“Are you ready?” Miller asks, stepping into the room.
I straighten my tie and nod. He closes the door behind him and comes closer. He doesn’t say anything as he reaches for my tie and fixes the knot for me.
“Are they safe?” I ask in Russian, and he nods.
Last night while I was making the call to my mother, Miller took Pumpkin and her parents to a secure location. My chest ached that he had to do that, but protecting them was crucial. We didn’t know what the ramifications of today would be, and it’s better that our mother can’t get her claws into them.
“Did Winter call you?” he asks, and it’s my turn to nod.
Cookie’s father called me late last night and told me that everything would be okay. I told him I was sorry that I’ve brought this on their family, but he stopped me and told me that all he wanted was his little girl back and for me to bring her home.
I was prepared for his anger that I’d let this happen to his daughter. But instead he gave me kindness and forgiveness because he knew that I would never have done this to her if I could have stopped it. My own father hasn’t spoken to me in years, and I doubt we will ever exchange another word after today. Winter is the father I always wished for, and he’s entrusted me with making it right. After today it will be, no matter what I have to sacrifice to get it.
“She’s waiting.” He glances over his shoulder and sighs before he looks me in the eyes. Eyes so much like my own. Without saying a word, I know what he’s asking.
“Yes, I am sure.”
He squeezes my shoulder, and we both exit the room. The small church must have been on standby to be available at such short notice. It’s Christmas Eve and the sanctuary is decorated with candles and flowers.
The priest meets me at the entrance, and we walk together to the front of the church. Miller stands beside me, the pillar of strength that I need right now.
“Are you prepared?” the priest asks, and I nod. He signals someone in the distance and then music begins playing.
The double doors at the end of the aisle open, and out walks Chel with my mother on her arm. My mother is beaming like it’s truly my wedding day and not something she’s blackmailed me into doing. I ignore her because the closer Chel gets, the more I can see of her face.
Her eyes are red, and one looks like it’s swollen. Her lips are puffy and bruised on one side, but she’s tried to cover it with makeup. Someone smacked her around, and the image of Cookie in a fight comes to mind. As Chel and my mother come to the end of the aisle, my mother takes a seat in the first row of pews, and Chel moves to stand in front of me.
“Did my love send me a wedding present in the form of your face?” I ask, and by the way Chel scowls at me, I know I’ve made a direct hit.
“Don’t worry, she’s safe with Nathan until you say ‘I do.’” She smirks, and the reminder makes my stomach churn.
I glance around the church, and when I see the double doors close, I nod to the priest. It’s time.
“Chel, why isn’t your family here?” I ask, and I feel Miller move from behind me.
“What?” Her eyebrows pull together in confusion as she looks to me and the priest.
“Your father, Elliot, owns the banking conglomerate Cash and has been married to your mother, Isabelle, for twenty-seven years.”
“I know this,” she says through clenched teeth. “What’s your point?”
Miller steps away from his place and moves to where my mother is sitting. He takes a seat beside her and calmly places his hands in his lap.
“What are you doing?” my mother hisses from the bench.
“You’ve fallen out of favor with them.” I hold my arms out to indicate how empty the room is. “You attempted to sell his trade secrets and he was in a lot of hot water with the feds.”
The double doors open as four armed security personnel step inside.
“We had a deal,” she says in a low voice, leaning close to me. “If you don’t follow through, she’s as good as dead.”
“I kept thinking to myself why would you be so desperate to get my fortune when your family has their own? One quick phone call with your father, and I uncovered what you’d done.” Chel looks to the men at the door and then to my mother. “Do something!” she orders her.
“You see, they’re here for her too.” I smile as the priest opens his Bible and reveals his Federal badge. “It turns out our mother has been skimming funds from Elliot’s bank and sending them to offshore accounts.”
“Lies,” my mother hisses, and Miller drapes his arm over the back of her bench.
“Imagine how happy the government was to hear the recording we took at your house when you admitted to kidnapping and blackmail,” Miller offers, and my mother's face turns white.
Before we’d gone in to talk to her we’d grabbed a recording device out of the car and used it. We knew our parents were dirty, but Chel’s family was all too eager to hand the two of them over.
“You can’t do this!” Chel shouts, and it echoes in the church. “This is my wedding day!” She stomps her foot and real tears form in her eyes. She’s just as crazy as our mother.
“You’ll never get to her in time.” My mother’s smile is evil, and my blood runs cold.
“You’ll tell me where she is or these federal agents will watch me get it out of you,” I threaten, and she looks down at her nails.
“I’m afraid you’re already too late.” The chime of the church clock begins, and the sound is ominous.
I look to the “priest,” and he nods. “We’ll take it from here.”
Chel tries to move in front of me, and I raise my hands like she’s on fire. “Don’t touch me,” I growl, and her tears turn to anger.
“You’ll regret this. My father won’t let me rot in jail.”
“I almost feel sorry for you, because they are the ones putting you in your cell.” I move past her, and Miller follows me.
My mother stays quietly on the bench, and I know she won’t give me the information. She’s a heartless woman with no redeeming qualities, and I’m glad to be rid of her. She doesn’t even bother to look up at me as I rush past her and beyond the security guards.
When we’re outside the church, there’s more security with several black SUVs parked all around. I’m surprised when I look over and see my father sitting on a nearby bench with two security guards on either side of him.
“Wait,” Miller says and grabs my arm. He walks over to where our father is sitting, and I follow him.
“Why are you here?” I ask because we have no time to waste.
“I came to warn you.” His voice is scratchy, like he doesn't use it very often.
“Where is she?” My jaw tightens as he looks up me with bloodshot eyes and a face that’s drained of color and life. Once he was a strong man that I feared, and now he’s broken and frail.
“I was not a good father,” he admits, his Russian still perfect. “I’m dying, and I wish to end this life knowing that I did something right.” He looks down at his hands. “She’s in the carriage house.”
“Thank you,” I say, and he nods but doesn’t look up at me as Miller grabs me by the arm and we race to the car.
I don’t look back at him or regret how our lives have split. I’m only thankful that he was able to do something right, and it was the one thing that meant the most. Now we just have to find Cookie before it’s too late.
It can't be too late.