Old feelings—sorrow, guilt, and fury—barraged him. He swallowed tightly, doing his best to shove the emotions aside and focus on the moment. He just had to live through each, one at a time, until the day finally ended. Then all these reminders of his past—and his potential future—would be over.
“I know,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
He couldn’t stand the pity on her face, so he looked away, focusing on the altar and the sunset.
“What time is it?” Heavenly whispered into the silence.
Seth glanced at his watch. “Two minutes since the last time you asked. Don’t worry, Raine will be walking down the aisle any second now.”
As if his comment had conjured her, the bride appeared at the back of the rooftop, clutching River’s arm. Heavenly gasped softly as her gaze fell on her best friend. They joined the other guests and stood, watching the siblings cross the threshold. Raine’s dark hair fluttered over her bare shoulders. Her smile shimmered. She looked stunning and full of joy as she walked toward her grooms, her slender legs and bare feet exposed by the slits in her flowing white gown.
“Raine looks so beautiful,” Heavenly said, her voice trembling. “She’s come so far from that bloody, beaten woman I met in the ER last December.”
“She has,” Seth whispered, grateful for another topic to focus on. “She’s a strong, resilient survivor…like you. You’re not the same girl I met that day, either.”
“Because you two helped me through everything,” she said, giving his arm a tight squeeze while Raine and River strode past them, all smiles.
At the altar, Hammer and Liam were beaming, too. They had forged an unbreakable bond of love with Raine, cemented by the birth of their daughters. At the lodge, when he and Beck had helped the guys break through Raine’s walls, Seth had wondered if this day would ever come. Now that the grooms, faces filled with unadulterated love, watched their precious girl glide toward them, their joy was evident.
Seth had never seen Liam this happy. He’d been beside his Irish friend the day he’d married Gwyneth in a somber recitation of vows, as if he’d understood he was shouldering the weight of the world with his I do’s. But as River placed his sister’s hands in Hammer’s and Liam’s and the two men settled her between them, Liam looked jubilant.
After working through their considerable issues, the trio now had a shimmering future in front of them.
“Not too late to change your mind, princess.” Beck winked.
Everyone took their seats with a laugh, but neither groom looked amused. Liam glared. Hammer growled.
Raine shook her head, her voice unsteady. “It was too late a long time ago.”
“Then let’s get you married.” Beck cleared his throat. “We’re here today to witness the joining of three people we all know and admire…”
As Beck led the ceremony, Heavenly nuzzled Ciara’s chubby little cheek, then peered up at him and Catronia. “You two okay there?”
His angel worried about him, and he didn’t want her to. But the adoration and concern shimmering on her face made his heart skip. He loved her so goddamn much, and he had no clue what he’d done to deserve her, but he was beyond grateful. And not for anything did he want her to know that he was a wreck.
Seth pressed a kiss to her temple. “Fine.”
As she watched the ceremony, Ciara in her arms, Seth stole glances at her rapt face. Heavenly would make one hell of a loving mother.
Yeah, and who’s going to knock her up?
Quickly, he shuttled the question, but ignoring it didn’t erase the longing in her expression. As Raine, Hammer, and Liam committed themselves to one another and their family, tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
His angel ached for what those three had. Could he give it to her?
Seth swallowed and tried to imagine would it be like if he, Beck, and Heavenly stood where those three were right now, promising to love, support, encourage, and comfort each other for the rest of their lives. He wanted Heavenly to be theirs. He wanted to put a ring on her finger. But if he did, Beck and Heavenly wouldn’t merely have hopes for the future; they would have expectations beyond love and pleasure that Seth wasn’t sure he would ever be ready to fulfill.
The trio finished repeating their vows, then a playful smile tugged at Beck’s lips. “What these three have worked so hard to put together, let no asshole put asunder. And now—as far as I’m concerned—you’re married!”
Seth had to shake his head. He should have expected that, even at the pulpit, Beck would say something irreverent.
What Seth hadn’t expected was Liam cupping Raine’s chin and commanding her to kneel. Beside him, Hammer raised a demanding brow her way.
“What are they doing?” Heavenly whispered. “Why do they look so…serious?”
From his pocket, Liam pulled a thin band of braided metal with a dangling locket. Seth froze. He knew exactly what they intended.
“They’re collaring Raine, too.”