Page 123 of Twisted Redemption

Not yet. I still need more time. I need to think. To process.

Ryan shrugs. “Too bad.”

THE CEREMONY IS PERFECT. Tears fall from DeAndre’s eyes when he sees Imani walking down the aisle toward him. They wrote their own vows, and hearing him profess his undying love toward her has tears forming in my own eyes.

As we walk back up the aisle, my stomach tightens, but I don’t see David anywhere. Did the Grayson Security guys find him? Or is he hiding, waiting for me to make the wrong move, to see if he can actually trust me?

Imani and DeAndre disappear with the photographer. A few minutes later, Ryan comes up to me.

“David saw a couple of the guys closing in on him and ran. They chased him off the property. You should be safe—for now.”

“Thank god.” Liling throws her arms around me. “Please promise me you’ll never, ever go near that man again.”

I groan. “I promise. And I need to get a new number, too.”

My gaze turns back to Ryan, my eyes asking the question I can’t bear to say out loud.

“He’s on his way,” Ryan says gently. “When I texted, he was pretty far out. At some random cabin trying to find you.”

My heart clenches. I was wrong. He was going to come for me all along. I doubt he ever would’ve stopped looking for me.

The three of us head to the reception hall. Music is already going, and the wait staff is serving flutes of champagne to the guests.

Tucking my nervousness aside, I grab two, one for me and one for Lil. Most of me may not want to see Blaze, but part of me does—the part that won’t feel completely safe until I’m in his arms.

When the DJ announces DeAndre and Imani, everyone cheers, clapping as they enter. Imani is beaming, and DeAndre looks like the happiest man in the world.

Guilt turns over in my stomach. I almost ruined this. I’m going to have to find a way to make it up to Imani.

Food is served, and I’m hungry, but the thought of eating doesn’t sit right with me. I’m too nervous, too caught up in the feeling of this being too easy. David won’t just let this go.

What if he comes back?

Liling nudges me from her spot next to me at the bridal table. She nods toward the main entrance.

My heart leaps in my chest when I spot him. He looks like he hasn’t slept, eaten, or showered in days, but I don’t even care. This is Blaze. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look unattractive.

Some of the guests, however, are giving him the side eye, probably because he’s in jeans and a T-shirt.

“Are you going to make him search the entire room? Girl, get up!” Liling practically shoves me out of the chair.

And then, despite the fact that I haven’t forgiven him, that I’m not sure I’m ready to talk to him again, I’m flying across the dance floor. The moment he sees me, some of the panic eases off his face. He opens his arms, catching me when I jump into them.

“Daisy,” he lets out in a shaky pant, barely audible over the music and clamor of voices and silverware clinking against porcelain.

I melt into him, finally, finally feeling safe for the first time in almost two days, and he clutches me, holding me as close to him as he can.

“We need to talk,” he says. “And no, it can’t wait.”

I slink back, but he only lets be have a few inches of space. This isn’t an argument I can win, so I nod, taking his hand and leading him away from the reception.

In the bridal suite, I close the door and turn to him. He doesn’t even give me a second to breathe before he’s on me.

His hands come up to my face, but when I wince, he pulls away. Then he notices my wrists, bruised and raw. “Daisy. My god, Daisy, what did he do to you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Not what I asked.” His eyes run up and down my body, looking for any other sign that I’ve been hurt.

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