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“She’s waiting.” He glances over his shoulder and sighs before he looks me in the eyes. Eyes so much like my own. Without saying a word, I know what he’s asking.
“Yes, I am sure.”
He squeezes my shoulder, and we both exit the room. The small church must have been on standby to be available at such short notice. It’s Christmas Eve and the sanctuary is decorated with candles and flowers.
The priest meets me at the entrance, and we walk together to the front of the church. Miller stands beside me, the pillar of strength that I need right now.
“Are you prepared?” the priest asks, and I nod. He signals someone in the distance and then music begins playing.
The double doors at the end of the aisle open, and out walks Chel with my mother on her arm. My mother is beaming like it’s truly my wedding day and not something she’s blackmailed me into doing. I ignore her because the closer Chel gets, the more I can see of her face.
Her eyes are red, and one looks like it’s swollen. Her lips are puffy and bruised on one side, but she’s tried to cover it with makeup. Someone smacked her around, and the image of Cookie in a fight comes to mind. As Chel and my mother come to the end of the aisle, my mother takes a seat in the first row of pews, and Chel moves to stand in front of me.
“Did my love send me a wedding present in the form of your face?” I ask, and by the way Chel scowls at me, I know I’ve made a direct hit.
“Don’t worry, she’s safe with Nathan until you say ‘I do.’” She smirks, and the reminder makes my stomach churn.
I glance around the church, and when I see the double doors close, I nod to the priest. It’s time.
“Chel, why isn’t your family here?” I ask, and I feel Miller move from behind me.
“What?” Her eyebrows pull together in confusion as she looks to me and the priest.
“Your father, Elliot, owns the banking conglomerate Cash and has been married to your mother, Isabelle, for twenty-seven years.”
“I know this,” she says through clenched teeth. “What’s your point?”
Miller steps away from his place and moves to where my mother is sitting. He takes a seat beside her and calmly places his hands in his lap.
“What are you doing?” my mother hisses from the bench.
“You’ve fallen out of favor with them.” I hold my arms out to indicate how empty the room is. “You attempted to sell his trade secrets and he was in a lot of hot water with the feds.”
The double doors open as four armed security personnel step inside.
“We had a deal,” she says in a low voice, leaning close to me. “If you don’t follow through, she’s as good as dead.”
“I kept thinking to myself why would you be so desperate to get my fortune when your family has their own? One quick phone call with your father, and I uncovered what you’d done.” Chel looks to the men at the door and then to my mother. “Do something!” she orders her.
“You see, they’re here for her too.” I smile as the priest opens his Bible and reveals his Federal badge. “It turns out our mother has been skimming funds from Elliot’s bank and sending them to offshore accounts.”
“Lies,” my mother hisses, and Miller drapes his arm over the back of her bench.
“Imagine how happy the government was to hear the recording we took at your house when you admitted to kidnapping and blackmail,” Miller offers, and my mother's face turns white.
Before we’d gone in to talk to her we’d grabbed a recording device out of the car and used it. We knew our parents were dirty, but Chel’s family was all too eager to hand the two of them over.
“You can’t do this!” Chel shouts, and it echoes in the church. “This is my wedding day!” She stomps her foot and real tears form in her eyes. She’s just as crazy as our mother.
“You’ll never get to her in time.” My mother’s smile is evil, and my blood runs cold.
“You’ll tell me where she is or these federal agents will watch me get it out of you,” I threaten, and she looks down at her nails.
“I’m afraid you’re already too late.” The chime of the church clock begins, and the sound is ominous.
I look to the “priest,” and he nods. “We’ll take it from here.”
Chel tries to move in front of me, and I raise my hands like she’s on fire. “Don’t touch me,” I growl, and her tears turn to anger.
“You’ll regret this. My father won’t let me rot in jail.”
“I almost feel sorry for you, because they are the ones putting you in your cell.” I move past her, and Miller follows me.
