Page 72 of Say You're Mine

Elaine thinks she's won. Thinks she's broken me, molded me into the puppet she's always wanted. But she has no idea what's coming for her.

I am a fucking Deveaux. And I'm about to show the world exactly what that means.

I've never been a religious man, but as I slip into the church, my heart is a prayer, a desperate plea to any god who might be listening. Let her be safe. Let our child be healthy. Let this nightmare end.

The disguise itches, the starched collar of the caterer's uniform chafing against my neck. But it's a small price to pay for the chance to see Cara, to be near her after so many weeks apart.

I stick to the shadows, my eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble. Elaine's here, of course, holding court in the front row like the queen of some twisted fairy tale. The sight of her makes my blood boil, my fingers twitching with the urge to wrap around her throat.

But I force myself to stay calm, to remember the plan. Judith's wedding is the key, the distraction we need to get Cara out. I just have to play my part, bide my time until the right moment.

And then I see her.

She's radiant, even in her obvious exhaustion. The lavender dress drapes over her swollen belly, and for a moment, I'm transfixed by the sight. That's my child in there, the product of our love, growing stronger every day.

Our eyes meet across the room, and it's like a jolt of electricity, a livewire connection that sets my every nerve ending ablaze. I want to go to her, to gather her in my arms and never let go. But I can't. Not yet.

The ceremony seems to drag on forever, each second an eternity. I watch as Judith and her "husband" exchange vows, as the officiator pronounces them wed. It's all background noise, a distant buzz compared to the pounding of my heart.

And then it happens. The moment I've been dreading, the moment I've been preparing for.

Elaine makes her move.

I watch, my breath caught in my throat, as she takes Cara by the arm, her smile sharp and poisonous. I can't hear what she's saying, but I can read the fear in Cara's eyes, the tension in her body.

Every instinct screams at me to act, to intervene. But I force myself to hold back, to trust in the plan. Dante and Natalie are here, watching, ready to step in if needed. I have to believe that.

But as Elaine steers Cara away, as the crowd closes in around them, I feel my control slipping. The rage is a living thing, clawing at my insides, howling for release.

I'm moving before I can stop myself, weaving through the throng of well-wishers and hangers-on. I catch a glimpse of lavender, of dark hair, and my heart lurches.

I'm close, so close. Just a few more steps and I'll -

A hand closes around my arm, yanking me back into the shadows. I whirl, ready to fight, but it's Dante, his face grim.

"Not here," he hisses. "Stick to the plan."

I want to argue, to shove him aside and go after Cara. But the look in his eyes stops me. He's worried, more worried than I've ever seen him.

"What is it?" I ask, my voice rough. "What's happening?"

"Elaine's on the move," he says. "She's got Cara in the back room, and she's not alone. Her security team is with her."

Fear turns my blood to ice. "Then what the hell are we waiting for? We have to get in there, we have to-"

"We will," Dante cuts me off. "But we have to be smart about it. If we go in guns blazing, it'll be a bloodbath. Is that what you want for Cara? For your child?"

I deflate, the fight draining out of me. He's right. Of course he's right. But the thought of Cara alone with that viper, of our baby in danger…

"So what do we do?" I ask, hating the tremor in my voice.

Dante's smile is grim. "We wait for Natalie's signal. She's got eyes on the room. When the time is right, we'll make our move. Until then, we stay put."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Every second feels like an eternity, every heartbeat a countdown to disaster.

Please, I find myself praying, though I don't know to who. Please let them be okay. Please let me get to them in time.

The minutes drag by, each one a small eternity. I pace the shadows, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if Elaine hurts Cara? What if she tries to take the baby? What if-

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