Page 40 of Sweet Surrender
My shoulder sagged as the weight of the world grew heavier. Afeeling I could only describe as disassociation had taken over. It was like I was floating above the room, watching the horrific scene unfold, and powerless to do anything about it.
I didn’t know how long I stared at Nash pacing on the balcony with hisphone to his ear, oblivious to the turmoil he’d caused, but when he paused to check his watch, he glanced back at me, and the blood rushed in my ears, returning me to the here and now.
Without thought, I turned and picked up the two heavy dress bagsbefore lugging them back to the bedroom. Throwing them down on the bed, I glared at them, refusing to open either one because I knew the second I did, it would make everything seem real.
What the hell was I going to do?
Chapter 13
Nash
“You sure you want to go through with this?” Fox said from besideme. He’d changed into a matching tux, ready to perform his role as best man. In front of us, waiting patiently, was the officiant who would be marrying Savannah and me in a few minutes.
“Fuck, yes,” I replied confidently, more sure about marrying Savannahthan anything in my life.
Admittedly, I was surprised to find she’d taken the dresses to our roomlike I’d instructed her to. I was even more surprised when I knocked on the door to tell her she only had fifteen minutes left, and her response was that she would be ready.
Part of me wondered if she was up to something, that shemight try to run again. Not that I was worried. I meant what I said to her earlier; there wasn’t a single place in the world where she could hide from me, and thanks to herimpulse decision to run while we were in Portland, she’d given me the perfect opportunity to ensure I would always be able to find her.
While Savannah slumbered on our plane ride to Vegas thanks to the propofol running through her veins, Brian conducted a little procedure on her.
I doubted my sweet Savannah would ever realize she now had a tiny tracker implantedin her neck.
So, yeah. Savannah could run to the deepest, darkest corner of theearth, but I’d have a way to find her, and I would take great pleasure in punishing her for running. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that though, from the devastation that twisted on her face when she thought Liam was dead, I didn’t think Savannah would be going anywhere.
It irked me that Savannah still cared about Liam. After everything he’ddone to her, she still cared about the prick. Soon enough though, I’d make sure the only man to dominate her thoughts would be me.
I glanced at my watch, finding it was one minute past the hour. Shewas late. Another one of my pet hates, and something she was going to have to learn quickly.
The temptation to pull my phone out and check the tracking app was overwhelming, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.Savannah needed to prove that I could trust her beforeI loosened the reins. Until then, she was going to be tethered to me, with a collar and leash if need be.
“You think she got cold feet?” Fox chuckled, adjusting his bow tie.
I scowled at him and once again checked my watch. Two minuteslate. Just as I decided to give in and grab my phone, the door to the room where the ceremony was being held opened, and the concierge who’d been allocated to our suite stepped in.
“She’s ready, Mr. Carson,” he said.
A rush of excitement flooded me, mixed with relief that she hadn’trun. In a few minutes, Savannah would be mine for the rest of our lives, and the entire world would know she belonged to me.
There would be no divorce down the line, no other man taking myplace. She might have been forced into this decision, but I intended to make her see that this was the best decision she’d ever made, and that there was no other man for her.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Fox said, slapping me playfully onmy shoulder.
Sherry, the only other guest at the wedding, sat up straight, eager tomeet the woman whose wedding she’d helped plan over the last few weeks.
I may have told Savannah that we were getting married becauseshe’d run, the truth was, I’d planned this moment from the second I laid eyes on her.
I straightened my bow tie and nodded to the concierge. “Bring her in.”
Dutifully, the concierge disappeared out the door as gentle musicfilled the ceremony room. I stared intently at the door, exhilaration coursing through me as I waited to get my first glimpse of my wife-to-be, and hoping like fuck she’d be impressed with the style of the room.
Huge bouquets of white and pink roses in beautiful crystal vases linedthe aisle Savannah would be walking down any minute. Rows of empty chairs were decorated with white satin chair covers, pink sashes wrapped around the backs, and tied into elegant bows.
Running down the middle of the aisle was a pristine white carpet,littered with pink rose petals leading up to the arch Savannah and I would be married under, and where the officiant waited. Behind him were two huge glass doors that opened onto a balcony, and gave us front-row seats to the magnificent dancing fountains.
Everything was perfect.
Seconds after the concierge disappeared, the door opened again. Mybreath caught in my throat as Savannah stepped into the room,apprehension on her face which contorted into one of awe when she took in the room.
