61. Orion
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
ORION
T he scene is so similar to the one outside the clinic that I feel like I’m having déjà vu.
Elsie is tucked up safely in the penthouse with Darius keeping her company. He’s the only person she seems to not hiss and spit at with vitriol, and he’s been working on getting her access to her sister.
We didn’t want to leave her by herself with all she’s been through, so Max is the one sitting beside me now, his body vibrating with just as much anxiety as mine is.
“Tell me this is going to work,” I say, turning to the man I could have sworn I hated a week ago, but has been a solid rock for us all since Ember disappeared.
“This is going to work,” he assures me. “We’re going to get her back.”
I sigh. “How can you sound so sure of that?”
“Because Ember is a fighter. She’s not going to be marched down an aisle into a marriage with a man she hates. And she knows we’re looking for her. She saw Darius at the clinic. She told Elsie to go to him. She won’t give up when she knows we’re close.”
“She probably thinks I’m dead,” I remind him.
He nods, not bothering to answer the argument we’ve had over and over.
I’m not so egotistical to think she’ll give up just because she believes I was blown into a million pieces, but she is fragile. She’s been through so much. Far more than anyone should ever have to live through.
It’s only reasonable that at some point, she’s going to reach the limit of what she can deal with.
A black SUV pulls up outside the small chapel, and we both straighten.
We’ve foregone our caps and glasses, deciding that this is likely our last chance. A last-ditch effort to save the woman who holds my heart.
Anonymity doesn’t mean shit after this.
Cain rounds the car and opens the back door. All the while, I watch with bated breath as Ember stumbles out wearing the ugliest dress I think I’ve ever seen.
It’s not her style at all, and I can tell from Max’s grunt beside me that he’s thinking the same thing.
“Jesus. I hope she didn’t pick that thing. If she did, I’m definitely buying her dress when you two tie the knot.”
“When?” I chuckle.
“Oh, I assume you’ll have a ring on her finger by the time we make it back to the car.”
The first genuine laugh since she disappeared bursts from my throat because he doesn’t realize how right he is.
I lean over in front of him and pop the glove box, showing him the ring box I stashed in there when I came down to put our weapons in the car.
He shakes his head, turning his attention back to Lucas climbing out after Ember.
His arms wrap around her waist possessively, and I barely manage to swallow down the growl that tries to force its way to the surface.
Lucas guides her inside with Cain on their tail, his eyes moving over the street, but don’t snag on us before he heads inside after them.
“Killian’s in place?” I ask.
Max nods. “Yep. He’s inside with the officiant now.”
When the idea was floated to threaten the man who was going to marry my girl to another man, Darius was hesitant, but the rest of us had no qualms, and that was the plan we quickly set into motion.
“Let’s get this party started.”