Devoted to Love
Page 33
Hate spewed across the woman’s face as she clutched her sticky red wound. “I hate you—both of you! You’ll pay for this.”
Behind him, a loud crash signaled the coming of large, rumbling vehicles. Josiah whirled to the sound and spotted a pair of armored vehicles coming toward them, both emblazoned with a trio of familiar letters he was so fucking happy to see.
FBI.
A long line of black SUVs poured in after that, followed by a trio of Hummers from the DEA.
Hot damn.
“I don’t think so,” Josiah tossed back to Mercy. “You’re going to find the inside of a cell, and I’m going to help put you there.”
Maggie stepped closer to the brunette and leaned into her face. “You can enlighten your consciousness while you rot behind bars. Josiah is mine. We’re forgetting this place—and you. Buh-bye, bitch.”
CHAPTER 20
Ten weeks later . . .
This time, I don’t even have to ask if you’re ready.” Shealyn smiled Maggie’s way. “You’re a beautiful bride.”
Wearing her grandmother’s freshly dry-cleaned wedding dress, Maggie hugged her older sister, joy brimming in her heart. “I’m beyond ready to marry Josiah. I’m grateful every day to have my rock, my best friend, my everything in my life.”
“After all you’ve been through, you two deserve happiness.”
A lot had gone down since that terrifying dusk at Enlightenment Fields. Marcus had died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Michael had tried to flee the compound in the middle of the raid. When he’d been cornered, he’d fired on the agents. They’d shot back, killing him on sight. After that, most of the followers had cooperated with the federal agents; some even seemed relieved to have their freedom and admitted they’d been afraid they’d be killed if they walked out.
Adam Coleman had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance, as well as four counts of statutory rape. He was going down for the rest of his life. For her part in the cult’s grand scheme of murder and obstruction, Dixie was going to prison, too. Mercy had done her best to wiggle out of the charges filed against her, claiming she hadn’t known about the atrocities at the compound. Josiah and some of the former flock had testified otherwise, as well as affirmed that she’d been the one to order Ben Haney’s and Sawyer Getty’s deaths. As of last week, she’d been sentenced to thirty years.
In some ways, Maggie pitied the woman, but the victim had become the perpetrator. Her past suffering didn’t excuse what she’d done.
“And you’re getting married in our family barn after all!” her sister said with a squeal.
“I’m so excited. Everything looks so beautiful. It’s nice to have the whole family here.”
“Mom is thrilled to see you again.”
“It’s nice to see her, too.” In the past few days, Maggie had let go of her remaining resentment toward the woman who had abandoned her as a toddler. Bitterness took too much energy, and she was too full of love for that now. “Mom looks happy, and I’m happy for her.”
Shealyn squeezed her hands. “And Josiah’s family loves you.”
“They’re so amazing. I don’t know how excited they are that I’m moving him to Texas . . .”
“Well, not that part, but Granna and Papa are thrilled.”
“We want to be here for them as they get older and assume responsibility for the ranch.”
Her sister raised a brow. “Is Josiah ready for that?”
“Not quite yet, but he’ll learn. In the meantime, he’ll work occasional jobs for EM Security. It’s a good compromise.”
“A very good compromise,” Shealyn agreed. “I talked to Joaquin for a few minutes earlier. He was so impressed by all the evidence Kane Preston had stockpiled against Coleman, Mercy, and the rest that he and the Edgington brothers have hired the deputy. Once he moves to Louisiana, he’ll pick up the slack around their office now that our husbands are gone.”
“That’s fantastic! So you and Cutter aren’t moving to Louisiana anytime soon?”
“I can’t. I have contractual obligations and my career is going too well. Cutter is on board with staying in California for a while, but we’re buying a place in Sunset. We’ll live there when we can. His mom will move in, help us keep up with the place. Sweeney might be getting older, but she’s still a bundle of energy. And it’s nice that she doesn’t have to wait tables anymore.”
“Everything is coming together for us. When we were kids, I never imagined finding such a happy ending.”
Shealyn smiled. “All we have to do now is get you down the aisle so you can say ‘I do.’ Papa is waiting at the back of the barn for you.”
“Let’s do this.”
“No need for a soda to quell your queasy stomach and jangling nerves?” Shealyn teased.
“Nope. Cool as a cucumber.” She’d been through too much to sweat the small stuff, and she wasn’t nervous about pledging her life to the man she loved. “Not a single doubt that Josiah Grant is exactly the man I’m meant to spend my life with.”
“He doesn’t have any doubts, either. I can see how much he loves you every time he looks your way.”
Maggie saw it, too. “That’s how Cutter looks at you.”
Her sister nodded with an adoring smile. “Any last-minute gifts you’re wanting to give your groom before the ceremony this time?”
“No.”
She’d already given him a pair of socks today embroidered with the words IN CASE YOU GET COLD FEET, along with their wedding date. The bottle of whiskey she’d found with a label that read YOU’RE GETTING LUCKY TONIGHT XOXO would be good for a giggle later. But besides their love, the best gift of all was one they’d share forever—and would be born come November.
Maggie had learned that nugget yesterday and couldn’t wait to tell her husband—because, yes, they were really getting hitched this time!—that he was going to be a father before Thanksgiving.
“I don’t want anything delaying this ceremony,” she murmured. “I’m ready to make him mine.”
She and Shealyn hugged one last time, then left the house, trekking through the gently swaying grass and spring flowers, now blooming in the April sunshine. Maggie didn’t waver or shake. She drank in every moment, more than happy to give her whole heart to Josiah forever. No hesitation. No doubts. No fear that he would leave her. No need to protect her heart.
It was his, just as she was.
When she stepped into position at the back of the barn, Papa smiled down proudly and held out his arm. “You look so beautiful. And I’m so pleased you’ve finally found a man worthy of you.”
Maggie teared up. “I don’t say it often enough, but I love you, Papa.”
Josiah’s sisters filed in and made their way down the aisle in their soft green bridesmaids’ dresses. Maggie smiled fondly. They were both very sweet, but Dana was a hoot. Maggie got along with her really well.
Then Shealyn took her place as matron of honor, smiling at everyone, especially her handsome husband, as she made her way to the front of the barn.
Then the bridal march cued up, and Papa patted her hand. Together, they headed down the aisle, past so many familiar faces. She gave a special nod to One-Mile. He might not have been the most popular operator at EM Security, but his expert marksmanship the day of Enlightenment Fields’ takedown had been the difference between Josiah’s life and death. The big sniper acknowledged her with a nod in return.
Then Maggie was gliding toward the man she couldn’t wait to spend her future with. Anticipation gripped her chest when she caught sight of Josiah at the altar beside Cutter and his two brothers-in-law, who also served as his groomsmen.
Their eyes met.
You look beautiful, wife, he mouthed.
Tears welled.
I love you, she said back without a sound.
Finally, she reached Josiah, and Papa gave her hand to her future husband. Her heart melted when she and Josiah joined fingers and squeezed tight. He smiled her way. His gray eyes, which could seem like flinty cold steel, shone silver with happiness today.
“Remember the first wedding we attended together?” he whispered.
She grinned. “How could I forget? You seduced me.”
“You did the same to me. Aren’t you glad now?”
“Beyond. Ready to get hitched?”
“I’m ready to call you Mrs. Grant for the rest of my life. But I’m not eating any more Lucky Charms.”
Maggie giggled. “As long as you never stop loving me, I can live with that.”
“Baby, I’m going to be by your side and I’ll give you all the love you can handle forever. You never have to worry about that.”
SHAYLA BLACK is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy novels, including the Wicked Lovers series, the More Than Words series, and, with Lexi Blake, the Perfect Gentlemen series. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances. Her books have sold millions of copies and have been published in a dozen languages. An only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in marketing/advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past ten years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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