Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Rosalie saw the distance he kept himself from her mother. This was new. He never gave her mother space. Whenever he had a chance to torment her, he used every trick in the book to do so.
Nibbling her lip, she looked at her mother, then at her father. He would keep his word, providing she did as he asked, consummating this marriage and getting pregnant. Her heart sank. Daemon wasn’t a man known for his word, but she just had a feeling he was more than happy to keep this one. Why? What was in it for him?
“It’s time for pictures,” Kim said. She moved toward Gabrielle. The two women had hit it off so fast.
Rosalie had wanted to tell her mother that there was no way she could be friends with Kim, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her mother looked so happy and excited. It had been a long time since she’d seen her like that. She wouldn’t take that happiness away.
Which was why when Gabrielle took her hand and Kim took Colt’s, she followed as they were pulled from the church and headed out to where the photographer was standing. She was pulled over toward the spot where the photographer waved at Colt as well.
“Put your arm around your bride,” the photographer said.
Colt slid his hand across her waist. “I’m not going to hurt you, stop acting like I am.”
“Why did you wear the suit?” Rosalie asked, completely ignoring his command. If she wanted to be tense, she would.
“Your mother asked me to.”
“I know you also declined as well.”
“She asked me nicely and I’m not in the habit of changing my mind, so shut your fucking mouth and smile.”
“Oh, how will I do that? I’ve got to keep my mouth closed and attempt to smile.” She wanted to roll her eyes at him, but with everyone watching, she couldn’t do it.
Daemon was there as well, looking the part of happy father. The bastard. He knew what he’d done and he didn’t care. What kind of father agrees to do the right thing so long as his daughter has sex with a stranger and gets pregnant? It was sick.
Rosalie wanted this to be over, but Kim and Gabrielle had other ideas. Not only did she have to continue taking pictures with Colt, staring into his eyes, looking the role of adoring wife. There were pictures with the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, along with Kim and Warden. Then she had to deal with being in a picture with her mother and father. She felt how shaken her mother was.
The day had started to take a toll on her. She wanted it over with.
A few more images, and that was it. She was married, at least in name only, but it was a start. Only, it wasn’t over, not by a long shot. No, now there was a reception, an after-party, which was a joke. Her mother had already agreed to come.
Sitting in the car with Colt beside her, she felt her world shifting, tilting on its axis with no way to stop it. How had she gotten here?
****
Colt never wanted to get married. He had no interest in chaining a woman to his side. There were so many to taste and try, marriage was always overrated. Sure, he saw his parents and the love between them, but they were rare. So freaking rare.
He sat beside the enemy, her hand resting in her lap, the engagement ring as well as the wedding band on her finger. His wife.
Myth drove the car, taking them back to the clubhouse. His mother had already told him they’d be there before he and Rosalie arrived.
The suit he wore fit him perfectly. He’d refused at first to wear a suit when his mother asked him. The guys were all wearing their patches, and that was how he was going to do it. Only, Gabrielle had come to see him. Kim had given her the address to his apartment, and even as she shook like a fucking leaf, she asked him nicely. She was aware he didn’t love her daughter.
“I know this wedding is a deal between your club and that of … Daemon’s. My daughter is being used to fuel this peace treaty, or whatever it is. I know you don’t want to marry Rose, and I also know she doesn’t want to marry you. This can’t be easy for either of you. I imagine you see her as the enemy, invading your turf, but she has never been caught up in this world before. She has always been my little girl, and it brings me great shame that I can’t save her from this. She doesn’t want this wedding, nor the elaborate details, but this will be the one and only time I get to give my daughter a beautiful send-off. Please, don’t deny me that.”