by Regina Frame
“Cupcake, thousands of people just heard you threaten me with bodily harm,” I said, cocking my head toward the microphone in front of us. She blushed feverishly. “I wanted you all to know that I asked this beautiful woman to be my wife, and she said yes. She has made me the happiest man on the face of this earth. I’d like to do a song just for her. It’s called ‘Holding you Close.’” I motioned to the stool that one of the roadies brought onto the stage for her. Tears sprang to her eyes as I turned to face her. When the song ended, I dropped the microphone and wrapped my arms around her and pulled her small body tight against mine. I glanced at the crowd to find people with their cell phones out, but this time using flashlight function or lighters held high in the night sky as we moved together.
We swayed back and forth, dancing to our own heart’s rhythm. Somewhere in the distance, I heard Blake’s voice thank everyone for coming out tonight and reminded them to donate to help the shelter. As the crowd began to thin, my band brothers gathered around us, asking a million questions about when we’re getting married, and of course, they wanted to see the ring.
“At least you didn’t go cheap,” Blake joked.
“Baby, I thought I had everything, but I was wrong. You’re the answers to all of my prayers.” I kissed her lips, tasted the salt from her tears, and said, Let’s go to Vegas. I can’t wait to make you mine.” She choked out a laugh but nodded her head.
“I just have to get my things in the dressing room. I’ll be right back,” she promised.
13
TRINITY
I hurried into the bathroom and checked my reflection. Just as I thought, I looked like shit. My eyes were red and puffy with streaks of dried mascara underneath. I tore off some of those awful brown paper towels and wet one in the sink. I scrubbed all of my makeup off, and finger combed my hair. As soon as I opened the bathroom door, I spotted my purse sitting on the table. I remembered putting it there before the guys left for the stage. My blood ran cold when I looked up to find Penny Simms standing across the room with a gun in her hand pointed at me.
“So, let me see this big diamond I’ve heard so much about.” She walked over and grabbed my left hand, lifting it so that she could get a better look. My heart beat wildly in my chest. Bile rose in the back of my throat. Sweat broke out across my upper lip.
“Wh-Why are you doing this? Tucker has a copy of the divorce papers and a restraining order against you.”
“It’s all about money, honey. He has enough to go around, he’ll never miss it. You’re just the little bird to help me get what I want.”
Tears pooled in my eyes when I heard the click of the hammer being cocked. This crazy woman is going to kill me, and no one is going to know.
“Tucker belongs to me. That night in Vegas he made passionate love to me while repeating how much he loved me in my ear. I want him back, and that’s just not possible with you in the picture. He’ll see that I’m the one for him. Not you.” My hand flew to my mouth as she pushed the gun hard against my temple. I thought back to the last time Tucker and I were together, and I realized I would never again be wrapped in his arms. I’d never feel his lips on mine or hear him whisper I love you as he came inside me. This couldn’t be the way it all ended.
“Come on. Let’s go.” She pressed the gun at my back. I dug my heels in, not moving.
“Where are we going?” My heart hammered in my chest.
“We’re going to the roof. Imagine Tucker’s heartbreak when he finds out his sweet Trinity jumped to her death.”
“I’ll leave. I’ll go away and you can have him. I’ll no longer be in the picture,” I pleaded. The door was at my back. If I turned and ran, would she shoot me in the back? My whole body shook with fear. She barked out a laugh and waved the gun around in the air.
“You must think I’m stupid. Get your purse and give me your phone. I’m going to shut it off so that your location can’t be tracked.” She was crazy if she thought that was the way it worked. I walked across the room on shaky legs and pulled my phone from my purse. “Lay it on the table and get moving,” she barked. “You know what, on second thought, I’ll give you the phone and let you send Tucker a goodbye text. Tell him you’ve left the venue and you never want to see him again. I’m watching you. If you so much as give him an idea of where you are, I’ll shoot you right where you stand.”
“If you’ll let me go, I’ll leave town. You’ll never see me again,” I bargained. She was having none of it.
“You actually think I believe you?” Her laugh was bitter and sent cold chills down my spine. “I’m going to make him suffer the way he made me suffer when he left me in Vegas. I’ve tried for a year to get him to talk to me. If he’d just listen, I could make him see that we’re meant to be together. We’re soulmates, or at least he owes me money. There’s no denying that.” I cried out and she shoved the gun between my shoulder blades. Fear raced down my veins. There was no use trying to bargain. It wasn’t going to work. She was straight up crazy.
14
TUCKER
I noticed that Trinity hadn’t returned to the stage. I fished my cell from my pocket and tried calling her. That’s when I noticed a text sent from her phone ten minutes ago.
Trinity: Tucker this would never work out for us. I’ve left the venue and leaving town. Please don’t look for me. I’ll be gone by the time you see this.
I raked my hands through my hair. “She’s gone or something’s going on,” I rambled to the guys that were still standing around. “Get Patrick on the phone and tell him that something has happened to Trinity, and I believe that Penny may be involved,” I instructed Blake. I practically broke into a run down the dim hallway toward our dressing room. My heart fell to the floor when I opened the door and saw there was no Trinity, but her purse was still on the table. I know Trinity enough to know she never leaves without her purse. Patrick storms through the door as I was making my way out. “Look everywhere. She’s got to be here somewhere!” I shouted as I opened doors down the hall. The last door at the end of the hall happened to be the stairs to the roof. I took the stairs two at a time. My dad always told me leave no stone unturned. I shoved the metal door open, and my heart dropped at my feet.
“Well, Well,” Penny clapped. “The great Tucker James has made an entrance,” she sneered. “You know I have the same last name? It’s like we’re meant to be together, Tucker.” Trinity was standing on the railing staring down at the pavement below. Her body visibly trembled. I thought back to the day at the board walk and remembered Trinity’s fear of heights. What was Penny going to do? Shove her off?
“Penny, you’re delusional. There is no us, and there never was,” I said. She clucked her tongue and took a step back. She grabbed Trinity’s arm and pointed the gun at me. “You don’t want to do this. Please don’t do this,” I begged.
“Tucker, this all could have gone away if you’d just give me what I want. What I deserve.” She began waving the gun around. “I don’t think a marriage settlement is too much to ask, do you?” She pointed the gun at Trinity, making me gasp.
Rage surged through my veins as I watched Trinity tremble where she stood on the ledge across from me, fear looking back at me in her emerald green eyes. “Penny, let her go. It’s me you want. Not her,” I pleaded, but she just shook her head. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I want to see you suffer. I want to watch your heart break just like you broke mine in Vegas. I love you. Can’t you see that?” Penny plastered on a fake smile to go along with her fake lashes.
“You’re crazy! You know that?” I growled.
She clucked her tongue and pressed the gun against Trinity’s temple. When tears began to fall from her eyes, my world spun as thoughts of a world without her in it flooded in my mind. I wouldn’t let her be taken from me. The rusty metal door opened, and Luke walked in carrying a gun. He also had a badge clipped to his belt. I grabbed Trinity and pulled her from the ledge. She collapsed in my arms.
“Luke?” I said as I
wrapped Trinity in my arms.
“I’ve been working under cover with Patrick for years. I’ve actually been on this case since day one. Every time I’d think I was close to her; she’d slip through my fingers. You’re not the only one she’s done this to. There are at least ten other men she’s trying to extort money from. She’s going to be doing some serious time,” Luke explained.
“Thanks man,” I offered. In a matter of minutes Patrick along with a few other men in uniform stepped onto the roof. It all happened in a blur. Patrick handcuffed Penny and took her away. Hopefully for good.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
“How you got him to wait this long is beyond me. That man was ready to marry you the day he met you,” Aubrey said, putting the last of the pins in my bridal veil and fussing with my hair. “Why is your chest all red?” I looked in the mirror, and sure enough, my whole chest and neck were nothing but red splotches.
“She always does this when she’s nervous,” Willow chimed in from where she stood going through the bouquets the florist had sent over. They were a beautiful mix of white peonies and pink roses. Absolutely beautiful.
“I’m getting married!” I grinned as I fingered the diamond pendant that Tucker gave me last night after the rehearsal dinner. It’s the perfect touch for my simple silk gown. He thought he could bribe his way into my bed last night, but I stuck my ground and told him it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.
“Aubrey, I can’t tell you how thankful I am that Chance agreed to walk me down the aisle.”
“He was so excited when you asked him to do it. We love you and want you and Tucker to have a happily ever after. I’m just sorry that your dad wouldn’t do it for you,” Aubree said.
“Trust me Aubrey, Trinity’s parents, want things their way and if they don’t get it they withhold things such as affection and approval for Trinity. They always have,” Willow explained as she handed Aubrey her bouquet.
“Willow!” I scolded. Willow has never had a filter. She says what she thinks even though she’s spot on. Everything she said about my parents is true. They even declined the invitation to our wedding. I decided from this day on, I don’t need their approval for the man I chose to marry, or the career I chose. I’m happy, and that’s all that matters.
“I’m sorry,” Willow apologized. “Okay, this is a happy day and you’re a beautiful bride!” She beamed.
“You really think I look okay? Maybe I should have chosen the dress with the lace on it.” I ran my hand down the front of my dress, fussing with my veil.
“No!” Willow and Aubrey said in unison which made us all laugh. I had chosen a simple white silk gown with rhinestone straps and a small train. For the girls, we’d chosen short white satin gowns with a pink ribbon at the waist, and being that we were marrying on the beach, we were all barefoot.
The wedding planner stuck her head in the door and said, “The guys are ready when you are Trinity,” she said with a big smile. “You look beautiful.”
“Okay, before we go, I’d like to propose a toast.” Willow handed each of us a glass of champagne. “They say that in this world we’ll find our soul mate. The one we are supposed to spend the rest of our lives with. The one we can’t live without. Trinity, I’m so glad you’ve found yours. You deserve all the happiness in the world. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day.” Willow sniffled as we lifted our glasses.
“Damn, I’m going to mess up my makeup.” I wiped underneath my eyes with a tissue. Aubrey raised her glass with a smile on her face.
“Thank you for including me in your special day. I’m so glad we’ve become friends. You deserve the sun, moon, and stars.
“If you ladies are ready,” the planner stuck her head just inside the door.
“This is it ladies.” I fanned myself with my hand in an attempt to hold back the tears. “I’m getting married!” I lifted my bouquet in the air. When we stepped outside the door, Chance was standing there waiting for me. He was wearing a pair of tan pants and white short-sleeve shirt with a pink rosebud pinned to the collar. He offered his arm, and I took it, letting him lead me down the beach to where Tucker stood with his band mates underneath an archway surrounded by white, pink, and purple flowers. He was dressed in a white linen shirt and a pair of tan trousers, and just like me, he was barefoot. My heart began to pick up speed as we came to a stop in front of him. Tucker reached for my hand and pulled me to his side.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispered next to my ear sending delicious shivers throughout my body. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I grinned and lightly swatted at his arm.
The minister cleared his throat and began the ceremony. We each repeated the same vows, but before the minister could pronounce us man and wife, Tucker spoke up.
“If you all don’t mind, I have written something I’d like to read to Trinity. My stomach flipped and I could feel myself breaking out in red splotches. Damn! Tears pooled in my eyes. There goes my makeup.
“Trinity, from the day you climbed onto my bike, I knew you were the one. There was no denying it. I’ve never seen anyone more caring and giving than you. You’re the person I want by my side. The person I want to grow old with. In your eyes, I see our future and it’s full of love and affection. Without you there is no tomorrow. We met on the side of that highway for a reason, and this is it.” There was something different about Tucker today. Something different about the look in his eyes, it was love. I could see love looking back at me. I am so blessed to have this wonderful man.
The minister looked around the crowd and to each of us before saying, “You may kiss your bride.”
“I love you, Trinity,” Tucker said, melding his lips with mine.
“I’m Mrs. Tucker James,” I giggled, kissing him back.
“Until the end of time.” Tucker grabbed my hand and led me back down the rose petal path and right to a waiting limo.
“What about our friends?” I gasped as he began kissing his way down my neck.
“They’ll understand, besides the winery is theirs for the night.”
“They’re going to the reception without us?” I asked.
“My dear wifey, we’re headed to Belize for two weeks. Let’s go make a baby!” he growled, lowering the strap of my bridal gown.
“Let’s go make a baby,” I whispered, looking into his crystal blue eyes.
THE COCKY HERO CLUB
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Copyright © 2021 by Regina Frame Author and Cocky Hero Club, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the authors’ imaginations. Any resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
Editor: Amy Briggs
Proofreading by: Tara Skaggs
Photo Credit: Depositphotos
Formatted by: Amy Briggs
Cover by: Darkwater Covers
About the Author
My name is Regina Frame, and I live in Alabama with my husband and 3 dogs. I worked for twenty years in the medical field as an office manager. I fell in love with reading at a young age and I haven't stopped reading since. I love to write! I love the challenge of br
inging characters to life, and love it even more when I hear how they have touched my readers.
When I'm not at the computer, you'll find me reading with a dog in my lap or searching Pinterest for photos of Jamie Dornan.
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http://www.ReginaFrameAuthor.com
Titles By Regina Frame
The Beaumont Trilogy
Saving Chloe
Parker's Past
Forever Complete
Rock Star Series
Dirty Affliction Series
Honesty
Lyric
Heartstrings
Harmony
Melody
