Destiny's Wrath (Destiny Series - Book 3) by Straight, Nancy (manga ereader txt) 📕

on the box was stiff, as if asking if I were really ready to do this. When it finally gave way, I squatted on the floor staring at the two wedding bands gently tucked away. My whole life I never saw my mother take her ring off. I knew I wanted to use the diamond that represented my parents’ promise of forever to give Lauren the same vow.

It felt right, removing my mother’s ring from its resting place next to my father’s in the file cabinet. I tucked the ring into a pocket of a pair of jeans I would put on in the morning. I made one silent vow: I was done looking over my shoulder. Life starts now.

*****

Jewelers can be intimidating. In my mind, it was a simple request: use the diamond from my mother’s ring and put it in a new setting. It turns out there are literally thousands of potential settings. The only thing I knew going into the store was I wanted the setting to be done in platinum. It took several weeks, but was completely worth the wait. I sat in the parking lot outside the store, visualizing Lauren’s face: her expression and no doubt her surprise. We’d talked about nearly every topic under the sun, but rarely did the subject of marriage come up.

I knew, without a doubt, the answer would be “yes,” well, pretty sure. I wanted to ask her in a way that she wouldn’t expect, where she wouldn’t see it coming. Definitely not over dinner or on a romantic weekend - that would be too much of a giveaway. I wanted to catch her by surprise, on a normal day, when we were both just doing normal stuff.

I eyed the engagement ring, but nothing but sappy phrases came to mind, things I knew I’d never be able to say with a straight face. She’d had me wrapped around her little finger for years; I guess this ring will know exactly how I feel soon!

When I got home, I saw her weeding outside the house. She’s the only woman I’ve ever known who could look incredible doing the most mundane things. I sat in the truck watching her a few seconds longer than I probably needed to. Cringing at the thought of all the sweet ways I’d thought to propose, I decided I’d put it off for a couple days. Maybe set up something with a Mariachi Band or teach her Doberman Pincher, Peanut, to carry the box to her, or, knowing Lauren – make a scavenger hunt. I didn’t want to shove the jeweler’s box in my pants; it would be a little too obvious. Instead I withdrew the ring from the box, stuffed the box in a pocket behind the seat, and shoved the ring in my pocket.

As I approached, she gave me that look, the one that has made me blind to all other women. I knew in that moment exactly how to ask her, exactly the right words. I walked up to her and took her by the hand, without a word, leading her to the house and down the hallway to our bedroom.

I undressed her, not in a frenzy, but slowly; the way you do when you know this is the person you want to look at, to be with, and to please for the next fifty years. As I saw her in front of me, she nearly took my breath away. I could feel the smile creeping into my voice when I said, “Something’s missing.”

“All my clothes, Smart Ass. Are you planning to join me?”

I shook my head, as if seriously pondering something, “It’s not the clothes. Something isn’t right.” I waited a few breaths, seeing concern shining through her eyes. “I know what it is.” After reaching into my pocket, I slid the platinum band onto her ring finger and confessed, “Don’t move. This is the image that I want of you. I think of you all the time, but when I’m at work, this is the vision I want stuck in my head of who is waiting for me at home: you, wearing nothing but my ring on your finger.”

She was speechless; I had definitely hit my mark. I went down on one knee. “You already know I would do anything you asked me to. I guess it’s your turn. Will you marry me?”

She didn’t make me wait; she wasn’t her typical sarcastic self. She simply said, “Yes.”

As we lay together in our own private celebration the rest of the day, I felt nothing but bliss. For the first time since my reunion with a conscious Lauren, I wasn’t thinking about Samael.

There must have been some foreshadowing power in the universe to keep me from procrastinating, to make me propose when I did. For some reason, I knew that was the moment. The morning after, all hell broke loose. I had been right all along. It was only a matter of time before we would need to face Samael again. I couldn’t have guessed it would be this soon.

Chapter 2

Two days earlier, 5 p.m.

Abigail didn’t care for the friend Noah had brought home from school.

Jimmy was outwardly respectful, but shifty. Abigail had always welcomed children of all ages into her home, but there was something different about this one. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she didn’t like him. He wore black motorcycle boots, tattered blue jeans and a faded t-shirt. The clothing didn’t bother Abigail – she had long ago learned not to judge somebody by the clothes they wore.

His over-politeness felt fake. He seemed to be intelligent for his age, but there was just something about him that Abigail didn’t trust. This mistrust kept her from leaving the two boys alone in a room together; wherever they were, she found a reason to be in the same vicinity.

Noah announced, “Granny, we’re going down to the park to shoot