Ascending Darkness (Shattering the Darkness) (34 page)

“I loved your fire… your confidence… the beauty that
shone through your eyes. I knew you were hiding something, but that you were strong. That it would take a lot to knock you down, where you wouldn’t be able to get back up.” I smile sadly at him, my heart racing, my mind thinking back to that awful time in my life before him. He leans down to kiss me softly, continuing to speak against my mouth, “I knew that I would have to pursue you aggressively because of that something that you were hiding. I knew you were not the average woman… and I would have to go about things differently with you. And I knew… without a shadow of a doubt… that you were my dove…”

“That’s so crazy, Brecc,” I whisper against his mouth, “How could you be so sure I wasn’t some psycho
, slut bitch who just liked to play games and go after your money?” I smile against his mouth, making light of the conversation. Devilment shining in my eyes.

“I could be
sure
,” he begins, with a light laugh, “because of your eyes, dove,” his voice and eyes turn serious, “You are a very good liar, but that day, I saw a woman wearing a mask to hide her true self from the world. A mask that you were terrified to let go. I’ve become very good at reading people with the business I’m in, and that’s what I read in you. You intrigued me and fascinated me. I could tell you wanted me, but there was no way you would let yourself have me. You kept fighting yourself… because you were scared.”

“I can’t believe you knew all that since that day,” I shake my head
, astounded.

“Believe,” he moves away from me and crawls out of bed.

I watch with a confused look on my face as he reaches in his jacket pocket and comes back to the bed. He pulls me over to the edge by my hand off the bed until I am standing in front of him, both of us still nude from making love. I look at his hand to see what he grabbed but he has it hidden in his large, manly fist.

“Believe,” he says again, “because that day in your bar, when you agreed to no more running…?”

“Yes…?” I answer still utterly confused.

“As soon as I left there, I went out,” he grabs my hand in his and
descends to one knee and my heart stops. Literally. Stops. My heart. My breathing. My body refuses to function.
Is this really happening?
“And I got you this,” he says opening the white De Beers box, a glint of light flashing across my eyes.

Nestled inside the
plush white, velvet slit pillow inside the box is the most exquisite ostentatious canary, cushion cut diamond ring, surrounded by dozens of diamonds, along with other diamonds enveloping the band. It has to be easily eight carats.

“Oh… my… fucking… God…” I
exclaim, finally breathing out.

My heart remembered it has to keep me living and kicks into high speed to make up for the lost time.

“Dove, you are my everything. I know you feel the same. I love you Harper Isabelle Reagan. Say yes. Say yes and be my wife,” he asks the million dollar question.

I look up into his
cerulean eyes, my own filled with tears, in disbelief that this beautiful and amazing man wants to spend the rest of his life with
me
. I can hardly believe, that after everything that has happened to me… that this amazing Adonis… is my reward. I drop down to my knees in front of him and place my hands on his stubble covered jaw, pushing his hair out of my way.

“You are everything to me as well
,” I begin, “I never knew… never
dreamed
that I would have all of this. That I would find someone who knows the absolute worst things about me and still be willing to drop to a knee and ask to keep me.” I lean forward and press my mouth to his, curling my tongue inside. “I would be honored to be your wife, Breccan Alexander Caldwell,” I whisper against his lips, my voice choked with emotion.

  His mouth smashes onto mine, devouring me. He lifts me up and places me back on the bed, following me in. He removes the ring from the box and slides it onto my finger.

I almost hate to admit it, but the beauty of it and what it represents only turns me on more as I stare at the magnificent canary diamond twinkling in the moonlight streaming in from the windows.

I place my hands back on his face and pull him closer. I love this beautiful Adonis, more than anything in the world. His ability to give me my happily ever after has only made me love him that much more.

“Make love to me… husband to be,” I say.

“I would love nothing more, sweet dove,” he replies.

Four months later…

Fuck, I am so nervous.

And excited.

And I feel a bit ridiculous, truth be told.

I never thought this would actually happen for me. I was too afraid to even dream for it to be possible.

I stand at the door and
recall everything in my head for the thousandth time. I didn’t really have anything to do with this damn thing. It was all Breccan.

And Avery…

God forbid he be left out.

I laugh to myself as I straighten my dress and smooth my hair down. Avery has been on a mission these past few months trying to make sure everything is perfect. Checking color schemes and locations. Contacting everyone who he deemed needed to be involved. I told him and Breccan, and well everyone, that I didn’t need all this. They insisted that I did and it would make me happy, but I still don’t think I really even care.

All that matters is what happens after today…. The rest of our lives…

I look at the clock just as it chimes eight times. Time to get this show on the road. I open the door
on the eighth chime and step out into a magical wonderland. Tears fill my eyes as I take it all in.

We are staying in what can only be described as a castle and I step out onto a massive walkway that takes dozens of stairs down to the
massive garden that has been decorated for the event.

I take my first step out onto the warm stone with my bare feet and look out to the west where the sun is beginning to set. I take a deep breath and close my eyes;
taking in the smell of the ocean air and sound of the waves crashing down below me. I can make out the sounds of everyone beginning to gather at the beaches for the Loi Krathong Festival here in Thailand.

I walk down a couple dozen steps and spot Nikko waiting for me… to walk me down the remain
der of the way. The music slowly starts to float up to us; Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden. I smile as I lace my arm through Nikko’s.

“You look amazing, baby girl,” he tells me
proudly. I look up into his eyes and smile.

Joy.

That is what I am feeling, and now all I can think is that I have to thank Avery and Breccan for making me do this; to have Nikko here with me for
this
.

“Thank you,” I tell him and turn my body to face him. I place my free hand on his jaw and whisper, “for everything. You have given me everything. You
gave me… life. Without you…” I close my eyes briefly while I shake my head and look back into his, “without you, I wouldn’t be…” I can feel the hot, tears pool in my eyes.

“Shh… baby girl,” he tells me and wipes
a tear that has spilled over. “You are the one who made it through. I don’t regret a minute of our time together, and now it’s time for you to start a life with a new man,” he smiles at me.

I smile in return then turn back forward, once again wrapping my hands around the bouquet of a dozen calla lilies that are tied together with
a pale yellow satin ribbon. I smooth my dress and thank Avery once again in my head for making everything
so
easy for me as we take our first steps together down towards the garden.

Avery had searched high and low for the perfect dress and he nailed it. He decided that he had a vision and he wanted it designed by someone top of the line. He reached out and gave a design concept to Carolina Herrera and the results were
more than perfect.

It is
a strapless chiffon over satin dress, with a lace trimmed sweetheart neckline. The bust line has a gold beaded lace appliques with a twist detail at the empire waistline which flows into a double layered skirt with a ruffled front hem and a short sweep train.

“It
is the most perfect dress for this!” Avery had told me.

I could only shake my head and smile at him. I didn’t really care, but after Brynn helped me slip it on I couldn’t deny what a genius he is.

They styled my hair into soft ringlets down my back and shoulders and placed a vintage flower and diamond headband onto the top of my head.

I look up as we reach the bottom of the stairs
, to the garden that is just on the other side of the massive, silk curtain, with hand sewn rhinestones, which twinkle in the moonlight. Breccan wanted the exclusivity, especially from the paparazzi, but I refused to be covered in a tent in this gorgeous place. If they want to see us that bad, so be it, I don’t care.

There is no longer a reason to hide.

The press had found out about me and interestingly enough put a positive spin on it. Focusing more on the work I have since done for
The Dove Foundation
. I put that more down to Blackcard and the work they do. That is what I finally decided to name the homes and shelters I made for all of the different charities that we support.
The Dove Foundation
now coordinates and organizes all of the charities done by Caldwell, Inc.

There has been an
overwhelming and outpouring amount of support and donations. All of those high society people decided they liked the idea that they would actually be able to see the results. It didn’t hurt that the founding member had spent millions getting it running over the past ten years.

I did away with most of the fancy dinners to raise money. Instead, I set it up to invite the women and children and victims to a massive event, paying for them to go and meet the ones who have donated to help them. It has actually helped to raise even more
funds. We have set it up to do two a month traveling from state to state. We are, however, taking this month off, for a very good reason.

I
also agreed with Avery’s reasoning that no one should see the grand unveiling. Once he showed me the photographs of the location, I knew that I didn’t want everyone watching me walk down all those stairs. So they placed everyone on the opposite side of where the reception will take place and away from the rear side of the castle where I walk down.

“Ready?” Nikko asks me
, meaningfully, as the attendants move to the curtain and prepare to pull it back. The music behind the curtain changes to Ellie Goulding’s How Long Will I Love You, causing goosebumps to raise on my skin.

“More than anything,” I answer him and stare straight ahead.

I see Nikko nod through the corner of my eye and the men open the curtain revealing a magical wonderland…

I thought the garden at the Caldwell estate was impressive, but it doesn’t hold a candle to this place.
There are phalaenopsis, oncidium, cattleya, dendrobium, and vanda adorning everywhere.

The gazebo
, at the end of the aisle, is floating on a jetty located on a small pond. At the back of the pond is a small waterfall coming down a rock wall. There is an array of lights and lanterns floating in the water… they’re everywhere…

I look down the aisle and see so many new acquaintances,
I’m purposely trying not to make eye contact with my Adonis’s cerulean blue eyes. Everyone is dressed in shades of white and pastels per Avery’s explicit invitation orders.

After the… incident… I started working for Breccan. I didn’t want to rebuild
Ricominciare
. It was tainted for me and I wanted to start fresh…

I found all of my staff new, better paying jobs through Breccan’s company. Breccan hired Nikko as his Chief Security Officer and
he made a new position of Fundraising Coordinator, putting me in charge of any and all charity functions. I also do a lot of work with Human Resources, helping to screen people that would be a perfect fit for
The Dove Foundation
.

So almost everyone from work was flown out to our wedding and some new business
acquaintances we have both made, thanks to the press we got a few months ago. We even invited one resident from one of the homes in each state. We drew a random name of anyone who was doing well and has recovered nicely, then flew them out here with us. All expenses paid. And we, of course, brought Bane with us.

As I get closer to the end of the aisle I see
Avery and Breccan’s family all standing in the front with huge smiles. Harvey, Caroline, Peyton and Landon all ready to welcome me into their family.

I felt so horrible for what had happened to Landon, but he has recovered quickly and the amazing Caldwell family were extremely
understanding, much to my surprise. I thought they would forbid me from seeing Breccan, but they only opened their arms to me.