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The camera zoomed in on the criminal and he groaned, then seemed to accept it was probably better to get it over with. “I’m guilty of killing Jonathon Hall.”
Reina sucked in a breath and her hands shook, but she held the phone closer. My interrogator asked the man why he did it.
“I was paid by a man named Phillip Lancaster, who wanted to buy his property. He gave me three thousand dollars.”
Reina dropped the phone and doubled over. “That’s all? That’s all his life was worth?” She looked at me and her eyes were bleak. “Phillip was his friend. He was at his funeral. I thought he was doing me a favor when he offered to take the store off my hands.” She made a retching sound and I patted her back.
“My men will have him in custody by the end of the day. We can turn him over to the police or take care of him like we’re taking care of his gunman here.”
Her hands tightened into fists and her breathing turned harsh. “He needs to suffer, really suffer. He’s soft and he’ll hate being in prison. Take him to the police,” she said.
“And the man who pulled the trigger?”
“The same,” she said. “I want justice, not revenge. That’s what Dad would want.” Her eyes narrowed. “But if there’s any kind of loophole…”
I nodded. “I will follow them to the ends of the earth and make sure your father gets the justice he deserves.”
My bloodthirsty queen’s eyes sparkled up at me. “Good.” She put her head in her hands, struggling not to cry. I wanted to let her know it was all right, she could feel however she needed to. That showing emotions didn’t mean she wasn’t strong. I couldn’t have asked for a stronger woman.
“How did you solve it when the police couldn’t?” she asked, inching closer to me.
I put my arms around her, trying to ease her grief. “The police have to abide by rules that I don’t,” I told her simply.
“You really do give me whatever I ask for,” she said, sniffling.
“Always, Reina. If I can.”
With trembling hands, she jerked off her rings and handed them to me, her lower lip jutting out. I was stunned and heartbroken, staring down at them. I couldn’t find my voice to ask her why she’d taken them off or why she was rejecting me so suddenly.
“I want you to ask me to marry you again, for real this time.” She gripped my shirt and pulled me close. “I love you, Ivan. I want to really be your wife.”
I dropped off the bench onto one knee and held out the rings. “I’d happily propose to you every day of my life. Marry me. Be my queen, Reina.”
She nodded, leaning over to kiss me, dragging my hand to her belly. “We’re going to be a family,” she said against my lips.
“Yes, now get these rings back on your finger where they belong.”
“I only want the engagement ring until we have our real wedding,” she said stubbornly.
I could have made her wear both rings. She was legally my wife after all. But this was what she wanted. I slid the big diamond onto her finger and kissed her palm before holding it over my heart.
“I don’t want to wait long,” I warned.
Her smile grew wider, her eyes hopeful. “If you let me invite my friend Lynn, we’ll plan it in record time.”
“Anything you want, my queen,” I told her. “Spare no expense so we can show the world we belong to each other.”
Chapter 21 - Reina
One month later
It was finally my wedding day. My real wedding day, one where I’d walk down the aisle with no threats held over my loved ones. In fact, Lynn was right beside me, needlessly fluffing up my massive ballgown skirt. She took all her vacation and sick days to be able to come down to help me plan, and she didn’t know it yet, but Ivan was going to slip a pretty impressive check in her suitcase as thanks for being my Matron of honor. And she thought the gold earrings were such a great present I only wished I’d been there to see her face when she found it.
She mostly only knew about the nightclub, being one of Ivan’s few completely legal businesses. There was no way I could tell her everything, and I barely told her anything, since she would never have been able to handle my new hardcore lifestyle. We still managed to talk almost nonstop while she was here, shopping for baby things and planning the wedding.
After she finished fussing with my dress, I pulled her close so we could compare baby bumps in the big, three way mirror in my newly remodeled dressing area. Lynn looked stunning in her mint green dress.
“I’m going to miss you so much after today,” she said, tearing up.
