[B.S. #2] Bound to Cyn (21 page)

“Angel, when we get so close to a person that we become almost one, we sometimes can’t sense things happening to them, like you can with others you’re not so close to. You always knew when something was going to happen to the unit, but you could never tell if you were in danger. Remember when you got shot? You didn’t see it coming. So give yourself a break and just look after your lady from now on.” James turned back to the game.

“I agree with James.” Cyn pulled Angel’s head down and her lips met his. She tried to put everything she felt for this man behind her kiss. He would always be her own personal hero, her Angel.

Angel devoured her lips like he couldn’t get enough of her. Letting them go, he buried his face in her hair and breathed in the scent of Cinnamon. She wore a scent like her namesake but, to Angel, it just smelt like home. He would always be grateful to Brad. Turning his face toward the guys watching TV, but still holding onto Cyn, he thanked Brad. He hadn’t had time in the days past to thank him for Cyn not being hurt.

“No problem, Angel, anytime,” Brad answered back around a mouthful of chips as he lazed back in his chair.

“Well, you could have just nicked him and we would have been out of here soon,” James spoke up after taking a sip of his beer.

Brad stopped munching and looked at James in disbelief. “What if it had been Avery? Would you have wanted him just nicked and still walking around, never knowing if he would have come after her again?”

James rested his bottle on his jean leg and seemed to ponder Brad’s reply. “No, good shooting. One less to worry about. I don’t know why I even questioned you. I trusted your judgment in the army and you’re still coming through for us.” James raised his bottle and saluted Brad. The rest of the guys joined in. The good guys had won this round.

Angel just squeezed Cyn tighter. “It was a great shot.”

* * * *

Angel untangled his arms from around Cyn and rose from the couch. Reaching down, he took her hand and raised her to stand beside him. “Come with me.” Angel led Cyn out onto the balcony and closed the door on the noise of the guys watching the game. Putting an arm around her, he led her to the edge of the balcony and told her to look at the stars. It was a clear night and the stars were so brilliant.

“The stars above are what my grandmother named me after. She named me Ahtahkakoop. My mother died in childbirth and my grandmother took me in. My father disappeared that same night. She told me that the stars that night were shining more brilliantly than she had ever seen and just knew that I was going to be special, like the blanket of stars above. Well I don’t know about that part of it, but I would like to blanket you with my stars for the rest of your life. When you went missing, I felt like part of my soul had departed with you. I never want to have that feeling again. With you I feel whole. So, what I’m trying to ask you is if you will stay with me. Join your soul with mine for the rest of our lives.”

“Angel, are you asking, what I think you’re asking?” Cry looked up into Angel’s eyes that were black and as serious as she had ever seen them.

Angel gently cupped her face in both of his hands. He gave her a small kiss and stepped back from her. “I know this is sudden, but I love you. You are the soul mate my grandmother told me I would find one day, if I was lucky. So yes, I would like our souls to be joined. If that is marriage, then that’s what I want. I hope you feel the same way?”

Cyn was so surprised she didn’t know what to say. This man had become her whole world in the few short days since they met. She knew that they really hadn’t spent enough time together. But she couldn’t resist the pull this man had on her every time he was around. On some level she knew that what he spoke of was true. She felt safe and whole when he was around. “Yes, Angel, I feel the same way.”

Angel didn’t give her time to finish when he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into his arms and swung her around and soundly kissed her. Still holding her high in his arms, Angel opened the sliding glass door and gave a war yell that stopped all conversation. Clay turned down the TV and they all looked at Angel with Cyn held in his arms.

“This woman has just agreed to join her soul with mine for life. As a big part of my life and family, I wanted you all to be the first to know.” Angel had a wide happy grin on his face as he told the stunned guys in the living room. All the guys jumped to their feet and approached the couple, thumping Angel on his back as they all gave him enthusiastic good wishes.

The only one that didn’t rise was Lance, who still sat in his chair with a stunned look on his face. Cyn noticed after all the guys had hugged her. Leaving the group around Angel, she made her way to his chair and knelt down beside it. “Aren’t you happy for me?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little sudden? I like Angel, what I know of him, don’t get me wrong. But this just seems to be too quick.” Lance had sat forward in his chair as he looked at Cyn kneeling before him. “I want you to be happy.”

Cyn took both of Lance’s hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. “I am happy, Lance. Just be my friend and wish me luck. With Angel, I have a man that is everything I wanted.”

“OK, but I will be around if you ever need me.” Lance returned the squeeze with a slight grin on his face.

“Oh, Lance, don’t worry. We will be together as always, that’s not going to change. We have the club and a friendship that will continue. Please just be happy for me.”

James cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Well this calls

for a drink.” Walking over to the fridge, he pulled out a bottle of

champagne.

“Where did that come from?” Angel asked as James pulled the cork out of the bottle and Clay gathered glasses out of the cupboard.

“I bought this to celebrate with Avery when I got back and we could continue our honeymoon, but I think this news is worthy of my champagne.”

Pouring out the champagne, James filled the glasses that Clay was holding and every one soon had a glass full. Lance rose from his chair and Cyn got up and moved over to Angel’s side.

Clay spoke up and raised his glass. “This is for a great guy, who saved our butts numerous times. Our best friend and for the woman that is his soul mate. If anyone would know, it would be Angel. So let’s drink to their health and a long life.”

James looked at Clay. “That was my line.”

“Well, I’m the oldest. So in our little family of ours, I get to make the toast.” Clay just gave James a sly glance, took a long sip of his champagne, and smacked his lips.

After the drinks had been drunk and the guys were just sitting around talking, Lance walked up to Angel.

“I only know you through Clay and the few days at the Club. So I am going to be blunt. Cyn has been a part of my life since we were young. I have always looked out for her and I want you to know that while I trust Clay’s judgment on the people he hangs around with, I will be watching. Just think of me as Cyn’s guardian angel.”

“I respect your feelings and am glad that Cyn has a friend like you that will look after her. But let me reassure you. Cyn is the other half of my soul. I would never hurt her and will protect her with my life until the end of my days.”

James walked up to both of them. “You two seem to be having a serious discussion. What’s it about?”

Angel turned to James. “Lance was just warning me about looking after Cyn.”

“You don’t have to worry about Angel, Lance. The guys and I will vouch for him. I know he will treasure Cyn until the end of times.”

“Angel, did you do the noble thing and ask her parents’ permission to marry Cyn? Avery had no parents or close relatives so I didn’t have to go through that. And what about your grandmother? Don’t you think you should tell her?” James asked Angel.

Lance spoke up and answered James. “Her parents wouldn’t care. They didn’t help her when she needed them years ago and made it known that she is not their daughter anymore. So, I’m the closest that you get to family.” Lance looked over at Cyn as she talked to Clay and Chase. “She looks so happy, I guess I give my blessings.”

“Well, I have met Angel’s grandmother and she will want to know. Isn’t it usually the elders that negotiate the marriage settlement and plans?” James looked at Angel with a grin.

Angel laughed at James. “You’re right. She will be calling Cyn’s parents and wanting a marriage settlement. If I know her, I better call and tell her.”

“Maybe we should stop on our way back and let her meet Cyn?” James enquired of Angel.

“I would like that, but it’s not easy to get to, you know that from our last visit. She still lives on the reserve. And what about Avery? She must be anxious for you to return home.”

“Let me deal with Avery. I can have her meet me at the airport in Havre City in Montana, close to the reserve, and we can all go and see your grandmother. I always liked the area around there. Maybe I will continue my honeymoon after the visit. In fact, let me break the news to your grandmother. And we will surprise her with the visit.”

“I don’t know about that. I should call her.” Angel watched as James took out his cell phone.

“Angel, you’re part of my extended family, also. Let me do this. It will make the surprise even greater when we get there. I’ll tell her that you are on a mission and can’t call right now.”

“OK, I’ll leave it you.” Angel looked over at Cyn talking to Chase and his concentration turned from his grandmother to watching Chase, the smooth talker, trying to work his charm on her. He was making Cyn laugh and Angel jealous, so he hurried over to her side.

James watched Angel hurry over to Cyn. He then took Lance by the arm, his other hand still holding his cell phone, and guided him into one of the small bedrooms.

“Lance, I know that you might have misgivings about Angel, but I’ve never met a better man. I wanted to talk to you about the wedding ceremony that Angel’s grandmother will want. I think we should give it to her. She’s ninety and as smart as a tack, I think she deserves this. I’m going to call her and arrange everything. Your job is to inform Cyn without Angel finding out. If I know Angel’s grandmother, she will have everything ready when we get there, she’s a ball of energy. We can have another wedding ceremony after, if Cyn wants one. But I think Angel would like to go with the old traditions to please his grandmother.”

“I think Cyn will agree to just about anything that Angel would want. She has fallen hard for him,” Lance agreed.

“Leave it to me. Just make sure Angel doesn’t find out.” James raised his cell phone and was already starting to dial. Lance left the room to try and get Cyn from under Angel’s watchful eye and tell her about James’s plan.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Two days later they were allowed to leave and were finally boarding the jet. The night of their celebration, they had all thought that it was their last night in California and were all anxious to go home. But a knock on the door early the next morning changed their way of thinking. The Feds were back again on the other side, wanting more questions answered. Hours turned into two days. They went over their story time and again. Angel didn’t get it. How many times did they have to tell the same story?

James seemed to be taking it better than Angel thought he would. After all, he had Avery waiting for him at home. But all the guys took it in stride, not complaining too much, which puzzled Angel. Even Lance didn’t seem in any rush to get back to the club. Lance had talked to the Doms at the club and after Cyn’s disappearance, there were no more incidents of a man trying to grab women in the parking lot. Everything was quiet.

The plane touched down two hours later in a small airport in the middle of nowhere. Two stretch limos were waiting. Angel didn’t know why he was surprised at them being there. It seemed everywhere they went with Chase, limos were always waiting for them.

After piling into the limos, they had the long drive to the reserve. As they approached, they noticed a cloud of smoke rising from the middle of the small village. Getting closer, Angel could make out a bunch of people waiting for them at the entrance. Angel looked over at James. “I thought this was a surprise?”

“Well it is a surprise—for you,” James replied and opened the door as the limo stopped in front of the people gathered there.

Angel first noticed his grandmother, all dressed in ceremonial dress among the people gathered around the limo. The next thing he heard was a large whoop. Turning to his right, he spotted Avery step away from the others and jump into James’s arms as he neared her. Turning back, he looked down at Cyn sitting beside him and saw the wide smile on her face. “What’s up? You look like you know what is going on.”

Cyn just grabbed on to Angel’s arm and they both got out of the limo. “Just go with it, Angel. Introduce me to your grandmother.”

Angel took Cyn by her elbow and led her to a small wrinkled woman in full regalia, beaming at them with a wide smile. As they reached her, she took her two small hands and raised them to Angel’s face and pulled him down until he was eye level with her.

“My boy, I am so proud of you.” Letting him go, she reached a hand out to Cyn. “And this is your special lady. I can see the glow come off both of you. It is very special when you meet your soul mate in the same lifetime. Cyn, I am glad that you finally found my boy. I told him he would find his soul mate and he did.”

The small woman took Cyn by the hand and started to lead her away from the crowd. Angel started to follow, but she turned and found James. Looking at James, she gave him a nod. “I will look after Cyn. You are to look after Angel. You know what to do.” Then she just continued to lead Cyn away to her small house that could be seen halfway down the village.

James let Avery down. Still holding her hand, he walked over to Angel, gripping his shoulder. “Let her go. We have things to do. Clay, Brad, Grant, come with us.” Lance and Chase, who were chatting up two native beauties, also left off at hearing his words and followed James. They went to a large house just to the left.

Cyn was ushered into the grandmother’s house. The house was small but well kept and smelled of exotic flavors. Leading Cyn pass the kitchen into a bedroom, Angel’s grandmother showed her a very beautiful native dress. “This is for you. I made this for Angel’s mother when she got married. I would be proud if you would wear it today when you become Angel’s wife and daughter of my heart.”