Page 107 of Vengeful Lies

“What’s bothering you?” he asks as we both look out the front windshield.

“I don’t know. I’m just scared.”

“I’m not. I know without a doubt that you are meant to be my wife, and we will have a permanent truce,” he says, cupping my cheek.

“Well, maybe notpermanent,”I tease. “We want to keep it spicey, don’t we?”

He looks at me with a smile. “I have a surprise for you when you’re ready.”

“I think it’s redundant when you say that because I will always be surprised by you, Eli Monti,” I tell him, feeling the tension leave my body.

“I take that as a compliment, Jewel Diamond.”

I stare at our linked fingers, thinking that, after today, I’ll have his has last name. This is real. Me moving forward into a world I thought never existed for me. And maybe that’s why it feels so terrifying.

A tap on the window startles me, and Eli opens the door. When he does, Craig peers into the car. He’s wearing a suit, which is strange considering his usual casual attire.

“Craig?” I straighten.

“Hey, kiddo. This little shit asked me if I’d do the honors of walking you down the aisle since, apparently, this is legit. You’re really marrying him, right?” He hooks an accusing thumb in Eli’s direction.

Eli turns to me then. “I’m going to wait for you at the end of the aisle. I came here to make sure you aren’t overwhelmed. So let’s go get married, get drunk, and fuck all night.”

Craig looks away, and I can feel a blush spread across my face in embarrassment. Eli presses a kiss to my cheek with a smirk as he slowly but surely pulls my hand farther out of the car and into Craig’s waiting hand.

“Come on, kiddo, you’ve done worse than this,” Craig jokes as he leans in. “Unless, of course, you do want to run, and we can fuck off and stick to the previous plan.”

I laugh, my nerves feeling as if they’re subsiding. It’s like the final missing piece has arrived. I would have never been brave enough to ask Craig. He barely leaves the house, and I didn’t want to be disappointed if he said no.

Craig idly speaks about the latest episode of his TV show as he walks me to the chapel. It’s massive and, apparently, the same chapel where Eli’s parents tried to marry before Rya shot Crue in the leg and ran away.

I smirk at the thought. Rya’s such a badass. But why do I feel like she’d laugh if I did the same to her son?

I focus on my breathing as I wait outside the doors. I can hear the commotion on the other side as Craig clears his throat. “I don’t like the little arrogant asshole, but if he really makes you happy, this is where I want to be.”

I turn to him, and there are so many things I want to say and thank him for. We’ve never been the kind to share feelings or gratitude, so instead, I hug him. Craig seems surprised, and heawkwardly hugs me back. I still don’t enjoy touching people, but I think a small part of Rya is rubbing off on me.

“Thank you for being here today, Craig, and for everything you’ve done for me. You’re my family and are always welcome here.”

Craig clears his throat, and I’m pretty sure he looks away to wipe a tear. “Your father would be proud of you. You’ve turned out to be such a beautiful woman. Though, I don’t know how he’d feel about handing you over to Eli Monti.”

I laugh and agree with him. But I also consider how he could fault my soon-to-be husband, who would move heaven and earth to get to me.

The wedding planner grabs our attention and counts us down. I try to clear my throat and roll back my shoulders.

“Why do the moments before pulling a trigger on someone feel easier than this?” I ask nervously to Craig. The wedding planner looks horrified as Craig laughs and puts his hand over mine.

“Make no mistake; you’ll give them hell just as much as you do when you shoot.”

The doors open, and I can’t smile, my gaze dances along the colossal number of people. Most of whom I don’t know.

But at the end of the aisle is a man I do know.

The man I love.

The man I hate.

The man who calls to my dark soul and feeds it instead of shuns it.

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