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She visibly relaxes. “Ok.”
Because I can’t resist, I place my hand on the small of her back, and we cross the lobby to a wide hallway that leads to the ballroom. We step inside the cavernous room and Lana waves when she sees us. She greets us both with a hello and handshake. “Ready to visualize your big day?”
Clementine smiles. “Can’t wait.” I can still see the lines of tension in her beautiful face, but she puts on an admirable facade.
We step further into the space and it’s impressive.
“Oh, wow,” Clementine says, looking up at the ceiling, lined with gold plating in intricate designs. “This place is gorgeous.”
Lana strides across the room with tons of energy as if she’s trying to sell us on the place. She turns back to face us and spreads her arms. “Now imagine this area filled with white-clothed tables and fresh flowers in tall vases decorating the center.” Clementine looks around and nods, like she’s actually seeing it. “The lighting is soft, creating a romantic glow throughout the ballroom.”
I stand back as Lana shows Clementine all the upgraded features of the room, leading her around to different areas.
I do a quick check of my phone, to see if Dean has heard anything. He made it stateside this morning, and together with his team has been setting up perimeters around the estate, trying to find Ronin.
It pisses me off he would just vanish like he has. He was supposed to pay Blackstone, and come right back.
A stray thought crosses my mind, wondering if Blackstone did something to him instead. I put a call in to Kurt. “Contact your men on the inside of Blackstone’s base. Find out what you can on Ronin’s whereabouts.”
“I was just about to call you. He’s not there. He left Blackstone’s and vanished.”
“That’s unacceptable. Find him.”
With my wedding only weeks away, I don’t need a loose cannon running around.
Chapter 27
Clementine
I’ve never been in a place as lavish as this ballroom before. Opulence. Sophistication. Wealth. This is a type of ballroom where the extremely wealthy marry, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact I'llbe married here soon.
The place is fit for a king, or I guess I should sayPrincewith its carved-vaulted ceilings and floor-to ceiling windows.
It’s magical, and it makes me a bit sad. It’s like a fairytale dream wedding, and I feel like maybe it’s all a bit too showy. “So we’ll be married here as well?” I ask Lana as she shows me around the room.
I glance back at Gabriel standing by the entrance, on his phone.
“No dear, this is for the reception. The ceremony will take place outside in the botanical garden.”
“Oh, can we see that?”
Lana smiles. “Follow me.”
I peek over my shoulder, and Gabriel slides his phone into his pocket. “We’re going to see the ceremony spot,” I say to him as we walk toward the back door, leading outside.
He nods, following us. “Sure thing.”
Lana leads us outside to a secluded garden off the main lobby. “You would walk down the aisle here,” she says, pointing to a small walkway leading to a breathtaking view of the mountains. “And then we’d put the ceremony up here.”
“This is really stunning,” I say, but I’m still so worried about Bishop showing up at the wedding that I stand firm with the wish to have a small indoor wedding with locks and bars on the window.
They always say a good marriage is when a husband worries about things the wife doesn’t, and vice versa. If that’s the case, we’re on our way to a perfect marriage, because so far, I’m worried over every little thing, and Gabriel doesn’t seem to have an issue with anything.
I wish Bishop would just show himself already and let me see him. Stop hiding in the shadows while I shop. Stop sending creepy text messages to me. Be a man.
“We could set a few angelic statues on each side of the altar,” Lana says, pointing to where they would go.
“Ok, sure,” I agree, no longer wanting to pretend any of this is normal. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to run inside to the restroom.”
