Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I knew this moment was coming, but I still drop my jaw. The ring is beautiful. Even more beautiful is the man offering it to me.
“Bianca Lynn Montrose, will you marry me?”
I burst into tears and wrap my arms around Harrison’s broad shoulders. “Yes, Harrison! Yes!”
He wraps me into a passionate kiss that sweeps me off my feet. It feels endless and too quick at the same time. When he finally breaks the embrace, he’s all smiles. “I love you so much, Bianca.”
I wipe a tear from my cheek. “I love you, too.”
He gestures back inside. “Maybe we should go in, steal some of Alissa and Maddox’s thunder.”
I giggle. I know he’s kidding. Maddox probably already knows Harrison was going to propose. He wouldn’t have done it at the wedding without the groom’s blessing. Alissa probably knows too.
But today is their day. I’ll slip the ring on my left finger, but I won’t be waving it in people’s faces. I’ll save that for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, when I return to the life I built from the ashes of my sister’s demise.
Where all is how it should be.
The deck was cut and shuffled, but the Queen of Hearts—the new one—has triumphantly returned face-up to the table, standing steadfastly alongside her new King.
And the two of them shall rule devotedly over their realm for the rest of their days.
EPILOGUE II
BIANCA
What a fun reception! My feet and legs are aching from dancing so much.
Of course, everyone noticed my ring. It’s a pretty big rock, and it’s not exactly subtle. But Alissa was overjoyed when she saw it as we were sitting enjoying dinner at the long table at the front of the ballroom.
I’ve had quite a few Maddox and Alissa cocktails, and I’m a little tipsy. Harrison and I knew we’d be drinking a decent amount tonight, so we arranged a ride to take us back to Oak Park at the end of the night.
Most of the guests have gone home, but as best man, Harrison is in charge of making sure everyone else has a safe ride home for the evening. We’ll catch an Uber back to pick our car up in the morning.
Right now, the only place I want to be is in my bed, lying in my fiancé’s arms.
Almost everyone has gone home, and Maddox has dismissed Harrison for the night. He and his new bride are staying in a honeymoon suite in a nearby hotel they can walk to. Harrison asked me if I wanted to get a room there, but it seemed silly for us to get a hotel when we live only a half hour away. I’m beginning to rethink that right now. An Uber to Oak Park and back might be more expensive than simply getting a room for the night. Maybe I’ll check my phone to see if there’s a room available.
As I take it out of the small clutch I brought to the wedding, it starts ringing.
Aus Waverly. The owner of the Jade Sanctum.
That’s odd. I haven’t heard much from Aus since I turned the reins back over to him after Rouge’s death. Why would he be calling me, especially so late on a Saturday night?
Probably a butt dial.
But just in case it isn’t…
I accept the call and bring the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Bianca, thank God you answered.” His voice is breathy, like he’s just run a marathon.
“Aus, is everything okay?”
A pause. “Not really.”
My heart starts thrumming. Even a year after her death, I can’t help but wonder if this is another mess of my sister’s I have to clean up. Her shadow looms large even from the grave.
I’m not nearly sober enough for this.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve…stumbled upon something. Something I think is left over from your sister’s time running Jade.”
Fuck. I knew it. Her long-nailed hands still have a firm grip on my throat.
I swallow. “What is it?”
Another long pause. “Suffice it to say that organ harvesting wasn’t the only thing your sister was into. I need you to come over right now.”