She gasped and stared up at him. Being taken by a mad-man had been frightening, but the thought of losing Cadeon was far worse.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, celebrating with Anne.
After some time he escorted her up to the bedroom for a nap. He made sure she got rest. The bruises on her face were fading, but he insisted on her getting the rest.
“Will you stay with me?” she asked.
“Not now. Later I will. I’ve got to help a friend get his girl.” He kissed her on the head and left her.
Violet stared at the ring on her finger. The happiness inside her threatened to burst out of her. She rolled over and closed her eyes.
The bad guy from her world was gone. Cadeon was going to be her husband. Her life would never be like it had been. She took a deep breath, and for the first time in her life she fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.
****
Cadeon left Anne to care for Violet while he went back to the club. Tate and Kevin were expecting him, and he’d put them off for long enough. His hands were shaking as he drove away. Violet didn’t appear to have any long lasting problems. For a short time he’d been concerned in case she ended up like Rebecca, scared to leave her home.
He drove the short distance to the club, went through the security procedures until he’d parked his car and made his way to the bar room.
Stephen sat in his usual place staring at the singer on stage. Tate and Kevin were at the bar, talking. Pulling out his wallet, Cadeon paid the barman before ordering his drink. Once he handed the drink over, he joined them at the far end of the bar.
He raised his glass to Stephen and then turned back to the other two men.
“What’s the matter, Cadeon? Why did you want us to meet here?” Tate asked.
“We had a deal. You’d find the information I need on Violet, and in return I’d give Rebecca to you.”
Tate shook his head. “I wish I could take full responsibility for the information. Sean found most of it. I tagged along for the ride. Forget about it. We’ll meet Rebecca on our own terms.”
Cadeon ran his fingers through his hair. He had to tell them, even though she’d asked him to never repeat a word about her condition.
“I want to make an agreement with you, that what I tell you must never go any further than between us three,” he said.
“Sure,” Tate and Kevin said.
He took a swallow of his drink. “Rebecca won’t be easy to court.”
“We know that, which is why we want to take her on a few dates and get her used to being around us.”
“No. You don’t understand me, Tate. What happened with her husband has left her scarred.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ever since I bought her from the hospital she’s been suffering from something the doctors call agoraphobia.” Cadeon waited for the news to sink in. “She has a fear of going outside.”
Tate and Kevin looked shocked and devastated.
“The reason I’m telling you this is because I think she can be cured, but you’ve got to be willing to put in the extra care she needs. No pushing or bickering. I want you to be there for her. Especially seeing as I’m going to be married soon.”
They congratulated him, but he saw they weren’t really taking notice.
“I want to kill that son of a bitch,” Kevin said. His hands fisting the glass he held.
“That son of a bitch is rotting in jail. Rebecca doesn’t need superheroes. She needs men who’ll love her for who she is. Now, I’m asking you if you’re prepared to fight for the woman you both want?”
He waited for their answer. The two men stared at each other before shaking his hand. They agreed they’d wait a few months before visiting her a first time. Cadeon finished his drink and drove home.
Dominic Green was gone. Rebecca would be cared for, and in his bed lay the woman who owned his heart. Anne was cooking in the kitchen. She handed him the travel tickets he’d requested.
He made his way upstairs. Violet looked peaceful. He pulled his shirt over his head and snuggled up against her.
Minutes passed before she opened her eyes.
“Hello,” she said, her hand coming to rest on his chest.
“Hello. Did you sleep well?”
“I had pleasant dreams.”
“Do you feel up to travelling?” he asked.
She looked up at him.
“Because I’ve got two plane tickets, first class, to Las Vegas. I want to get married to you tonight. What do you say?”
He waited for her answer, more nervous than he’d ever been before in his life.
“Do I have time to pack?”