Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(110)

She cups my hands in hers, squeezing them tightly. “I know you’re sorry, honey. I don’t regret my decision for even a second. Everything will work out, okay? Let’s get this wedding over with. Cole’s parents are on the way to pick him up. I’m sure he will understand the situation here. You and Josh didn’t have a choice. Both of you are pawns in a game that has no rules.”

Megs hugs me tight before she pulls away and looks at me with tears in her eyes. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Thank you for being my corner stone,” I say, tears running down my face.

The door opens and Elise and Elon step inside the room. They look stunning in matching lavender dresses, but the look on their faces dulls the beauty. My father made sure his show was spectacular and went all the way.

“It’s time, sis,” Elise says, offering me a comforting smile. “Everyone is waiting.”

I nod and force a smile. “Let’s do this.” I walk toward the door and stop to hug my siblings. “I love you both so much.”

“We love you too,” they say in unison.

“Let’s show The Monster that he hasn’t won in any way,” Elise says, tugging the strap of my dress back over my shoulder.

Minutes later, I’m standing at the back of the church, watching through the veil that covers my face as my sisters walk down the aisle. Soon, the Wedding March song fills the air. My father appears at my side. I feel his hand on my elbow and I jerk mine away.

“Don’t touch me,” I snarl under my breath.

His hand falls away. We start to walk toward Josh, who is standing stoically before the pew. His eyes hooded in the pain caused by what he has to do. Glancing to my side, I see a few people, some wearing police uniforms. They stare at me as I pass and I wonder if they know the kind of man they work with. The man they respect. The Monster among them.

My gaze shifts to the other side of the aisle and I meet Grandma’s eyes. She dabs her eyes with a handkerchief using fingers ridden with arthritis. She shakes her head as if she can’t believe what is happening. I pull my gaze from her and focus on the man standing a few feet away. Josh tugs at his tie and then coughs into his hand. His lips quirk to the sides even though that smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

Suddenly, his entire body freezes. His gaze lifts above my head. Fear washes over his features. I halt mid-stride, my pulse picking up a furious beat in my ear. Only one thing can make him react this way.

Cole.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise in awareness and I feel his eyes on me even before I turn around.

“Cole,” I breath out when I turn around, pushing the veil over my head. My heart soars and tears of joy burn my eyes. I can’t believe he is here. He’s wearing a gray T-shirt that hugs his tight chest, framing the lean muscles he’s obviously earned in prison. He looks ridiculously hot and dangerous at the same time.

Thank God, he is safe and sound.

He eyes me up and down, as confusion enters his face. “What’s going on, Nor?”

I blink, puzzled by his question. Didn’t his parents explain to him in the car what was going on?

I crane my neck to look over his shoulder, but I can’t see Benjamin and Maggie anywhere.

“Nor?” he says my name again.

“Your parents. . .”

Cole’s gaze abandons mine and raises over my head. “Josh?” His eyes dart between me and his brother, as the pieces of the puzzle move around inside his head.

I watch as disbelief fills his features as the pieces click in place.

I watch as anger, then hurt form a path of destruction on his face.

“Nor!” He says my name and signs it at the same time.

I’m sorry. I whisper the words in my thoughts. “I’m sorry,” I say them a little louder. “I’m so, so sorry, Cole. I thought your mom and dad told you by now.” I say his name on a broken sob.

His eyes move to Josh, and then to me. Cole shakes his head, his eyes narrowed.

“Talk to me, Nor.” Torment crowds his face.

Anguish splits me in two. I wish I could give him more than my tears. I wish I could give him words that will make him understand, as much as this decision is wrong on so many levels, it’s also the right choice.

His hands curl into fists and a muscle twitches in his jaw. Ten steps forward and he’s standing in front of me, begging me with his eyes. “Why, Nor?”

“Is there a problem here?” My dad drawls in a bored voice, reminding me he is standing beside me.

His gaze bores into mine, a smug look on his face. He’s enjoying this. He’s absorbing the scene with greediness, it makes me nauseous. He looks at Cole, and then me.

I ignore him and focus on Cole. I need five seconds to talk to him and explain what is happening. Five seconds to crush his world, along with mine to save him. To save my family. To save me, because if anything ever happens to him, I will cease to exist. I would rather have Cole safe and him hating me, than dead.

“Can I talk to you?” I finally manage to sign with shaking fingers.

Cole shoots me a hard look I’ve never seen before on his handsome face and nods. He starts to move toward me, past me. I exhale in relief, but the sickening sound of bone connecting with bone robs air from my lungs. I spin around and the sight before me stops my heart from beating, freezing me on the spot.