“Nope. I stay away from all that. I don’t even hustle anymore.” Ed looped his arm in Wanda’s.
“I can’t say Raven’s given it up entirely.” Muerto kissed the side of her head.
“You still shooting pool?” Ed’s blue-gray eyes shimmered with pride.
Nodding, she said, “Not as much as I used to, but there always seems to be a club member who wants to challenge me. The club had a charity run a month ago, and I made a ton of money for it.”
“I miss it real bad sometimes.” Ed glanced at Wanda as she cleared her throat. “But it’s all behind me. I do different things now.”
Raven caught the wistful tone in his voice. “When you come to visit us, you can play pool with the brothers. They seem to like to lose.”
Muerto guffawed. “Don’t let them hear you say that.”
“I’d love to play a few rounds when Wanda and I come to Colorado.” Ed’s eyes brightened. “Now you go and have a good time. We’re going to head home. We’ll see you tomorrow at the chapel.” He hugged Raven, then grabbed Wanda’s hand and walked away.
“You want to hang with Crow and Paco for a bit? Crow texted me that they’re at Margaritaville having some drinks on the patio. Crow said they have a great classic rock band playing.”
“Sounds fun. The bar’s in the Flamingo. Let’s go.”
They turned around and went back inside the hotel. Soon they were sitting with Crow and Paco. The three guys laughed and talked while she sat back and listened to the tunes of the cover band as they sang classics from the Beatles, Jimmy Buffet, Billy Joel, and many other artists. As she sipped her frozen pineapple daiquiri, she watched Muerto wave his hands as he spoke animatedly about something the three of them had done together a few years back. She noticed the women checking him out as they passed by and how he was oblivious to it. And when he turned to her and winked, her heart fluttered and her legs clenched.He’s so wonderful and he’s all mine. Life is so perfect right now.The moon shone, the breeze caressed, the glittering lights lit up the sky, and she was sipping the most delicious daiquiri she’d ever tasted with the sexiest man she’d ever known on the eve of her wedding.
“You doing good, babe?” Muerto kissed her. “Your lips are cold.” He laughed.
“I’m doing great. Don’t worry about me. I’m having a good time watching all the people.”
“I love you,” he breathed against her neck. “I can’t wait to take you back to our room.”
A shiver of anticipation rolled up her spine. “Me neither.”
He ordered another round of drinks for the table, and Raven knew she was playing with fire because the daiquiris tasted too much like a pineapple shake, but the way her eyes weren’t focusing, she knew they were lethal.
I’m getting married tomorrow. I can’t believe I’ll be Muerto’s wife—Mrs. Ruiz.She giggled and the three men turned and looked at her. Then she giggled some more until she was laughing heartily, tears running down her cheeks. Through her guffaws, she heard Muerto say, “She’s had a few too many.” When the other guys agreed, she laughed harder. And it felt so good. Her life was just so damn good at that moment. She leaned her head on Muerto’s shoulder, and he instantly wrapped his arm around her, pressing her close.
As the men droned on, she happily sipped her drink and nestled further into her man, her life, her love. The following day she’d no longer be single. She and Muerto would be an “us” forever, and even though she’d been scared by that thought, she wasn’t anymore. She wouldn’t have it any other way. She had finally found the missing piece in her life’s puzzle. And it was fantastic.
***
“Let me knowif I’m tying your dress too tight,” Breanna said as she pulled the ties on the back of Raven’s corset dress.
“The tighter the better.” Raven sucked in a deep breath as Breanna pulled harder.
“There you go.” Breanna caught Raven’s gaze in the full length mirror. “You make a sexy bride. I didn’t even know you could get a black leather wedding dress. I’m sure Steel would’ve loved it if I’d worn one.”
“What kind of wedding dress did you wear?”
“An ivory one with lace sleeves and pearls. It was pretty traditional, but it was lovely.”
“I found this dress online. When I saw a corset leather wedding dress with a matching thong, I was sold. This is the dress for our Vegas wedding, but I’ll have the traditional one for the church wedding in Alina. Our marriage is such a huge deal for Muerto’s mom and sisters that I couldn’t deny them the traditional wedding they want. If it was up to us, this would be it, but Muerto would never do that to his mom.”
“I could barely handle one wedding. I can’t imagine having to do it twice.”
“The one today is fun and relaxed, but the big family wedding will be exhausting.”
“Does Muerto’s mom know you’re getting married in Vegas?”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t consider it real without a priest. It’s all good. Two honeymoons work for me.” Raven laughed and finger-combed her hair.
“I still can’t believe Muerto’s getting married. Steel just shakes his head every time I bring it up. I mean, he’s the last brother I thought would marry. But then again there’s Paco and Goldie…oh…and Chains, Crow….”
