Chapter 1

The night before my wedding, someone slipped a hotel VIP keycard under my door.

The room number was the same one where Sean Locke proposed to me three years ago.

I thought it was his little pre-wedding surprise. Something romantic.

So I went.

But when I pushed the door open, the heavy scent of arousal hit my nose — and I saw him tangled in the bed with another woman.

Only after he finished did he lazily push the woman out of his arms.

He lit a cigarette. Through the smoke, he smiled — careless, almost bored.

"Nothing dramatic. I'm just tired of hiding it. Better you find out now — saves me the talk after the wedding."

"Relax. You're still my only Mrs. Locke."

"You've been mine for ten years, Ivy. In those ten years, you've made enemies with half the Families in this city. You don't marry me? No one else in this life is gonna take you."

"So tomorrow, everything goes as planned. Only —"

"You get the wedding. She gets the marriage license."

He thought I'd at least ask why.

I didn't.

I quietly slid the engagement ring off my finger, set it down, and walked out.

The wedding was at St. Cecilia's Cathedral. East side of the city.

"She's here! The bride is finally here!"

Cameras lined the hotel entrance. Flashes went off before I even stepped out.

"Miss Kingsley! How are you feeling on your big day?"

"Miss Kingsley! Any comment on the wedding of the century?"

I said nothing. My bodyguards cleared a path. I slid into the black car.

Sean stood on the steps in his white tuxedo, wearing the smile of a man who had everything under control.

He'd called me that morning. Said he was worn out from last night. Seven rounds. He needed to sleep.

Said he couldn't come pick me up.

Because he was certain I'd show up anyway.

Chase Bennett — Sean's underboss — was the first to whistle.

"She actually came, Don Locke."

"Only the Boss could pull this off. Screws another woman the night before, and the bride still walks in wearing white. That's what we call training her right."

Jordan Wells, one of the Wells Family's boys down from Boston for the wedding, raised his glass toward Sean with a smirk.

"Respect, Don Locke. Anyone else would've been wrecked after a night like that. You're still standing here in the tux. That's a man."

The others laughed along.

Sean's lips barely moved.

"Ivy's been mine for ten years." His voice was flat. "Besides marrying me, who'd take her?"

He glanced down at his hand. At the empty ring finger on mine.

"She's throwing a fit. It's fine."

He paused.

"She'll still walk down that aisle. She'll still put her hand in mine."

Chase gave a thumbs up.

The car door opened.

I stepped out.

Sunlight caught the dress. A hundred cameras clicked at once.

Something almost like awe flickered across Sean's face.

"Damn." Under his breath. "My wife looks beautiful in a wedding dress."

He started toward me.

Then his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen. His mouth twitched up. He stepped away to answer.

"What is it? Didn't I tell you to call later?"

A soft, syrupy voice came through the speaker.

"Sean-baby. I'm flying out this afternoon. I booked City Hall — ten minutes from now. Come sign it with me? I don't wanna leave without the paper."

"Ten minutes?" Sean laughed low. "In a rush?"

...

He hung up.

Chase leaned in. "Who was that?"

"Sadie." Sean pocketed the phone. His eyes were bright. "She's flying out this afternoon. Won't leave without signing. You know how she gets."

Chase raised a brow. "And the wedding —?"

"Relax. Ceremony runs an hour or two. City Hall's ten minutes. In and out. That girl's a handful — if I don't handle her right, she'll cry at the airport. I'm not dealing with that."

Sean walked over. Slid an arm around my shoulders. Signaled the photographer.

"One quick shot. For the memory book."

Click.

He checked his watch.

"Alright. That's it. I gotta go, or I'll miss the appointment."

He turned and strode toward the other car.

"Sean Locke!"

I stood where I was and called out to him.

His steps paused. He turned back to look at me.

That same careless, everything-under-control look in his eyes.

"If you walk out today," I said, one word at a time, "I'm changing the groom for this wedding."