I had asked Sundance to give me away. He was as much a father to me as anyone ever had been, and I swear I’d seen him brush away a tear. The morningof the wedding, he surprised me with a handkerchief Wyatt had carried on their wedding day which covered both my ‘old’ and ‘borrowed,’ and after recovering from my meltdown of ugly tears (which I didnotuse the hankie to dry), I hugged Sundance (again) and tucked the soft piece of linen into my dress right next to my heart.
Raquel and I were secreted away by Taxi in a panel van to an FBI safehouse just outside of Fowler where Wrath and Orion were already waiting.
It was just the six of us, plus the officiant. We weren’t even going to have other agents or recruits at our back. No one was going to even know we were there.
I could honestly say I never wanted a big wedding, but, admittedly, the fact I couldn’t have the entire club with us to celebrate made me a little sad.
Raquel must have picked up on my melancholy because she linked her fingers with mine and squeezed. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, then said more affirmatively, “Yes. I just wish we could be more public.”
“You will be.” She smiled. “We just need to get past this crap with the Beast and we’ll have a proper party and invite the world.”
“I don’t need the world, but I would like Rabbit and Parker, and the whole club to be there.” I bit back tears. “But mostly my brother.”
“I know, honey. I’m sorry. But I promise, it’ll happen.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. Today was my wedding day. It was a happy day, not a day to focuson anything sad, so I wouldn’t. Raquel was right. We’d have a party the second all this bullshit with the Beast was over, and if the Howlers knew anything, it was how to throw a party.
Before I knew it, Taxi pulled the van into a garage, and closed the door, peering into the back. “You ready?”
“Yes,” I said.
He grinned, climbing out of the front, and sliding the side door open to help me and Raquel out of the back.
“I grabbed you something,” Taxi said.
“You did?”
“Yep. Don’t read anything into it,” he warned, opening the front, passenger door and pulling out the prettiest bouquet of wildflowers that matched my crown. The stems were wrapped with lace that matched my dress and I nearly burst into tears with the thoughtfulness.
“Oh my god, Taxi, these are so beautiful.” I lifted them to my nose and took in the scent of goodness. “That was so unbelievably thoughtful. Thank you.”
He leaned down and gave my cheek a very sweet, but very awkward kiss. “Very proud of you, sweetheart, and I wish you all the best.”
“Thanks, Taxi, that’s really sweet.”
With a cough, he straightened, then made his way to the door that separated the garage from the house. He stepped inside, then indicated it was safe for Raquel and me to follow, so we did.
The second I stepped over the threshold, strong arms wrapped themselves around me, and I knewexactly who it was before I saw his face. “Oh my god. You’re here.”
My brother gave me a squeeze. “You don’t actually think I’d let anything get in the way of my sister’s wedding, do you?”
I could no longer hold back the tears and buried my face in Rabbit’s shoulder as I held him tight. Raquel gently pried my bouquet from my hands so I could fully wrap my arms around his waist, and he pulled me closer as I let the emotion I’d been holding in over the past few weeks spill out onto his chest.
“I got you,” he crooned, stroking my hair.
“I miss you so much,” I stuttered out.
“I miss you too. But I’m here now.” He raised my chin. “And I’m going to be standing right beside Wrath, waiting for Sundance to walk you down the tiny little aisle.”
“If I’d known you were going to be here, I would have—”
“Nope. Don’t do that, sissy. Sundance is the perfect person to give you away. Even if you’d known I was coming, I would have suggested it.”
“You’re not hurt?” I asked.
“Not even a little bit,” he assured me. “He’s been a better dad to you than anyone we’ve ever had in our lives.”