Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,46

me. She lifted her arms to my shoulders. “It is a real wedding. We’re getting married. And this is beautiful. I was debating on what I even had to wear with my grandmother’s necklace. I figured it wasn’t important, not with everything that is happening and has happened.”

Palming her cheeks, I gave her a kiss. “You are always the most important. I know me and I know my work. If I ever forget that, I want you to remind me.”

Lorna nodded. “I will.” She crawled off the bed. “Now go. I have no time to get ready.”

“In a few hours it will be official.” I reached for her hand and took one last look at all of her. “You will be mine, forever.”

“Well, unless you want me to go to the court nude, you better let me get ready.”

I walked to the closet and grabbed my suit from a hanger and my shoes from the rack. “I’ll get ready in one of the other bedrooms. I’m making you a sandwich.”

“And a cup of coffee,” she called as she hurried back into the bathroom.

Half an hour later, I paced by the breakfast bar where a turkey sandwich and cup of coffee waited. Every few seconds, I turned toward the hallway, wishing for Lorna’s entrance. Every other second, I checked the clock.

I sent another text to the capo whom I’d chosen to drive us.

We had another four canvassing the courthouse waiting for our arrival.

Things were still hot with a few of the remaining old Sparrow guard. And then there were the issues with the McFadden outfit. I wasn’t taking a chance for anything to ruin my wedding day.

My phone buzzed with a text message.

“NEED YOU ON 1.”

“What the fuck?”

The text message was from Sparrow.

Instead of texting back, I hit the call button. I didn’t wait for him to say hello. “I’m not available.”

“Fuck that,” he said. “Sparrow comes first. McFadden just pulled some shit, and we need you down here. I need you to access their communication.”

Communication?

“Fine,” I said, trying to keep my voice low. “It can wait until we get back. Our appointment is in forty minutes. The car is waiting.”

“No, the car isn’t. You’re needed here. Come down to 1 and bring Lorna.” The phone went dead.

I continued to stare at my phone, expecting something—anything.

Heat rose under my collar as my heart beat in double time. This was beyond what I expected from even Sparrow. My jaw clenched. There was nothing that couldn’t wait. “Fuck him.”

I began to text our ride when I heard footsteps coming from the hallway.

I looked up as my breath caught in my chest.

Standing at the end of the hallway was a goddess.

I began at the top of her head. Her red curls were pulled up into a twist with small curls near her cheeks. In her hair was a hairpiece made of tiny ivory satin flowers that had been with the dress. She wore more makeup than normal, but not too much. Her eyes were striking and her lips pink. Around her neck was a simple string of pearls. They were her grandmother’s and she’d said she would wear them. The dress I’d chosen fit like a glove, the neckline showed just a hint of the round breasts I knew were there. It accentuated her trim waist, and flowed in what the saleswoman called a straight skirt that landed asymmetrically near her calves. Whatever, she was dazzling.

On her feet were matching ivory shoes, the kind that showed the tips of her toes.

When I looked back up, she was staring my way. “So?”

I laid my phone on the counter. “You’re beautiful.” It was woefully insufficient, yet it was simply the truth. No, it went further. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was the most beautiful bride anywhere since the dawn of time.

Lorna stretched her neck as she scanned me and my suit. It was the one I’d worn the night we met except I’d exchanged the tie for an ivory one, to match her. “You’re very handsome yourself.” She looked past me. “Who were you talking to?”

I forced a smile. “No one. Come on, our car is waiting.”

It had better fucking be waiting.

When we entered the elevator, I hit G for garage. The doors closed and the elevator moved, stopping too soon, on floor 1. Floor 1 was the Sparrow floor where others were allowed. Capos came there to make reports. Deliveries were made there. It was secure, but not as secure as 2 or the apartments