The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files Collector's Set: Books 1-10: Urban Fantasy Shifter Series

by Craig Halloran

  “I have a wedding dress to fit into.”

  “I can’t wait to see you in it.” He took the top off the first shake and gulped half of it down. “You’re really embracing this wedding. I didn’t think you’d be that into it.”

  “Is that so surprising?” she asked, pulling the Hellcat back onto the highway.

  “Sort of. You’re gorgeous, but not so girlie. I just never envisioned you planning a wedding.”

  “I have my softer side. Besides, I have my mom and your sister organizing things. They know what I like. They get the samples and I make the final choices. But there’s one choice I need your help with.”

  “I’m fine with whatever you decide. Just thrilled to be in the ring with such a knockout.”

  She punched his leg. “No, you need to take this seriously. We haven’t talked about the honeymoon. Where would you like it to be?”

  “The bedroom.”

  Sid rolled her eyes. “Yes, but a bedroom where?”

  “It can be anywhere that has a bedroom.”

  She shoved him in the shoulder. “Come on, do you want something remote, tropical, a beach? Niagara Falls? Maybe a European vacation?”

  “I’m partial to the continental U.S., if that helps.”

  “Wow,” she said, “you really narrowed it down. Haven’t you ever given any thought to where you might want to honeymoon?”

  “No.”

  “Just give me something, a hint. You’re a big part of this. I mean, not the most important part, obviously, but a movable part.” She rubbed his thigh. “Come on, tell me something.”

  Smoke swallowed down the last bite of his first burger and said, “I would prefer that the wedding night be somewhere close. Very close. If we have to drive too far before we get there, my head might explode.”

  With a purr in her voice she said, “We can’t have that now, can we?”

  “I hope not.”

  “It’s done then. I’ll make the arrangements. A honeymoon suite just outside of DC.” She gripped his hand. “I can’t wait either.”

  Smoke tugged at his collar. “It might be a good idea to change the subject.”

  “Why’s that?” she said, running her hand farther down his thigh.

  “Let’s just say I don’t want to consummate the marriage prematurely.” He pressed his hand down on her hand, stopping it short of its course. “Please, I’ve been holding off this long. I’ve got to last two more days.”

  Sid’s cheeks turned rosy. “That’s so sweet.”

  “A honeymoon in Vegas or at a beach is fine by me. I like the sun and the heat.”

  “I think I’d like to see you at the beach playing in the surf and sunshine. No shirt. Short swim trunks. Rubbing lots of warm suntan oil all over each other.”

  “You’re killing me, Sid.” He shifted in his seat and crossed his legs. “Let’s go for the sand. Next plan?”

  She let out a teasing little laugh. “Fine, I’ll be merciful. New subject. You never really told me much about your Uncle Earl. Did you say he was also Sam’s uncle? Because he seems like something other than that.”

  “No, well, yes. He is her uncle, but he was also the one who recruited me to the SEALS.” Smoke started in on another burger. “He’s something else. A real taskmaster…” Smoke kept on talking about Earl and their long history together. It went on until they arrived back at his place. His white Camaro was sitting in front of the garage. Its frame was crushed, wheels bent into the fenders, and most of the glass was smashed. He tossed his head back and laughed. “A real practical joker, too.”

  CHAPTER 18

  “This is it, you lucky dog,” Guppy said to Smoke. They were inside the church, in one of the classrooms. The tables were small, and the colorful chairs were designed for little kids. Guppy finished tying up Smoke’s bowtie. “Do you feel like vomiting yet?”

  “Nope,” he said, checking himself out in the mirror. His hands were clammy, and his stomach squirmed a little. The black tuxedo and grey silk cummerbund looked nice. Adjusting his cufflinks, he said, “Bond. James Bond.”

  Guppy laughed.

  “What are you laughing at?” Smoke said.

  “You ain’t no James Bond, that’s for sure. Not handsome enough or scrawny enough, but if I had to pick one, I’d say you were more like Connery. He could have been something if he pumped some iron.” He poked Smoke in the belly with his sausage-link finger. “You feel a little soft. Have you quit working out?”

  “Says the man who looks like a penguin on steroids.”

  Pushing in front of the long mirror in his own tuxedo, Guppy thickened his arms and flapped them stiffly at his sides. “I do look like a penguin on steroids. I like it.”

  “You would.”

  Smoke was putting on his jacket when another man entered the room. It was Sid’s older brother Jerry, who he’d just met for the first time last night. Jerry looked very much like his father, Keith, a well-built fella with the look of a frontier lawman. His tuxedo was slung over his shoulder and still covered up in the plastic cover.

  Smoke extended his hand. “Hey, Jerry.”

  “Hey, Smoke.” Jerry spoke with a brassy voice. “Sorry I’m running late, but Cecilia kept me up all night, if you know what I mean.” He winked at Smoke and started taking his tuxedo out of the cover. The man was about Smoke’s age and wore a striped golf shirt and blue jeans. An automatic gun was tucked inside a shoulder holster. “Weddings really get her hot for some reason. That’s where I met her, at my partner’s wedding.”

  Smoke had just met Jerry last night at the rehearsal dinner, and he’d concluded two things about him: the man talked too much bull, and he was always late. But otherwise, he wasn’t a half-bad fellow. He was a New York City detective who had worked in homicide and narcotics.

  “Thanks for being here, Jerry. I know it means a lot to Sid.”

  Dropping his pants, Jerry revealed some nasty bullet scars on his thighs. He caught Smoke and Guppy looking and said, “That was a harrowing night. Mobsters. They popped me in the legs.” He patted his sidearm. “I popped them in the head. I can’t talk about it to Cecilia so much. She really hates me being a cop. But man, sometimes you have to vent. So Smoke, you and Sid are bounty hunters now? That’s a pretty unique career path. I understand you’re a veteran, too. In the navy? I always thought those dungarees looked silly. Do they still wear those?”

  “Pretty sure.”

  In about three minutes, Jerry was dressed and ready to go. He faced Smoke and said, “Look, I don’t know you really well, but everyone seems to think you’re a pretty good guy. I pride myself as a damn good judge of character.” He looked Smoke up and down. “You look like an okay guy, but don’t most guys look okay before the wedding?”

  There was a brief silence.

  Guppy lifted his shoulders.

  Jerry continued, “Listen, she’s my little sister, and I just want you to know from me that you better not hurt her. She’s family. We look out for one another. Capisce?”

  Cheeks flushed, Guppy stepped into Jerry. “Boy, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. You’ve never met a better man, aside from your own dad.”

  Dusting off his sleeves and without looking at Guppy, Jerry said, “Well, I don’t know about that. You see to it that you behave yourself, Smoke. I’ll be paying attention.”

  Keith opened the door to the classroom and said, “It’s show time, gentlemen.”

  Jerry followed his dad out.

  Guppy sighed. “What was all that clishmaclaver about?”

  Smoke shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s Biff Tannen complex.”

  CHAPTER 19

  Smoke stood at the altar with his hands clasped over his waist. His throat was a little tight. Eyeing the double doors that led into the sanctuary, he felt his fingers tingle. Was this finally going to happen, or was something dark and sinister going to swoop in?

  Is this happening? It better be.

  There were several small arrangement
s of flowers on the stage, and Pastor Stanley stood with his Bible in hand. He was a picture of wisdom and peace in his dark-blue suit and burgundy tie. Candelabra held tall candles lit with warm golden flames. The sun shined through the stained glass windows. A young girl in in a honey-colored dress with many curls in her hair played something soothing on the piano. The church pews were overflowing on both sides of the quaint brick-and-mortar building. The faces were warm, wrinkled, tearful, and friendly. The place had a spirit of its own.

  The gentle stroke of the piano keys changed its tune and swelled to fill the room. Everyone stood up and turned to face the doors that split open at the opposite end.

  Guppy had Samantha on his arm. Sam was tall and gorgeous, with her rich chestnut hair up in a bun. She wore a soft lavender dress that hugged her curves with class and sensuality. The husband and wife split apart and took their places on the dais.

  Jerry and Cecilia came next. Cecilia was a vivacious Italian with short black hair and penetrating eyes. Jerry walked with a strut and had a bit of a smirk on his face. They kissed briefly and sauntered into their respective spots.

  The wedding march started to play.

  Smoke took a glance at Sally. She sat alone in the front pew. Her sweet face was already streaked with tears. On the groom’s side were some of Smoke’s other brothers and sisters and his adoptive parents, Charlotte and Larry. They were a pair of hardworking and well-dressed people. He gave Charlotte a little wink. Her eyes watered up.

  At the top of the aisle, the young boys parted the doors again.

  Sid stood arm in arm with her father Keith. The crowd erupted into complimentary murmurs as they walked down the aisle. Smiles were broad on everyone’s faces, seeing one of their own little girls all grown up and so beautiful in a marvelous wedding dress with inlaid pearls and a silver lining. The dress touched the floor but stopped there. Sidney’s face was covered in a white veil, but the swooping neckline and tight waist enhanced her sumptuous figure.

  Smoke’s heart pounded in his temples. He couldn’t wait to feast his eyes on her. He was a little surprised too, as he hadn’t envisioned the veil. He teetered on his feet a little.

  That better be her under there.

  Keith led her up to the bottom step, whispered a few words in Sid’s ear, and took his seat by Sally. Sid slowly made her way up the steps. As she did so, Samantha took the bouquet. Smoke extended his hand to Sid. Her gloved hand touched his.

  She really did go all out.

  He searched for her eyes through the veil, but he couldn’t see them.

  The height is right. The build is right.

  So were those of Samone, Sid’s clone. And those of Allison. He started to wonder if any of these people were real at all. He never got the jitters this bad, not ever, before anything.

  Pastor Stanley spoke. “Please sit down, everyone. I wish I could join you. Standing just doesn’t come as easily to an old preacher like me these days.” There was some laughter. “So, let’s get right down to it, shall we?”

  Smoke nodded. Beside him, Sid was stiff as stone, her hand firm in his.

  “Please face one another,” the pastor said. As they turned, he chatted. “So I’ve done more weddings than I can count, and I know many of you know what I’m about to say, but I’ll say it again and I’ll try not to be so long, because so many of you look hungry.”

  Smoke squeezed Sid’s hand so as to say, “Is that you?”

  She squeezed back once.

  But anyone can do that. Sid? Is that you? Please be you.

  “Marriage is a mystery. Even in scripture, God does not fully declare its purpose, but He is very clear about the guidelines. You see, in the beginning God created man and saw that he was alone, and He made him a companion. This is the reason why a man leaves his mother and father and is united with his wife, and they become one flesh…”

  Pastor Stanley kept on talking, and Smoke soaked the words in while at the same time he was trying to fight off a nagging sensation that seemed to be invading him. Everything had happened so fast that this very moment became surreal.

  “And this is an important verse that I cannot implore upon the husband often enough. It will get you through those difficult days if you can abide by this.” The pastor’s finger scanned down the pages of the worn black leather Bible. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

  Smoke nodded. He was certain that Pastor Stanley was the real deal, but the lingering doubts were coming at him from everywhere else. The whole veil thing was really bothering him.

  Get it together, John. That’s Sid under there. It couldn’t be anyone else. This is happening.

  “Now, do we have the rings?” Pastor Stanley said.

  Guppy fished them out of his pocket and handed them to the pastor. Pastor Stanley held them up for all to see and said, “Very nice. Endless circles of gold that will last for all eternity.”

  Sid and Smoke unclasped their hands. She slid her gloves off and handed them to Sam.

  Pastor Stanley looked at Smoke and said, “You might want to unveil her for this part.”

  Gently, Smoke took the veil in his fingertips and lifted it up over her face.

  “It’s me,” Sid said. She was a perfect vision of beauty with a little sparkle to her skin. Her dark eyes were enigmatic and captivating. “You were worried, weren’t you.”

  “A tad.”

  “I couldn’t resist.”

  Pastor Stanley handed them the rings. “Now the couple will recite their vows. It’s always one of the most exciting parts of the ceremony that I so enjoy, particularly because they agreed to the vows that I already have memorized.”

  Smoke looked deep into Sid’s eyes, and she looked back into his.

  Smiling, Pastor Stanley added, “But first, for the sake of fun and tradition, I have to ask that if anyone objects to this couple being joined in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

  The audience was all smiles, and Sid offered Smoke a childish grin and a little shrug. “Whew,” she whispered.

  They turned their attention back to Pastor Stanley. Just then, the double doors at the top of the aisle burst open. Allison and Megan appeared, and they weren’t alone.

  CHAPTER 20

  Necks craning and clothes awkwardly twisting, everyone turned to see who had entered the room. Sid grabbed Smoke’s hand and squeezed it. Under her breath she said, “I can’t believe it.”

  Smoke’s jaw clenched.

  Allison stood tall and proud in a black, knee-length dress. Decorated in jewels, she twinkled with the allure of a movie star. Sid’s niece Megan was taller now, her sweet face more slender. She wore a pink dress like a little lady, but her expression was distant. The third person of the trio was Reginald the doppelganger. His suit was a sleek dark grey, and a smirk spread across his face.

  Nobody said a word as the three of them strolled down the aisle with the haughty look of royalty and sat right down in the front row beside Sid’s parents.

  Sally and Keith’s expressions were blank.

  Smoke felt Sid clenching his hand like she wanted to break something. He ran his thumb over the back of her hand and said under his breath, “Almost there.”

  Sid faced him again. Her cheeks were a little flushed, but she gave him a quick nod.

  “Er, it seems we don’t have any objections.” Pastor Stanley’s eyes slid over to Allison, then he focused again on Smoke and Sid. “So let us continue. Where were we?”

  “The rings,” Smoke said.

  “Yes, the rings. We will start with you. John, repeat after me,” Pastor Stanley said.

  “It’s okay, Pastor. I got it.” Smoke slid the
wedding band over Sid’s finger and said, “With this ring, I thee wed, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as we both shall live. In the eyes of our Lord, I pledge my undying faithfulness.”

  Sid’s eyes watered up.

  Sally started to sob and sniffle.

  “And now it’s your turn to recite your vows, Sidney. Will you be needing my assistance?” Pastor Stanley asked.

  She nodded and said, “I think I will.” She slipped the gold ring onto Smoke’s finger.

  Pastor Stanley led her through the recital of the vows. Smoke wiped the tears from her eyes as she did so with his own heart trying to burst from his chest.

  “Now, with great pleasure I can say that by the powers invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.” Pastor Stanley smiled and said, “Now, Mister Smoke, you may kiss the bride.”

  Smoke hauled Sid into his arms and kissed her soundly.

  In a strong voice, Pastor Stanley finished up the ceremony, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you Mister and Missus John and Sidney Smoke.”

  ***

  A well-decorated but modest reception was held in the church’s fellowship hall. Smoke and Sid met with everyone, friends and family, and posed for plenty of pictures. The time quickly came to cut the wedding cake, and both of them did their best to stuff cake into each other’s faces. Finally, after about two hours of eating and shaking hands, Sid kissed Smoke on the cheek and said, “I need to spend some time with Megan.”

  He nodded and said, “Okay, Mrs. Smoke.” He tickled her as she walked away and she giggled, and then Smoke reached over and patted Guppy on the shoulder. “I’m going to get some air. Will you cover for me?”

  “Sure thing,” Guppy said.

  On his way out, Smoke spied Sid sitting at Allison’s table with Megan on her lap. They both had smiles and tears on their faces.

  Good.

  After pushing his way out through the fire doors, he followed the sidewalk around to the front of the church. Reginald was stooped over the side of the concrete bridge, smoking. He flicked the butt into the creek and lit another one. A pair of older women who were crossing the bridge frowned at Reginald as they walked by.