Destined for Power (22 page)

“Dad, Mom, I’m happy now. I’m tired of looking back. I’m looking forward to my new life with my husband. We’re getting married next week at the hotel.”

“Next week! I can’t plan a wedding by then,” her mother cried.

“I’m not asking you to plan it. In fact, we’ve already started. I’m offering you a chance to show me you’ve changed. I’ve seen enough politics to know saying and doing are two different things. I’m going to be happy in my life, with or without you. The choice is yours. I hope you choose to join us on this journey.”

Her mother looked at her father and they smiled. “We’d like that. When do we start, and what do you need us to do?”

“Well, we are going dress shopping tomorrow,” Allegra said softly from behind Mallory. “I can give you directions to the boutique.”

“I’d like that,” Mrs. Westin said, suddenly a little shy.

Mallory smiled and leaned forward to kiss her mother on her cheek. “I’d like that, too.”

Margaret’s scowl switched to a smile as she opened the door wide. “Then come in, we have lots to plan. Now, y’all must call me Margaret . . .”

Mallory watched her parents hesitantly follow Margaret into the kitchen. Elle, Bree, and Allegra started showing them the plans they had made while Shirley wheeled her way over to her.

“I think we set them straight.”

Mallory laughed. “I think so, too. Thank you, Shirley. How about planning my bachelorette party for me?”

“What?” cried the women from the kitchen along with the men in the living room.

“Sweetheart,” Reid started, “do you think that’s the best idea?”

“Nope, but it will make me happy.” Mallory smiled at him as Shirley pulled out her phone. “Besides, can you imagine my mother’s reaction?” Mallory whispered.

“Well, we lived through it once. We can live through it again,” Margaret said with false optimism. She turned to Mallory’s mother. “If you have heart medication, make sure to take it beforehand. You’ll have never seen anything like this before.”

* * *

Jonak and Black threw the bags of cash into the back of the car along with their suitcases. Jonak got behind the wheel and started the engine.

“Hurry up,” he called to his cousin.

Black slid into the passenger seat and slammed the door. “We have just enough time to stow away on your boat headed to the Philippines. Our fathers will never find us there.”

Jonak pressed the gas as they shot away from their offices in Stromia. “I can’t believe this went all to shit.”

“At least we are getting out before our dads find out. We’ll rebuild.” Black looked down at his phone when it buzzed. “Shit.”

“What?”

“It’s a text from my dad. They know.”

Jonak turned and looked at his cousin a second before the explosion sent the car flying into a million fiery pieces.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

One week later . . .

Reid stood nervously in his office and waited for the guests to arrive. They were being shuttled from the hotel to the gazebo on the lake. Chairs lined a walkway and flowers adorned the gazebo. The senator pulled in every favor he was owed and got Reid and Mallory’s favorite band to play at the reception in the silk tent by the lake. Her parents were putting forth the effort, and Mallory was basking in it.

Allegra told him Mallory’s dress was beautiful, and Mallory seemed happier than he’d ever known her to be. She was at peace, and it showed. She laughed—a lot—and he loved it. They made love both tenderly and with wild abandon. Best of all, they were together. Nothing seemed impossible with her by his side.

Reid started pacing. Twenty more minutes. His brothers-in-law were all serving as groomsmen opposite their wives who were the bridal attendants. They were making sure the women didn’t need anything—at least that’s what Drake told him. He was pretty sure they were just looking for a couple minutes alone with their spouses before the party.

A knock at the door had Reid spinning around, away from the window. “Come in,” he called.

The door flung open, and Troy wheeled himself into the office. Reid smiled and hurried over to help him clear the door. Troy was still getting used to his temporary mode of transportation. As soon as his bones healed, Troy’s internal injuries would also be healed enough to start physical therapy.

“Reid, I hoped I could talk to you for a minute.”

“Of course.”

Troy fidgeted with the sleeves of his tuxedo before putting his hands in his lap and looking up at Reid. “I’ve been with you all for almost eight years now. It was shortly after your father died that I was hired on. I’ve seen you grow up into a fine young man. Of course, you took some detours to get there, but don’t we all? You would have made your father very proud. You have taken care of your sisters and made your mother happy. As the male of the Simpson family, I have come to ask you something.”

Reid shook his head slightly. “Anything; you’ve been like a father to me since I lost mine. You were the one who pulled me out of the dives I buried myself in after his death and put me on the straight and narrow.”

Troy gave a weak smile. “We won’t mention I was in those dives with you. But, thank you. I'm glad you could think of me as a father. It’s why I’m here. I want your permission to marry your mother.”

Reid blinked. “Excuse me?”

Troy took a deep breath and soldiered on. “I have loved your mother for seven years. It’s why I was in those bars with you, drowning our sorrows. Your mother was so in love with your father, I thought I would never have a chance. And I didn’t until my accident. I had given up hope. Then, like an angel, she was there when I needed her most.”

“And does my mother love you, too?”

Troy smiled then. “She does. She told me she fell in love with me two years ago at the Simpson Christmas party when she saw me with you kids. She saw how I love each of you as my own family. She didn’t say anything because she wanted to see you all settled first.”

“She would put us first,” Reid sighed. “Of course you have my blessing. And I’m sure my whole family’s.” Reid stepped forward and shook the relieved man’s hand. “Welcome to the family, Troy. Officially.”

The door opened and Reid’s brothers-in-law all came in, wearing goofy grins. They stopped and looked at Reid and Troy.

“Are we interrupting anything?” Logan asked.

“Troy here just asked permission to marry Mom.” Reid sent them a smirk in reply to their shocked faces.

Finn was the first to pick up on the look. “Well, I don’t know about that. I think we need to have a talk first.”

Drake nodded and stepped forward. “We need to know how you plan to support her.”

“And make sure you have good intentions toward her,” Logan said as he crossed his arms.

“Because if you don’t . . .” Reid smiled.

“You’ll deal with us,” Finn, Logan, and Drake said together.

They stared him down. When Troy didn’t back down or look away, they all clapped him on the back and laughed.

“And I thought hazing in the military was bad,” Troy grumbled.

“It’s an initiation we all had to go through, but the Simpson women are worth it.” Drake smiled.

“But, now we have to get Reid to the altar or face Mallory. Quite frankly, she scares me,” Logan joked.

“Yeah, we should have said, ‘You hurt Margaret and you’ll deal with her.’” Finn laughed.

“We’ll save that one for our daughters.” Reid grinned. “Now, let’s get me married.”

Mallory slid her hand into the crook of her father’s elbow and smiled up at him. Her sisters had helped her dress in the beautiful trumpet gown. Margaret and her mother had shed tears as they fastened the veil. Her father had even shed a tear when he had come in to escort her down the aisle. All was not forgotten, but she was beginning to forgive. And who could dwell on it when Reid was standing at the end of the aisle in his tuxedo, waiting for her?

As she walked down the aisle, Mallory saw her friends wink at their husbands. Soon, she and Reid would have their own winks and their own family. That thought, along with the look of pure desire on Reid’s face, filled her with joy. Mallory let go of her father’s arm, and Reid took her hand in his. She looked up into his eyes and smiled as he squeezed her hand.

The minister started the ceremony. Before she knew it, she was saying, “I do.”

Reid smiled and pulled her close. “I love you, Mallory Simpson,” Reid whispered in her ear before commanding all her attention with his lips. Mallory wrapped her arms around his neck and matched him kiss for kiss. This was going to be one wild ride, and she was determined to enjoy every up and down it held in store for them.

“I am proud to present Reid and Mallory Simpson,” the minister said to the cheering crowd.

Reid grabbed her hand and, with a laugh, they ran down the aisle. Who knows, maybe married life would soften her. Even if it did, she was just happy to have the man she loved sharing it with her. But then again . . .

* * *

Reid closed his eyes and enjoyed the warm sun and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Mallory squeezed his hand and he looked over to where she lay next to him on the beach.

“I’m going to go inside and make another margarita. Do you want one?”

Reid smiled at his naked wife. It was good to own a private beach. “I’d love one.”

Mallory leaned over and kissed him before heading into the house. She had bought it before they married. The private, gated home afforded them the seclusion they wanted to enjoy on their honeymoon. And what a honeymoon it was. They hadn’t left the house in a week.

Reid pushed up the lounge chair and looked out over the ocean. Movement to the left caught his attention as he squinted against the sun to see better. A person in black was climbing the rocks that marked the end of their private beach. On the other side of the rocks was jungle. It’s one of the reasons Mallory had bought the place—it had great hiking. What was a man doing coming onto their property, though?

Reid stood up and watched in amazement as the man in a suit and loafers carried a briefcase as he jumped off the boulders and onto the soft sand. He straightened his tie, dusted off his pants, and smiled at Reid. The man walked through the sand and Reid wrapped a towel around his waist before moving to meet him.

“You’re trespassing,” Reid said with a cold edge to his voice.

“Are you Reid Simpson?”

“You know damn well I am. Now you are on private property. I suggest you leave. Now.” Reid blocked the man’s view of their house. He didn’t want Mallory sauntering out nude for this man to see.

“Oh, I know. It’s why I had to hike through a jungle to get this to you.” He held out an envelope and Reid stared at it.

“What do you want?” Reid demanded. He was growing angrier by the second.

“Just to do my job. I’m Mallory’s attorney and I was charged with delivering this to you on her thirty-fifth birthday.” The man shoved the envelope into Reid's hand. “Please sign here saying you’ve received it. I have held onto it since she was eighteen.”

Reid signed the receipt and stared at the envelope. Mallory had told him she had written him a letter. He just hadn’t thought about it since.

“Thank you. You can go out the front entrance if you’d like,” Reid gestured to the path that led to the gate, all the while not taking his eyes off the letter he held.

“Thank you kindly. And congratulations on the wedding. Give Mallory my best and let me know if I can be of service to you.”

“If you’re a lawyer willing to trample through the jungle for a client, then I’ll hire you right now.” Reid shook the man’s hand and grinned. The lawyer wasn’t even sweating. That was the kind of lawyer you wanted. “I’ll call you when we get home.”

“Look forward to it. Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon.” The man shook Reid’s hand and then he was gone.

Reid turned the envelope over and slid a finger into the seam to tear it open. He pulled out the paper and slowly unfolded it. It was dated a couple of days after she had kicked him out of her house at her father’s insistence.

Reid-

I know I can never begin to ask for your forgiveness for what happened the other night. All I can do is explain and hope that you will understand. I did it all for love . . . for your love and for the love I have for your family.

My father threatened not only you, but also your family if I did not stop seeing you. I did what I thought I had to do to protect the man I love and the only real family I know. It was the hardest thing I have ever done and I have spent the past days second-guessing myself. Should I have stood up to him? Should I have risked the chance of him sending your father to jail or bankrupting your family just for us to be together? I wish I did, but I couldn’t be that selfish.

In my dreams I run away with you every night. For in my dreams is the only time I can live out my fantasy of being with you. I have thought about you constantly since I pushed you away. About how you loved me and how we had all the hope of a future together. When I am thirty-five, I will be able to stand up to my father. I will say all the things I longed to the other night. I will have money and power to protect you and your family then.

I know I don’t deserve it. I can only imagine how you will think of me over the years, but I beg you to forgive me or at least talk to me so I can tell you how much I love you. I beg you to understand that I hurt down to the bottom of my soul with the pain I have caused you. I will always love you and I will always be here waiting for the moment I can share that love with you again.

If you can bring yourself to give me a chance, then find me. You don’t have to say anything. I’ll know the second I see you if you forgive me or not. For myself, my love for you will always be true and steadfast.

Love,

Mallory

Reid stared at Mallory’s handwriting on the page and took a deep breath. She had told him what happened that night so many years ago. But to see the anguish it caused made his heart clutch.

“Honey, I have your drink.”

Mallory stepped out of the house with two margaritas. Reid turned and he saw her freeze. Her eyes were locked on the piece of paper in his hand.

“Is that my letter?”

Reid nodded and walked up the beach to stand in front of her. He took the drinks and set them down on the table.

“Say something,” Mallory pleaded.

“You said I didn’t have to,” Reid said, quoting her letter before running his hand down her arms and then up her sides. He brushed the sides of her breasts with his thumbs as he pulled her closer. “Let me see if I can find you and then you can decide how I feel.”

He smacked her butt and her eyes shot open. Her mouth tilted into a smirk as she took off down the beach and toward the ocean. Reid chased after her and their laughter echoed off the rocks.

Some time later, Reid’s towel was tossed on the beach next to the margaritas as he held Mallory in his arms. They floated in the water and he leaned forward to kiss her. “I think I found you.”

“I think you found me twice,” Mallory murmured with her eyes closed. Her arms were wrapped around his neck as they bobbed peacefully in the water.

“I love you, Mallory. And I think we are going to have a very exciting marriage.”