Page 17 of Beautiful Vengeance

While Kiyomi’s heart sang at the sight of it, she wound tighter and tighter inside. She didn’t want to leave Marcus yet. She wanted more time with him, time to explore what was between them. But it would hurt more when she left.

What’s a little more pain after what you’ve been through?

Marcus carried Karas back into the study and placed her on her bed in front of the fire, then took the bags from Kiyomi in the entry hall and continued on to the kitchen. The voices coming from there grew louder as they neared it.

“Is there a party going on in here, or what?” she asked, coming in behind Marcus.

Everyone was gathered around the island in the center of the room, drinking out of champagne glasses. “Here, have a mimosa,” Megan said, thrusting a flute at her and Marcus.

“What are we celebrating?” she asked, looking around. The atmosphere was downright festive.

With a slow grin, Jesse wrapped an arm around Amber’s shoulders and tugged her into his side. “We just got hitched.”

Kiyomi’s eyes widened. “What?”

Amber flushed a little as she smiled. “Yep. He wore me down, but neither of us wanted the hassle of a wedding, so we eloped instead.”

“That’swhy you guys weren’t here this morning,” she said, looking to Megan.

“Yep. Ty and I were their witnesses. And so now that we’re all here… To my sister and Jesse.” She smiled at the newlyweds. “May you have a long, happy life together.” She raised her glass. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” everyone chorused.

Hugs and handshakes were doled out. Kiyomi embraced Amber, then Chloe engulfed them both in a hug and shouted, “Group hug!”

Eden and Trinity joined in too. Chloe bounced up and down a little, always a ball of restless energy about to explode, and crowed, “Bitchilantes ride or die!”

Everyone laughed and once they all let go, Kiyomi stepped back to smile at Amber. “I’m so happy for you.”

Amber smiled back, looking happier and more relaxed than Kiyomi had ever seen her. “Thanks.”

Kiyomi moved out of the way as Trinity came to hug the bride, her gaze moving to Marcus. He stood on the other side of the island next to Heath, nodding at something the other man was saying. He met her gaze, and there was something weary and almost sad in his eyes as he put on a smile for her.

A bittersweet pain lanced her chest. Surrounded by this group of people she’d come to love like family and celebrating a new marriage, she’d never been so keenly aware of how alone she was. Of how emotionally broken she was.

When she left Laidlaw Hall soon, she would lose any chance of being with Marcus. And once this mission was over, all her Valkyrie sisters would move on with their partners. But she and Marcus would both be alone once more.

****

“Where was this taken?” Fayez demanded as he strode to his office with his head of security. He’d just been alerted that they might have a sighting on Kiyomi.

“Barcelona. This morning.”

Fayez hurried to his desk and typed in his password to his computer, heart thudding as he clicked on the video in question and waited for it to load. The scene showed a busy street in the heart of the old town center, the camera mounted on the exterior of a bank.

“Where is she?” he demanded, impatience eating at him. Months without even so much as a single sighting of her.

“In about five seconds she’ll walk out of this building.” The man pointed to another bank across the street. “There. Watch.”

Fayez held his breath, pulse drumming in his ears as a woman exited the bank. Definitely Asian. Right build and height, a large hat shading her face and dark sunglasses covering her eyes.

“Her face is obscured, but the recognition software said it’s an eighty-five-percent—” He stopped abruptly when Fayez raised a hand to silence him.

On screen the woman crossed the street, walking directly toward the camera. In three seconds he had his answer.

“It’s not her,” he growled, disappointment and frustration punching him hard in the chest.

“Are you sure?” His head bodyguard leaned closer, peering at the woman.

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