Page 196 of The Broken Note

“You don’t do that already,” Zane mumbles.

Vi laughs.

“But I will promise you that I’ll be with you through thick and thin. The world might not understand us, but they don’t have to. We’ll make our own world. And we’ll rule it together. There will never be a Dutch Cross without Cadence Cooper.”

Dutch looks touched. My heart flutters when I realize I’m the only one who brings out that soft expression.

“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Dutch yanks me toward him and kisses me like he’s branding me. Like he’s drinking from an everlasting fountain. Like it’ll never be enough.

I faintly hear cheers but, inside my heart, fireworks are going off.

“Cadey.” Vi tugs at my sleeve.

I realize that what I think are fireworks is actually my phone’s ringtone.

“Cadey, someone’s been buzzing your phone for a while,” Vi admits. “I didn’t want to tell you before the wedding, but they haven’t stopped. I think it’s important.”

“Who is it?” Dutch grunts, looking like he’ll strangle whoever’s on the other end of the line.

“It says ‘Miss Jamieson’.”

Zane’s head whips up and he barges over.

I glance at Dutch. “What do you think she wants?”

“I don’t know.”

Vi purses her lips. “Do you want me to—”

“Answer it,” I say, my stomach quivering.

Finn joins us.

We’re all crowding over the phone, waiting.

A foreboding feeling rolls over me.

Dutch senses it and grabs my hand, squeezing my fingers in encouragement.

“Put it on speaker,” Zane growls.

Vi does what he says.

“I’m here, Miss Jamieson.”

“Cadence?” Miss Jamieson sounds harried and nervous. “Thank God. You finally picked up. Where are you?”

“I’m in New York.” I glance at the curious officiant, the stunning skyline and the bright blue sky.

It’s my last chance to enjoy the view. This pit in my stomach isn’t going away, and I have a feeling all this beauty is going to collapse around me when this call is over.

“You need to catch a flight back. Now,” Miss Jamieson insists.

Dutch wraps an arm around me.

I smile at him.I’m not alone. Dutch is here. Vi is here. The Kings are here.