The Intended Victim

by Ivy, Alexandra

  It’d all combined to turn their lives into a circus that had sucked the time and attention of Ash’s family. Remi had been grimly determined to make sure that today, she and Ash remained firmly in the background.

  “Because today is for Nate and Ellie,” she said. “I’m not going to distract from their wedding by announcing our engagement.”

  Ash scowled, lifting her hand to press it against his lips. “I want to see my ring on your finger.”

  Her heart fluttered. Just like it was supposed to when the man she loved gazed at her as if there was no other woman in the world.

  “In a few days, I promise,” she said in husky tones.

  The past weeks had been a nightmare. The interview with the police to answer their endless questions. The quiet burial of her mother in the family crypt. The legal paperwork to have the Harding estate destroyed.

  The one silver lining had been Ash’s steadfast support. Without him, she was fairly sure she would have locked herself in her bedroom and never come out.

  “I’ll try to hold on to my patience,” he assured her. “But just as a heads-up, it’s not my finest virtue.”

  Her lips twitched. “Shocker.”

  “Hmm.” He tilted down his head to gaze at her with a teasing expression. “I’m not the only one with a lack of patience.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I heard you this morning, yelling at that poor lawyer.”

  She arched her brows at his accusation. “I wasn’t yelling.”

  “No?”

  “I was emphatically reminding him that I want every penny of my inheritance to go into the fund for the Gage Walsh Center,” Remi insisted. She’d barely had time to arrange for her mother to be cremated in a private ceremony before the family lawyer was contacting Remi to inform her that she was now the owner of the estate, along with an obscene amount of money. Remi had resisted the urge to refuse the inheritance. Instead, she’d spent a few days considering how she could use the money to do something good. At last, she’d hit on the idea of creating a group home for youth who needed emergency care. Like Drew, when his dad was thrown in jail. They would have a safe place to stay until they could be returned home, or to a more permanent foster care location. “If I wanted a portion of the money in stocks, or bonds, or my personal bank account, I would have asked for it.”

  He pressed another kiss on her fingers. “You made your point.”

  Heat touched her cheeks. Okay. Maybe she had been yelling. “I just want to get things going.”

  He smiled down at her. “I like seeing the sparkle back in your eyes.”

  She knew what he meant. For days, she’d struggled to put one foot in front of the other. She’d felt smothered by a shroud of guilt, as if it was somehow her fault she hadn’t recognized that her mother was a serial killer. But slowly, she’d come out of the darkness, accepting that she’d been a victim, like all those other women.

  She could either wallow in misery or make the most of the life she had been given.

  “I can’t change the past, or the horror my mother spread through this city,” she said. “But at least I can make sure my father’s name is remembered for something fine and decent.”

  Ash bent down to lightly kiss her lips. “I’m proud of you, Remi Walsh.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you, Dr. Marcel,” she assured him.

  “Oh.” He lifted his head, suddenly smiling. “I heard from the dean.”

  “Did they find a replacement?” she asked.

  Ash had spoken with the college to request that they release him from his contract.

  “Yes. I’m officially unemployed.”

  “Are you sure about this?” Remi demanded. As much as she wanted Ash to return to Chicago, she couldn’t bear for him to someday regret giving up his career in teaching. “I don’t want you leaving the opportunity to be the hottest professor on campus for me.”

  “It’s time,” he assured her. “I’ll have to settle for being the hottest detective in Chicago.”

  “Hold on,” a male voice drawled from behind them. “That title is already taken.”

  Remi glanced over her shoulder, flashing a smile at Ash’s brother, who looked equally handsome in his tux.

  “Jax. Have a seat.” She waved an inviting hand to the chair across the table.

  Jax had been the first cop through the door to find Ash and Remi lying on the ground, with her mother bleeding to death near the bar. He’d been the one to hustle the paramedics to load Ash into the ambulance and carry him out of the tunnels. And to make sure Remi didn’t have to deal with anything but going to the hospital to be with Ash.

  Since then, he’d stopped by her house every morning, keeping Ash occupied so he didn’t go stir-crazy before his wound was healed. And to keep Remi updated on the ongoing investigation. He didn’t want her caught off guard if they found more bodies.

  She would never forget all he’d done for them.

  Jax, however, gave a shake of his head, his gaze moving toward a red-haired woman who was sipping a glass of champagne near the dance floor.

  “Naw,” he drawled. “I’m making the rounds.”

  “Hmm. Be careful,” Ash warned. “Weddings are always filled with our gene pool. You should probably make sure you’re not hitting on a cousin.”

  Jax rolled his eyes. “Why did I ever want you to return to Chicago?”

  Ash flashed a smug smile. “Because you love me.”

  “I can’t imagine why,” Jax said in a dry tone, giving a shake of his head. Then he placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder, careful not to press against his wound. “Hey, Mom wanted me to swing by to tell you it’s time for you to leave.”

  “Leave?” Ash arched his brows. “It’s been a long time since I had a curfew.”

  “She’s worried you’re overdoing it,” Jax told him.

  “I’m fine,” Ash protested. “And Nate is only going to get married once. At least, that’s the plan.”

  They all glanced toward the dance floor, where Nate and Ellie were leading the conga line.

  “Nate’s married, the cake has been cut, and all that’s left is the drinking,” Jax pointed out.

  “And the fighting,” Ash protested. “It wouldn’t be a Marcel wedding without someone getting a black eye.”

  Jax snorted. “Yeah, that’s why Mom wants you out of here.”

  “She’s right,” Remi broke into the brewing argument. “Time to go home.”

  “I’m all healed up,” Ash said, heaving an impatient sigh. “I swear.”

  “Then prove it.” Remi rose to her feet, flashing an inviting smile.

  Ash blinked, his gaze slowly roaming down the floaty silver dress that swirled around her body. It was perfectly cut to look modest—then she moved, and it slithered over her curves with remarkable results.

  With a jerky surge, Ash was on his feet. “You know what, I think it is time to head home.” He glanced toward Jax, his expression distracted. “Tell Nate I’ll come see him before they head back to Oklahoma.”

  “Will do,” Jax agreed. “Now go.”

  Ash wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gazing down at her with an expression that made her heart melt. “Ready?”

  She reached up to lightly touch his face. It had taken years, and more pain than she’d ever imagined she’d have to endure, but at last she could offer her heart to this man without hesitation.

  “I really and truly am.”