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“Luther,” Leila whispered. “I can’t do this. I really can’t.” She backed away from her uncle toward the door leading outside. Escape. She was more than good at escape. She’d proven that many times over.

“I thought that man was your world, girl.” There was no reprimand. No judgment. Luther was stating facts as he saw them. “Was I wrong?”

“No. Yes. Meaning you aren’t wrong. I am in love with him. I want this more than he does, although he’d never believe it, but there are too many people. Where did they all come from? Who are they? I don’t know any of them, Luther.” She wasn’t in the least confused about loving Diego—or wanting to be his wife. She knew that with total certainty, but their wedding was supposed to be private. Small.

“You’re scared of a crowd? You’re a badass, Leila. He calls you ‘Warrior Woman.’ You can’t be afraid of those people out there.” He indicated the other door, the one he was supposed to walk through with her on his arm.

“I don’t like people staring at me. I stay in the shadows, Luther. This is too much. Nonny said small.”

“This is small in comparison to many of the Cajun weddings, Leila,” Luther said patiently. “From what I gathered, these celebrations can go on for days. Any excuse to party.”

“Days?” She knew her voice sounded faint because she felt that way. She absolutely couldn’t be in that crowd for days. “Go get him, Luther. I have to tell him.”

Luther studied her face. She hoped he could look beyond the perfect makeup Pepper had applied to see her very real distress. She needed Diego to understand she wanted to be his wife. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, but she couldn’t make herself walk out of the little room and face so many strangers.

And then he was there, pouring into her mind with his strength. With love. With absolute command. Her rock. What is it, sweetheart? I can feel your distress.

The moment she felt his touch, the instant he filled the empty places she hadn’t known she had until she’d been with him, the terrible knots in her stomach began to loosen. Her lungs began to work the way they were supposed to.

I’m having a panic attack. She was honest with him. She was always honest with him. No matter how difficult it was, they’d promised each other they’d tell the truth. I don’t mean to hurt you, Diego. This is about me. Facing so many strangers. All of them staring at me.

She felt him move through her mind, a careful assessment. I get it, Leila. I understand completely. We’ve been programmed to stay in the shadows, even if we’re in plain sight. I do know these people. They’re the men who went with me to bring your sister back to you. They’re the ones who took back Gracie for us. They’re the ones who backed our team when we needed to get out of the Congo. And yes, there are a lot of them.

His voice was low and velvet soft. The images and words he used could have been designed to make her feel guilt, but she could feel his sincerity. He was giving her the information because it was the truth.

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.”

Joe nodded his assent. “I believe you’re right, Luther.”

Music played. It didn’t sound like any wedding march Leila had ever heard, but it was upbeat and fun. Bridget moved up the aisle to stand opposite Rubin, who was acting as Diego’s best man, just as Bridget was Leila’s maid of honor. Luckily, there were enough anchors in the crowd that her sister wasn’t feeling any pain at all in spite of the fact that Whitney had stripped her brain of most filters.

Leila took a moment to take in her sister. She still looked drawn and pale, but her face was relaxed, and her smile was huge. Her eyes were bright. She met Leila’s gaze, and instantly, Leila felt the love Bridget projected.

At Luther’s urging, she started down the aisle, following Wyatt’s triplets and Gracie as they threw the petals of flowers in front of her. Gracie was very enthusiastic with the tossing of petals. They went into the air, showering the four girls with colorful flowers. She threw them at the people seated in the rows of chairs on either side of the aisle. She ate one just to see what it tasted like. All the while, Ginger, Thym and Cannelle kept her moving when she tried to do a little dance and got distracted by a purse on the floor by a chair.

Luther and Leila exchanged an amused look, and then she looked toward the archway that had been set up where Diego stood. He had that smile, the one she loved so much, his gaze on Gracie. He looked so proud of her. It was easy to forget he wasn’t her biological father.

Diego’s gaze lifted to her. She felt his swift intake of breath. The surge of love pouring into her mind. So Diego. So her man. She concentrated on him. How handsome he looked in his suit. How he made her heart skip a beat the moment their gazes connected. How focused he was on her. It was easy to block out everything around her once she was falling into his gaze.

She tightened her hold on Luther’s arm, blinking back tears of joy. This could be the best day of my life.

I’m with you, sweetheart. I can’t say for certain because we’ve had several incredible times together. I know I’ll treasure every memory I ever have with you.

I’m going to love you like you never expected to be loved , she vowed.

I never thought any woman would ever love me, Leila. Not ever. You’re a miracle to me. I swear to you, no matter what happens in the future, you’re always going to be safe with me. Things aren’t always going to be perfect. Life can be tough, but I believe we’ll do fine as long as we’re together.

Diego took several steps to meet them, and Luther put Leila’s hand in his before leaning down to brush a kiss on her cheek. Luther answered the preacher when asked who was giving the bride to the groom. When he answered, his voice was firm.

Diego led her to the archway, which was covered in flowers. He took both her hands in his, and the intensity in his dark velvet eyes made her heart melt. This was her man. Her choice. Her forever. She was that certain. She had no idea how she’d gotten to this place, was granted this miracle, but there he was, standing in front of her, looking at her with stark, raw love.

Her heart beat wildly, the way it often did when she caught her first sight of him or when she watched him carrying Gracie, rocking her or talking softly to her. He had a voice that could soothe the most feral of beasts and the calmest energy she’d ever encountered.

She repeated her vows in a whisper, but she meant every single word. Diego slipped a ring on her finger and brought her hand to his mouth before turning back to the preacher. It was those little things he did that captured her heart.

Thank you, Leila, for changing my life. For giving me a family and loving me so unconditionally.

As always when he spoke so intimately, she could feel his emotions. She smiled up at him, love bursting through her. She still had to face their reception, but she felt she could do anything with him at her side.

“I’m going to love you for eternity,” she whispered, meaning it.