AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER15
Lucas
I’m not nervous, but I feel uneasy as I wait for my father’s men to return with Sariah Easton. I’m not sure I’m ready for this. I wait in the back of the small chapel with the priest who is ready to marry us. I’ve no idea where my mother found this man, but he seems nervous and on edge. I don’t blame him. Our family has that effect on people.
Charlotte is sitting in the front pew with Anthony and Aurelia. Zeke and Kane are in the row behind, suited and booted. I’m surprised my sister was allowed to come, considering the shitstorm that might be brought down because of this, but Charlotte seems determined to have as normal a wedding as possible. As if this is some grand family affair. She is fucking crazy.
I readjust the arm of my suit jacket, counting down the minutes until I lose my freedom. I hate my mother for putting me in this position, even if I understand why she would think this is the best course of action. Charlotte has always been about desperate measures, no matter the consequences. I just hope this one doesn’t backfire on us.
“Lucas, come and sit down.” Charlotte gestures at me to join them at the front of the chapel, but I don’t move. The thought of being in the same vicinity as that woman right now makes me want to commit an atrocity.
“I’m fine where I am.” I return my attention to the open door that leads out to the front of the church. I want to see the car coming. I want to see her before everyone else does. I don’t know why it matters, but for some reason it is important to me.
Kane stands and comes towards me. As always, my brother’s expression is grim. He stops in front of me, his own eyes looking out the door. “There is still time to run,” he says.
“And miss this?”
“We could just kill her.”
Trust Kane to go right to violence. “Charlotte, or my wife-to-be?”
“I’m open to either.”
I snort and shake my head. “The girl’s innocent. Her only crime is being born into this world.”
“You’re going to tell Charlotte to shove it, then?” He looks positively giddy at the prospect.
“Our family needs this, Kane. I’ll do what is necessary to keep us all safe.” My gaze moves across the back of the pews in the direction of our sister. “If the Eastons and the Woods join forces, it could lead to war anyway. And it will be Aurelia who will suffer. This plan might be completely crackers, but it is the only way to ensure her safety and ours.”
Kane places his hand on my shoulder in a rare show of affection. “Whatever you need, brother.”
I watch him walk back to his seat, a little choked up by his show of solidarity. I’ll always have my brothers’ backs, and I know they’ll always have mine.
It starts to rain, big fat teardrops hammering down on the concrete floor outside the church. It echoes through the arched doorway, creating a soothing backdrop that seems at odds with what is about to happen.
Eventually I hear a vehicle approaching, and I start to straighten from my seat just as I hear the squealing of tyres. I come to my feet at the sound of car doors slamming, and as I do, she appears in the doorway. Her wedding dress is fitted, accentuating her narrow shoulders and prominent collarbone. She has a veil over her face, hiding her from me. In the shit light of the chapel, it’s hard to make out her features beneath the lacy material. I watch as the men all drag her towards me. She struggles against them, but she is no match for their size.
As she gets closer, I start to make out her features beneath the veil, and my heart starts to race. Because I fucking recognise her.
She hasn’t seen me yet, or even noticed me. She’s too busy struggling against my father’s guards. I move before I think about what I’m doing. I shove the nearest man back before slamming my fist into the other man’s face. They are both wearing ski masks, so I can’t see who they are, but I don’t give a fuck. My only focus is on the woman standing in front of me in the bridal gown.
She wraps her arms around her middle, as if she can protect herself from what’s happening. Then her eyes come to mine. I watch them flare wide, the fake lashes she’s wearing making her irises pop. Everything fades into the background, including the sound of my mother yelling at me. All I’m focused on is my bride.
I step into her space, my chest heaving up and down, then I slowly lift the veil over her head. Her lips are red, the colour of blood, and parted slightly as her own breath tears out of her. She doesn’t look anything like the girl I met in the club, the source of all my dreams since that first night we were together, but it is her. I’m certain of it.
“Alice….”
No, not Alice. Sariah fucking Easton, the daughter of a man we’ve just made enemies with. The woman I’m supposed to marry.
Her eyes crawl over my face, taking in every inch of me. I can see the shock etched into every line furrowing her brow. She is as surprised as I am. I knew she had secrets. I could see them in her eyes every time we met. I didn’t think her secrets were this big. How the hell did she keep hidden who her father is?
“Luke?”
“You two know each other?”
I ignore my mother’s question and instead cup Alice’s—no, Sariah’s— face. The fear in her eyes is still there, but it is muted. “Why am I here?” she asks. “And who are you?”
I want to answer her questions, but once I do, things will change between us. For the moment, I just want to taste her, to feel her. I dip my head and I claim her mouth. She’s exactly as I remember—better, even. The kiss is hot, heavy, and despite having an audience, I disappear into her touch. She is all that matters in this instant. If we were alone, I would have pushed her back onto one of the pews, lifted her skirt, and taken her.
