Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Vienna nodded. “I did win, and a great deal of money our Search and Rescue team needs, as well as our hospital.”
“The bottom line to all of this is simple.” Zale slipped around the side of the bed so he was sitting close. “I love you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. It won’t be easy learning to live together, but I don’t make the same mistake twice. You want children, we’ll have them. I’ll get out when my contract is up. Those are things I can promise you. I’ll stick with you to the end of our days and work hard to keep you happy. I want you to make that same commitment to me, Vienna.”
“I know I love you, Zale,” she admitted. “And I realized I didn’t want to live without you. If you can put up with my trust issues, which I promise I’ll work very hard on, I can put up with you. I do want children, and I want you out of that business. Having said that, if you aren’t happy here in Knightly and you need to go back to it, I’ll do my best to support your decision.”
He pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket. “I want it official.” He snapped open the lid with a push of his thumb, revealing a blue diamond in a princess cut. It was small and simple, nothing showy, but it was exactly what Vienna would have chosen for herself. “Marry me, Vienna. I’m done with worrying about losing you every time I make a mistake. I’m going to make a lot of them. I need to know you’ll stick with me. The one absolute I know about you is your unwavering loyalty.”
She looked at the ring and then up at his face. There was sincerity there. Love. She saw it smoldering in his eyes. She nodded, her heart nearly bursting with both trepidation and absolute, overwhelming love for him. “I’ll marry you, Zale.”
He pushed the ring on her finger and then kissed it. “We may be in for a rocky roller-coaster ride, but we’ll make it.”
She believed him.
* * *
• • •
Stella looked gorgeous in her wedding gown. Absolutely gorgeous. Vienna and Zahra fussed over her train to make certain it was perfect before they stepped away and took their places to go down the aisle with their partners. Zale was best man. He was escorting Zahra. Vienna recognized Wilder, who was partnered with Harlow. There was a man named Rush who would be escorting Vienna. She liked him. He was very quiet but had that same edge of power and danger clinging to him that Sam and Zale had. Vienna thought Rainier would be escorting Shabina, but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a compact, broad-shouldered man with a thick chest, shaggy black hair and startling green eyes accompanied Shabina. He was called Zyair, but she didn’t know if that was his last name or first.
As she waited to go down the aisle where Sam was standing, she noted his father’s woman, Charlene Bartolomeo, sitting up front, but the seats beside her reserved for Marco Rossi and Luciano Vitale were noticeably empty. She was pleased to see her mother and Ellen had made it and were seated where they could see Stella as she started down the aisle toward Sam. Most of the town of Knightly was there, including some members that were not always so nice, but that was Stella, including everyone.
There was a flurry of movement behind her and her escort, Rush, immediately thrust her behind him and produced a semi-automatic from somewhere in his immaculate suit. She had to admit, he looked extremely intimidating. There was no give to his broad body. None at all. He was built like a solid oak tree, although he could have blended easily into any group. His face was arresting, with a bluish-black shadow on his chiseled jaw and deep blue eyes.
Heart pounding, Vienna peeked around him. Several strangers in suits were surrounded by armed men. The strangers placed their weapons very carefully on the ground. Marco Rossi and Luciano Vitale walked confidently through the line of men surrounding the strangers. Rainier was with them.
“In case you aren’t aware of who I am,” Rossi began, “my name is Marco Rossi, and you’re interrupting my son’s wedding.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Let me just have a word with your boss.”
He spoke amicably enough, but a chill went down Vienna’s spine. Then Sam and Zale were standing beside Rossi. She didn’t like them so exposed. If this turned into a bloodbath, they would be the first ones hit. She also noticed that Sam had positioned his body slightly in front of his father. Although he had been estranged from his father and they were barely getting their relationship on track, Sam was the kind of man to protect family.