Chapter 25
Mariyah walked of the room feeling overly nervous. She heard Caleb and Eric gasp and cringed. "It's over the top…" She was suddenly very shy. “Is it too much?”
"Wow, you look amazing." Eric's compliment sent her blushing.
"You look... Like a princess." Caleb had tears in his eye.
Just then Zak came down the stairs looking like a god, he was dressed for the night and he looked drop dead gorgeous.
The second he spotted Mariyah he stopped, Caleb and Eric mumbled something and left them alone.
Mariyah noticed Zak's jaw clench and that in itself was never a good sign.
He walked toward her and she swallowed a few times feeling extremely self conscious.
"Turn around." He ordered quietly. Mariyah felt her face heat up. She turned around doing a full three sixty, his eyes were dark and dangerous when she was facing him again.
"You like?" She asked hoping to get a reaction. He turned around for a second and looked back at her and palmed her cheeks before he kissed her lightly on her lips. "I think you are too beautiful for you own good…" That was more like it. "Promise you you'll not get anybody's attention?"
"I won't do anything to ruin your wedding." He closed his eyes when she said that. Zak nodded his head as though to compose himself before he took her hand and led her out to the limousine that Caleb and Eric were already in.
"Okay are we all clear?" Zak got down to business.
"All good boss." Eric replied.
"Okay be prepared, Mariyah, you do not leave Eric's side okay?"
"I know." The rest of the trip to Emmanuelle's was pretty much silent, each one of them was lost in their own thoughts.
All Mariyah could think of was this was it.
Zak would be a married man after today. She felt heavy hearted but wouldn't screw this up.
For once Mariyah was adamant that she wouldn't be the one to cause any trouble whatsoever.
She actually didn't want to be seen at all.
Mariyah wanted to be left alone and wanted this wedding over and done with.
Mariyah readied herself for the day ahead.
The hottest and latest cars were everywhere at Emmanuel’s mansion.
Security was on high alert, in every section of the mansion armed guards were checking the guests from top to bottom.
There would be no risks or chances taken today.
Zak and the rest of them were allowed to drive inside and to the back of the estate.
They weren't checked and were allowed to enter from the back doors.
Emmanuelle greeted them affectionately. He stopped when he spotted Mariyah "My dear, you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I've lived a long time. You are breathtaking." He kissed her hand and she smiled.
"Thank you." He was a creep. Eric put his arm around her and she felt stupid now. "Oh Emmanuelle, this is my date Eric."
"Your Zachary's man?" Eric nodded at Emmanuel’s question.
"Yes, I've been in the family for a very long time. Mariyah and I have been together for almost five years." Emmanuelle smiled.
"You wait a long time before you marry her. Are you not scared she'll fall from your grasp?" Eric laughed.
"If it were up to us, we would have been married long ago. Zak won't allow it for now." Emmanuelle nodded his head.
"Interesting... Well let us get going, Olivia will be ready soon. The priest is in the waiting room, he is eager to see you." He was speaking to Zak now.
Zak left them and followed Emmanuelle, the rest of them joined the party outside.
It was stunning, Marquees filled the yard and were decorated to the fullest extent.
Donned in fairy lights and decorated with array and array of red roses.
It must have cost them a fortune. Mariyah was stunned into silence.
Tables and chairs filled the Marquees and caterers were serving finger foods and drinks.
There was a humongous chocolate fountain with the most exotic of fruits surrounding it.
Eric and Mariyah stood around pretending to mingle. Mariyah was a little afraid and understood the fuss that Zak and Caleb made about this turn out. This was the elite scum of the criminal world. Anybody who was anybody was here. She also spied a few celebrities.
Getting unwanted attention from drug dealers didn't sit well for Mariyah, no wonder Zak didn’t want her here.
She was getting looked at like they knew her.
She even heard a group of rich bitches claim that she was Emmanuelle's girl.
What the fuck? Eric heard it to and told her to stay close.
This was a scary place to be. Mariyah even recognized a few infamous criminals that had escaped prison.
She had watched the news back then and remembered thinking how scary that these scums were on the streets.
The amount of bling that was worn almost blinded Mariyah, it was absurd, they had jewels on their teeth for crying out loud.
The announcement was made for all to take their seat, Mariyah and Eric sat at their assigned table. To Mariyah’s surprise they were seated on Emmanuelle's table. "It's okay, just keep talking to me when he comes to sit.” Eric tapped her hand to relax.
When Zak made his way to the front with the priest Mariyah almost chocked on her water, she wanted to cry. Feeling her heart being ripped out of her chest now, she couldn't look. Zak didn't even look her way.
And the music played for the bride. Everybody stood up as Emmanuelle and Olivia graced the red carpet that was laid out for them.
She heard gasps when Olivia came into view, she looked immaculate.
Her dress was something that you only saw in fairy tales.
Her hair was styled so it falling to the side of her face in long curls.
Every detail was done with extreme care.
Zak turned and looked at his bride, he had a fixed look on his face and his neck was tense.
She also noticed him opening and closing his hands, never a good sign.
Thank The Lord his anger had nothing to do with her this time.
She had been on her best behavior. Eric grab her arm and move her closer to him.
He moved her to the back of the crowd away from their table, she was confused.
Mariyah looked around and noticed Caleb move to where Zak was but he kept his distance.
Mariyah looked around trying to see what was going on and why her boys were reacting strangely, nobody else seemed to notice.
She felt something was amiss but nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Mariyah tried to turn her head around to ask Eric if something was wrong but he wouldn't allow her. "Stay still." He whispered in her ear.
What happened next Mariyah didn't know, suddenly the entire place was covered in a smoky misty fog, Eric grabbed Mariyah and slapped a gas mask onto her face before putting one on himself.
She looked around trying to figure out what the hell was going on, screams had filled up the place.
Mariyah spied Zak who also wore a mask and then Caleb had one on too.
Even the priest wore one. Eric pressed Mariyah to the wall behind him and took out this loaded pistol.
Mariyah looked up and saw helicopters drop men in uniform.
People were screaming, women fainting and the men that Emmanuelle had on guard were all dead.
She looked at Eric who was firing a silencer, she almost screamed herself especially when she saw Caleb and Eric doing the same thing.
Eric pushed Mariyah down and turned the round table over and onto its side to hide her behind it.
What seemed like hours and the noise subsided.
Mariyah had never been so afraid. Eric moved the table and helped her up.
The feds were everywhere, they had masks on also.
Everybody was being arrested and taken. She could see how disorientated everybody was because they were affected by the gas.
It was the biggest raid in history. Everybody was taken into custody, everybody except Zak, the priest, Caleb and Eric.
Mariyah looked over just in time to see Caleb and Zak actually gave each other a hug and they slapped each other's backs. Mariyah saw Eric take his mask off before he turned and helped her take hers off.
"What the fuck was that?" She asked him angrily.
"Are you hurt?" He was making sure she wasn't injured.
"I'm fine, what happened?"
"Place was raided. Who knew?" Mariyah eyed him suspiciously. Caleb made his way to her and checked her out.
"Caleb I'm fine. This is what you guys were planning?" He hugged her tightly. Zak and a few feds came up to them now.
"Well Zak, you have earned your freedom. There was no way we could have done this without you three. Ms Hayworth, I'm sorry you were caught in the middle, we tried to keep you out of it." Mariyah just stared dumbly.
"What now?" Zak asked the fed.
"Now you have a clear record. Your crimes have been wiped clean like we promised.
You do not have to finish your sentence.
Stay out of trouble. Caleb, you also will have a clean record so you can start anew also.
Don't fuck this up boys." They shook hands and Mariyah looked at their happy faces.
Zak grabbed her up spinning her around. When he put her down she slapped him hard across his face.
"You put yourself in danger, you put my brother in danger, you put Eric in danger.
You made me believe you were getting married!
" He tried to pull her into her arms again and she pushed him away.
"And as for you Caleb, I never want to speak to you again.
" She turned to Eric. "Thank you for being stupid enough to risk your life saving me.
.. Bunch of idiots." She walked away angrily.
The feds were getting rid of bodies and taking photos. It was all too much to fathom.
In the limo on the way home, nobody said a word.
Mariyah couldn't believe he spent all that money on her outfit knowing this was going to happen.
She was furious with them. Zak called out to the driver half way during the drive.
"Hey Ben, drive us to the beach, we are going to celebrate with ice cream. " Mariyah didn't comment.
Took about an hour before Ben pulled over, Mariyah took off her shoes and walked on the sand.
She flopped on the sand and lifted her knees.
How could they do this and not let her know?
She was furious with the three of them. It wasn't fair, none of it was fair.
She lived a life of hell for the last year, with that bitch fucking Zak.
Mariyah didn't know how to feel. This sucked, he sucked they all fucking sucked!
She wanted to cry but dressed up as she was, she didn't want to draw anymore attention to herself. And she would look ugly if her makeup smudged… She’ll cry at home.