I slipped the ring onto my finger. “Perfect fit.” I took it off and placed it back inside the box. “I don’t have anything to give you.”
He lifted my chin. “You’ve given me the best months of my life. I don’t need anything else.”
“Well, I was saving this until later.” Karen opened her purse and pulled out a box. “I bought this one for Max. Your hands are about the same size. It should fit.”
“You two are getting married?” I stared at Max. “You didn’t tell me.”
Karen flushed. “He asked, but I hadn’t given him an answer yet. I guess now he knows.”
Gabriel tried on the ring. “Perfect fit. I can give it back to you after the ceremony.”
“Like hell you will.” Max was shaking his head. “As far as I’m concerned, buddy— and under the circumstances, this doesn’t sound right—that ring is a binding contract until death do the two of you part.”
“Thanks, Max.”
“Do you think we could move the wedding back to one o’clock?” I asked.
“You’re kidding.” Karen rolled her eyes. “Why?”
I hadn’t discussed it with Gabriel, but it was something that felt right. “We haven’t watched the news, but Christian told me Wagner killed himself and confessed to helping him. There’s supposed to be a nationwide manhunt on for him.”
“What does that have to do with the time of your wedding?” Max asked. “I’m glad the bastard killed himself.”
“I have a friend with the local news channel. Rivers will be watching all those news releases. Christian also told me he expected Joshua to kill him too.” I faced Gabriel. “I won’t have Rivers at my wedding. It’s our day. Let him watch it on TV.”
“We’ll put on a show for him.” Gabriel smiled. “You know how to act, don’t you?”
“Yes, Gabriel, I know how to act.”
“You may now kiss your bride.”
Gabriel lifted my veil and captured my lips in a passionate kiss that left me breathless. The small crowd present cheered him on. Everything had happened so fast that time had passed in a blur of dresses, paperwork, and Karen fussing over my hair and makeup. Max and Don had both been best men, and Karen had served as my maid of honor. I made sure to toss the bouquet to her.
Mindy Swann approached, her cameraman close behind her. “Thank you for letting me have this exclusive. I might even get a raise.”
“When will it air?” I asked.
“Oh, honey, it was live and will be replayed over and over as the afternoon goes on. Your story is huge news.”
For all the wrong reasons, and the world will never know the full truth. “Thank you, Mindy. You’re welcome to stay for refreshments if you’d like.”
“Gotta run, babe. Keep it real.”
Don Sampson approached. “Do I get to kiss the bride?”
“Not if you enjoy your teeth.” Gabriel placed an arm around my waist. “From this day forward, nobody kisses the bride but me.”
The familiar knife twisted in my chest. For us, there would be no “from this day forward.” Gabriel pulled me closer. I felt the same sadness emanating from him. It was that sadness that had brought us together.
Max wheeled up next to me. “You ready to blow this place, partner? The party is moving inside.”
“Keep them entertained.” I glanced at my new husband. “Gabriel and I want a walk in the garden.”
“Don’t take too long, or all the food will be gone.”
“Any special reason you wanted to walk in the garden?” Gabriel intertwined our fingers.
“I thought we needed a few minutes alone. We don’t have a lot of time left.”
“There’s still a way out for you. When you go to hand off Emma, climb in that van and keep going. I’ll take care of Salyer and Rivers.” He turned me to face him. “Emma needs her mother.”
“Victor Hugo wrote, ‘A mother’s arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them.’ I realize now that I could never have slept soundly in my mother’s arms, and Emma would never sleep soundly in mine. Karen will be a good mother to her.” I glanced at the massive amount of flowers along the walkway. “I can’t believe they set this up so fast. Maybe someday, Emma can watch it.”
“She will. We’d better go in. We still have to cut the cake.”
42
Gabriel took off the tux and placed it on the bed. “You guys are going to return this, aren’t you?”
“No way. Since you bought it, I figured I’d wear it at my wedding. That is, if you don’t care. A penny saved is, well, you know.” Max crossed his arms over his chest. “You said you wanted to talk to me.”
“When Dakota hands you Emma, I want you to grab them both, pull her into the van, and take off. There’s no reason for both of us to die.”
“Salyer will never go for it. He’ll have a backup plan, expecting something like that.” Max bowed his head. “And even if it works, she’d kill herself afterward. I don’t know what’s going on inside her, but this was her plan all along.”
“Then we need to think of another way for us to die. I’m not letting her die in that house.”
“I thought you had to get inside.”
“We have an outside detonator. The reason to go inside is to know they’re both in there.”
“I’d do almost anything for Dakota, but I can’t kill her.” Max turned the wheelchair around and opened the door. “You can’t ask me to do that.”
Gabriel glanced at his watch. He still had enough time. Don was staying close. He’d shared their plans with him, and although he wasn’t thrilled, he understood. The only thing he hadn’t shared was that it was going down that night. Don thought it was happening the next day. He grabbed his cell phone and made the call.
“What’s up, buddy? Still celebrating?”
“I need a favor. No questions asked.”
“What do you need?”
“A Nembutal cocktail. Enough for two.”
“Gabe, you’re asking me to help kill you. Don’t make me do that.”
“It’s quick, easy, and better than the alternative. Don’t make me beg, Don.”
“Okay. I’ll have it to you by morning.”
“I need it now. Change of plans.”
“Give me an hour.”
Gabriel sat on the bed, feeling the life draining from him. Don would make sure the cocktails were strong enough to kill them quickly. All they needed was a second to press the detonator. He glanced at the tux and started to redress. “Sorry, Max, you’ll have to buy your own.” He went in search of Dakota. She was the most beautiful bride he’d ever seen, and he wanted that to be his last image.
We made the drive in silence. None of us knew exactly what to expect or if Christian would even show up. Gabriel had shown me the cocktails earlier and told me his plan. It was a good one. I didn’t want to die in that house.
Max pulled into the driveway and left the lights on. The assault rifle was lying between the seats. We’d said our goodbyes before leaving, and the only sound was Karen’s occasional muffled cry.
I looked at Gabriel, and he nodded.
“My side.” He opened his door, and we slid out together. I faced the house.
“We’re here, Christian. Where is she?”