Heart of the Hunter (111 page)

Elle shuddered. She knew what that was like.

“So when I saw my chance, I escaped. I didn’t know where I was going, or what I was going to do. I was desperate.”

“And then she ran into me,” Jackson said.

“Right,” Faith continued. “I needed Jackson. I desperately needed him.”

“And I needed her,” Jackson said.

“We ran away together,” Faith went on. “And Jackson made me pregnant.”

Jackson smiled at that part. “I did, and I knew Los Lobos would never leave Faith in peace. I knew Wolf would stop at nothing to get her back. It would be a matter of pride for him.”

“It would,” Elle said. “I know how they think. There’s no limit to what they would do, or who they would kill, to get back a woman they thought of as their property.”

“So I came here,” Faith said.

“And I knew they’d hunt her down, so I went into hiding, and picked off the members of the gang, one by one.”

Elle was nodding her head. “It took you years, didn’t it?”

“It did,” Jackson said.

“All through my childhood I remember how afraid they were,” Elle said. “They were being picked off, one by one, and they didn’t know who was doing it or why.”

Jackson shrugged. “Anyway,” he said. “We just thought you should know that. Know about that history.”

“In a way,” Faith said, “it makes us even closer. Because we were both captives of the same evil men.”

Elle felt silly. Tears were falling down her cheeks. “If you hadn’t done what you’d done,” she said to Faith, “they’d still have me.”

“Oh,” Faith said, surprised. “It was Jackson. He’s the one that killed them.”

“But he did it because you had the courage to leave them,” Elle said. “If you hadn’t had that courage, we’d both still be there, and Jackson would never have been involved.”

Faith started crying then. “I never thought of it like that. If anything, I felt guilty for all the women I left behind.”

“What Jackson did, it ended Los Lobos,” Elle said. “He killed them all. Long before the last of them was dead, the police had rescued us. Everything started to fall apart, and they could come and get us.”

“It’s the best thing I ever did,” Jackson said. “Apart from marrying Faith and starting a family, wiping that scourge from the face of the earth is the most important thing I’ve ever done.”

Elle got up from her seat and walked over to Jackson. She kissed him on each cheek.

“Thank you for killing those sons of bitches,” she said.

Then she hugged Faith, and the two women held each other as only the survivors of the same crime could do.

Chapter 53

Elle

T
HE WEDDING PLANS PROGRESSED AT
full speed and within a few days of picking out her dress, Elle found herself dialing Kelly’s phone number back in Stone Peak.

“Elle, is that you?” Kelly said, her voice breaking with emotion.

“It’s me, sweetie.”

“Oh, Elle, it’s so good to hear your voice.”

“Why, has something happened?”

“No, not at all, it’s just, I miss you, you know?”

“I know,” Elle said sympathetically.

“Things just haven’t been the same around here without you and Forrester. You came into our lives and filled everything with so much sunshine. And now you’re gone.”

“Oh, you were the one who filled my life with sunshine, Kelly. Do you remember how lost I was when you met me? I didn’t even have enough money to put gas in my car. I was destitute. And you helped me. You gave me a job, found me an apartment, you gave me a home, Kelly. And this might sound strange given how short of a time I spent there, but Stone Peak was the first real home I ever had in my life.”

Kelly started crying.

“Oh sweetie, don’t cry,” Elle said. “I’m calling with good news.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think you and Grace could shut down the diner for a few days?”

“Why?”

“So that you can come here for my wedding, silly.”

“Really?” Kelly said, her voice starting to perk up.

“Yes. Really. And Kelly, you’re going to love it here. It’s so beautiful, and everyone’s so nice, and there’s even the perfect man for you here.”

“Grady?” Kelly said, and Elle could clearly detect the sense of longing in Kelly’s voice.

She’d told Kelly all about Grady, and even sent her some photos. Kelly was smitten, but needless to say, Grady had no idea of the whole thing.

By the time Elle hung up the phone, Kelly sounded a lot happier than she had. Elle had even promised her that she, Faith and Lacey would take her dress shopping for something to wear. Kelly said she’d never been to a fancy dress store in her life. Elle also made certain that Kelly brought her kid brother, Lucas, to the wedding too.

The drive back to Stone Peak, later that day, was a strange experience for Elle. She was in one of Forrester’s luxury cars, a black SUV, and she felt very rich and taken care of. It was something she was slowly getting used to. She’d gone straight from being Cinderella to being a princess. Forrester drove with his hand holding hers, and it only added to her feeling of being looked after.

Pulling into the lot of Gracie’s diner was the strangest part of all. She’d been in such a tight position when she’d arrived there for the first time. Now she didn’t have a worry in the world.

Entering the diner, she breathed in the familiar smells of the kitchen. She smiled at the faces of the customers she knew.

“Elle,” Kelly screamed, and ran across the diner to give her a big hug.

She was a little more reserved with Forrester and they merely shook hands.

When Grace emerged from the kitchen, she had tears in her eyes.

“I don’t think I have to tell you how proud we all are of you,” Grace said.

Elle felt so much love for the woman in that moment.

“Elle,” Grace said.

There was a tone in Grace’s voice that told Elle she was about to say something serious. “You’re like a daughter to me. I know we worked together for quite a short time, but during that time, you showed yourself to be a true and loyal friend. I want you to know that.”

“Thank you, Gracie,” Elle said.

Grace continued. “That’s why it’s so hard for me to tell you that I won’t be able to attend your wedding.”

“What? I so wanted you to be there.”

“I know you did sweetheart, and I’m grateful to you for caring so much, but I haven’t left this diner unattended in twenty years and I just don’t think I can do it now. Not on such short notice. Some people are just better suited to their one place in the world. You girls go and have fun for me.”

Elle was disappointed but she understood what Grace was saying. Grace lived and breathed for her diner, and shutting the place just wasn’t something she could do.

“I understand,” she said to Grace.

Grace nodded sagely and took a small box from her pocket. “This is for you,” she said.

Elle looked at the box. It was small and black and lined with velvet, like a box from an expensive jeweler.

“Can I open it now?” she said.

“Of course you can, angel,” Grace said.

Elle looked into Grace’s eyes. She’d never felt so cared for by an older woman in her life.

“Thank you, Grace,” she said as she opened the little box.

Inside was something sparkly. Elle’s breath caught in her throat. It was a diamond bracelet, the kind that movie stars used to wear when they played tennis. It was stunning.

“Grace,” she gasped.

Grace just nodded. “It was something my mother owned, and her mother before her. Since I never had a daughter, I wanted to give it to you for your wedding day.”

“You can’t,” Elle said, but Grace just shook her head.

“It’s yours sweetie.”

Elle shut the box. She didn’t know what to say. She hugged and kissed Grace and thanked her profusely, but she felt uncomfortable accepting the gift. Surely it should have gone to Kelly, not her. Kelly had practically been raised by Grace, and she needed it more. She had nothing. Elle was getting everything.

Once back in the car with Kelly, Elle swore to herself that she would figure out a way to help Kelly with her life. Everything good that was happening to her started with Kelly’s deciding to help her out. She owed so much to Kelly, and she wasn’t going to forget her now that she was getting married to the man of her dreams.

It would take time. You can’t help a person overnight. It takes patience and consistency. Elle knew that she wouldn’t be able to snap her fingers and make Kelly’s life as happy as hers was. But she did know that after her wedding, when things quietened down, she would work on being the best possible friend she could possibly be to Kelly, even though they would be living in different states. After all, as Elle was fast learning, there are few things in life as beautiful as bringing happiness to a person you loved.

Chapter 54

Forrester

F
ORRESTER FELT LIKE THE HAPPIEST
man ever to have lived. He couldn’t believe it was his wedding day already. He stood at the altar, at the place he’d chosen for the wedding, and glanced out over the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. It was a breathtaking view. Then he turned to face the guests. It was a small ceremony, as all of the Brotherhood weddings were, with the men all standing next to him, and Faith, Lacey and Kelly waiting for the bride. Faith and Lacey were holding their beautiful babies. He smiled at the women. Then he smiled at Grant, Grady and Faith and Jackson’s son, Sam. Next to Sam was Luke, Kelly’s little brother. The two boys were about the same age and had sparked off an energetic friendship. The same priest who’d married Grant and Lacey was performing the ceremony.

The only two people missing were Elle, and Jackson. It had been decided by Elle that Jackson should be the one to give her away, since he was the one who’d been responsible for her getting away from Los Lobos.

When Forrester set eyes on Elle, she took his breath away. She was the most stunningly beautiful creature he’d ever seen. He admired every inch of her body, from her pretty feet in their white shoes, to the luxurious gown that was draped over her delicious curves, to the thin veil that covered the most beautiful face he’d ever dreamed of.

This was it. This was his moment of truth. This was the moment every guy dreamed of, the moment he truly became a man. Forrester had never realized it before, but now, as Elle walked slowly toward him, Jackson at her side, the music of a string quartet wafting in the air, he saw his life for what it was. For what it always had been.

And what it had been was a journey up to this very moment. More than most people, Forrester knew what it meant to say that he’d been born alone. In a very real sense, he’d been more alone than most babies that were born into the world. His mother had died the moment he first drew breath. His father hated him for it right from the beginning. He’d come into a world without love, but he still had a heart. There’d been no warmth for him as a child, but he’d craved it just as much as everyone else in the world. He’d searched for it. He’d thirsted for it.

And this was the moment that that thirst would be satisfied. This was the moment that he would be made complete.

Like him, Elle had come into the world alone. Her own mother couldn’t care for her, and in desperation, had given her to the cruelest criminals ever to operate in the southwest.

For both Forrester and Elle, the desperately dark circumstances of their birth were finally being wrapped up in a moment of pure light.

And that light was love.

Forrester held his breath as Elle approached the altar. He simply could not believe how beautiful she was, or how much love he felt for her. He felt as if he couldn’t live without her. He rose his hand to his face and wiped away a single tear that was falling over his cheek, then he silently mouthed the words, “I love you,” to her.

She smiled back at him and then turned to the priest.

Forrester wasn’t even sure he’d heard the words the priest said. They were the usual words for a classical wedding ceremony. Forrester said his vow when it was his turn. He heard Elle say her vow. He placed the ring, handed to him by Grady, on Elle’s finger and she did the same, Kelly being the one to pass her the ring.

When the priest finally said the words, “I now pronounce you man and wife,” Forrester lifted Elle up into his arms, and at the same time lifted his own soul up to God and thanked Him for bringing him all the happiness in the world.

He kissed his new bride deeply and passionately, and as he kissed her, the setting sun turned the entire sky a deep crimson. He saw Jackson nod at Sam and Luke. The two boys ran off into the grass and a moment later, fireworks started exploding all over the evening sky.

To say Forrester was happy doesn’t begin to describe how he felt. Becoming a husband, getting the wife of his dreams, those are the things men’s lives are defined by. Those are the very core of a man’s life. Elle was the love of Forrester’s life. She was his wife now. That meant he had to love and protect her for as long as he lived, and that she would do the same for him. She was carrying his child. That meant that the very future of his blood, his legacy, it was all in her hands. She was his prize and his queen at the same time. She would spend her life serving him and making him happy, and at the same time, he would be a slave to her comfort and safety. He would do whatever it took to protect her and bring her joy.

The last thing she saw every night before she fell asleep would be his eyes. The first thing she felt in the morning before opening her eyes would be his lips. He loved her in the truest sense of the word. He loved her in that way that only someone who’s been abused can love. He loved her as if she was life itself.

And he wanted her. She was his now, and he wanted to claim her, body and soul.

There was a dinner planned, dancing, some speeches by the people they loved, and Forrester looked forward to all of it. He looked forward to sharing his first meal with Elle as husband and wife.

But what he looked forward to most, what he craved, was to get her into the honeymoon suite of their hotel. He was going to be merciless.

Chapter 55