Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
The knots in her stomach tightened all over again. She wasn’t a coward. She’d never allowed fear to stop her from doing anything she wanted or needed to do. Those men had risked their lives without questioning why they should. Diego’s team members and men from the other teams had done night jumps into the Congo. They had defied General Pillar, going so far as to threaten him. The threat had been subtle, but it was there. The repercussions could have been immense.
I am not telling you who the guests are to get you to walk down that aisle, sweetheart. I wanted to reassure you that I wouldn’t let just anyone come to our wedding. If you want me to cancel it, we can do that.
Did she want that? Had Luther brought him to the room, that was exactly what she would have told him she wanted. Now, thinking about it, she wasn’t so certain. Those men had displayed tremendous courage going into enemy territory. They’d faced Whitney’s personal army of supersoldiers in order to get her sister to freedom.
What were they asking of her? A chance to celebrate. To see their friend Diego married. A chance to have a party. Laugh. Eat. Dance with their women. They’d brought their children with them, and even Gracie was having a good time playing with the other GhostWalker children.
No, we can’t cancel, Diego. She made the decision, and she meant it, but he couldn’t fail to read her trepidation.
Do you want me to walk you down the aisle?
She leaned on him too much. Ever since he’d performed the operation removing her spleen, she’d felt vulnerable. Intellectually, she knew it was because she wasn’t one hundred percent physically fit. She’d always been strong and agile. She hadn’t ever considered that she would be injured so badly that she couldn’t defend herself. She hadn’t realized what effect that had had on her mentally.
Leila looked at her uncle, patiently waiting. “I’m talking to Diego. He always seems to know when I’m upset about something.”
“He’s a good man,” Luther said. “And I was sure you were discussing the crisis with him.”
“He didn’t even get upset with me,” she admitted. “Right away, he said he would cancel the wedding if I didn’t want to walk out in front of all those people.”
“Do you still want to cancel?”
She pressed her hand to her stomach. A small roller coaster. A few knots still tangled tight. She shook her head.
Luther broke into a smile. “Never thought I’d have the privilege of walking my girl down the aisle, but like most men, I thought about it. Lotty couldn’t have children. I didn’t mind. I loved her with every breath I took. Every cell in my body. She was enough for me, and I’ve never regretted a single moment with her. I want that for you and Diego.”
Leila made up her mind instantly. Luther will walk me down the aisle. That way, you’ll get the full effect of all the work Pepper and Nonny did.
Amusement filled her mind. I doubt they had to work too hard, woman. You’re so beautiful, I ache inside whenever I see you.
“Diego always tells me he isn’t a poet or romantic in the least. He claims he doesn’t have words to give me, but he says the most beautiful things to me.” She hugged herself and smiled at Luther. “Words don’t mean nearly as much to me as actions do.”
“That’s the way it should be, honey,” Luther said.
“He shows me in a million ways, every single day, how much he loves me,” Leila told her uncle. “He always puts me first. Not just me, but little Gracie as well. You should see him with Grace.”
Luther held out his hand to her. “I have seen him. Believe me, honey, I watched him carefully with you and the baby. I want only the best for my nieces. I think Diego is the best, and it’s very clear to me that he loves you.”
There was absolutely no way she would take away Luther’s moment. She knew since his wife died, he’d found very little in the way of happiness. “Thank you for being here with us today, Luther. I’m aware that, like me, you don’t like crowds. This can’t be easy on you.”
“I’m more than honored to escort you down the aisle, honey,” Luther assured.
They approached the door, and it was immediately opened by Joe. He gave Luther a grin.
“Glad to see you coming through, Leila. We had a little bet going whether you’d come to your senses and head for the hills or continue with this lunatic idea of Diego’s. The others thought you would have some form of self-preservation, but I saw that gone look on your face and bet you’d stick around.”
Luther threw his head back and laughed. “Even if she did run, that boy would chase her to the ends of the earth. He knows a good thing when he has it.”