Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
She looks up at me, her beautiful face framed by the soft curls in her hair. “Yes.”
I pull her to her feet and take her to the foyer, then hold her close as we start to sway.
“This is like a dream.” She sighs against me.
“A good one, I hope?”
“The best.” She lets me lead her around the room, her white dress hugging her curves as I hold her tight.
She takes a deep breath and looks up at me. “Avery, I … I love you.”
I didn’t think this day could get any sweeter. Not after I made her my wife, but to hear those words from her lips–it warms every bit of me, my heart beginning to pound as I realize just how lucky I am.
“I love you, Goldie.” I kiss her, sealing this moment into my soul.
We’re still kissing when the front door is blown open and dozens of officers swarm in, all of them with assault rifles pointed right at me.
20
MARIGOLD
“It was me! I killed Hoover!” I declare at the top of my lungs. Everyone ignores what I’m saying as they pull me away from my husband. He doesn’t fight them as they take him down to the floor, putting plastic-looking cuffs onto him.
I shouldn't be shocked when they lift him back to his feet that they start pulling all kinds of weapons from him. How did he have all that hidden away? I hadn’t felt any of it.
I fight against the man in the SWAT uniform, trying to break free of his hold. I want to get to Avery. But the man doesn’t budge.
“Goldie, you’re going to hurt yourself. Calm down, little thief, everything is going to be okay.” Avery says gently, his eyes locking with mine before they move to the man holding me. He levels the man with a stare so deadly the guy actually loosens his grip.
Avery gives him a subtle nod.
“Avery, what’s going to happen?”
“He’s going to prison, that's what’s going to happen.” My father comes strolling in through the busted front door, his chest all puffed out.
Of course he comes in after the coast is clear like the coward he is. The man really doesn’t have a backbone. Why have I been so scared of him all these years? At the end of the day, he’s just a giant bully. I’ve always disliked my father for how he treated me, but right now, I can honestly say that I hate him.
He’s gone and ruined the happiest day of my life. I shouldn’t be surprised, actually. He’s selfish and only cares about his reputation. He can’t stand the fact that Avery has a power that he can’t hold a candle to. So he’ll use his position to try to bring the man down. Worry courses through me at the thought of Avery getting taken from me.
“Look at me, Goldie.” Avery’s deep voice breaks me from my thoughts. “Everything is going to be fine. Don’t say a word until our lawyer arrives. Can you do that?”
I nod.
I fight the tears from falling as I watch them take Avery away. My father comes to stand in front of me. “Hands,” he orders. The man holding me by the shoulders releases me. I expect him to slap cuffs on me, but instead, he pulls the wedding ring from off my finger.
“Hey!” I lunge to make a grab for it, but my father's hand wraps around my throat. He brings me in close to whisper into my ear.
“Do not make a scene. You will walk out of here next to me and get into the passenger seat of my vehicle.” I try to pull his hand away as I nod, unable to speak, or breathe for that matter.
When he releases my throat, I gasp for air. “You don’t know what you’ve done.”
“These games are over, Marigold. Don’t make me do something you’ll regret.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say it’s too late for that. He grabs my arm and leads me out of the house and toward his cruiser where he places me inside.
I watch as he stands in front of the house talking to a few people. One of them goes inside as he keeps speaking to a few others. My mind races with what’s happening. Where have they taken Avery? How much trouble can he be in for what he did to my father? He had been trespassing, but God only knows what my father might have said to somehow get a warrant. The lies he would tell and the level he would stoop to in order to get what he wants.
Time ticks by before someone comes out with a bag and gives it to my father. He finally gets back into the cruiser. “You’ll change when we get to the station.” He drops the bag into my lap. I look into the bag to see clothes.