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“Yes, you did. It’s because of the love you gave him,” I said as I slid my arm around his waist. This was one of the best days I’d had in a very long time. Enough time had passed reporters weren’t trying to get an interview. None of them were camped out at the end of his driveway.
The raids had ceased with no explanation, but both Constantine and I suspected my father had something to do with it. While we’d never found out how far reaching the covert organization went, he remained cautious in his business decisions.
Maybe, just maybe, he was going legit.
I almost laughed at the thought. As the celebration continued, the champagne flowing, I sensed something was on his mind. When he finally walked closer, an icy chill shifted down my spine.
“I need to talk to you,” he told me, immediately guiding me away from the family.
“Here?”
“Here. It’s been on my mind and I need to say this.”
“What’s wrong?”
He smiled as he pressed his palm against the side of my face. “Nothing is wrong. I’m giving you your life back.”
“What do you mean?”
“The deal. There’s no reason to keep it. You have money you need to survive. I’ve learned over the past few weeks how precious life really is. You’re free to go. However, I will have men watch you.”
“You mean like twenty-four/seven?”
“Yes. I promised your father I’d keep you safe, and I intend to keep that promise.”
I could see such sadness in his eyes. He was trying to do the right thing. “The only way I’ll be safe is if I’m in your arms. Don’t you understand that? I don’t want to go anywhere, Constantine. You mean the world to me. I love you with all my heart. I can’t, no, I won’t let you force me away.”
“Baby, I’d never force you away. You made the darkness disappear. You allowed my heart to feel again. Without you in my life, there will be nothing of meaning.”
“Then don’t say that to me again,” I told him.
Constantine shook his head. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I have a few ideas.”
“Now, we have a wedding to plan.”
The boisterous sound of Constantine’s father was similar to one made by my own father several times. I would never forget his laughter or the way he looked at my mother. I’d spent far too much of my life hating him, wasting time.
I refused to do that any longer.
Life wasn’t perfect, no relationship was either, but no matter the obstacles, I’d found the one man who could make me feel whole.
My mother used to mutter words the moment my father had walked out the door, ones that I would never forget.
“Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.”
* * *
Constantine
Four weeks later
“Congratulations are in order,” Gabriel said as he held out his hand. “A Kentucky Derby winner and a man about to get married.”
“How things change,” Brogan said as he slapped me on the back.
“Hopefully for the better,” I said, scanning the crowd as they headed into the church. My mother had outdone herself helping with the wedding, making it her personal objective to provide the most fabulous ceremony Kansas City had ever seen. I cringed at the thought.
