Page 8 of Splintered Security
“I am.”
“Then I need you to marry me.”
Ren
Marry her.
Marry her?
I force my body to stay relaxed, to not react to her words. I want to make some pithy comment, some snideremark, but her utter stillness and silence tells me she’s not joking. There’s no trick in this. She’s serious.
Growing up, I’d have done anything for Aug and Anni. Hell, I’d do the same today. But this anything is a huge ask.
“You said whatever.” Her voice is tentative and small. “Did you mean it?”
Nothing like getting called out by the petite firecracker of a woman in my arms.
Clearing my throat to swallow past the emotion and memories flooding me, I offer a one-word answer. “Yes.”
Her body in my lap sags as she hiccups a sob.
I rest my cheek on the top of her head—I guess I’m free to since she’ll be my wife—and exhale. “Now will you tell me what’s going on?”
Her head nods against my chest, her wet hair brushing back and forth, leaving marks on my shirt.
“Heath forced me to marry him.”
Fuck. Well, that’s not what I expected. “Then how…?” I trail off. My question is obvious.
“The certificate. I stole it. It never got into the mail. Sixty-three days, Ren. There are sixty-three days by law in Colorado to get it turned in. Walk it in. Mail it in. Whatever. The marriage doesn’t exist—it’s not legal— until the certificate is filed.”
“I’m no lawyer, Anni, but how does me marrying a married woman help?” I want to add that we don’t live inthatpartof Colorado, but avoid it since she’s not in a playful mood.
She pulls her head away from my chest and stares into my eyes. Her vibrant blues are pleading when she speaks. “Because if our marriage certificate is filed first, they can’t accept mine with Heath Giltenhouse as valid. I’d be saved from his brutality and his vengefulness.”
“Vengefulness is his whole personality. That won’t go away. That’s not who he is. And you know that Denver has open records laws? All of Colorado does. He’ll be able to find us, to find you, as soon as the paperwork goes live.”
“And I know I’d rather risk that with you than risk my life with him. If you can’t do it for me, do it for August.”
“I’ll do it for you, Squirt. I already agreed.”
She flinches.
“What?”
“I’m not six any more. I get that I’m not your type or whatever, but could you not sound so creepy right now? It’s gross. I’m a woman if you haven’t noticed.”
Oh, I’ve noticed. I couldn’t not notice. I noticed the moment she walked into Queen City; my cock did too. And it wasn’t the first time.
“Noted.”
“Is tomorrow too soon?”
“Does tomorrow give you enough time to do what you need? Get a dress and all the other shit?”
“I don’t need a dress. I can go in my jeans if it means I’m safe.”
Nope. “I’ll marry you the day after tomorrow. You’ll be safe. I swear on my life I’ll keep you safe.” And I dare Heath to even try. I’d take great pride in gutting him. “Tomorrow, we’ll get you a dress… whatever you want. Shoes and all that, too. We’re doing this correctly. Have to look the part, right? We can go get paperwork and do whatever else is required tomorrow too. Friday. We’ll get married Friday. Is the courthouse okay with you?”
