Page 97 of Dangerous Deviance
“Wilhelm, your vows,” Dr. Mercia said.
“I promise to be the man you deserve,” I said. “To give you the freedom you need, and the chains to keep you safe, to keep you mine.” It was grim, I admit that. But it was us. “Because I love you, Ellie. You’re mine.”
Ellie kept her eyes on me, then started, “I promise to be the wife you deserve.” She squeezed my hand. “To remind you when you need to think and not act, and to always claim you as much as you claim me. Because I am yours, Wil. Heart and soul. And you’re mine.”
Dr. Mercia nodded, a smile on her face. “Do you, Wil Adler, take Elena Jordan to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
My body tingled. Those traditional vows made the whole ceremony feel real, but it was my surname that made me stop. It was funny how something as simple as a name could have caused so much damage, and now, it had no effect on Ellie. She was even taking it as her own.
“Until death do us part,” I said, my eyes never leaving Ellie’s.
“And do you, Elena Jordan, take Wil Adler to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“Until death do us part,” she repeated, a gentle nod settled on her chin.
“Well, Wil Adler,” Dr. Mercia smirked, “You may kiss the bride.”
I pulled Ellie into a deep kiss, arching her back, dipping her down to the ground. Maddie cheered obnoxiously, and after a few seconds, Derek joined in too. Axe and Demi clapped, and My mom wiped a tear from her eye. I was the youngest and the first to get married. That must have been a shocker.
We enjoyed the celebration, sitting on the ground a short distance from the water, eating Clara’s famous picnic sandwiches, laughing together. Axe and Demi disappeared, and Mercia had left shortly after the ceremony, but Gerard and Clara were taking a walk through the woods, and Maddie and Derek swam around in the river. Ellie and I watched them.
“I wish she could have been here,” Ellie whispered. She leaned her head on my shoulder, then rubbed the ground beside her, smiling as the dirt got on her fingers. “She would have been shocked that I was marrying someone like you.”
I raised a brow, then grabbed her wrist, holding it tight in my hand. “Someone like me, huh?” I smirked. “Would she have been shocked to know what I’m going to do to you later?”
“Yes,” Ellie breathed, her voice mellowed.
Later, as we packed up the cars, Clara stopped by us.
“Off to the airport?” she asked. She stayed out of the family business as much as possible and had wanted us to go on a honeymoon, but there wasn’t any time to waste. Axe had asked for our help taking out a certain subsection of Muro’s men, and until the Midnight Miles Corporation was taken down, it was up to us, the family, to deal with them. Ellie insisted that she wanted to help and wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I knew better than to say no to her when it came to that. I made the decisions, but this? There was no doubt that Ellie was a great fighter. She was a valuable asset to the family.
And I was proud, so damn proud, that she was my wife.
“Just heading back to the penthouse,” I lied, but my mom didn’t need the details. “Sunday breakfast?” I asked.
Clara nodded, then leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Sunday breakfast,” she repeated. “It was good to see you, Ellie,” she said. “You look gorgeous, as ever.”
“Thank you,” Ellie said. They kissed each other’s cheeks, then Ellie slid into the passenger seat. I saluted Derek, who then backed out of the parking space next to us. I expected him to call soon. He was helping Axe as well.
“You ready?” I asked. Ellie nodded, patting her knife in her pocket, then her gun holster on her waist.
“Ready or not,” she said, her eyes narrowed ahead of her, as if looking straight at Muro.
I started the engine and grinned.
Ready or not, Muro, here we come.
