Scarred (Lost Series Book 2) (19 page)

The first day of the rest of my life. No need to keep running. And I didn’t care about jumping. Ethan was there catch me.

River

One Year Later

I
looked up and down at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe the day was actually here. Today I was going to officially become Mrs. Ethan Kendall. I chose a form fitting mermaid gown in eggshell. The bodice was covered in pearls and lace designed to look like flowers. It was a simple design, but it took my breath away.

Around my neck was a choker made of black diamonds. It was an odd piece, but next to my skin, I held that bit of darkness that was so a part of us. I took off the rings Ethan originally got for me, and put them in a safe place. He told me I’d be getting a new set, one that would match his.

“Are you ready?”

I turned at Gwen’s voice. Pavel’s sister had the same quiet bearing her brother did, and I instantly liked her. It helped that she was also married to a vor. Ethan introduced me to the respectable older gentleman at the engagement party, and I saw the respect between them. I figured he was one of the vor Ethan hadn’t wanted to tell me about that was with him when he found out which had betrayed him. That he was still standing spoke better of him.

“Yes, more than anything,” I told her.

“Being married to a vor is not always easy, but it has its own rewards doesn’t it?”

“More than I ever thought it would. Was it as hard for you to transition as it was for me?”

“Yes and no. I grew up in the family, so I knew what to expect. Pavel was always the perfect example, but he still kept a lot from me because women aren’t involved in the business. But, being a vor’s wife is much different. By definition we know much more than others do. It took some getting used to because I thought being his wife meant I had a right to know everything. And sometimes not knowing stressed me out more than anything. But then, when I found out some things, I wished I hadn’t.”

“I know what you mean.”

Over the last year I learned how Ethan ran his business. Even though I could stand beside him and watch his back, it didn’t mean that sometimes I didn’t believe transgressions would require some of the drastic means they were punished with. To keep peace between us, Ethan wouldn’t tell me what they did and I wouldn’t ask. If someone disappeared I knew they had done something and figured the safety of us all mattered much more than how much I missed them.

I kept those in my tight circle to Pavel, Leo, and Ethan.

The vors and the atrovitet had gotten close, even working together with business ventures that helped them all become richer. Evgeny would assist when he could on business matters, and Anatoly would give them guidance. Grigory’s part I wasn’t always sure of, and figured there was a reason Ethan didn’t tell me much about him.

It was enough that I knew all the vors names now, and looked to one as my brother-in-law.

“I’ll be out there, waiting for you.”

“I’ll see you soon,” I told her.

I chose Gwen to be my matron of honor. I didn’t know many women who could stand with me that were secure enough. The affair was a big media hit, the bachelor of Pantera Jiu-Jitsu Gym with the dark past finally getting married to an up-and-coming artist. I heard some big names in the mixed marital arts world were going to be in attendance. I finally turned away from the mirror and headed out of the bedroom door. Pavel was there to meet me.

He would be the man giving me away.

“Otets.”

“Doch, I’m so proud to walk with you today.”

“No one else could have done it,” I promised him. He smiled at me, a rare smile that lit up his face. “You and Ethan keep smiling then no one is going to believe you’re dangerous.”

“Oh, little one, maybe we are more dangerous now because we have something to smile about, da?”

I couldn’t argue with him there.

He walked me to the back door and waited for the music to pick up. Once it did, we exited the house. I didn’t care about anyone else but Ethan. He stood at the alter waiting for me, in a black on black tuxedo. He styled his hair back and edged his beard so that it was crisp.

He was the sexiest man alive, and he was all mine.

I saw the same emotions burning in his gaze. He never broke eye contact as I walked slowly up the aisle toward him. Each step brought me closer to him, closer to linking us publically and forging the way to a new life for us. Violins played, white rose petals were under my feet, and the sun was shining.

It was so different from the first time. I was a different woman, bound to him and linked to him in a way I never thought possible before. Instead of running towards an unsteady future, I was walking towards a door that had always been shut to me.

A doorway to love unlike anything I ever thought possible.

And I was fucking smiling the whole way.

* * *

“I want to take you away so I can get you out of that damn dress and fuck you against the dresser. Would you like that Mrs. Kendall?”

I groaned, envisioning it. “Yes. Right now.”

He chucked, the ass. “Well, after we have the first dance, of course.”

“You tease.”

“Serves you right for wearing that fucking dress out here.”

“I could have come out in a burlap sack, Ethan, and you would have been hard.”

“Yeah, but at least I would have been too busy laughing to give a shit about my dick.”

I laughed, one of the many times I’d done so since Derrick’s death. Time was sweet against my tongue now. A prized possession I shared with Ethan. Sometimes I’d wake up at night and be terrified this was all a dream, and he hadn’t saved me from myself. But then he’d be there, taking me into his arms, and making love to me until I had no doubt just how real he was.

“Ethan, there is someone who would like to talk to you,” Leo said. When he stood next to Ethan and cast me a sidelong glance I tensed, knowing that whoever was coming could upset me. Cameras clicked around us as Senator Connor Reese walked up to us, a false smile plastered on his face. He waved to the cameras as his wife followed suit. He stopped to shake hands here and there, before he reached us.

“A beautiful ceremony, Mr. Kendall. Martha and I were very happy to accept an invitation to be here. Leo has been excellent on the Hill, and I am eager to see what he will do if he makes it to the floor,” Connor said as he shook Ethan’s hand.

When he looked at me his eyes flickered with recognition, but he recovered quickly.

“And this must be the beautiful Mrs. Kendall. The photos didn’t do you justice, my dear. My wife is a great purveyor of art. She’d love to see some of your work.”

“Why not now?” Ethan asked and I wondered what the hell he was trying to pull.

“Oh, we wouldn’t want to impose,” Martha said quickly.

“Nonsense. I live and breathe art, and any fan has my undivided attention, wedding or not,” I said.

Ethan caressed my back, letting me know I did the right thing.

“This way,” Ethan directed. He held out his hand, and the cameras kept flashing as we made our way into the house.

“Pavel, if you could bring some of River’s work. She works under Hoyt, her maiden name, but that’s just for professional purposes, in case you were interested in purchasing anything,” Ethan said.

“Hoyt. That names sounds so familiar. Oh my dear,” Martha said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Were you that girl that was in the hospital a little over a year ago? Our organization had a fundraiser for your medical bills.”

More like Connor paid to get Derrick clear of the charges, and he told his wife that lie to soothe her. But I didn’t care, Connor looked a little green around the gills and I liked it.

“Yes, that was me. Thank you so much, by the way, for all your help. It was that fundraiser that brought me to Ethan’s attention. He offered to cover my rehabilitation at his gym. Several of the coaches there are physical therapists. I suppose I could say it’s all because of you that we are together!”

It was false cheer for her, but the woman was too stupid to realize.

“Anything we can do to help out the great state of California,” Connor said.

“And the state of California will continue to support you, as long as you are the man for the job,” Ethan said.

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Martha said with a smile.

“Oh, you know how things happen. Sometimes people change and the public has to replace them. I don’t see that happening with this Senator. It would be a shame not to have your family helping California as much as you have. You would be a great loss to our residence,” Ethan said.

I read the threat as plain as day. Connor continued to do his job for the family or he and his family would be gone. And that meant not worrying how and when his son died. There had been some inquiries, privately, as Connor didn’t want anyone to know about his illegitimate son. It would ruin his chance for reelection.

“I’m sure Senator Reese will continue to do everything he can to help California. He wouldn’t want me to replace him any time soon, and I’d be quick to step there. I’m ambitious,” Leo added. His laugh sounded teasing and jovial, and Martha laughed with him, shaking her head. But Connor got the message. He was slightly pale as he swallowed hard.

“You are absolutely right, Mr. Kendall, and I will take your suggestion to heart. I’m quite happy where I am.”

Good boy. Ethan Kendall wasn’t a man that Connor wanted to press, and Leo was quickly gaining the same reputation. Connor knew the families already had someone in place that could take everything away from them when they were ready. As long as he did what was necessary, and that meant forgetting about Derrick and moving on, then he would be okay.

I suppose Ethan was right. For some parents, there was a price that was too high to pay.

“You don’t have any business we can smear around before we get rid of you, do you? We’d hate to lose this man right here. Reese has done wonders,” Ethan said to Leo.

“Oh, you play dirty. Nope, no dirty laundry, but I’ll be sure to keep my nose clean. Martha, I don’t think you have to worry about a thing.”

As if this wasn’t a conversation about the end of Connor Reese, Leo kissed Martha on the cheek and winked at her before leaving. Martha, still oblivious laughed and looked at the artwork that Pavel brought in.

The message was clear. Ethan would bring everything out he could before he got rid of Connor if it came to that. The Senator waxed nice as his wife looked at my work and asked to purchase a couple of pieces. She could have the whole fucking lot for free.

It was worth it to see that look on Connor’s face.

Ethan was always going to protect me, and he made sure to let it be known that I was off limits. That was what it meant to be loved by a monster. It wasn’t about playing nice, or trying to do things the right way. It was all about being willing to get dirty.

Ethan was my monster, and I became one for him too. And we fucking loved it that way.

THE END

Thanks for reading
 
Scarred, Lost Series Book 2
. I really hope you enjoyed it!
 
 

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· This is the second book in the Lost Series, a collection of stand-alone novels that are all about the stories of those who need second chances, or have lost so much in their lives, finding love. I hope you love them as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Keep reading if you’d like to read an excerpt from 
ONE HOUR GIRL
, the first book in this series...