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Today’sthe day I say ‘I do.’ I arrived at the venue early to go over the security details with Dean. We’ve added a few more men to the payroll, but we still haven’t been able to locate Blackstone.
We know he’s here, probably slithering in the grass like the snake he is, and we’re keeping our eyes open.
I’ve asked Ronin where Bishop is hiding, but he’s no help. I haven’t seen Ronin since the night at the dog track, and I’m guessing he won’t be at the wedding.
I mingle and shake hands with the guests, keeping my eyes on the crowd of people entering the Juniper, trying my best to spot anything suspicious.
When I’m done playing the part, I wander over to the door leading out to the garden where the wedding ceremony will take place.
“We have men watching out for Ronin as well,” Dean says, stepping up beside me, checking his phone one more time.
“Everyone’s in place?” I ask him.
“Yes. Don’t worry,” He pats me on the shoulder. “If Ronin or Bishop show up, you’ll be the first to know.” He laughs. “This will be better than the last wedding I was at.”
“Good thing.”
“You can head to the altar now,” Lana tells me. “I’m just going to check on Clementine. I haven’t seen her yet.”
I nod, adjusting my tie, and making my way down the aisle, ready to get this show on the road.
A woman, playing a harp, creates soft music for the wedding as people file to their seats. I smile and shake the hand of the preacher, waiting for it all to begin.
Dean stands near the entrance, watching the garden fill up like a hawk, and speaking into his ear piece. I’m impressed at his attention to detail as he guards this garden as if his life depends on it. That’s a good friend.
After a few minutes, Lana speed-walks back down the aisle toward me, a look of concern splashed all over her stressed out face. “Mr. Prince, I need to speak with you.”
I steer her away from the preacher and anyone else who may be able to hear what she has to say. “What is it?”
“Clementine,” she says.
“What’s wrong?”
“She isn’t here.”
“What? That’s impossible.” I head toward Dean, with Lana on my heels, wanting to let him know we’re missing a bride. With an uncanny intuition that something is wrong, he rushes closer, already speaking to his team through his earpiece to stay alert.
“What is it?” he asks, before I can even get a word out.
“Clementine has disappeared.” I turn to Lana. “Will you handle the guests? I need to find her.”
I stalk to the women’s lounge to where Erin’s on her phone, frantically tapping away at the screen. “Where is she?” I ask.
Erin’s eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know. She was here one minute, and then the next she was gone. She received a phone call right before...” she doesn’t finish her thought, her worried eyes settling on her son, Troy.
“Did she say she was leaving?” I pull out my own phone to see if I have any missed messages from her. Our fight. Thoughts of her and Ronin running off together invade my mind.
Erin shakes her head. “She didn’t say anything.”
Dean enters, talking into his earpiece, and I hear him say Ronin’s name. Last night’s fight floods my mind with images of my anger surfacing and how I couldn’t hear a word Clementine said to me. My whole world blurred, but obviously it was all too much for her.
She’s gone for good. And I deserve it.
I’m not a saint. I’ll admit I was wrong, but I know she didn’t leave here on her own. She had help. Ronin.
I’m not going to wait to get answers. I’ll find her, and I’ll make sure she knows exactly how I feel about her.
“Did you check with Mayer?”
