CHAPTER 205 All Roads Lead to a Wedding
*Jack*
The smoke had drifted away like a bad memory, leaving New Salem folks split between the scent of sizzling ribs and the sting of hospital antiseptic. Firefighters were still coiling hoses when I caught Chief Ramsey by the NSFD truck, his face streaked with sweat and irritation.
“Some dumb kids might've tossed a smoke grenade,” he muttered. “Thought it’d be a laugh.”
I nodded, pocketing the info, and steeled myself for the swarm of reporters circling like buzzards.
My phone suddenly buzzed—a welcome jolt from this madness. Kiki’s name lit up the screen, and I grinned despite the chaos.
“How’s Virtue?” I asked, concern creeping into my voice.
“Discharged,” Kiki grumbled, her tone both exhausted and frustrated. I raised a brow. Her best friend was walking out of the hospital, and she was pissed?
“That’s… not good news?” I prodded, smirking.
“Oh, it’s peachy—if you don’t mind drowning in paperwork,” she shot back. “I just slogged through Virtue's admission forms for Liam, and now they’ve got me wrestling discharge papers.”
I chuckled. Kiki’s fire was downright charming. “So, the wedding's still on?”
“Yup,” she said, softening. “Liam’s bumping it an hour because of Virtue’s injury. He’s posting the update on social media.”
“What? To three, three-thirty?” I asked, surprised. Liam still had to play 'prom king' at New Salem High’s Spring Dance later in the evening before jetting off for their honeymoon.
“Exactly,” Kiki confirmed. “Two hours for the reception, thirty minutes at the school, then they’re gone.”
A tap on my shoulder broke the moment—a reporter, eyes gleaming with hunger. “Gotta run, Kiki. Catch you at the wedding.”
The press loomed, cameras flashing like lightning in a storm. New Salem was still raw from the massacre, and this stunt had everyone’s nerves frayed. I squared my shoulders.
“Our investigation points to pranksters with a smoke grenade. No suspects yet, but we’re not letting this slide.”
A hand shot up. “Undersheriff, someone heard a gunshot. Could this tie to the Martin fugitives?”
“We’re looking at every angle, including a possible threat to Mayor Cohen and his fiancée,” I said, keeping my tone steady.
“Where’s the mayor now?” she followed up.
“Hospital,” I replied. “His fiancée and others were injured in the chaos, but she’s being discharged. The wedding’s delayed—check the mayor’s social media for details.”
Another reporter waved. “So you mean to say the wedding is still pushing through for today?”
“Absolutely,” I said, projecting calm I didn’t feel. “That's all. Thank you.”
I tugged off my hat, wiping sweat from my brow. The Honey Bee Festival had never been this wild, and I hoped it never would again. As I strode to my car, Ol’ Man Bill leaned against his fire truck, grinning. “Where you off to, Jack?”
“Home to take a shower,” I called back, smirking. “My best friend is getting married today.”
***Sebastian***
**I left Xavier in the alley’s shadows and sprinted to the gas station, my shoes hammering the pavement. Lou’s white van slouched by the restrooms, a dead giveaway. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of rum and blood. De Luca slumped against the wall, an empty bottle at his side, while Max pressed a blood-soaked rag to the gunshot wound in his chest. Each of De Luca’s breaths rasped like a broken engine.**
**“Sniper had you pinned,” I said, hauling him up. “Pete’s got this town wired—didn’t matter if you were late or not.” I nodded at Max to grab his other arm. “Let's move. Doc’s waiting in Mandan.”**
**“Should’ve gutted that bastard in New Salem,” De Luca wheezed, his face gray.**
**“Should’ve,” I growled. “Will.”**
**We dragged him to the van, his boots scraping the floor. I shoved Max toward the driver’s seat. “Drive fast. I’ve got a wedding to get to.”**
**The van roared to life, tires screeching as we tore toward Mandan.**
**I vowed Pete would get his.**
**He just didn't know it yet.**
*Cristos*
After seeing Emma and Autumn safely out of St. Elizabeth’s, I checked on Kiki at the admissions desk, where she was waging war on a stack of forms, muttering like a storm cloud. All good there. I snagged a plush bee from the gift shop for Joy and headed to her room, but froze when I heard heated voices.
Liam and Dan were locked in a verbal cage match. I slipped behind a potted fern, phone to my ear, faking a call while I soaked in every word.
“Liam, if Lorenzo goes down, I’m next,” Dan hissed. “Take his deal. When Pete’s back, I’ll help you bury him.”
Liam’s voice was slick, dangerous. “That won’t make you underboss, Dan. We take Lorenzo out now, pin it on Pete, his ghost enforcer, and the Martins. You climb up in rank and we split the profits. This town’s ours, Dan, and I'm sick of being someone else's lapdog. Aren't you?”
Dan wavered. “I don’t know, Liam.”
“Trust me,” Liam pressed. “Play the loyal soldier. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Hey, Chip!” The Sheriff’s voice nearly made me drop my phone, but I kept up the charade.
“Yeah, Virtue’s fine,” I said into the dead line. “Kiki’s downstairs, drowning in discharge forms.” I pocketed the phone and waved. “Just talking to Bo. Virtue’s getting out, huh? Thank God.”
Liam’s smile was thin as a blade. “Doc says she stays off her feet for an hour, so I’m pushing the wedding back to three. Good?”
I nodded, calculating. That gave Sebastian and Xavier just enough time to hit New Salem. “Perfect.”
“Kiki and Virtue will get ready at my place,” Liam said. “Driver’s waiting. You hitting the pub?”
“Only if you swear to keep Virtue safe,” I said, staring him down. His mansion was a vault—two hours would hold.
“Swear,” Liam said, too smooth.
“Sorry for snapping at you earlier,” I said, easing off. “Let me give this to Virtue, then I’m gone.”
______
***Liam***
**Relief hit like a cool breeze when St. Elizabeth’s doctors said Virtue’s ankle sprain was minor. I told them to rush the discharge papers—I wanted her home, safe. After Chip and Dan cleared out, I left Virtue with the Sheriff and slipped into the restroom to call Link.**
**“Mayor Cohen, your title and deed are ready,” Link said, smug as ever.**
**“Not why I called,” I cut in. “I need documents transferring most of my assets to Virtue Cohen post-wedding.”**
**Link chuckled. “I’m a defense attorney, not a notary, but I’ll make it happen. When?”**
**“Today. At the wedding.”**
**“Fast,” he muttered. “Why me?”**
**“We’ve clashed over the Martins, but I trust you to keep this quiet,” I said. “You in?”**
**“Done,” Link said. “It’s my wedding gift.”**
**Happy, I stepped out to chaos—nurses and doctors sprinting down the hall, shouting about an emergency. The Sheriff appeared, face grim.**
**“Hospital director’s down—possible heart attack. I’m staying to check for foul play. See you at the wedding.”**
**I nodded, masking my unease, and entered Virtue’s room. She sat in a wheelchair, Kiki behind her, both glowing despite the day’s madness.**
**I smiled, heart swelling. Time to make her mine.**
*Lisa*
We rolled through the rusted gates of Bismarck’s old pizza factory, Pete McDowell’s money-laundering front. I had aged Joy Taylor’s photo with AI, and as I stared at the printout, her eyes sparked a flicker of recognition—like a ghost I couldn’t place.
I slapped the paper against Pete’s chest. “There. Can I go?”
He squinted at it. “Her jaw and nose were smashed back then. This isn’t right. And you haven't agreed to my proposal."
“I don’t have crime scene Polaroids,” I scoffed. “Just use it as reference. And yeah, I’ll help you—Mom’s lectures are worse than death row. Now can I get to the wedding?”
Pete slid a burner phone across the table. “Message her with this.”
“No need. I got my own,” I said, brushing him off.
He smirked. “Go, but remember, Lisa, if you fail, I will have your head."
I rolled my eyes at his threat. He was so full of shit. “I need a car,” I called out.
Mom nodded to a goon, who tossed me his keys. “Red Kia,” he grunted.
I bolted outside, dragging my carry-on. In the car, I texted Link I was headed to New Salem and floored it. I had a plan to shield Virtue from the wolves who’d torn Joy apart.
But first, I had to slip into my bridesmaid dress and play nice.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
