Divided (Unguarded #2) (27 page)

A few drunken idiots pass us, laughing and I swallow the unease rising inside. Over the past two months, Cannon and I have seen each other a few times. We’ve only talked about Mom because really, it’s one of the only things we have in common. Or it was until I saw him with his boys, the kids, and the old ladies at a cookout last week. Saw how they respected him and watched how he treated them. They were all family. They could have been my mine if I grew up in the club. But if that had happened I wouldn’t the family I have now and I wouldn’t swap them for anything. We’re trying to find some ground, where this can work, where our lives can intertwine, but it’s not easy. His club haven’t accepted me with open arms and the squad is finding it hard to understand how I can separate myself from the job to be around him. A month ago I would have agreed with them. I didn’t think it would be possible to have any kind of relationship with the man who is my father. But then we talked. I listened and I learned about a way of life I never understood before. We both have our reasons for doing what we do, it doesn’t always make them right or wrong, but when it’s all you’ve ever known, when we live in a world as corrupt as this one, right and wrong become an ever changing perception. I’ll never agree with the life he lives, I’ve seen too many innocent people caught in the crossfire of crimes they had nothing to do with. But now, I understand it.

I nod at Mason. My jaw tightens. “All right. Keep us in the loop. We’ll be back in the city within twenty-four hours anyway.”

“You got it, kid,” Cannon replies and we both ring off.

“You sure about this? ‘Cause we can leave now.”

I shake the nerves to reassure him and pat him on the shoulder. “I’m sure. Come on let’s go back in and enjoy what’s left of the night. We’ll tell the others later.”

We wander back into the bar and do exactly that. Forty-five minutes later I’m glad we decided to not say anything because Cannon calls back, pissed off and furious. Another dead end lead.

I do up the last button on Lindsey’s backless wedding dress. The top button sits just above the base of her spine, exposing the rest of her back.

She turns around. Her hands flatten over her bodice and she peers down at her appearance. “So what do you think?”

I beam at her unable to contain my happiness even if I wanted to. She’s in the most beautiful white lace gown I’ve ever seen. Lace bodice. Lace sleeves. Buttons trailing the length of the dress. It curves perfectly around her neck, fits her snug around the chest, her waist, down over her curves, until it flares out at her knees. It’s Classic. Beautiful. It’s Lindsey.

“You look amazing.”

She tucks a long loose curl behind her hair and pulls me in for a hug. My small baby bump rubs against her. “Thank you for being here with me today. I wouldn’t want to do this without you.”

I step back and my heart swells. I smile. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

A knock comes at the door of our hotel room and we both look over to see Oliver and Charlotte poke their heads in. Charlotte squeals and Oliver’s eyes pop when he sees Lindsey. He breaks into a smirk. Charlotte runs ahead of him and wraps her arms around Lindsey.

She sighs and squeezes her tight. “You look beautiful, Mom.”

Love steals my breath and it squeezes my heart. Goosebumps bring happiness. A lone tear rolls down Lindsey’s cheek. My sister is a mom. A mom to a girl who lost hers too soon. Just like she was to me.

Charlotte breaks away and goes in search of her lip gloss. Oliver takes her place. He cups her cheeks and a look passes between them and it’s one I’ve always envied. Their bond, it’s special. It’s lasted nearly two decades. Through the worst and best times of our lives. It makes me think of Adriana and my heart hurts with how much I miss her.

Oliver’s voice brings me back into the moment. “You always look gorgeous, Linds. But today… you’re something else. Let’s go get your man, babe. Limo’s waiting.”

Lindsey checks herself over in the mirror and I grab our bouquets and purses off the bed. Oliver gives himself a once over after Lindsey, not that he needs it because in his usual Oliver fashion, not a hair is out of place on his perfect head. He also rocks a suit better than most men do. Charlotte calls us from the door and I double check to make sure we have everything as we leave.

Mason paces across the top of the altar at the church where in just a few minutes, he and Lindsey will be married. He pulls out his phone and checks it for the twentieth time in the past ten minutes.

“Dude, would you stop it?” I ask him, glancing around, taking in Mason’s parents and Trey and Cassidy in the first row. Their bright eyes and smiles are enough for a room full of people. The small wedding couldn’t be more perfect.

He stops and looks up at Elias and me. “They were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago.”

I check my watch. “It’s only four o’clock now, what are you talking about?”

“Exactly. It’s four, which means they should have been here fifteen minutes ago to be on time.”

I roll my eyes.

Elias laughs. “Mase. Chill. They’ll be here.”

Mason’s cell rings from his gunmetal gray suit pocket. He pulls it out in a rush but his face deflates a moment later. I guess it isn’t Lindsey.

“What is it? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”

His eyes become cold. His jaw ticks. “When? Okay, thanks. Let me know if they show up anywhere.”

Unease winds through me despite the aura of lightness that accompanies weddings.

“What is it?” Elias asks, the concern evident in all of us.

“That was the Lieutenant. He wanted to let us know Enzo and Adriana were just recognized in a store a few blocks from here.”

Elias’s face contorts. “What, here in Times Square?”

“Yeah.”

My eyes flick up to the huge arch window in front of me. The beautiful stained glass and old wooden trimmings of the church that’s stood here for over a hundred years no longer appeals.

“You think it’s coincidence?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

Mason twitches the phone in his hand. “Since when do we believe in coincidences?”

We don’t.

Mase beckons Cassidy and Trey from the first church pew where they sit with his parents.

Cassidy picks up on the vibe. “What’s wrong?”

Mase runs a hand through his hair. “Adriana and Enzo were spotted not far away from here about ten minutes ago. Cops in the area followed up but they were gone before they got there.”

“What?” Cass folds her arms up over her chest.

“Just keep an eye out, okay? Let’s just get fucking married and get out of here,” Mason murmurs, just as the pianist starts playing to let us know it’s all about to start. The church doors open and we all look up. The priest asks us to take our spots and Mason’s phone rings again.

I turn him. “If that isn’t the precinct turn it off. Whatever it is it can wait.”

He checks it and presses the side of it to ignore the call. “Unknown number. Here, Trey can you take it, man?”

Mason throws his phone to Trey who catches it and they retake their seats.

Charlotte’s contagious smile lights up the church as she bounces down the aisle, long dark hair in curls over her olive skinned shoulders. She smiles from ear and to ear and when she reaches her dad, he bends down and kisses her on the cheek.

“You look gorgeous, baby girl.”

She giggles. “Thanks, Daddy.”

I stand tall, hands clasped together in front of me. Gold shimmers in the light from the windows and my heart steps when my gaze falls on Ali. Her long blonde hair frames her face as it cascades over her gold dress that sparkles as she moves. It comes in under her growing breasts and falls over her baby bump. It swirls around her feet and thanks to the design her swollen stomach looks bigger than ever—not that I’d tell her that. My cock twitches. She’s never looked more beautiful than what she does right now, carrying my child. Healthy. Happy. She glows like her dress, and when she walks passed me to her spot on the other side of the aisle I mouth
I love you,
to her. She mouths it back and not even the worry of two fugitives on the run can dim the lightness shining from everyone in this moment.

I hear Mason gasp beside me, from where I stand as his best man.

His best man.

My best friend.

My partner.

He’s about to marry the one and only woman he’s ever loved, and I couldn’t be more excited to be the one standing at his back. My eyes widen as I take in Lindsey. There’s no doubt she’s a beautiful woman, but now I see what Mason sees. She’s stunning. The most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. But the breathtaking beauty isn’t her dress, her hair or her make-up, it’s in the softness of her eyes, behind the adoration all directed at Mason. Every set of eyes in the room are on her, but all she sees is him.

The priest’s voice echoes through the church and he begins the ceremony. It’s slow and half way through I glance at Trey and Cassidy who are flicking between one another and the church entrance.

We’re almost at the end and the pressure on my chest starts to lift. The nerves unwinding as the room relaxes while everybody concentrates on Mason and Lindsey.

Car tires screech outside. We all turn toward the church front doors. Dread squeezes my insides. The doors swing open. Bullets start flying. It all happens so fast, yet, it’s as if time has slowed and we’re racing against the clock. My head spins to Ali. My feet move before I can think. I call out her name and lunge over to her. Every second it takes to get to her, our life together flashes before my eyes. I grab her shoulders pulling her under me and we land on the floor. My heart smacks against my chest. I lift my head up and find Mason, covering Lindsey and Charlotte on the other side of the aisle while he yells to Oliver to get Charlotte out. Somehow Oliver manages to get himself and Charlotte to the side door on our left and slip out unharmed. The first row of wooden church pews blocks us from the shooter. But as my chest heaves and the bullets stop. My stomach drops. We weren’t all so lucky. Elias huddles on the ground behind the church pews. Elias’s matching gray jacket to the rest of us is no longer covering his shoulders it’s wrapped around his hands as he presses it to the chest of the priest who’s bleeding out on the ground.
He must have got hit.

Another shot ricochets off the walls.

A voice roars. “Lindsey! Alison!”

Lucio.

My hands ball into fists. Anger fills my veins. Red—I see red. I pinch my lips together and yank out my gun from my ankle holster. The noise catches attention on the other side. I hold it up to Mason and Elias. They get my drift but both shake their heads. They’re not carrying. Had there not been any known enemies in our midst, I wouldn’t have been either. Guns are prohibited in the church.

I click off the safety. Adrenaline shoots up my back. Mason juts his head toward the side door behind us. He flicks between Elias and me to make sure we understand. We nod. He obviously wants to get the priest out while he’s still alive and savable. It’s the perfect opportunity if I can hold Lucio off. Maybe we can somehow get the others out too. My pulse thunders in my ears. Another four shots fill the church. Chips of wood fly from the pews in front of us as Lucio aims at us. They stop. It’s brief, but it’s all I need.

I jump to my feet, aim and fire. And the moment I shoot I thank the Lord above that Cass and Trey must have Mason’s parents safe down on the ground. Elias and Mason lift the priest up. But halfway to the door I see them backtrack in the corner of my eye. I keep shooting. Round after round until my shots mix with more from behind me. I duck and swing around. Enzo and Adriana come in, guns up, shooting hard and fast—and not at us. Lucio fires back and I jump down, hiding. Waiting. Sweat gathers on my forehead. Elias managed to get the priest and themselves shielded again and Mason is hiding Lindsey where they were a moment ago.