Ashamed (The Family #3)
Page 14
Holding Raine’s hand, they watched his ashes until there was nothing more to see. Pulling Raine into his arms, he held her tightly as the ferry took them back to land.
“I hate goodbyes,” she said.
“This is going to be our last one,” he said.
“I know. Tulip was telling me something the other day, and I don’t know if I should believe it or not.”
“What was it?” he asked.
“Bracken wants to bind our families tighter?”
“Yes, he does. We’ve had some … complications.”
“What kind?”
“A couple of our offices have been attacked, and stolen from. Bracken believes that if we bind our names together, we’ll unite, and show the world that our partnership is not just rumors.”
“How are you going to do that?” she asked.
“Emily and Jake.”
She gasped. “Seriously?”
“They’re the only two where it would be work. It’s not like Bracken can marry anyone, nor me, Tonio, and Donnie. It leaves Jake, and seeing as he’s one of us, it would bind us all together.”
“Is he happy to do that?” she asked.
Luiz kissed her lips, and he smiled down at her. “I don’t know if he’s happy.”
“It’s one way of him getting over Charlene.”
“A drastic way. One girl for another.”
“Do you think Emily will like it?”
Luiz shrugged. “I don’t know. I want to focus on us, no one else right now. We’ll handle any problems in the future.”
“Okay, husband, what do you want to do for the next fifty years?” she asked.
“I don’t know about fifty years, but I want us to go and try that new mattress I brought. What do you say?”
“Take me home,” she said, snuggling back against him.
****
“No. No. No. Absolutely not. No! I don’t know how many different ways I can tell you no, but no!” Emily folded her arms, and Jake smirked.
“You think I want this, princess?” he asked.
“Think about this, Emily.”
“I don’t even like him.”
“It’s not about like. It’s about need. Sacrifices need to be made.”
“And your oldest daughter is that sacrifice?” she asked.
“It’s a need, sweetie, and I need you to do this for me,” Bracken said.
Jake didn’t want to get married. He didn’t want to settle for someone who wasn’t Charlene. Everyone told him he’d get over Charlene if he gave another woman a chance. He didn’t believe them, and he still didn’t. It was a waste of time to him.
Emily folded her arms, and looked damn sad.
He didn’t like how it struck him. The last thing he wanted to see was her sad. “Is there someone else I can marry?” she asked. “He always looks moody.”
“I’m afraid not, princess,” Jake said. “It’s me, or no one.”
“I’d take no one!”
“Then me it is,” Jake said.
He grabbed the ring he had, and slid it on her finger.
Emily glared at him, and he clapped his hands. The priest was there ready. There was no time to wait.
He was about to have a bride who hated him.
His happy ending wasn’t ever going to happen. At least he was taking someone with him to hell.
Glancing at Emily, he wondered if she’d take him to heaven. She glared at him.
He was going straight to hell.
The End
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