Page 40 of Iron

There was a small flicker of her lips like a smile was trying its hardest to break free. I turned my head then and took in the couple on display. My eyes narrowed, trying to see them clearly.

I could only see the bride’s profile and part of that was cut off by the groom. But I was pretty sure I’d recognized her.

I’d never been introduced to Petra’s girls, as she called them, but I knew I’d seen the one gettin’ hitched. It had been a while but I’d never forget the fear and panic in Petra’s eyes as Cable carried the redhead out of Petra’s fucked up building.

“She’s one of yours?” I asked even though I was pretty sure of the answer.

“She was…”

Yeah, I didn’t imagine she’d keep up that job after committing her life to one person. Then again, maybe they were both into that kind of thing. Hey, I wasn’t one to judge.

“How many of your clients are here?” I asked because I was more curious than anything.

Her eyes didn’t even scan over the crowd before she gave her answer.

“Five.”

Yeah, there were some big names out in those seats. I couldn’t tell you which ones used Petra’s services though. And I didn’t care enough to ask. I wasn’t going to get in her business because I knew it was hers to handle.

“How many former ones?”

“Two,” she said and this time her eyes did move to look at someone sitting in the crowd. “And another formal girl. But I don’t really count her like the others.”

“What’s that mean?”

Her head turned as she looked at me.

“She was never meant to be one of my girls. She was desperate for money, out of options, and… sad. I only gave her one client and I knew…”

“Knew what, Pet?” I asked as I crowded her back and spoke into her ear.

I couldn’t tell you how much I loved that she was nearly as tall as me. Even out of her heels she was the perfect height. It made moments like this so easy. I didn’t have to duck down to whisper into her ear. And when her head fell back to lean against my shoulder without her losing her line of sight, I realized that it was just another thing that made us perfect together.

“I knew that they were what each other needed.” There was almost happiness in her tone as she spoke the words.

And that had a damn smile spreading across my face.

There weren’t many things that Petra let herself care about. Anyone could see that. That said, there were also things she cared a whole hell of a lot about and she would make it her goal to protect and see them happy.

“You believe in love, Pet?” I asked her. I didn’t expect a normal answer but I could read between her lines well enough by now.

“No. I believe that some people are better paired together than others.”

I smiled. How could I not? It was pretty much what I figured would come out of her.

“I don’t understand why people cry at weddings,” she said out of nowhere. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Of course it doesn’t,” I said with a small chuckle. I wasn’t being mean or even teasing her.

“It’s done now,” she said once the bride and groom shared a kiss sealing their union. “We can go.”

She didn’t even wait for me to respond before she was making her way back to the car.

“We’re not going to the reception?” I asked really confused. “You don’t want to congratulate them and wish them well and shit?”

“No,” she said but didn’t slow down. “Why would I? They know that I approve. I was the one that let him in that room when it wasn’t his time.”

There was so much in what she’d just told me but I couldn’t even begin to grasp the meaning of any of it.