Page 177 of Savage Hearts
“And the affiliates, yes. Oh, don’t look at me like that. It’ll be fine.”
“Hair is fine. A Catholic church stuffed with armed mafiosi is aTrue Crimedocuseries about to happen!”
She pats my hand reassuringly. “Listen. Declan is handling it. The security is top-notch. There are even snipers. All we have to do is look stunning and enjoy the attention. And if anything happens—which it won’t—just duck.”
I stare at her. “Duck?That’s your survival advice?”
She shrugs. “Always works for me.”
Dear god. She’s actually serious.
I blow out a shaky breath, wondering if I can steal a gun off one of the goodfellas milling around in front of the church before they’re confiscated by security.
We’re hustled from the limo into the church by a circle of bodyguards three deep. I keep expecting a bomb to go off, but we make it inside without incident and settle into a room in the back reserved for the bride’s quarters.
Our bouquets are waiting there, nestled in white boxes with tissue paper and cotton. Mine is a perfect sphere of pearl-dotted stephanotis. It smells heavenly.
Sloane’s bouquet is a dramatic cascade of hot-pink orchids studded with Swarovski crystals. It’s glamorous and over the top, just like her.
Two minutes after we arrive, so does Nat.
The moment she comes through the door and spots Sloane in her dress, her face crumples, and she starts crying. “You look like a princess.”
Sloane smiles. “Bitch, I’m a queen. Get your butt over here.”
She opens her arms. Nat runs to her. The two of them stand hugging in the middle of the room for so long, I wonder if the wedding will have to be delayed.
Then Nat turns to me. Her watering eyes widen as she looks me up and down. “Riley? Little Riley? Holy cow.”
I smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She comes over and gives me a big hug, too. I haven’t seen her in so long, I’d almost forgotten what she looks like. Black hair, blue-gray eyes, scarlet lips… she’s gorgeous.
She whispers, “Are you okay?”
“Ugh. Yes and no. We’ll talk about it later. There’s way too much to go over right now.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’m glad to see you.”
“You, too.”
Sloane says warmly, “Look at my girls. This church will be full of boners. Even that sad statue we passed on the way in will be sprouting wood.”
I say over Nat’s shoulder, “That was a statue of the Virgin Mary.”
“So she’ll get a lady boner.”
“You’re going to hell.”
“Ha! Theywish.”
Nat pulls away and smiles at me. “The queen is proud of her handmaidens.”
“We do look pretty good, though. And you’re glowing.”
Sloane says, “That’s because she’s getting the big Bratva bratwurst on the regular.”
Nat’s cheeks turn faintly pink. “She really has a way with words, doesn’t she?”
