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Tyler narrows his eyes at me. “I’ll tell you what’s going on later. Right now, we have a wedding ceremony to complete first.” He gestures with his gun toward Evie.
I swallow and face Eve. Slowly, I unclench my teeth. I just need to focus on her and zone Tyler out. I can do that.
“So, where were we?” Tyler scowls at his cards. “Oh yes, we’re gathered here today. Yada, yada, yada. Until death dous part.” He wiggles his eyebrows and smiles at his last words.
Is that supposed to be a hint at what’s to come? Bile bubbles up from my stomach at the prospect. He throws card after card on the floor until he gets to the last one.
“Evangeline Caldwell, do you take Phoenix Montgomery to be your lawfully wedded husband, and so on?”
Eve looks at me with so much turmoil in her eyes, my heart stutters, followed by this falling, spinning-down feeling.
When she doesn’t answer immediately, Tyler approaches her and puts his gun to her temple. She flinches and closes her eyes.
I’m immobilized. One wrong move. One wrong word, and he might shoot her right in front of me.
A realization clicks into place. I would follow her.
Tyler’s jaw tics. “I said, Evangeline Caldwell, will you —”
“Yes, yes, yes, I do.” The words rush out of her mouth, her eyes shining with a layer of moisture that wasn’t there a moment ago. She takes the unfamiliar ring Tyler holds out and slips it on my finger, a single tear running down her cheek.
Another thing this bastard will pay for. How many tears has she shed because of him? He’ll pay for every single one of them.
Tyler grins. “Good pet.” His attention shifts to me. “Your turn. Phoenix Montgomery, will you?—?”
“I do.” There isn’t a single ounce of doubt in my voice as I glide the engagement ring I got for her back on her finger. Where it belongs.
Tyler chuckles. “So eager. I love it. Tenacity undoubtedlyruns in the family, doesn’t it? By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
While I can’t take my eyes off Eve, my brain is still hung up on what Tyler said.
“I said, kiss the fucking bride.” Tyler aims the gun at me again. “Or do you need me to show you how it’s done? I know exactly how she likes it, don’t I, Evie?”
Red-hot anger courses through my veins at his words.
It’s one thing to have a suspicion and another to have it confirmed, especially in a moment like this.
Eve hisses, trying to tug her hands out of my too-firm grasp.
“Sorry.” I immediately let her go.
Tyler chuckles like the psycho he is. “I’m sorry. Is that a sore spot for you, Phoenix?” He waves his gun around. “Why don’t you show me how it’s done? Theoretically, you’re supposed to teach me stuff, right?”
Tyler distracts me on purpose, feeding me these little hints and riddles that drive me insane. I’m about to turn to him to tell him to just spit it out already when Eve gets in my space. She cups my cheeks and presses her lips to mine. We stay like this for several moments before we pull apart.
Tyler moves so close, his breath drifts over my neck. “No, that was not it. You can do better. Now.”
Chapter 42
Evangeline
There’s nothing but pain and regret in Phoenix’s eyes, but he closes the distance and takes my mouth like he would if we were alone.
I can almost hear his words in my head.
I got you. You can let go.
So I close my eyes and shut out the world, not allowing anything in except Phoenix: his mouth on mine, his tongue teasing me in the best possible way, and our hands intertwined.