Pamela Stewart is insignificant in all this.
“He’s not worthy of you!” Rhett barks. “He isn’t the right pedigree to marry a first daughter and an heir.” Guess that confirms what my father and Rhett were just discussing.
Ash leans in closer to him so only we can hear what she says. “You should be thanking me. Your wife told Chad everything about The Luminaries and who we all are. She told him his father was an expert working for you. She also hurt him. So much for keeping that bitch on a tight leash,” she tacks on the end, under her breath.
Of course, Carter ignores that part. Chad and I exchange a look. Cleo didn’t mention anything about Jasper Baldwin. Baz confirmed that information to us last night, and Bree filled Ash in this morning. I know why she has brought it up now, but I’m not so sure it’s wise. Although it won’t matter if he can’t prove it wasn’t Cleo who told us. Cleo is going to lie through her teeth when he accosts her anyway because she knows her life is at risk.
Maybe it’s a good thing Ash brought it up like this. It’s a threat without being the obvious threat. He’s arrogant enough to think we know nothing deeper than he hired Chad’s father to work for him. But he will wonder. It should make him stop and think, but I doubt it will. He doesn’t see us as adversaries, just pawns to move around his chessboard.
Hopefully, by the time he realizes, it will be too late.
Carter knows he should be nowhere near sex trafficking. If he was sending jobs to Jasper Baldwin that related to trafficking of young kids, he is breaking several rules. He has no jurisdiction, and facilitating the abuse of innocent children is intolerable.
It’s enough for us to hang him. If he realized we know exactly what Baldwin was doing for him, which he doesn’t. We also need proof, and until someone can crack that drive Carole gave us, we can’t do much with it.
For now, Ash’s words are enough to force him to back down. “Very well. If this is what you want.”
“It is.”
Rhett eyeballs Chad. “There are rules you will have to abide by as my daughter’s husband.”
“I have no problem in agreeing to whatever is required of me. I love Ashley, and I want to spend my life with her. I will do what is necessary.”
Rhett offers him a terse nod. “You will be required to attend mandatory training and lectures. We can discuss it in the new year.”
Ares captures my eye, and we exchange a look. Rhett backed down rather quickly. Either he didn’t want to draw attention to his wife’s predicament or he’s panicking a little. I consider either a win.
Rhett returns to his seat, and Ash and Chad turn back around. Ash’s smile is wide enough to split her face in two. We all expected that to be more difficult. Seeing her obvious delight swells my heart to bursting point. Chad squeezes her hand, and they smile at one another, their expressions full of relief, adoration, and love. I couldn’t be happier for my best friends as the officiant begins their wedding ceremony.
* * *
Chad
Ashley’s hand is warm and soft in mine, her smile beaming, and her face glows with happiness as the officiant conducts our ceremony. I barely hear what she’s saying because I can’t take my eyes off my bride. My heart is brimming over, full of so much emotion. I thought this was lost to me. To us. And now we have come full circle.
“Chad Lucas Baldwin,” the officiant says. “Do you take this woman, Ashley Eloise Stewart for your wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forth, now, and forever?” She continues with the traditional vows. The same ones Ash just made with Jase.
My heart thuds as I say, “I do.”
Ash repeats the same words, and then it’s time for our personal vows. I stayed up late last night writing them, wanting to get them perfect.
Taking her hand, I raise it to my lips for a soft kiss as I keep my eyes locked on hers. Ashley has the most gorgeous brown eyes. Big, warm, and expressive. She looks at me with so much love, shielding nothing. My heart tries to beat a path out of my chest as butterflies swoop into my stomach. I wet my dry lips and clear my throat. “My heart has belonged to you from the very first moment we met. I took one look at you and knew I was staring into the face of the woman I would love forever. We were only fifteen. It was crazy, but I just knew.”
I squeeze her hands, fighting to keep my composure. “We were inseparable from the very start, growing closer every day, and I constantly pinched myself because I couldn’t believe a girl as amazing as you could love me back. Your heart is so pure, Ash. I love the way you love with your entire being and how you go to war for those you care about. Loving you, caring for you, supporting you, is what I’ve been put on this earth to do. I failed you this past year, but I make a solemn vow to you now, in front of our guests and in the eyes of God, that I will never fail you again.”
A sob escapes her mouth the same time a tear leaks from the corner of her eye. “You are so beautiful, so kind, so intelligent, so loving. I could live a million lifetimes and never come close to your goodness, but I will try. For you. Because you deserve the best husband, the best lover, and best friend, and I will be all that for you.” I wipe the tear as it rolls down her cheek, careful not to ruin her makeup. “There is only you for me, Ash. For now, and always, until we draw our last breath. I promise to love, cherish, honor, obey, and worship you all the years we’ll be together. Thank you for giving me a second chance, and thank you for loving me.”
“Chad,” she croaks as tears spill out of her eyes.
Ignoring protocol, I pull her gently into my arms and hug her while she tries to compose herself. Jase hands her a tissue, which she gratefully accepts. After mopping up her tears, she pulls back a little. I place my hands on her hips and smile at her.
“It wouldn’t be a wedding without tears, right?” she asks.
“You’re allowed to cry at your own wedding, sweetheart.”
“Thank you for those beautiful words, babe.” She cups my cheek briefly, taking an extra couple of seconds to gather her thoughts before saying her vows. “I felt an intense connection the moment we met, and something clicked into place inside me that first time I saw your face. As if the universe was realigning and our souls were reconnecting. I have loved you from that day. I never cared we were young. I always knew what was in my heart. You were there when I needed you, and you always stepped up for me. When your arms are around me, I feel like I’m indestructible. You put my needs first, selflessly sharing my heart when you realized I loved another. I don’t have the words to express how much that means to me. How muchyoumean to me.”
Her words wrap around my heart, helping to paper over the tiny fissures still there. The love I feel for this woman is indefinable. There isn’t another soul on this planet I love more than my Siren. I pull her a little closer, wishing I could kiss her now.
