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Family.
And all because I’d allowed myself to fall in love with a ruthless man, the love of my life.
Maybe there was such a thing as being lucky enough to find your prince after all.
* * *
Arman
“The wedding was beautiful,” Maddox told me as he approached.
“Beautiful. I’m not certain I would have ever believed you’d use that word, my friend.”
“Fine. Raven made a beautiful bride. You were just your typical grumpy self.”
I laughed and shoved the empty champagne flute on the tray as the waiter walked past. “I need a real man’s drink.”
“Then let’s go have a whiskey.”
The reception was everything both her mother and mine had wanted, allowing them to spend time together while I continued to handle business.
“Any news from Devin?” I asked in passing, although I wanted little to do with handling any aspect of the corporation right now. This was a day of celebration after all, one that seemed a lifetime in coming.
“Stop worrying. Francois has a firm handle on operations in Texas. You just got married. Remember?”
I glanced at the guests as they danced and continued to party, searching for my lovely bride as I always did. While the security was tight, I wouldn’t put it past any of my enemies to attempt to destroy such an incredible day. “I assure you that Raven won’t allow me to forget.”
He ordered drinks and I continued scanning the venue. When I was unable to locate her, my hackles immediately rose, my blood pressure rising. I took two steps and within seconds, Maddox had flanked my side.
“What’s wrong?” he asked under his breath.
“Where the fuck is she?”
“The last time I saw her, she was with the photographer, the man wanting to take some additional single pictures of her in her wedding dress.”
“Fuck this.”
“Hold on. The place is completely protected.”
“Then where the fuck is she?” I was momentarily gutted, reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there because my lovely bride had forbidden me to carry one. “Give me your weapon.” When he hesitated, I snarled. “Give it to me!”
“Don’t do anything rash.” He handed it to me, hesitating just enough I had to yank it from him, immediately checking the ammunition.
“Rash is my fucking middle name, Maddox. That’s how I survived. Gather the others. I need to find her. I will find her.” Dear God, this wasn’t going to happen. Not now. Not ever. I hurried through the crowd, trying not to panic. After checking every room, I was at the enraged point where I knew I’d do something stupid.
Then I remembered the fountain outside and took a deep breath. I’d noticed Raven admiring it when we’d visited the facility a couple weeks before. Was it possible my lovely bride was revisiting what I’d teased as being her wish list?
I moved toward the front, laughing softly to myself when I noticed her standing in front of what she’d called a work of art, water streaming from the mouth of the dolphin carved in stone. As I moved outside, I reached into my pocket, managing to find a few loose coins. I crept behind her, my movements masked by the streaming water. As soon as I tossed the coins into the water, she stiffened.
But a smile crossed her face.
“I’d pay all that I have to know what you wished for,” she purred.
“Then they wouldn’t come true.”
“Now you play by the rules.”
“Not always.”
