Kody spotted us first. "All good?" His sharp gaze ran over me from head to toe, then back to my face. He searched my eyes a second before he jerked a nod.
"Yup," I replied with a tight smile. I wanted to wrap my arms around myself, but I was pretty certain my dress was coated in blood too. The fabric stuck to me in a wet sort of way, and I didn't want to get it all over my hands again.
Steele crossed over to us and gave me a tight squeeze, kissing my hair. Apparently, he didn’t care about the blood. "You're incredible, you know that?" He whispered the words in my ear, then released me before I needed to respond.
Archer rapped his knuckles on the trunk of the sedan. "You boys got this handled?"
"Absolutely," Kody confirmed, then reached into the back of the car and pulled out a pair of Kevlar vests. He tossed one to Steele and strapped the other on himself. "Not taking any chances tonight." He shot me a wink, and my stomach rolled with anxiety.
After all, bulletproof vests only protect against a body shot. What if this time my stalker aimed for a headshot?
"We'll be hypervigilant, Hellcat," Steele assured me in a quiet voice. "I promise you, we'll come home safe."
"Damn right, we will," Kody agreed with a broad grin. "See you at home, babe." He smacked a quick kiss on my lips, then he and Steele slid into the body-disposal vehicle.
Archer and I made our way further down the alley to where Sampson waited beside the Range Rover.
"That was quick," our head of security commented as we slid into the SUV. For once, Archer didn't take the driver's seat. Instead, he left it for Sampson to drive us while he sat in the back with me.
"The late Samuel Danvers would probably disagree on that point," Archer murmured with an edge of black humor that made Sampson chuckle.
I said nothing, just stared out the window as we drove. Only a moment later, Archer reached over and unbuckled my seat belt.
Fear jolted through me and I started to protest, but he just lifted me into his lap and pulled his own belt over both of us. I pulled a couple of deep breaths to force my car-crash fear back in its box and relax into his embrace.
"Remember that first night we drove to Rainybanks?" he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my neck. "When you sat in my lap the whole way, just to piss me off?"
I smiled at the memory. "Of course. You were so angry the whole way there."
He let out a low chuckle. "I was angry because with every passing minute holding you in my arms, your ass grinding my dick, I was losing myself to you... all over again. Except this time, I knew I'd never be able to let you go."
His arms tightened around me, emphasizing his point, and I just snuggled against him.
When we got home, he carried me all the way up to my bedroom. Silently, he placed me down on the edge of my vanity and reached for my zipper, but I stopped him with a hand to his chest.
"I've got this," I told him with a gentle smile. "Thank you."
His brow dipped, but he didn't argue. He left me to shower alone, probably going to use their shared bathroom instead.
I washed up quickly, then dressed in one of the many T-shirts I'd swiped from the boys and climbed into my big bed. Archer joined me just a few minutes later, flipping the lights off on his way into my room. His big body curled around me in a way that screamed of comfort and protectiveness.
Neither one of us spoke for the longest time, just lay there in our tangle of limbs for ages until I started to drift into sleep. That's when I heard him whisper against my hair, ever so softly.
"I love you with my whole blackened soul, Kate. You're my everything."
Some time later, I stirred as the mattress dipped and Steele climbed in on the other side of me. His hands were cold, and I groaned as he pulled me out of Archer's sleeping embrace to cuddle me to him instead.
"Shhh," he breathed. "Go back to sleep, Hellcat."
A moment later I heard another set of footsteps, then Kody's muttered curse when he found my bed already full.
Steele shook with silent laughter against me. "Too slow, bro," he whispered.
Kody grumbled some more, then it all went quiet again and I let myself drift back into deep, dreamless sleep.
The next time I woke, I could sense it was almost morning. A quick glance at my clock over Archer's shoulder confirmed that guess, so I ever so carefully climbed out of bed without waking him or Steele. Except I almost stepped straight on Kody, who had made a little bed on the floor beside my bed.
So damn cute. I needed to invest in a bigger bed.
Smiling to myself, I padded into the bathroom to shower and get ready for my wedding day.
Holy crap. It was finally here.
I washed and dressed quickly, then crept back into my room to find Kody and Steele both gone. Archer was still fast asleep, snoring softly and hugging one of my pillows to his face.
Too. Freaking. Cute.
Grinning way too damn hard, I grabbed my dress bag from the closet then tiptoed downstairs. I'd get ready at the venue, where my hair and makeup artists would be waiting. For now, I needed food.
In the kitchen, I found Kody and Steele laughing and joking with each other as they mixed batter for waffles.
"How the fuck did you two go from dead asleep to baking in three point six seconds flat? It's not natural to wake up that quick," I grumbled, sliding onto a stool and accepting a kiss from Steele.
He just grinned back at me and tucked a loose strand of pink hair behind my ear. "We wanted to make sure you had some food before you left," he told me. His gaze was locked on mine and more intense than his lighthearted tone.
"You're sweet." I leaned up to kiss him again. "But I'm pretty sure my car is due any minute now."
"We'll make waffles to go," Kody told me with a wide smile as he poured batter into the waffle iron. "They can wait five minutes."
Steele nodded his agreement, checking his watch. "I better get changed. I'm coming with you this morning, Hellcat."
My brows rose. That hadn't been part of the plan. I was supposed to go off with a security detail to get hair and makeup done—just like a real bride—and the boys were checking all our reinforcements and artillery.
"We decided it's safer," Kody told me as Steele rushed out. "None of us feel good about leaving you alone, even with our security guys. Better that either me or Steele stick close to you this morning."
I wasn't even going to argue that point; I totally agreed. "So, how'd Steele get the job?"
Kody grimaced. "Rock, paper, scissors."
A heavy knock on the door pulled our attention, and I slid off my stool to answer it while Kody checked my waffle. I peered through the safety glass, then double-checked our video monitor to ensure Sampson was alone before opening the door.
"Morning," I greeted the older guy with a wide grin.
His brows twitched in confusion. "Are you ready to go?" His big, black SUV idled at the base of the steps, waiting for us, and I jerked a nod.
"Yes, just give me two minutes? Kody’s making waffles. Come in." I stepped back and held the door for him.
He gave me a puzzled look but did as instructed. Sampson had no idea about our plan today, none of our security did. Only the four of us and Zed's backup knew that this wasn't my real wedding day, so maybe I wasn't acting like a bride should? Fuck it. Whatever. Sampson would work it out soon enough, and if he really was on our side, he'd understand the subterfuge.