Chapter 6 Nylah
“How about this one?”
Cameron held up a slinky cream-colored dress with a long slit up the side that would show off my legs. It was also backless. The front was daringly low-cut.
My sister tried to hide a laugh. “I like it.”
“Mimi.”
She shrugged. “Rael would love it.”
“Rael would freak out, and you know it.” I turned to Cam. “I can’t wear that.”
“I know.”
And she did know. She was married to Rael’s twin.
Back on the rack it went as we kept combing through the rows of silky, beautiful dresses, still not finding anything at this boutique in Vegas that felt right. We’d been searching for the perfect wedding dress for five hours already.
“I think we need to take a break. My feet are starting to ache, and I’m thirsty,” Mimi informed us.
“That makes two of us,” Cam agreed. “Nylah?”
“I’m more frustrated than thirsty, but yes.”
“I say we snag lunch at one of the casinos. Maybe even try a few slots.”
Why not? “Sure.” I tried not to let the failure of finding a dress get me down. I just hadn’t had many chances to go shopping, and every time I tried, I ended up disappointed.
“Girl, lose that frown.” Cam linked her arm with mine. “Come on.”
Mimi linked my other arm. “Operation turn that frown upside down commencing.”
I snickered. “Patriot is rubbing off on you.”
She didn’t deny it. “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
“But he’s good to you.”
“So good. The best,” Mimi assured me.
Not that I doubted it. Patriot had rescued my sister and helped her heal from the trauma of her past, including the trafficker who tried to kill her. I would never forget what Patriot did for Mimi, and knowing he loved her warmed my heart.
My sister would never have stayed with him if he hadn’t been kind and patient. She’d been through so much, and knowing he was scarred from his time overseas and fighting his own demons helped her trust and help someone else go through an equally heartbreaking time.
Patriot and Mimi were perfect for one another.
We didn’t end up having lunch at a casino. Instead, we found a trendy café and sipped on cocktails, enjoying the afternoon without kids or responsibilities. This was just time for us ol’ ladies to do a little shopping and have a day to ourselves.
As soon as I thought it, Mimi nudged me. “Zane is watching us.”
Cam shrugged. “I’m not surprised. We’re the three wives of officers in the Graven Bastards. We don’t go anywhere without protection, danger or not.”
True. “I’m not bothered by it. It’s kind of nice knowing if something happened, we aren’t three hours away from help.”
“Sometimes it’s a bit much for me,” Mimi admitted.
I could understand why, after what that bastard Alexi had done to her, but he was dead.
Patriot ensured he paid for what he did to Mimi and the other captive women.
Still, ghosts from the past were hard to ignore, much less forget.
Mimi fought so hard for freedom that the idea of losing it, no matter how minor, threatened to tear apart the peace she found with Patriot. “You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s not a big deal. Really. Just makes me think of things that I’ve already let go.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m always here for you, Mimi.”
“Me too,” Cam added. “I know exactly what you mean.”
Cameron had been kidnapped and assaulted before Chrome found and rescued her. I hated that two of the women that I loved most in the world had been violated in the worst way.
Mimi blinked as I released her hand and she reached for Cam’s. “And that’s why we’re fighters, Cam. We faced hell, and we won.”
“We did,” Cameron confirmed. “And we’ll keep fighting.”
“I’ve got spare sparring gloves. Rael taught me how to use them.”
Both Mimi and Cam stared at me.
“Seriously. I can kick ass and throw a mean punch.”
Mimi giggled. “You badass!”
Cam snickered. “We need more drinks!”
We didn’t leave the restaurant for another hour. By the time we resumed shopping, I didn’t have a lot of faith that I would return home with a wedding dress.
Mimi gasped as she tugged on my arm. “Look! It’s a boutique.”
“I thought we visited all of them,” Cam murmured.
“Nope. Not this one.” Mimi dragged me inside, and I stared in shock at the vintage dresses and boho-style gowns.
Every item was unique. Not one dress had a replica. My gaze bounced over the racks, and I eagerly rushed toward the closest one, excited as I began to sort through them.
“Oh, wow,” Mimi exclaimed. “Look at this!”
I turned my head, sucking in a breath when I saw the perfect wedding gown. “Mimi,” I choked.
“I know! Try it on!”
I didn’t hesitate to find the dressing room and shed my clothes, my fingers fumbling as I pulled the new dress over my head and slid my arms through the sleeves. When I glanced in the mirror, tears filled my eyes, threatening to spill over.
I found my dress!
The bodice was tight, white, and had delicate lace with a flowing skirt interspersed with black that played peekaboo whenever I moved. The black seemed to ripple across the white like an ocean’s wave. I felt like a princess marrying her dark prince.
“Nylah?”
I opened the fitting room door and stepped out, beaming a smile of relief and awe.
Cam’s hands rose to her mouth. She looked as thunderstruck as I felt. “It’s so perfect, Nylah.”
Mimi dashed tears from her cheeks, shaking her head. “I knew it. As soon as I saw it, I just knew it was meant to be yours.”
A saleswoman approached us, her eyes widening. “Wow. Tell me you’re getting that dress.”
I grinned. “I am.”
I returned to the dressing room and hung up the gown. I had barely got dressed before my phone began ringing. I noticed the number for the florist and swiped across to answer.
“Hello? Nylah Peters?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“This is Deb. We spoke before about your wedding needs. I’m calling about your floral order.”
“Oh. Is everything okay?”
“I’m so sorry. No.”
I froze, bracing myself for bad news.
“A frost destroyed a good portion of our product. There’s irreversible damage. I’m so sorry. I’ll have to refund you.”
Oh, no!
“Will you have more flowers arriving soon?”
“Not in time for your wedding, dear. I can’t apologize enough.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
We ended the call, and I slumped back against the wall with a sigh. Wouldn’t you know it? I found my dress only to lose the flowers I ordered months ago, too close to the wedding to order more. I didn’t have a clue how I would fix this.
“Hi. Would you like me to take the dress for you and box it up?”
The saleswoman startled me, and I nearly jumped. “Sure. Thanks.”
I opened the door and handed the gown to her, watching her walk toward the register. Cam and Mimi were waiting for me at the front of the store, looking over the dress racks as they talked.
“Hi, Nylah.”
My head swiveled as I recognized the male voice even though I’d only heard it once. “Tony?”
Where the hell did he come from?
He smiled before walking up to me, reaching for my arm, and steering me out of sight of Cam, Mimi, and the front register. Confused, I stared up at him. What did he do? Follow me?
Did he watch me the whole day?
I had to fight a shiver.
His grip remained firm, but he didn’t hurt me. “I’m not going to harm you, but I need you to listen.”
Listen to what? “Why?”
“Because you’re making a mistake.”
Blinking, I fought to process his words. “What do you mean?”
“The wedding dress. You can’t marry a Graven Bastard. You don’t know what they are.”
For the second time in less than five minutes, I went still. Shock speared through me first, followed by fear. Not of Tony, but what he knew, and what he could do about it. “He’s a biker.” I didn’t say Rael’s name on purpose.
“Azrael. They call him the angel of death.” Tony shook his head. “He’s dangerous.”
Oh, I already knew that. Rael was more than dangerous to a man who put his hands on me. He would be lethal—literal death to Tony.
But my sexy bastard biker loved, protected, and cherished me.
Tony was delusional.
“Don’t marry him. You can’t. Take your babies and leave him.” He crowded me into a corner, caging me in. “I’ll help you get away.”
Until this moment, I hadn’t been afraid of him, but now that Tony mentioned my kids, I realized he knew way more about me than I ever would have imagined.
“I don’t think I can.” It was the only way I could think of to respond without making him react badly.
“Then I’ll figure it out. With my help, you’ll get free.”
I shook my head. “Please. There’s no need.”
He lowered his head and kissed me. I didn’t expect it, and I didn’t want it, but I had zero control as he seized my shoulders and held me in place. The shock of it mixed with fear, and I shoved at him as he released me.
“Don’t ever do that again.”
I was right about him the day I met him in the exam room. This man didn’t understand boundaries or consent. He only cared about himself and his desires.
“You won’t be saying that later when you’re finally free.”
“Get away from me.” I kept my voice low because I didn’t want to alert Mimi or Cam.
Who knew what Tony would do if he felt cornered or exposed?
“It’s okay, Nylah. Everything is going to be fine.”
Not as long as he followed my family or me. I had to tell Rael. As soon as I was home, I’d talk to him about Tony and let his Reaper and Berserker handle this asshole.
“Okay,” I agreed to placate him, nearly cringing when I saw the grin on his face.
“You’ll be seeing me real soon.”
I watched him walk away, swiping across my mouth to rid any trace from my lips. I felt dirty. Like I’d done something wrong when I didn’t ask for this. I never encouraged him.
Why the hell was this happening? I was supposed to marry Rael in a week. How could I tell him that another man kissed me right before we said our vows? He’d be devastated.
My heart sank, and I clutched my purse, trying to calm myself down before I joined Cam and Mimi. My heart was racing in my chest, and I couldn’t seem to draw a deep enough breath into my lungs. Suddenly, my chest felt tight, and I struggled to breathe.
What the hell? Was I having a panic attack?
I managed to walk around the corner, nearly running toward Cam and Mimi, and take about three more steps before the world spun and darkness crept into the corners of my vision.
Noises around me sounded faint, like they were foggy and unreal. The saleswoman gasping. Mimi shouting my name. Cam speaking into her phone, saying my name to someone on the line, before calling for Zane. The thud of my body hitting the ground.
My poor babies. They wouldn’t be seeing Mommy tonight.
And Rael? He was going to flip the fuck out.