Page 48

W ith a map of the palace and grounds tucked into the back pocket of his Dockers, Darius managed to find his way out to the gaming area of the gardens.

A small bar had been set up, and his brother and friends were enjoying a few pints of Guinness with Prince Raj and some of his male cousins.

Several of them were shooting arrows at targets with hay bales behind them, while others tossed bean bags at the slanted Cornhole boards, trying to sink them in the small, round opening to score the most points.

So far, neither Farid nor Diallo had shown their face, although they were both supposed to be attending the ceremonies, and that was fine with Darius—as long as they stayed out of his face.

Unfortunately, the king’s weasel of a chief of staff, Sebak had been driving him nuts about this or that protocol, all the while making his disdain for the princess’s fiancée clear with subtle digs.

Darius didn’t give a crap, though, and assumed nothing he could ever do would win the man over.

Both TS teams had flown over for the celebration, leaving Doug Henderson and Tiny Daultry in charge.

Nathan was manning the computer systems, while the office manager, Colleen, was taking care of everything else.

Ian had even passed a mission or two over to Chase Dixon’s Blackhawk Security so everyone on the Alpha and Omega teams could be in Timasur.

Levi was the first one to spot Darius as he approached. “Hey, the groom’s here! It’s about time you joined us, bro. Grab yourself a pint. This place is awesome!”

After getting a glass of Guinness from the bartender, Darius watched the activities in amusement for a few minutes.

The betting between Marco and Brody was getting interesting as usual.

They finally settled on what the loser of an archery challenge would have to do—dress up in drag—heels, wig, and all—on the first day back to work next week, when members of Tampa PD’s SWAT would be at the compound for a joint training session.

Darius would have to have someone take lots of photos for him since he’d be on his honeymoon.

Oddly enough, that word didn’t scare him as much as it used to.

While the two men geared up with their bows and arrows, the other men took monetary bets on who would win.

Darius joined them, and when all was said and done, he was a few hundred dollars richer when Brody was declared the winner, which didn’t happen often in these contests.

Now Darius definitely needed someone to take photos—Marco in drag?

That was going to be hysterical, without a doubt.

“Walk with me, twatopotomus.”

Rolling his eyes, Darius swallowed a mouthful of Guinness and fell into step beside Ian, who strolled toward the entrance of a maze created by tall shrubs. “What’s up, Boss-man?”

Ian took a sip of his dark drink and waited until they were within the elaborate labyrinth before speaking again. “Last chance to back out of this.”

That was not what he’d expected to hear from his employer, teammate, and friend, even though Ian knew the reasoning behind Darius’s upcoming marriage. “You still think I’m making a mistake?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth.” He took a right turn as if he knew exactly where he was going.

Darius followed, mentally calculating how to get back out of the maze when he needed to.

“It doesn’t matter if I think you’re making a mistake, the question is do you ?

Is this going to backfire on both of you? ”

“No, it’s not.”

“See, that’s where I think you’re wrong.”

Darius stopped short. “You just said it doesn’t matter what you think.”

Turning around to face him, Ian shrugged.

“I lied—sue me.” He crossed his arms and spread his legs.

Darius knew the man was settling in for one of his “you’re being a dipshit” talks.

Darius had been on the opposite side of several of them during his time in the SEALs and, again, while working for Trident.

There was nothing he could do but stand there and listen.

“You know, the only way this will work between you two is if you admit to yourself and her that you’re in love with her. ”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m not blind, Batman. Neither is my wife, and she’s looking forward to you and Tahira having many beautiful babies, as the princess would say. She loves kids, by the way, if you haven’t figured that out yet.”

Pivoting, Darius paced up and down the aisle the shrubs made, running a hand down his face. “I’m not good enough for her. We’re from two different lifestyles—hell, we’re from two different worlds. I can’t give her a place like this.” He lifted his hands and gestured to their surroundings.

“Did she ask you for a place like this?” Ian mimicked Darius’s hand motions, but with an obnoxious flare.

“I’ll bet she never asked you for anything, because you’ve already been providing her with everything she wants and needs.

Don’t you know that a marriage means joining your lives and finances and all that other shit together—it’s no longer yours and mine; it’s ours.

They even made a movie or two out of that saying.

You deserve an ass kicking if you can’t see what’s right in front of you, Batman—some superhero you are.

This thing between you two may have started because of your sense of honor and duty—because your suppressed Dom-ness decided to finally come out of hiding.

But somewhere along the line, it turned into the real thing .

.. for both of you. Don’t you see the way she looks at you?

Like you’re her whole world and nothing else matters? ”

“She’s got a case of hero-worship. That’s all.”

Ian glared at him. “If I didn’t know it would ruin the wedding pictures and put me on my wife’s, the queen’s, and Tahira’s shit lists, I’d deck you right now.

That woman does not have a case of hero-worship.

She’s in love ... with you, you jackass.

” He threw his hands in the air. “God, why are men such idiots when the one shows up in their life? And, yes, that’s a rhetorical question because I was an idiot with my Angel in the beginning.

Thankfully, I wised up fast and now we’re procreating. Scary thing, yes, but there it is.”

Ignoring his boss’s sarcasm, Darius zeroed in on the one thing that’d made a small kernel of hope spring to life deep within him.

Was it true? Tahira loved him? And if she did, would it be enough to bind them together forever?

He wasn’t sure. “So, what if Tahira decides living in Tampa isn’t what she wants?

Visiting this place I can deal with, but living here full time?

That’s not me, Boss-man. What if she decides she wants this grand lifestyle she’s known all her life that I can’t give her? ”

“Then tie her ass up and show her the lifestyle you can give her—the one that includes you being her Dom and just fucking loving her. You know, there are two types of women—the ones who are social climbers and marry for money, and the others who marry for love. I honestly believe if Tahira hadn’t fallen in love with you, we wouldn’t be here today.

She would have set you free and come up with a different way to deal with the aftermath of what happened to her.

So, the question is, are you going to continue to be an idiot, or are you going to grab hold of her with both hands and never let her go? ”

Tilting his head back and thinking about his answer, Darius spun on the ball of his foot toward the rear facade of the palace.

Over the tops of the shrubs, movement on one of the balconies caught his eye and had his heart stopping in his chest. “Shit!” Throwing his glass of ale to the ground, he took off at a dead run, praying he was going the right way.

* * *

With a sigh, Tahira followed Lahana as she passed the suite’s sitting area and strode out to the balcony where a half-filled pitcher of lemonade and several glasses waited on a small table.

An umbrella provided some pleasant shade.

Her cousin sat down on one of the two available chairs, picked up her drink, and took a long sip.

Staring out over the gardens, she asked, “So, what do you want, Tahira?”

Again, that venomous tone bothered Tahira—her cousin and she had always gotten along, but since the rescue, they seemed worlds apart. Taking the other seat, she poured herself a glass of the pink refreshment. “I was hoping we could talk about ... about Argentina.”

“What about it? It’s a god-forsaken country with too many insects.”

“You know what I mean, cousin.” Tahira brought the glass to her lips, but the moment the cool liquid hit her tongue, she coughed and sputtered. “Wh-what’s in this?”

Lahana sniffled and rubbed her nose, her movements jerky. “Haven’t you ever had gin and lemonade before? It’s quite delicious.”

As Tahira studied the other woman, she could see her current drink wasn’t the first one of the day. “I—I know you’re having a hard time dealing with what that bastard did to you.” Lahana snorted, and Tahira dropped her gaze to her lap. “He—he raped a lot of those girls. He—”

“Ha! Oh, Tahira, Tahira, Tahira—the na?ve little princess. He didn’t rape me.”

She shook her head in confusion. “What do you mean? Of course—”

“Oh, please. I like it rough, and Felix knew that.”

Felix? Darius had told her Secada’s first name at some point, but until now, Tahira had forgotten it. How did Lahana know it? Had Amar told her? And what did she mean when she said he hadn’t raped her?