The bright fullmoon shone in a black velvet sky dusted with millions of twinkling stars. Miguel inhaled the salty air of the ocean as he strolled along the water’s edge with Julia by his side. She held her sandals in one hand and his hand in the other. A cool breeze caressed their bodies and gently stirred Julia’s hair. Their bruises were fading, and their cuts and abrasions were healing from their ordeal with the Andersons. When they’d arrived home, they’d slept for the better part of the day, woke long enough to eat and drink, then slept some more. Every little noise startled them. Miguel wondered how long it would be before they felt completely safe.
Letting Axalia get away had been a mistake. Even though the Jalisco cartel had taken her, if she was still alive, she posed a threat.
But tonight, Miguel pushed aside those dark musings. Tonight, he wanted to focus on the brave, beautiful woman with him. He’d finally picked up the wedding rings Marvin haddesigned, and they were magnificent. Somehow, he’d carved intertwining vines into the bands—truly a work of art. Now, after wining and dining Julia, he gathered his courage to propose properly to her.
After a while, they ambled back to the well-lit boardwalk. Miguel guided Julia to a private spot and cleared his throat. “Uh, Jules, I know we’ve had a whirlwind courtship?—”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” Her tinkling laughter that he loved so much sent his heart soaring.
Now it was his turn to blush, damn it. “Courtship,” he insisted. “But through it all, one thing has become abundantly clear. You are the only woman for me. I’m in love with you. I want to spend an eternity with you. Loving you. Raising a family with you. Growing old with you.” He dropped to one knee and removed a ring box from his pocket. “Julia Washburn, will you marry me?” He flipped the clasp on the box.
Julia gasped and burst into tears. She dropped to her knees in front of him and cried, “Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you!” He slipped the gorgeous ring on her finger. “Oh, God, I love you, Miguel! I adore you!”
She cupped his face and sealed her answer with a deep kiss.
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA
MARCH 27
The Last Wedding
Miguel and Julia’swedding day dawned bright and clear with beautiful deep blue skies and nary a cloud in sight. Last night after their rehearsal dinner, Julia had gone home with Brielle and the rest of her bridesmaids, while the groomsmen bunked with Miguel. He needed his buddies to keep him steady, to keep him from falling apart because he was a nervous wreck.
As Justice adjusted his bowtie for him and Luca helped him with his tux jacket, Miguel commented, “I don’t remember you guys being this nervous.” He held out his hands. “Look, I’m shaking like a frightened puppy.”
His friends glanced at each other and burst into loud guffaws.
“Who caught the chicken that absconded with my wedding ring?” Hutch recalled. “Not to mention the nerves and the tears that Jiena’s missing wedding dress caused.”
“What about the hours the women went missing in Italy?” Luca chimed in. “You don’t remember how nerve-wracking that was?”
“Oh, but absolutely nothing tops a vindictive ghost haunting your wedding venue,” Finnigan point out. “I have bragging rights. Unless there’s a vengeful spirit roaming the Spanish mission where you’re getting married. Then, I’d say we’re even.”
Horror crept through Miguel. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Well, then you’re going to have a perfect, noneventful wedding like Justice and Brielle’s,” Hutch assured him. “Right, guys?”
“Right,” they chorused.
Julia’s brothers stood on the fringe of their circle and stared at them as if they were space aliens.
Luca beckoned them to join the circle. “You’ll get used to us eventually. Since you’re marrying into our family.”
“Uh, sure,” the oldest brother agreed. “As long as you all make Julia happy.”
Laughter erupted.
Owen clapped him on the shoulder. “Nah, man. That’s just weird. Only Miguel needs to make Julia happy.”
He looked confused. “But you said?—”
Justice’s cell phone buzzed with a notification. “The limo is here. Time to go, gentlemen.”
The others headed outside. Justice stayed behind for a moment with Miguel. “This is it, River. I have the rings. Do you have your wallet and plenty of cash?”
Miguel felt his back pocket. “Yes.”
“Cell phone?”
