She nods her head, watching me with the same dark eyes that are Gunner’s. Hers, though, are much darker, more sinister if that’s possible.
Walking away, I spot Alec at the bar drinking from a crystal glass, and when I tap his shoulder he turns around and smiles at me.
“You are truly beautiful today, squirt.”
I blush at his words. “Thanks, Alec,” I reply leaning in to hug him.
He hugs me back, but not the same way he normally would, this one is much more reserved. Pulling away, he looks over my shoulder. “Your guard is here,” he says in a tone he’s never used with me before.
I spin around to see Gunner making his way over to us.
“Alec,” Gunner says.
“Gunner.” Alec nods.
“You two were once friends. Have you both forgotten about that?” I ask looking between them. Neither one pays me any attention. “Okay, Alec, would you like to dance with me?”
Alec looks at me, but Gunner pulls me back to him.
“I wouldn’t consider her offer if I was you.”
“You don’t frighten me, Gunner. You might scare everyone else in this room but not me.”
Gunner laughs from behind me, and I feel the vibration running through my chest. “Don’t be a fool. I let you come today by the grace of Everly. That invitation can easily be revoked.”
Alec’s eyes flick to mine. “I’ll decline your offer tonight, squirt, but remember what I told you,” he says referring to the time he talked about if I need to get away I should call him. “I’ll see you later.”
“You won’t,” Gunner says turning and taking me with him.
“Why are you always so rude to him?”
He totally ignores me, and before we can walk any farther, we’re stopped by the announcement that we have to cut the cake. “Fucking hell, when will this shit be over?”
I throw him a harsh look, one he ignores, and he pulls me to the cake.
People gather around and I put on a fake smile. But inside I’m wanting to tear him to pieces.
“You’re ruining my wedding,” I hiss at him.
“Our wedding, and it wouldn’t be ruined if you listened,” he says back under his breath. If I could cut him with the knife that is handed to me right now for the cake, I would.
It takes another hour before he can finally steal me away. Within that hour, he stayed glued to my side and wouldn’t let me leave.
In the car he’s quiet, too quiet, as we drive back to his place. My dress takes up most of the room in the back seat leaving little room for him, but he doesn’t seem to care. When we arrive, I go to get out, but he stops me. “We’re going away. I’ve packed you a small bag. Change quickly.” He stays seated in the car.
Maybe I should have run off with Alec when I was given the chance.
Going inside, I start to take my dress off. It’s hard because it is almost glued to my body. Sighing, I look around the room for something that can help. I find a pair of scissors, but the last thing I want to do is tear it to shreds. I love it too much to risk damaging it. Trying to wiggle out of it is not proving to be any good. Two sets of hands touch me from behind, and something touches my skin that is cold.
“I told you to wear white,” he says, as I feel him snip at the dress. I pull away.
“Don’t you dare.”
He does.
He hacks into it.
Tears it to shreds and I watch as my beautiful dress is destroyed.
He turns and walks out, not even noticing what I have on underneath. It took two people to get it on and only one to take it off.
Under the dress, I made sure I had perfect lingerie, so when he took my dress off, he would be surprised and turned on. Guess that was all for nothing, now. So, I step out of it and try to not cry as I watch it crumble to the floor as if it was not the prettiest thing I have ever worn and quickly step into a maxi dress before I walk out to where he’s still waiting.
“Are you done now?”
I don’t answer.
The car drives us to a private airport where a jet waits for us.
Once onboard, I take a sleeping pill as soon as I can because I want to be any place but here right now.
Have I just made the biggest mistake of my life?
I’m definitely beginning to think so.
22
My eyes hurt, my hands hurt. I can’t move my body. What’s going on? Why do my hands hurt? I want the pain to stop. I squeeze my eyes tight, my hands clutching the sheets below me, crinkling them so hard I’m sure if I looked my hands would be bright red. I stay where I am, too afraid to open my eyes. Each wiggle of my toes, each movement of my hands is agony. My head swims with ideas, but nothing seems real. Why on earth can’t I move? And, more importantly, why am I afraid to open my eyes? This can’t be real. It has to be a dream, one I’m going to wake from at any minute.