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Did I? Did I want to face The Judge, maybe for the last time, and say my piece?
Yes.
Yes, I did.
“Where is he?” I whispered.
“Address is on the invitation. I’ve taken the liberty of booking you a room under my name. The information is in there as well. As well as your wedding gift from Gio and I.”
“You and Gio…” I faltered. What I wanted to ask was so personal I wasn’t sure I should ask. “How did you end up with him? You seem so normal and sweet.”
She shrugged. “I met him when I worked in a diner. He was in town to do business with the Savage Sons. My cousin is a member back home.”
“You worked at a diner? And your cousin is a biker?” I couldn’t help the wonder in my voice.
“Yep, but I was an exotic dancer when we met again. There’s something you should know about these men, Taylor. They fall in love hard and fast and when they do it’s a forever thing for them. Judge won’t give up on you. Even if it takes him ten years to get you to give him another chance. And yes, I am talking from experience “
We fell silent for several long seconds.
“I should go. I hope it works out for you, Taylor. Whatever you decide to do.” Leaning over the table, she pressed her lips to my cheek with difficulty. “I hope I get to see you again. I think we could be great friends.”
“I would like that.” I smiled. “And please know that I would never talk to the–” I was going to say police, but she cut me off.
“I know.” Lifting her hand she waved in the direction of a car that had just pulled up to the curb. “My lift is here.”
“Tell Gio I said hello.”
“Oh, I will. And Taylor?” She hesitated. “Go and talk some sense into that man of yours, ok? He needs you.”
JUDGE
The day was beautiful. The kind of day that artists painted. All blue skies and fluffy white clouds. It was the perfect day to get married.
Or would have been if I had a bride to marry.
There would be no magical day for me. Not that I had believed for a second that I could have the same kind of happily ever after that Gio and Keeley had. They were the exception. Not the rule. I had touched it though, tasted that happiness and it left a bitter taste on my tongue. Not because I didn't like it, but because I wanted more. I still had hope that I would get to sample it again. Even when I knew that hope was so far-fetched it might as well be a fairytale.
And that was why I was there, in what would have been our honeymoon suite. Alone and with no bride. No traces of her but the dress I had picked out because she loved it hanging from the wardrobe door.
Taylor wasn't there, getting ready somewhere and excited to meet me at the altar, and she never would be. I had let her go and messed up in such a royal fashion that I had no clue how to make it better. By trying to do the right thing, I had ruined everything.
It kind of made sense, though. I had always been a bit of an overachiever. It made sense that I wouldn't be any different when I messed up.
Groaning, I rolled off the bed. Wandering to the window, I stared down at the immaculate green lawn and the wide, winding driveway. The stately home was beautiful, the sky was beautiful, hell even the day was beautiful, but I couldn't bring myself to see it like I usually would.
Half of me, and it was a half I didn't even know existed, had expected to see Taylor getting out of a car below. Soon some people would start arriving, even when I had told everyone that there would be no wedding today. They would show up anyway. For nothing more than to see me humiliated and brought low. There were people in my world who had been waiting for this day for a long time. I didn't care about them. I didn't care much about anything right then. It was like I was living under a black cloud of depression.
Shaking myself, I straightened. The cloud would follow me for the rest of my life, but I wouldn't succumb to the depression. As soon as today was over, I would be gone. I would not set foot on British soil ever again. As much as I loved the UK, the memories would be too much like an open wound. I would throw myself into my work. Get my hands dirty, literally. Even if The Family didn't have need for me right now, then there were plenty of people who would. I would make it known that my services were available and watch the offers roll on in–
A sharp knock on the hotel room door and my heart flip-flopped in my chest before I could help myself. The pounding sounded again. Much too hard and angry for the person I really wanted to be knocking on my door.
Reluctantly, I opened it an inch. “Look, I'm really not in the mood to be disturbed.” If it was some hotel employee coming to clean the room, they could come back. I had a do not disturb sign on my door for a reason. If they couldn't be bothered to read that and honour it, then they deserved the tongue lashing they were about to get.
An arm thrust its way through the opening. Startled, I took a step back. The last thing I expected was for someone to force themselves through the door.
“Judge.” The man nodded his head as he kicked the door shut behind him. “Or should I call you Christian?”
“I don't know you.” The man was a stranger to me, and yet it felt like I knew his face. Like I had seen it before. Edging away from the door, I studied him. Tall, but not as tall as me. A tan that rivalled my own. Like he had just spent a few days at sea. It hit me all in a rush. “You were one of the crew.”
