Wretched Love

Kate

“This is ruining my makeup,”I grumbled as Swiss guided me out of the car. He was guiding me because I was blindfolded which had been the case since he’d put me in the car.

It was Violet’s birthday.

Nineteen.

She’d slept over and we’d restrained ourselves for one night, though it was harder than it should’ve been. We had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, and Swiss brought coffees from Oliver’s. The day we signed the contract on the space, I’d told Julian I had to hand in my notice. He had been pissed off to be losing his barista but also incredibly happy for me. Because he was that kind of guy. Because I’d found myself surrounded with people who only wanted the best for me.

Swiss had also bought Violet a gift that I did not know about but that he’d obviously gotten some female’s opinion on because it was kickass and just the right size. A leather jacket. Buttery, expensive leather. Similar to one he’d given me a long time ago, one I wore whenever we were on the bike.

“You’re part of my family now,” he’d said as he presented it to her. “Gotta look the part.”

She’d loved the jacket. Absolutely loved it. In fact, she’d shoved it on top of her PJs and demanded Swiss take her on a ride. Not one to refuse the birthday girl, he did, and she’d come back with bright eyes and a beaming smile. I’d been worried about that smile because I recognized it. It was someone falling in love with the thrill of being on the back of someone’s bike.

I tried my best to push those thoughts aside.

I’d bought her a necklace—a simple gold chain with a floating solitaire garnet pendant in the middle—since she’d donated the diamond one her father got her. Along with everything else he’d ever given her. We’d also organized movers to go into our old house, gather up all of Violet’s things and have them brought to New Mexico.

She was still going back to school, and I missed her already, but I felt great comfort in knowing that all of her things would be with me.

In our new home.

The one that we were apparently driving to. The one I apparently needed to be blindfolded for. I’d played along, only because it was one of Violet’s birthday demands.

“It’s Violet who’s the one who should be getting a surprise,” I whined.

“Trust me, Mom, I’ve had enough surprises to last a lifetime,” Violet commented dryly.

I smiled for her benefit more than anything. My girl had taken all of the news about Preston in stride, and despite her breakdown on that first night, she had not shed a tear. She had refused to talk about her father, committed to her notion that he was dead to her.

I worried about that. About everything that she was burying. But I couldn’t force it out of her. She would talk to me when she was ready.

As it was, she had thrown herself headfirst into club life, into helping Julian at the café, babysitting for Caroline, Freya or Macy. Going to the gun range with Colby—the two of them had formed quite a friendship that amused me yet pissed off Swiss. She had told me one night that she was not attracted to him in the slightest because he was ‘too young.’ That had not put my mind at ease since he was at least five years older than her, but I had to trust that the older men in the club who she likely had her eyes on were much more mature, therefore smart enough to stay well away from my teenage daughter.

The smell of lavender wafted through the air, then I was lifted into Swiss’s arms. I let out a little squeal at the unexpected movement.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

“Tradition,” he grunted.

“Tradition?” I scowled. “That does not give me any of the information that I need.”

“Calm down, Countess,” Swiss replied with amusement.

He shifted my weight so one of his hands could reach back to remove my blindfold. “Gotta carry you over the threshold,” he explained, nodding to the front door.

It was not the front door I was focusing on, though. Well, my gaze went there for a second, but then it went everywhere else. To the entryway of my new home. The entryway that was covered in flowers. And candles. There was soft music playing from somewhere in the house.

And then, when I looked for Swiss, he was down on one knee.

Holding a ring.

A simple but stunning solitaire garnet. It could’ve been a sister to the one around Violet’s neck.

It was absolutely perfect.

My eyes instantly filled with tears.