16

  A small string orchestra played near the back of the seated guests. Everyone was sitting in white chairs and the center aisle had a royal blue rug with small columns holding white hydrangeas. The wedding outside in the warm Miami late afternoon sun somehow made Damien’s own heart grow. The minister Damien hired had a commanding voice and for once his family and friends were quiet and paying rapt attention. However, if an elephant led a parade down the aisle at the moment, Damien wouldn't notice.

  Serenity’s belief in him after her sister’s set up in the library had lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. He promised himself to never disappoint her. She glowed like an angel from above, sharing peace and love that was her essence.

  The minister turned toward her and asked, "Do you take this man to be your lawful husband, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, till death do you part?"

  "I do." She squeezed his hand.

  She truly was his. He'd do right by her. The minister asked, "Do you have the rings?" He held out his hand and his brother, Galen, gave him her ring. "Repeat after me."

  Damien then said every word exactly as prescribed. "Let this ring be a symbol of my promises to you and a reminder of my devotion to you. I am honored to call you my wife."

  Serenity took the ring from Kiwi, trading her for the bouquet while the minister said, "Please repeat after me."

  Unlike him, she said every word practically at the same time while she smiled at him. "Let this ring be a symbol of my promises to you and a reminder of my devotion to you. I am honored to call you my husband."

  His heart thundered in his chest. Having Serenity as wife meant he had someone to come home to, a partner in life. "Throughout this ceremony, Serenity and Damien have vowed, in our presence, to be loyal and loving toward each other. They have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore, it is my pleasure to now pronounce them husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!"

  He placed Serenity’s hand on his heart and tugged her hips closer to his. "Thank you for believing in me."

  She closed her eyes as his mouth met hers. She even tasted better than any other woman he'd ever kissed. Her hands felt right wrapped around his neck. The moment he remembered where he was and stopped, she sighed and said, "Wow."

  Soon, he'd have her again. Perhaps he'd never have enough, but he had the rest of his life to find out. He proudly walked her down the blue carpeted aisle as people applauded and he led her toward the house. "Everyone is coming inside for a reception and free drinks."

  Tires screeched louder than the music then came a sickening thud. He stopped short. What had happened?

  Serenity clutched his arm and looked up at him with concern. "Damien, what was that?"

  He hurried her into the house and they ran straight for the front door. "Sounded like an accident." So much for their perfect day.

  He stepped outside. The sound of sirens from his security team screamed in the air. Serenity clutched his hand. "Is that your truck?" He saw where she was looking, on the other side of the street.

  With a sick feeling, he hustled down the pavement just ahead of a pale-faced security guard.

  Damien checked inside his truck and saw Serena behind the wheel, unconscious. He tugged Serenity close. "Your sister looks bad."

  “What was she doing? Trying to steal your truck?” Serenity shook her head in confusion.

  "Victoria!" Peter's hard voice called out in alarm. Damien went around to the front of the truck.

  His half-sister, who had been nothing but helpful since they’d met, was lying on the street with clothes thrown everywhere. Blood on her temple, scrapes on her cheek—she wasn’t moving.

  Damien staggered to Peter and offered an arm to help his brother stand while Victoria's husband fell to his knees with a guttural cry.

  Serenity’s calm voice raised over the sirens. "Don't move her—the ambulance is coming."

  Serena must have hit Victoria with his car. This was all his fault. He should have left her in jail where she belonged. He pressed his hand to his brother-in-law's shoulder. "Colt, step back. Let the authorities do their job."

  "She's so still," Peter said, in shock.

  Damien looked again, relieved when he saw her chest rise and fall in a ragged breath. He helped Colt stand when the ambulance arrived.

  Serenity quietly said, "I'm so sorry."

  His wife wasn't at fault. She wasn't her sister. He stepped back and took her hand. "You didn't do anything wrong."

  She trembled as another paramedic checked on Serena. "I invited her. My sister is out of prison because of me."

  "I did it." To make her happy, to show her that he could add value to her life. The blame was his, but he hadn't thought Serena would attack his family.

  Serenity hugged her waist and stared at the situation, clearly shell-shocked. "The first ambulance is ready to go. They are loading Serena now."

  The reception was clearly over. His wife still shook so he took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Come. We'll take Mitch's car and follow to the hospital."

  Her hand went to her forehead and she looked back at the house. "I need to check on my mom."

  Damien watched Victoria get loaded into the second ambulance and then walked with his wife back into the house. Serenity ignored all the curious gazes of guests, including Gilbert.

  Damien would ensure he wasn't a problem, but for now, he stayed with his wife and followed her to her mother, Marie, who sat with his mother, Fiona, and Isabelle, his father's wife. Her mother looked healthier than she had in the hospital, wearing a blue dress, though she didn't stand. She clutched Serenity's hands. "What happened, dear? Why do you look upset?"

  Damien whispered to his mother that Victoria had been hit by a car and Serena was to blame. At the same time, John went to his mother, Isabelle, and told her. Serenity hugged her mother but didn’t say a word.

  Isabelle’s face went white and she jumped out of her seat, ready to fly to the hospital. Fiona, his mother, put her hand on Marie’s shoulder. "I'll take good care of your mother, Serenity dear. Let's not upset her needlessly. You should change before you go."

  He whispered to his wife, "My mother will help. Yours doesn't even know Serena was here—we can keep it that way."

  Serenity took a deep breath. "Thanks Fiona." She was going to trust him and he trusted his mother. She stood straighter and stared at him. "Damien, let’s go. I want to change. Can you unbutton me?"

  He led her to their bedroom, knowing she wouldn’t consider staying here. He unbuttoned the back of her gown then went to the closet and took out a white cotton dress, which was clearly her favorite color. She changed and he kept her calm with talking. "Mitch said we can take his car."

  "How did my sister get your keys?" She struggled to zip up her dress. He turned her around and zipped her.

  She took his hand. Her blue eyes were so expressive and he saw the depths of her sadness. He squeezed her fingers. "I've no idea. Let's get moving."

  Serenity lowered her head. "I hope Victoria is okay. Your brother-in-law and brother looked stricken."

  His heart couldn't imagine anything bad happening to his sisters. He nodded. "I hope so too. Victoria was nothing but accepting." He led her downstairs and took the keys from his older brother who kept the guests in the house while they slipped out. He brought her to the gray sedan, opened her door, and told her, "Let's talk happy news. Once we know everyone's okay, where are we going for our honeymoon?"

  She opened his door again, leaning across the console, and he slid inside. "Paris. I want you to take me on a tour."

  "Sounds great." They drove the short distance down the highway and toward the hospital exit, he distracting her with various Paris facts. Five minutes later, he pulled into the valet lot of the hospital. "At least it's close." She hopped out without waiting for him.

  He took her hand and led her inside. He told the receptionist, "We're here to check on Serena Hansom and Victoria Morgan."

  The lady typed on the computer and asked, "How are you related?"

  "Damien is Victoria's brother. Serena is my sister." Serenity swayed on her feet.

  The receptionist took their pictures and told them to head to the fifth floor. They followed the directions, and once on the fifth floor an empathetic nurse in pink scrubs pulled Damien aside. "Your brother-in-law is very upset."

  Damien instantly felt guilty and squared his shoulders. "Serenity, can you call Peter? He's closest to Victoria and John."

  She nodded. "Of course."

  They walked inside the hospital room. Victoria was unconscious, lying on the white cotton bed, pale and hooked up to IVs.

  "Colt?" Damien asked. They weren't close, but they all cared about Victoria.

  Colt bowed his head, his cheeks ruddy with emotion. "There has to be a mistake."

  Serenity used her calming tones. "Why? What's going on?"

  Colt had his fists clenched. "There has to be. She was pregnant with our son."

  "Did she lose the baby?" Damien asked quietly.

  Serenity held his hand like it was her lifeline. "Serena ran her over with your car." She let go of him and hugged Colt. "I'm so sorry."

  All of them stood there in silence once the hug ended. Victoria would be devastated.

  Serenity slipped toward the door and asked the nurse, "My sister?"

  Damien realized everyone might hate him too. He stared at Serenity, sick. "She never should have gotten out of jail."

  She nodded, but told the nurse, "I need to see Serena Hansom. Where is she?"

  Now he felt like a jerk—torn between his family, and his wife. She needed him too. He patted Colt on the back. "Serenity, I'll go with you."

  She waited in the lobby. He joined her and they went down the hall to Serena’s room. Serenity whispered, "The police are everywhere. I’m glad. Serena killed that baby and intended to kill Victoria." Her voice caught.

  They stayed in the hall as the police were reading her sister her rights in the hospital bed. "Damien, we made a horrible mistake. My family... my sister did this."

  "You didn't." She hadn't asked him to make any arrangements for Serena’s release. He hadn’t dreamed she’d do this. It was all on him.

  The police handcuffed her sister. Serenity took a deep breath, ready to reveal herself. "I need to see her."

  The officers questioned her at the entrance but Serenity explained, “I’m her sister, her only family.” Without another word, she bypassed the officer and kept her gaze locked on Serena, not giving the police a chance to throw her out before she had her say.

  Damien followed as she walked into the room. "I’m here with you."

  "Serena, why?" Serenity didn’t blink. She stood near the bed as the police walked to the back of the room. Serena sat up in bed, and her handcuffs pinged beside her. She held her head high. "Peter Morgan and his entire family destroyed our family. You might pretend to be happy in that one's bed, but all the Morgans are bad news. Taking one out wasn't nearly enough."

  Wow. If he’d questioned her, perhaps he could have saved his family from Serena. His entire body went rigid.

  She didn't know Victoria was still alive or that she’d killed an unborn child. Serenity crossed her hands and stared down at her sister, with pity. "I'm not paying for a lawyer this time. You're on your own."

  Serena shook her head, clearly done with Serenity. "You were always a horrible sister. Nothing's changed. Sleeping with the enemy doesn't make you better than me. You betrayed us all."

  Serenity's hands fell to her side and she turned toward him. He'd be here for her. He wrapped her in his arms. "Damien, I can't help her."

  "Let’s go." He led her from the room.

  Outside Damien saw the police take notes. Serenity led that conversation and gave the police a clear admission of guilt. His wife was stronger than she appeared. She walked into the hall and crossed her arms, visibly shaken.

  He found a nurse, who gave him an update, and then told Serenity, "My brothers John and Peter are here now and the nurse said Victoria will be okay. She did lose the baby.” He couldn’t imagine how that felt now that he knew Serenity was having his baby. “We'll say goodbye and go. There isn't anything we can do."

  She wiped a tear from her eye and followed him. His brothers were there. Damien relayed that Serena had been arrested which made Peter and John breathe easier, though Colt was still upset for his wife's health. Serenity said she was sorry and goodbye. Damien followed. He needed to get her away from this. None of this was her fault. He'd pay the price for letting Serena out. He was the one with blood on his hands, not her.

  17

  The night was dark and the moon was high in the sky when they drove back to their home. Serenity held her tongue the entire drive, unsure what to say. Now that they were here, she realized all the guests were gone, but Damien sent one of his staff next door with his brother Mitch's car to return it. He always seemed to know what to do. She couldn’t even think right now. He placed his hand on her back in the driveway and led her into the mansion.

  With a blank mind, she followed and without a word, Damien led her to his room and began packing a bag. “Paris?”

  Huh? She tried to shake off the cold ledge her mind seemed stuck on and sank to the edge of the bed. "I don't know if we should go anywhere."

  He took briefs from a top drawer and put them in the suitcase. "Nothing is going to happen for at least a week. We should still go."

  This felt wrong. Running away never solved problems. She stood and walked to the edge of the closet. "I didn't even know your sister was pregnant."

  Her own stomach quaked. If she lost her baby, she’d be devastated. Her words must have gotten through because Damien stopped and his face became slightly darker. She flipped on the light in the closet to see him clearer. Finally, he nodded, put the bag on his bureau in the closet and stood in front of her. "Me either, but this isn't your fault."

  Serena was her sister and she’d targeted his family. She hadn't cared if she hurt anyone, so yes, in supporting her sister still, part of the blood was on her hands. She placed her hand on the wall for support. "I don't want to go to Paris right now."

  Damien brushed her hair out of her face. "Where do you want to go then?"

  Nowhere. She glanced down and stared at his row of black shoes against the wall. If he insisted, she'd do something, but Paris was too far. She swayed on her feet. "Somewhere closer, just in case. How about New York?"

  He shrugged and picked up his cell phone. "Let me talk to my pilot." He continued packing a few button-down shirts though she hadn't lifted a finger to go through her things. He hung up his phone. "Done, though we need to sit and wait for clearance."

  Why did he even want to go anywhere right now? She hugged her waist. "I never, ever thought Serena would do that."

  He stopped, turned and hugged her. "It's done. We both learned our lesson about meddling with the justice system."

  Now that was the truth. She let go of his shoulder. She took a deep breath and swallowed. "True. But I don't think we should fly anywhere, Damien. Let's just stay home and be there for our family and friends. We can go anywhere we want to later, when we both feel more in the mood."

  He walked into the bedroom with her. "Okay, I'll cancel the plane."

  He took out his phone from his back pocket again and she unpacked his bag for him. She heard him hang up and put the last set of briefs in the drawer he’d taken them from.

  She returned to the bedroom and sat beside him on the bed. "Thanks. Can you tell me what's going on with Gilbert Fineroy or at least what you're planning to do? I don't want you in danger."

  He held out his hand for her and she took it, holding him close and listening to her heartbeat grow steadier as Damien said, "Part of my business has always been collecting information for my father. I made it clear I'd only ever do above-board activities but it's easier than you think to get people to spill corporate secrets."

  Her mind tried to conjure an image of his father, her father and, somehow, she pictured Damien behind a door listening and writing everything down. It wasn't what he’d said, but part of her still needed a clearer understanding. She lifted her chin and hoped she sounded reasonable. "So this is SEC stuff?"

  He shook his head and she knew he hesitated. She stilled, put one foot on the bed and turned toward him. Finally, Damien told her, "Gilbert is far worse than securities fraud. He's running a human sex trafficking ring and kidnapping young women."

  "That's horrible. How did you find out?" Her stomach churned. No one should suffer like that! She’d read articles about this happening in the United States, right now, and nobody realized. One man responsible had sat at her wedding today. How had he managed to look like any other guy she’d ever met?

  Damien let out a sigh he must have been holding. "One of my employees has a source in his accounting department. She followed the money trail, told me about it and I had her put in witness protection. I'm having the information verified through a second source to ensure the FBI has a complete case."

  She heard the pride in his voice, but this was why a police force existed. Damien needed to keep his hands clean now that he was a husband and soon-to-be father. The idea that Gilbert was a guest at her wedding while she was unaware of his crimes rubbed her skin the wrong way. She held Damien's hand in her lap. "Why not give them what you have and be done?"

  Damien squeezed her palm lightly and kissed her cheek. "Because the FBI and I have to work under a different set of rules and I don't want Gilbert to profit when in a few days, maybe much less, I can have everything verified and give them an airtight case."

  Nobility was a special layer of Damien she hadn’t expected. She'd been so wrong to assume he was just like her father. She nodded, and just hoped less meant tomorrow and all the girls Gilbert had in servitude were saved. Serenity met Damien's dark eyes and felt her own body melting for him. "Part of what I find attractive about you is your devotion to justice. Just promise me you'll be safe."