Page 66 of Mind

“Amen, sister!”

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The shadows and the dark clothing I’m wearing hide me from the other tourists, and I slip into the space where my girl is set to get married. Imagine my good fortune when I arrived two days earlier than planned and found absolutely no security around the location of the wedding. It was easy enough to get the details from the paperwork in Dana’s office right down to the efficiently marked rooms on a map. Each room has a Spanish name, sticking with the Mexico theme. I never said Chase was stupid. He’s smart enough to want the most perfect woman in the world. Just stupid enough to not know how to keep her. I scan the sheet of paper I copied from Dana’s office.

Ceremony - Outside on the overhang with a perfect one hundred and eighty degree view of the ocean.

Reception -Sala de Solmeaning “Sun Room” in Spanish.

Grooms Quarters -Sala de Lunameaning “Moon Room”

Bride’s Room -Sala de Diosaaptly named “Goddess Room”

The bride’s room is open, filled with plush furnishings, nice for a woman preparing to marry her man. This is the perfect place. I scan the windows, the connecting doors and make a plan. There’s one door that leads from this room out the back, down a pathway to where I can have the laundry cart waiting. I’ll swipe a maintenance uniform when I’m done here.

The worst possible scenario is that Chase has a goon guarding the door. That won’t be a problem. Nothing a little Etorphine won’t cure. After a great amount of research, that animal sedative was the perfect plan and easy to get. All I had to do was break into an equine veterinary clinic. The sedative is designed to knock out horses. They had it locked up, but nothing a solid axe to the cabinet didn’t fix. I even swiped the antidote, though I don’t plan on using that on his goons. If they get medical treatment fast enough they might make it. Though I don’t really care either way.

Laughter bubbles up and out into the dark, empty room. The noise echoes off the walls sharing in this moment of exquisite peace. It’s going to be too easy.

Two more days my sweet and you’re back to being mine.

Chapter 20

Gillian

Contentment.

That’s the prevailing feeling running through my veins, making my heart pound, wanting to jump out of my chest, as I look at the place where I’m going to marry Chase. The breeze is blowing softly, tickling my skin as if being caressed with a feather. In front of me are dark cappuccino-colored chairs with white fabric seats set up in rows of four across, split down the center where the aisle is. The aisle is no less unique. A spiral of white flowers lead up to the arbor in large sweeping swirls. The arbor was handcrafted for today’s event and is flowing with sheer white fabric running down each wooden beam creating a softer effect. There’s a variety of carnations, lilies, and more that I can’t name in a long line of circular tufts running along the main beam that will be over our heads as we say our I dos.

“It’s incredible,” I whisper to Dana who’s standing quietly next to me. “More than I ever dreamed I’d have in my lifetime…”

Dana smiles brightly. “I’m glad. You know, before you, Chase rarely smiled. Now he smiles all the time but mostly when he’s near you. Honestly, I think you’re the best thing that’s come into his life.”

I smack myself over the head as her kind words dig deep into my heart. How I could have ever been jealous of their relationship seems so utterly ridiculous now. “Thank you, Dana. I know Chase cares for you a great deal. So, your boyfriend, he’ll be at the wedding, right?” The happiness she exuded completely dissipates when she shakes her head.

“He was supposed to come to the wedding. He showed up yesterday while everyone in the party was doing their own thing and you and Chase stayed in. We had a lovely evening of our own,” she grins. “Then this morning he woke me up and told me he had to go back to the States. That there wasanotheremergency with work. He’s at the airport now, taking the next flight out. I mean, he’s an accountant; what could possibly be so important that it couldn’t wait a day or two?” she pouts.

I pull her into a hug. “Sorry girl. Maybe next time,” I offer and she shrugs. Then I watch as she puts on her professional armor piece by piece. Her back goes straight, her eyes turn sharp and she looks over at me ready to take on the world.

“No worrying. Today is all about you and Chase and having the best day of your life! Let’s go get you dressed.”

I follow Dana to theSala de Diosa, Goddess Room in English. We enter and my least favorite person in the world is waiting. “Hello Ms. Davis, how are you today?” Dana coos. “You look lovely as usual.” She ladles on the compliments.

“Yes, well, some of us are early risers. You look perfectly put together, dear.” Colleen Davis’s thin lips tip up into what I think is the closest thing to a smile anyone has ever gotten. Dana goes over to her and kisses her cheek. Apparently, the distaste only extends as far as women who love her son. “Wish I could say the same for Chase’s soon-to-be wife,” the remark biting and cold as she assess me with a calculating gaze.

Setting my essentials down on the bed, I look down at myself. I’m in a white velour tracksuit that once again has writing on the bum. Though this one says, “Bootylicious Bride.” Chase thought it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen and promptly took a picture of my ass and saved it as his background on his iPhone.

“You realize that today is my wedding day, right? To your son?” I remind her with as much disdain as I feel she deserves for her comment. Super low class though I keep my mouth shut.

“Yes of course, dear. You needn’t be so testy. I’m the one with the problem. My son is marrying a gold-digging whore with a John that wants her and anyone around her dead,” her tone is as sharp as a serpent’s tongue and just as evil.

Dana gasps, mouth opening in shock. At that moment, my salvation comes barreling through the room. Maria, Bree, and Kat plow through the door all laughs and joyful cheer. “Goin’ to the chapel and we’re…gonna get married,” they sing, pulling me into a little dance. When they’ve gone through a full rendition, I’m smothered in snuggles and love. Just what I need after Colleen’s bitter words. Maria hold’s me at arm’s length, spins me around and smiles.

“Looks awesome and yourculois bootylicious for sure!” she says with enough Italian Spanish flare to outlive any Negative Nancy trying to ruin my mood.

“Mmm-hmm,” Bree pinches her lips together and assess my rear. “That was the private yoga lessons for sure. Damn, I’m good at what I do,” she flips a lock of golden hair over her shoulder.

“Okay ladies, hair and makeup will take you in the room down the hall. Then once you’re ready, we’ll allow the photographer to get some shots of you.” Dana announces.

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