to some chick named Carolina?”
I struggle to keep my composure, but my blood is boiling. I loosen my tie just a bit, enough to let some of my body heat out, and take a deep breath.
“It hasn’t been opened yet, has it?”
“No. We weren’t sure if it was possibly another explosive or not.”
“Good. I’ll check it out myself.” I start to leave but Skylar grabs my arm. I shoot daggers at him for the audacity he has to grab me like that. But, the look on his face tells me that he has more bad news. “What?”
“It’s from Trent.”
Mother fucker. I look to Rhodes, my head of security.
“How the fuck did he get in there? What the hell are your guys doing? I pay you too much fucking money to have shit like this happen! The men who were on guard tonight no longer have jobs. You can take their shifts until you learn to find adequate replacements! And you can start by running a bomb analysis on that box!”
I start rubbing my temples. For fucks sake, what a disaster.
“Yes, sir,” says Rhodes.
“Skylar, stay here and look after Lana. Touch her only if it’s warranted and keep your dick in your pants. Reese, you’re coming with me.”
Lana
Lock, Reese, and the other two men leave the ballroom in a hurry. Skylar saunters back over to the table.
“Lock had to go take care of an emergency. He’ll be back soon.”
He turns and looks at me like a panther stalking its prey. “In the meantime, I’ll be looking after you.” He winks and shoots me an evil grin that gives me goosebumps and makes my hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
I give him a weak, fearful smile before turning back to my water and taking a large swig.
“I have to use the ladies’ room.” I tell Skylar.
“Do you need any help in there?”
He leans in and moves his hand to my ankle before skirting it up my leg and skimming my garter belt before I’m able to stop him. “Mmm… I can’t wait to get inside of you again. Next time, I won’t go so easy on you,” he says as he cups himself with his other hand.
I get up from the table and nearly trip over myself and others on my way to the rest room. I use my time in there to take several deep breaths. I do a hair and make-up check, because the wife of a billionaire should always look her best, or so I’m told.
I notice that my lipstick could use a touch up. I move to grab it from my clutch and suddenly realize that I don’t have it with me. Shit. I must have left it at the table.
When I get back to my table, I notice Skylar is gone, and so is my purse. Frantically, I look for it under the table, but it’s not there. Maybe I dropped it on the way to the bathroom and didn’t realize it.
I make my way back to the rest room hoping that I find it somewhere along the way, but with no luck.
I stand there on the outskirts of the ballroom, looking around while silently praying that someone found it and has turned it in, when my eyes land on the last person that I expected to see at this event tonight.
I see him emerge from the shadows and immediately feel fear. My feet aren’t able to move even though my mind is screaming at me, begging me to run. His face becomes more savage the closer he gets. I back up as discreetly as possible, not wanting to alert any of the other guests to our exchange. He doesn’t stop until he has me backed up against the wall, into the shadow underneath the balcony.
His dark stare burns into mine, causing my body to tremble in fear. He stands there assessing me, looking me up and down as if he wants to devour me.
“Are you cold?” he asks.
I attempt to swallow the ever-growing lump in my throat before asking, “Wh-what?”
“You’re shivering,” he says as he steals his gaze from mine and slowly surveys my body once more before his eyes return to mine. “Are you cold?”
It wasn’t until then that I notice his eyes are the most beautiful shade of green. I am mesmerized. I’d seen that stare before and each time it was full of cold hatred and vengeance.
The way that his eyes are looking at me in this moment, however, feels almost familiar. I can’t shake the thought that I’d seen these eyes look at me like this before. With want. With need. With pure infatuation.
I shake my head to clear my thoughts and stand up nice and tall. Get it together, Lana. This man just tried to kill you a few days ago.
“No, I’m fine, but you shouldn’t be here. I need to go.” As I start to walk away, his large hand wraps around my bicep. Before I know it, I’m spun around so fast that he has to catch me from falling.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I cry out.
“I was
hoping that you would do me the honor of dancing with me.”
At this moment, I am not sure I’m more afraid of Marshall, or of Lock finding me in his arms on the dance floor.
“It’s no secret that you and Lock have bad history. You screwed him over and, because of that, he lost his company. He wants to kill you and here you are walking right into the lion’s den. You obviously have a death wish and I don’t want to be around when Lock finds out you’re here.” I affirm.
I try walking away once more, but he grabs my hand. The reassuringly firm hold that he uses stops me in my tracks. I stand there, still facing away from him.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning back around to face him. I try to keep an annoyed look on my face, though by this time, I am anything but. The physical contact with him is overwhelming. I don’t want to break that connection.
“That was Curtis, the Executive Director of Laboratories and Rhodes, the Head of Security that Finch just left with. Trust me, they won’t be back anytime soon. What’s the harm in just one dance? I promise I won’t let anything happen to you…” His voice trails off and a dark shadow crosses over his face.
His eyes stare, pleading and finally, after one more nervous glance into the crowd of people dancing, not a care in the world, I give him my hand and let him lead me to the edge of the dance floor.
“See, this isn’t so bad, is it?” he asks.
My body is rigid with fear. I take a deep breath and look into his eyes.
“Why did you try to kill me a few days ago?”
“I wasn't trying to kill you. I wanted to kill Lock.”
“I understand that you guys had a falling out. People have them all the time and they don't go around trying to kill each other. There’s no need for the never-ending pissing contest. Why can't you guys just leave each other alone?”
I feel him tense and his face hardens with anger.
“There is something that you need to understand. Lock took everything from me. My life, my dreams, my future,” he pauses “Am I right to assume that he takes too much from you as well?”
I look down, breaking eye contact. When he looks at me, the way he gazes into my eyes like he just did, it makes me uncomfortable. Not because it scares me, but because it makes me feel safe. The feeling leaves me confused and unnerved.
“How did you get in here anyway?” I ask. I raise my head, but I keep my gaze on the dancing couple behind him.
“Lock isn’t the only one with friends in low places,” he states.
“How do you know that Lock won’t be back soon? I look around nervously. “We really shouldn’t be doing this. His second in command is around here somewhere. If he sees us…” I trail off and think about the trouble I would be in.
“Skylar is… preoccupied.”
Marshall stops his movements.
When I bring my gaze back to his, he has a pained expression on his face. He starts to say something but his voice cracks.
After a moment, he says, “Lana…” but his sentence trails off as his attention turns to a man, who I don’t recognize, on the other side of the ballroom.
I stand there staring at him waiting anxiously for him to continue, but all he says is, “I have to go. Be smart. Stay safe.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it delicately. Then, he is gone.
April 2014
Lochlan
“Are you ready to do this?”
Adrienne and I are standing at the beginning of the path that leads to the ceremony site.
“As ready as ever,” she answers.
The path is about a quarter of a mile from where we are, to the altar. The curve, just after the bridge, is enough to block us from the view of the guests on the other side of the trees.
“You look stunning, Adrienne. I can’t think of anyone else that has been more beautiful than you are right now.” At least not anyone who is still alive, like my Carolina… I need to snap out of it. I cannot lose my shit today.
“Thank you, Lochlan. And thank you for walking me down the aisle. This really means the world to me.”
A tear forms in the corner of her eye. I catch it and wipe it away before it falls and ruins her make-up. “I always pictured walking myself down the aisle. It’s comforting to have you here, knowing that I don’t have to do this alone.”
“It’s an honor, really. You know I would do anything for you. You’re like a sister to me.” I lie about the sister part. I’ve never wanted to lay my sister down and have my way with her, like I want to do with Adrienne.
Adrienne
I look up at Lock and smile. He has been such a great friend to Marshall and I. It’s been wonderful getting to know him and he is so much fun to be around. He has this hilarious personality that almost reminds me of a frat boy. Not that he is immature, just very silly and he knows how to have a good time.
As I am looking up, I take in the beauty around us.
The forest provides the most beautiful backdrop for this event. From the vines hanging from the trees, to the pops of color from the wildflowers scattered here and there on the forest floor. The florist’s suggestion to drape tulle and hydrangeas on the bridge was a very nice addition.
We start nearing the curve in the path and I immediately hear the light sound of the string quartet playing Pachelbel’s Cannon floating through the air.
As soon as we turn the corner and everyone comes into view, the butterflies in my stomach start fluttering faster. We stop just at the end of the curve, where the wedding planner is.
“All set then?” she asks.
I look down the path toward the altar. The path that leads me to my future. To my love. To my Marshall.
I take a deep breath and look at Lock and the wedding planner. As the butterflies rise up from my stomach forcing my emotions to blur my vision with tears of joy, I answer, “Absolutely.”
All of our guests get to their feet as the quartet begins to play again and the sound of the Wedding March fills the air.
Lock and I start down the aisle. Some of our guests are smiling. Some of them have eyes misting over with happy tears. But I don’t see them. I don’t feel their presence.
All I can see is Marshall at the end of the aisle. All I can hear is my heart, beating in my ears. All I can feel is the most happiness that I have ever experienced in my entire life.
“Who presents this woman to be married to this man?” the minister asks.
“On behalf of Craig and Deborah Hamilton, who are here with us today, in spirit, I do,” Lock answers.
“Thank you.” The minister nods. Then, Lock turns to me and gives me a kiss on the cheek before shaking hands with Marshall and moving to stand at the front of the line of groomsmen.
Marshall takes my arm and links it under his. We stare at one another like there is no one else here as we turn and face the minister.
“Adrienne and Marshall, if you will please turn and look at one another.”
We do as the minister says. I hold out my hands and Marshall grabs on to them as if he needs my touch to ground him, as much as I need his to ground me.
“Adrienne, will you have this man to be your husband? Will you love, comfort, honor and keep him in sickness and in health? And forsaking all others, will you be faithful to him as long as you live?”
Never breaking my stare from Marshall, I answer, “I will.”
“Marshall, will you have this woman to be your wife? Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health? And forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you live?
“I will,” Marshall answers the minister as a flame of possession burns deep within his gaze.
“Will all of you witnessing these promises do everything in your power to uphold Adrienne and Marshall in their marriage?” the minister asks our guests.
The guests answer with a collective, “We will.”
“Adrienne and Marshall have prepared their own vows, which they will recite to one another at this time.”
<
br /> I turn to Leah, who hands me my vows. I unfold the paper and clear my throat.
“Marshall, when I think about my life before I met you, back then I thought I knew what happiness was. That happiness was enough for me—until I met you. You took my happiness to heights I never thought imaginable. I never knew how wonderful picnics in the park could be. I’ve always loved the wilderness, but exploring it with you gave me so much more of an appreciation for its wild beauty. I’ve never really enjoyed the beach, but being there with you, in the hot, soft sand, makes it one of my most favorite places to be. I have not one shred of uncertainty, choosing to spend the rest of my life with you. You will never walk alone. On days that are warm and sunny, and on days dark and treacherous, you will have my hand to hold. You are my one and only and I have the utmost love and respect, compassion and longing for you. I want to grow old with you in mind, body, and spirit. You are my best friend, my dream come true, my shoulder to lean on. My husband, my everything—I can’t wait to grow old with you.”
At this point, both Marshall and I have tears in our eyes. The sound of sniffling from the crowd tells me that we aren’t the only ones.
“Thank you, Adrienne. That was lovely,” The minister says. “Marshall, whenever you’re ready.”
Marshall reaches inside of his suit coat and pulls a folded piece of paper from the inner pocket.
“Adrienne, before I met you, I was content with living the rest of my life alone. I had some fun times along the way, sure, but I was resolved to the fact that I was going to be a life-long bachelor. But then there you were, literally crashing into my world. I knew as soon as we locked eyes that I would never be able to let you go. It’s as if you brought me back to life. Today, I stand before you, promising to love you unconditionally, promising to put your needs before my own, and promising to take care of your heart and soul, for the rest of our lives.”
Stolen Love (The Wildheart Duet Book 1) Page 9
