Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(109)

Atticus absconded overseas, as did Christian Montgomery, and there is an international warrant out for both their arrests.

Sylvia grabs hold of my arm as I pass, smiling expansively. “You look like an angel,” she whispers. “And I’m so happy for you.” Her eyes are bright, her cheeks flushed with health. Having Mom back has done wonders for the woman, and vice versa. That and the fact that bastard she was married to is now gone from her life. She spent a couple months in rehab when we first got back to Rydeville, and she’s determined to lead a clean and sober life. She purchased a lovely condo fifteen minutes away from Drew’s place, and she and Mom meet daily.

I press a kiss to her cheek, thanking her before moving on. I stop at the top row when I come to the wheelchair, bending down to hug Oscar. “Thank you so much for coming.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, sweetheart,” he says, clasping my hands.

“You look stunning, Abby,” his wife, Julie, says, smiling at me.

“Thank you all for being here.” I smile at Oscar’s two beautiful daughters, and they give me shy waves. “It’s all the more special because you are.” We came so close to losing Oscar, but thankfully, he pulled through. He’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, but we’ve seen to it that he’s well looked after. They won’t want for anything as long as we are around.

“You better not keep that handsome young man waiting,” Julie says, looking up at Kai.

“Yes,” I agree. “He’s not known for his patience.” We all have a laugh at Kai’s expense as he wiggles his fingers at me.

I smile, looping my arm in Mom’s and Drew’s and stride toward the altar to my future.




Kaiden





“Are you happy, firecracker?” I murmur as we slow dance on the dance floor, surrounded by friends and family. The marquee looks beautiful with elegant floral centerpieces and lit tea lights on every table. The overhead hanging lanterns add a magical quality to a day that has been amazing so far.

“I’m so happy,” she purrs, peering up at me with slightly dazed eyes. “Today was perfect.”

I kiss her lips. “It was. This is the wedding we should’ve had the first time.” I’ve already got enough happy memories from today to sketch another album for my wife, but I’m going to try and keep that a secret while I work on it, because I love surprising her.

“I loved our first wedding,” she says. “But now we get to tell our kids we had two special days.”

“I love hearing you say that,” I whisper, because I spent weeks thinking kids were an impossibility. “And I can’t wait until the time is right to start a family.”

“Me too.” She holds on to me tighter. “But I’m a selfish bitch because I want you all to myself for a few years first.”

“I guess I’m selfish too,” I admit, swirling her around. “Because I don’t want to share you either.”

“That’s why we work, caveman.” She stretches up, and I lean down, and our mouths collide in a searing-hot kiss that should be outlawed in public.

“I think it’s time we retired for the night. What do you think?” My cock has been hard as a rock all day from looking at my sexy as fuck, gorgeous as fuck, wife. She has never looked more beautiful than she did today, and I plan to worship her body all night long.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she says, cheekily squeezing my ass. “I’ve been dying for you to make love to me all day.”

I laugh. “You’re as horny as a dude.”

She arches a brow. “And you’re complaining?”

I lift her up, swinging her around, and she shrieks with delight. “I never said I was complaining. Just stating a fact.” I place her feet on the ground, taking her hand as I lead her off the dance floor.

“It’s your fault anyway,” she murmurs. “Because you’re too fucking hot for your own good. I just look at you, and I want to climb all over you.”

“Fuck.” I discreetly adjust the obvious bulge in my pants, hoping no one notices the monster erection I’m sporting.

We say our goodbyes, ignoring Lauder’s crude innuendos and Xavier’s crass teasing, racing across Uncle Wes’s lawn and out onto the beach.

When we reach the door to the cabin, I scoop her up into my arms, carrying her over the threshold.

Someone has been in here today, because a myriad of soft candles is flickering in the bedroom and rose petals are strewn across the bed. A bottle of champagne is on ice along with two glasses and two pieces of the gorgeous wedding cake Olivia and Abby baked for today.

“Oh my God.” Abby jumps into my arms. “You are so thoughtful.”

“I’m tempted to take credit,” I say. “But I didn’t do this.”

“Oh.” She slides down my body, dragging me over to the bed. “My money’s on Mom.”

“Mine too,” I admit.

It’s been great having Olivia back in our lives, and not just because it makes my wife so happy. It also helps me feel connected to my mom. Olivia loves telling me happy stories of when they were growing up. Most of her mementos were destroyed in the fire, but we found a bunch of old photos in her sister Genevieve’s things, and we spent hours reminiscing over a couple of bottles of wine that night. Whatever shit they did to Olivia at Parkhurst hasn’t altered her memories of the past, and she was able to tell the story behind every photo. It’s like getting to know my mom properly for the first time.