Page 72 of Corey
He was supremely grateful and wouldn’t take it for granted.
The day after everything imploded at Barrera’s house in Sinaloa, Mitch called to inform the team Xander’s remains hadnot been found. Lots of dead cartel members, yes. Xander Hawke? No.
But, strangely, the gold cross he always wore around his neck was found. A vine of passion flowers twined around the front gate, and Xander’s necklace had been hanging around one of the white and purple blossoms. Almost as though he’d left it as a message letting them know he’d made it out safely.
They weren’t sure what to make of the situation. If Xander went rogue during the middle of a rescue mission, he’d believed he had a good reason to do so. But where he’d gone and what exactly he might be up to was purely speculation. The man had always seemed to have a hidden agenda. Corey thought maybe it had come into play during those final moments they’d been together. He hoped like hell Hawke was still alive and hadn’t done something stupid.
In the back of his mind, Corey held out hope they’d discover intel that would lead to their friend. Hope had returned to his life, thanks to Sera. And he figured if any human had nine lives, it was Xander fucking Hawke. The former CIA agent was slightly diabolical, completely ruthless, and it would take more than a mere RPG, or two, to stop him.
As he adjusted his coat sleeve, a snowflake landed on Corey’s face. Glancing up, he saw a million flurries circling above him, and he smiled. They’d wanted it to snow today. It felt fitting since they’d met in a blizzard.
They’d kept the outside decorations simple. A pretty wooden table Jayson had carved as a wedding gift with candles and red roses on it. Their wedding bands lay on a small satin pillow, waiting to be exchanged.
Storm sat at Corey’s feet, a black bowtie around his neck, and Wes stood at his side, serving as his best man. Thanks to the wonders of what you could do online at the last minute, Jayson got ordained and was their officiant. Melanie, Sera’s sister, flew in to visit and act as Matron of Honor. The rest of their friends and significant others sat in chairs, waiting for the ceremony to begin. It would be short and sweet because it was damn cold outside.
Inside, Loki sat perched in the large window watching. A roaring fire awaited and the women had gone a little overboard with decorating. Corey couldn’t remember the last time he’d put up a Christmas tree—now there were three downstairs and two in the loft, sparkling with white lights. Lighted garland hung from the beams, bannisters and over the fireplace, and a hot cocoa station waited to warm everyone up. They’d also set up a beautiful table where they would share toasts, food and a three-tier wedding cake Corey baked.
Now, all he needed was his bride.
As if on cue, the cabin door opened. Melanie appeared first and, as she began to walk forward, Corey got his first glimpse of Sera. She stepped into view, looking like an angel, and wearing a long white dress with a faux fur stole wrapped around her upper body. Her blonde hair had been swept up and pinned in a low bun at the nape of her neck with several loose tendrils lifting in the breeze. In her hands, she held a bouquet of crimson red roses. She was beyond stunning and, for a moment, Corey couldn’t breathe.
“Breathe,” Wes murmured, grinning.
“Right,” Corey managed, pulling in a deep lungful of icy air. Melanie reached them and gave them both a little smile before taking her place.
Since neither of their parents were still alive, Julia had asked Sera if she’d like her father to walk her down the aisle. Now, General Mitchell Evans, dressed in his finest, leaned down to say something to Sera. Then he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and patted the top in a fatherly gesture.
As they walked up the midnight blue runner toward him, Corey couldn’t take his eyes off Sera. She’d never looked more beautiful. Snowflakes danced around her, and when she lifted her dress so she didn’t trip, he glimpsed her fur-topped boots. God, he loved her—every lovely, jagged, scarred piece.
When they reached Corey, Mitch placed Sera’s hand in Corey’s.
“I’m getting pretty good at this,” he said, brown eyes twinkling. “Take good care of each other.”
“Thank you, sir. We will,” Corey assured him. Taking both her cold hands in his, he rubbed them briskly and stared into her shining blue-gray eyes. “You look so beautiful.”
“So do you.”
“Ready, sweetheart?”
“From the moment I met you,” she said softly.
His chest tightened. He had no idea how he was going to get through this without turning into a blubbering mess.
“Ready?” Jayson asked, and they both nodded.
It all went by in a blur, and before he knew it, it was time to exchange vows and rings. They’d agreed he would go first, and now he wasn’t so sure that had been a wise idea.
Keep it together, Cor,he reminded himself, as he and Sera turned to face each other.
He released a visible puff of air and lovingly took her hands in his. She squeezed and it was all the reassurance he needed. “For the longest time, I felt unworthy and so lost,” he began, “but you changed everything. Somehow, against all odds—and maybe with the help of fate—you found me. We found each other. And because of you, my Sera Darling, I came alive again.”
The smile she gave him lit his soul.
“I promise I’ll always be here—to catch you, to hold you, to shelter you from harm. I promise to love you so thoroughly that you have no choice but to see yourself the way I do—strong, beautiful and resilient. I love everything about you, even your scars, because they’re proof you overcame and survived. We both did.”
When tears filled her eyes, he had no choice except to cry along with her. And he didn’t care who saw. He was a damn Cancer, and that’s just what they did.
“From this point forward, I’ll help you shoulder every burden. We’ll build a new, stronger foundation together—one forged of trust, gentleness and peace. Because with me, you’re safe and you’re home. I can’t change your past, but I promise to protect, cherish and love you today, tomorrow and always.”
