Page 62 of Casey's Hero

The music started—the cue that the wedding was about to begin.

Casey handed Kalea her bouquet of white flowers that matched her headdress. She took her smaller bouquet and handed Emma the basket of rose petals.

Sadie left the room, holding Emma’s hand. She would escort Emma down the aisle as the little girl spread flower petals in front of the bridal procession.

Casey was next. “Remember to breathe and look around. Commit this moment to memory. Otherwise, it’ll all be a blur.”

Kalea nodded. “I’m ready.”

Casey left the rectory and walked down the aisle toward Hawk and the best man.

Instead of the black tuxedo that had been ruined by the cartel, he wore his US Navy Dress Blue uniform, with its shiny gold buttons and several rows of ribbons hanging on the left side of his chest. Jacob stood beside him, also wearing his Dress Blue uniform, clean-shaven, and standing at attention.

She’d never seen more handsome men.

Their Navy teammates filled the chapel pews, also wearing their dress blues, hair neatly combed and all brass shining.The Marines and Deltas also wore their dress uniforms, looking amazingly clean-shaven and handsome.

Casey’s heart swelled with pride and gratitude for these men, who’d given so much to the defense of their country.

She stopped at the front of the chapel as the wedding march played, and Kalea appeared at the end of the aisle on her father’s arm. The colorful flowers in her hair contrasted beautifully with her dark tresses flowing down her back, and her face was wreathed in a huge smile. Her gaze locked with Hawk’s as she walked the aisle.

With a kiss on her cheek, her father gave her over to her soon-to-be husband.

As the preacher looked out at the audience consisting mostly of military men in uniform, he cleared his throat and started, “We are gathered today to join this man and this woman in holy?—”

A piercing screech echoed from the back of the chapel, drawing all gazes toward the sound.

Casey spun toward a woman flying down the aisle with her hands outstretched like claws.

“Camila,” Kalea cried out.

Anger erupted inside Casey. “Oh, no, you don’t.” She flung down her bouquet like a gauntlet and leaped into the aisle, ducked her shoulder and plowed into Camila, tackling her to the ground. She straddled the woman, pinned her arms to the ground then spoke through gritted teeth, “You willnotruin my friend’s wedding.”

The Brotherhood Protectors leaped to their feet. While Reid helped Casey rise, Hank and Maddog carried a kicking and screaming Camila to the back of the chapel. They handed her over to the off-duty police officer Casey had hired to stand guard in front of the chapel.

The officer apologized profusely. “I thought she was a guest,” he said, then escorted her out of the building.

Sylvia Rodriguez rose from her seat. “Miss Wesson, you’re hired!”

Grinning, Casey smoothed her dress down over her legs, lifted her chin, patted her hair and returned to the front of the chapel, where she retrieved her bouquet and took Kalea’s from her for the duration of the ceremony.

The rest of the wedding went perfectly.

Hawk and Kalea shared vows they’d each written for the other and exchanged rings. It was all beautiful and poignant. And it all passed in a blur for Casey.

She didn’t breathe until the preacher pronounced them husband and wife, and they were on their way back down the aisle together.

Jacob approached her and held out his arm.

She’d never been so happy to lean on someone as she was at that moment. Casey was glad Jacob was there and that he would walk with her back down the aisle.

As they waited for the bride and groom to leave the chapel, Jacob smiled at her, that one gesture making everything right with her world again.

“You are a remarkable woman,” he whispered. “I don’t think an NFL linebacker could have pulled off such an incredible tackle as you did today. And in a dress, no less.”

Casey fought a hysterical giggle. “It was an instinctive reaction. I didn’t even think.”

“Your instincts saved the day. The rest of us were too stunned to move fast enough.”

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