Chapter Thirty

“Dad, I’ve never tried to get in the way of your relationship with Turner. I don’t know how but you and that agent are bonded by blood. Well, maybe that is the answer: by blood.”

Charles Wentworth let the truth of his son’s words wash over him. He’d guarded the bond he held with the agent like a pit bull with a bone. Some fucked up part of him didn’t want anyone messing up a good thing. His son was right: the pairing up of criminal and lawman was inevitable. He trusted Agent Turner, even if he couldn’t quite say why.

Charles looked at the computer screen and shook his head at the irony of the situation. Criminal, crime fighter, and serial killer were bound together. Would the bond remain after Mummy Man was no longer part of the equation? Yes, he believed it would. Black Rose trusted Turner and was nearly certain that the agent trusted him.

“He’s escalating.” Charles looked at his son and then at the woman who was likely to soon be his daughter-in-law, or actually going to be. Today. “This is the first truly hands-on killing he has done.” He was surprised when she asked him a question.

“Is that common? The escalation of violence?”

“In serial killers, yes. In vigilantes, no. This brings me to another issue.” If she thought her lover’s eyes were intense, they were nothing compared to his father’s.

“The two of you are getting married. Today.”

“So we can’t testify against each other,” Teegan said softly, directing her words at Charles while keeping her eyes on Thomas.

“Yes, and it needs to be today. Anything that happens before the wedding could be used in court, if it came to that. I don’t think it will, but we must have safeguards in place.”

When the doorbell rang they both looked at each other, wide-eyed. He’d already arranged for someone to perform the wedding. Thomas knew that as soon as that door opened, his whole world would change, and Teegan’s would too. “You deserve a dream wedding, with flowers and a beautiful dress. If you want a real wedding later, just say the word. I’m sorry, but this has to be done.”

Thomas took her hand and looked at her as he stroked his thumbs along her velvety skin. “I want this for us, Teegan. Will you marry me?” He reached in his pocket, pulling out the small black box his father had discreetly handed him when they arrived. He had had a good idea what it contained, but he hadn’t been certain until his father revealed his plan.

He got down on one knee and opened the box to reveal a seven-carat diamond and wedding band. “This set belonged to my grandmother and I swore I’d never give it to anyone. But you’re not just anyone, Teegan. You’re The One.”

A lone tear trailed down her cheek and she held her hand out so he could place the diamond ring on her finger. The sight of the ring on her finger had her smiling tremulously. “What a difference a week makes, huh?”

Thomas nodded. “Yeah. You won’t regret it. I promise.”

Melanie rushed over and hugged them both. “You’ll fit right in, Teegan darling. Never doubt that. I’ve always wanted a daughter.”

“I know it isn’t romantic, Teegan, but I swear I’ll make it up to you.”

Thomas almost looked sad and she knew it was because he wanted so much more than a rushed wedding for her. She placed a palm on his cheek and grinned. “If it means you staying out of jail, it doesn’t get any more romantic than that.”

“You will indeed fit right in,” Charles agreed after hearing her acceptance of her unexpected circumstances. He nodded, motioning for the man at the door to enter.

Teegan eyed the stranger, who looked like anything but a minister or a priest. He wore khakis with a button-down blue shirt and cheap shoes. A few sentences later and she was Mrs. Thomas Wentworth. The marriage license wasn’t an issue, either. Paperwork was a mere formality for Charles Wentworth. If he wanted paperwork, he knew how to get it.

Most women would have loved to marry into a billion-dollar family, but Teegan wasn’t most women. She was in it to win it. With every fiber of her being she wanted to get the crazy man off the streets and if it meant marrying this man she barely knew, then so be it.

Their situation may have defied conventional logic, but the newlyweds had one thing going for them. They were in love.