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“I’m okay,” I said, focusing on the breathing exercises Dr. Benedict had taught me to calm myself when I felt an imminent attack.
“Sit with me anyway.” Seraphina led me to a table farther away from the tent’s entrance.
“Please…I don’t want to ruin this day.”
“Nothing could, Luisa. I married the love of my life, and you were my maid of honor.” She squeezed my fingers. “If Press knew—”
I shook my head. “Please don’t,” I whispered as Ridge joined us, carrying three glasses of champagne.
“Ladies,” he said, handing each of us a glass.
“I probably shouldn’t,” I said, biting my lip.
“Give it a try,” Ridge suggested, winking.
I lifted it and took a sip. Instead of wine, it was sparkling cider.
“I figured it would slow us down so we could enjoy tomorrow as much as today,” he added.
I finished what was in my glass. “Wise man.”
“I also figured it was better than spitting.” Both my sister and I laughed at his reference to the way winemakers kept from getting drunk on the job when they tasted from barrel after barrel to check on whether the wine was ready to be bottled.
Ridge stood, leaned over, and kissed Seraphina’s cheek. “Be right back.”
I looked over to where Press, Beau, Zin, and Brix waited just outside the tent. Before Ridge got to them, Tryst did.
I closed my eyes, continued regulating my breathing, and said a prayer that whatever they were discussing had nothing to do with me.
11
PRESS
“According to Ares, the intelligence comes from a credible source,” my brother said when Ridge and Tryst joined us and we’d walked far enough away from the tent so as not to be overheard.
“What exactly did he say?” Ridge asked.
“First of all, I’m sorry to involve you, especially on your wedding day,” Beau said to him. “But Ares believes there’s enough of a threat that we need to act.”
“Got it. Now, tell me what he said.”
“Apparently, Luisa’s abduction wasn’t random. She was requested specifically. The price offered for her was originally one hundred thousand dollars.”
“And now?” asked Tryst.
“It’s been upped to a quarter of a million.”
“What about Varilla?” Ridge asked. “Has he been questioned about this yet?”
“He confirmed what Ares heard. However, he says he was never informed of the buyer’s identity.”
After being apprehended, shortly after Luisa disappeared, Manual Varilla—the man responsible for her kidnapping—had turned state’s evidence. Given all we’d learned from him thus far, I believed if he knew who the buyer was, he would tell us.
“Tryst, how secure is the ranch?” I asked.
“Under normal circumstances…”
“With the wedding, it would be impossible to ensure it’s airtight,” Ridge finished Tryst’s sentence.
