Chapter Twenty-Three

STEPHEN

Tomorrow was Clint and Mia’s wedding, and to say the house was chaotic would be a massive understatement. After dropping Trinity at work, I headed to Capulet to get some business handled—somewhere quiet. I had video surveillance to go through, and I was confident today I’d find the missing piece of the puzzle.

The rat.

I spent hours there, tape after tape, sifting through footage for any clue, any misstep. It also gave Clint and Mia the space they needed to finalise things with their families ahead of tomorrow. Dress rehearsal was scheduled for two o’clock, so when I glanced at the time and saw it was already quarter past one, I checked in with my girl.

“I’m run off my feet today,” Trinity replied when I called. “I’m going to be at least a few more hours, babe.”

I told her I’d head to the rehearsal without her and come pick her up when she was done.

Back at the house, the rehearsal went off without a hitch. Being Clint’s best man meant the toast and speeches were my responsibility—not that I minded. Clint and I had enough memories between us to last three lifetimes, and Mia had been in our lives for so long. It felt right to honour them properly. Watching them standing together during the rehearsal made my thoughts drift, wondering if Trinity and I might be next.

Once we wrapped up the itinerary, Clint and I headed down to the warehouse to lock up. As we were walking, he stopped suddenly, his hand shooting out to grab my arm.

He nodded toward the side door. “Did you send Chad down for anything?”

I narrowed my eyes, watching Chad slip out of the building, glancing around like a man with something to hide.

“There’s no reason for him to be down here right now,” I muttered. “Did you?”

“No,” Clint replied. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Yes.”

I was about to suggest we count the stock while we were there when something else caught my eye. “Clint…”

I pointed to the end of the shed where Mike was now approaching Chad. Hidden behind the line of trees at the edge of the lawn, we had the perfect view without being seen. Chad handed something over—it looked like one of my packages. The tension between them was immediate, their body language sharp and on edge. Chad was getting more wound up by the second.

Then Mike pulled a gun.

Instinct had me moving, ready to storm in, but Clint threw his arm across me, halting me.

“Wait.”

We both froze.

Chad backed up, posture stiff. After a few terse exchanges, he seemed to relent, and we watched as Mike pocketed the weapon and walked off—with the package still in hand.

What the fuck?

Were both of them involved?

We stayed low, watching as Chad punched the side of the shed, his frustration obvious. Maybe even guilt? Only when we were sure the path was clear did we continue down to the warehouse.

We took our time. Did a full count. Checked the hidden surveillance footage.

Just as I suspected—we were down another brick.

And only Chad had entered the warehouse during that time frame.

“He’s dead,” Clint thundered. “Tonight.”

I didn’t respond. I was still replaying everything we had just witnessed.

Then something clicked.

“Wait.” I held up a hand, pacing now as my brain scrambled to piece it together. “There’s more to this. If Chad’s the thief, why the fuck did he look so pissed off? Why would Mike pull a gun on a partner in crime? That wasn’t two guys working together.”

Clint’s brows drew together. His anger momentarily paused as he processed.

“That exchange—something was off. And where the hell did Mike even get that gun?”

We sat with it for a while, turning the situation over, examining it from every angle.

Eventually, we agreed: we’d hold off until after the wedding.

Then, we’d bring Chad in for a little chat … not the friendly kind.

***

Mia had stayed overnight at a hotel with her bridesmaids and family—tradition, of course. After breakfast with Clint, Trinity and I made our way back upstairs to get ready.

I let her have the bathroom first. Women always took longer than we did.

I was tying my tie when I heard her pottering around in the wardrobe. When I walked in, everything else around me stopped.

My breath caught. My knees nearly buckled.

She was a vision—elegant, radiant, far too ethereal to be real. My goddess.

I crossed the room and placed my hands gently on her hips, standing behind her, my voice low and reverent.

“I love you, Trinity Reffett. I’m so in love with you. I live for you. You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’ll never say it enough.”

Her smile in the mirror was like sunlight piercing through storm clouds.

“I love you too, my darling. More than anything in this world. I’m so glad we get to share today with our friends … and with the man I love.”

I watched her reflection, unable to stop myself from smiling like an idiot. She lit up the entire room.

“That’ll be us soon. You know that, right?” I promised her.

“There’s no one else I’d want to have a life with, baby.”

We kissed deeply, the kind of kiss that said always, before I slipped into the bathroom to fix my hair. When I came out, she helped smooth out my jacket and tie.

Downstairs, Clint was pacing, nerves clearly catching up with him. Trinity gave him a soft hug and whispered something I couldn’t quite hear, but his posture eased instantly.

Together, we made our way out to take our places beneath the late morning sun. Trinity joined our friends in the front row, and Clint and I took our positions, waiting for the arrival of his bride.

And for a new beginning.

I was fixated on Trinity and her beauty when Clint leaned over and murmured quietly, “We get through today, then you need to tell her.”

“I will, man,” I promised without hesitation.

“Good.” That was all he said at first, before adding, “Then you marry her—before you lose the best thing that ever happened to you.”

I patted Clint on the back as the music shifted, drawing our attention forward.

Mia had finally come into view.

The ceremony was breathtaking. There was no denying the love in the air—it radiated between them, spilling into everyone who bore witness. I couldn’t have been prouder of my boy. They’d earned this moment, both of them, and I was genuinely happy to see two people I cared about finally getting the start to them forever.

The photos followed, the toasts too. The speeches went smoothly, filled with laughter, a few tears, and just enough sentimentality to make Mia dab her eyes. After the meals, the dance floor opened up. And all I wanted was to get my girl in my arms and never let her go.

When I finally pulled Trinity into me, our bodies moved in time with the music, swaying slowly, naturally—like they were made to fit. We were caught in our own little world, eyes locked, hearts thundering in sync.

And before I even realised what I was doing, the words escaped me.

“Live with me.”

Her eyes widened. Those warm hazel pools going round with surprise—but it was the most beautiful reaction I’d ever seen.

“What?” she breathed. “You’re serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious in my life,” I told her, my voice husky and sure. “I want you here with me all the time. I want to protect you. I want to love you. And I want to grow old with you.”

She pushed up on her toes, arms tightening around my neck. I didn’t give her the chance to answer right away—I swept her off her feet, literally; her legs suspended as I held her close. Her mouth met mine, and we kissed like no one else existed.

When she finally pulled back, her smile met mine.

“We can talk tomorrow, baby. Let’s enjoy our friends’ wedding tonight, and then we can work on logistics tomorrow.”

I paused, holding her in mid-air, heart racing for the wrong reasons. “So … that’s a no?”

Her eyes softened immediately, and she reached up to stroke my cheek with her delicate fingers.

“It isn’t a no, Stephen,” she promised. “I adore you. I love you. Of course I want to live with you.”

Relief seeped through the rising panic.

“We just need to work it out—what happens with Luke? I can’t leave him on his own paying two rents,” she explained quickly, then continued before I could say a word. “There isn’t much room here, so … do we get a new place together? That’s all I mean. Yes—my future is with you. Yes—I want to live with you. But let’s talk tomorrow. Tonight, let’s just be in love and share our friends’ love without a care in the world.”

“You’re perfect, you know that, right?” I smiled, wide and unabashed.

“Yeah,” she grinned, full of cheek. “I get that a lot.”

I laughed and captured her lips with mine once more, hoping—praying—I’d never have to let her go.