Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists #2) - M. Sinclair Page 0,87
“Are you telling me that this is why Alicia is with that motherfucker? She was trying to free Dad?”
Lagi confirms that that was why Alicia Barrington began seeing VDB. “I admit that things got a little out of hand. She never intended to get as far as getting engaged to VDB but she was hoping that once married, she would have more access to her new husband’s records. But since you got what we needed, I guess we have a wedding to stop.”
Twenty
Till Death Do Us Part
Sloane
I cling on River’s arm, still feeling a little shaken after almost being taken by Pierce. Still worried about the fact that he’s on this boat. Way too close for comfort.
I know the guys probably dealt with him and made sure that he can’t get away but I can’t help the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
As we stand by the side of the marquee, I notice the rigidity of Blaine’s posture and the urge to run to him and comfort him is strong, especially when the officiant asks. “Who’s giving this woman away to her future husband?”
He hesitates one moment before stepping forward and I don’t miss the troubled look he gives to his mother. I know he’s mad at her and that even before she let Pierce take me, they didn’t have a great relationship. I know that both he and Royce resent her for how quickly she moved on after Royce’s dad’s arrest and for marrying the man that was the cause of everything. The villain who framed their father.
Alicia stares into her son’s eyes for an instant, her lips set in a determined line before she unhooks her arm from Blaine’s and steps forward, stopping by her fiancé’s side.
The officiant asks the bride and groom if they have written their own vows or if they wish to proceed with the standard ones.
I’m not surprised when they both declare that they’ll go with the standard formula. This union between them doesn’t really strike me as a very loving one.
“I’ll write my own vows when we’ll get married, Kitten,” River whispers in my ear with a knowing smirk, his hazel eyes shining with mischief.
“You don’t say.” I tease him. “You don’t strike me like the poetic type, Rivs. Blaine? Sure. Kaden, maybe. But you? Not so much.”
He looks outraged by my words but then his smile widens as he pulls me a little closer and he whispers again in my ear, his warm, soft lips almost caressing my sensitive skin as he speaks. “I should be offended by that unjust opinion, Kitten. In fact, I have my vows ready right now. Your sweet soul belongs to Jesus but your pretty little ass belongs to me.” He chuckles.
It isn’t the exact words, but I’m pretty sure those were the lyrics to a death metal song. “You’re crazy.” I giggle but instantly straighten myself when the officiant pauses what he was saying and glares our way. Shit. Leave it to River to get me kicked out of a posh wedding but obviously he doesn’t look sorry at all, squeezing my arm with his shit eating grin firmly in place.
“Before we continue to the binding part of this ceremony,” the officiant says with another stern glare in our direction. “If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
And that’s when all hell breaks loose. A voice from behind us booms. “FBI! Everyone freeze! Casper Van Der Beck you’re under arrest for embezzlement, for conspiring to trade illegally in nuclear weapons, money laundering and a million other reasons I’ll formally read to you in a second!”
The noise of heavy boots makes me turn and I have to admit that seeing Kaden storm toward us in his FBI helmet and bullet proof vest causes a completely different feeling than it did in Seattle in the boathouse.
He advances confidently, followed by several FBI agents and his boss, Special Agent Walker. I’d be totally distracted by his hotness if it weren’t for the drama unfolding in front of my very eyes. For some reason Lagi, Kronin’s huge bodyguard and the boat’s chief stew Ekaterina are following Kaden and his agents.
Van Der Beck doesn’t look perturbed in the slightest, turning to speak to Lagi as if this was just a minor inconvenience to his day. “Lagi, where’s your boss? Can he please take care of this nonsense? I’m trying to get married