Squeezing her hand, he nodded. He understood. She worried about her sister a lot.
When Simon and the bride approached the handsome groom and the very pregnant smiling matron of honor, Izzy sighed. It was all so perfect.
Jack and Stevie, whom she had met several times over the last month along with Simon and his lovely wife Kat, seemed to have it all. They had embraced her with warm friendship, the guys teasing her about turning Flynn into a flamingo because of his newfound love of Pink.
All her worries that the ladies would look down their noses at her evaporated the first time she met Kat and Stevie at a small, intimate, spa day bridal shower in the city. She was shocked by the invitation, knowing it was only because she and Flynn were a couple that she was included.
“Go, Isa,” Flynn had encouraged her. “Stevie is a pistol and Kat’s the sweetest genius you’ll ever meet.”
Izzy knew that if she were going to really be a part of Flynn’s life, she would have to get over her issues with his friend’s wives.
When she walked into the glamorous spa, she was shown to a private dressing room where she was served champagne and given a silk-lined robe to change into.
Ten minutes later, Izzy was escorted into a lovely room with fountains and the laughter of several women who were stretched out on massage tables, drinking champagne. Except Kat, who reclined in a big fluffy chair, sipping water, her feet up on a padded ottoman.
“Isadora!” Kat chirped happily. “I’m so glad you joined us. Hop on a table, the massages here are wonderful.”
As she did, Stevie raised her champagne glass and smiled. “I’m happy you’re here.” Then she introduced her to the four other ladies, and just like that, Izzy became one of the girls.
Now she stood beside the man of her dreams at a lovely coastal wedding, surrounded by the men and women he worked with, feeling like she belonged.
As they sat at the minister’s command, Flynn’s fingers wove between hers. They couldn’t get enough of each other. Mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually.
They were so into each other, they started apart when the minister cheerfully proclaimed, “I now pronounce you husband and wife!”
The guest list was small, maybe forty, but the cheers that went up sounded as if hundreds were in attendance.
Jack bent Stevie over his arm, and kissed her long and hard. So long and hard, the guys started drumming on the back of the chairs, calling for them to get a room. Izzy laughed at their revelry. When the newly married couple broke apart and Stevie fanned herself with both hands and rolled her eyes, the cheers were even louder.
Following the happy couple into the solarium where the reception was being held, they heard a familiar voice. Izzy turned to see Justin and Maddox striding toward them. Both men looked exceptionally handsome in their dark suits. Justin was as tall as Flynn, with dark brown hair and brooding dark eyes, while Maddox, God help the woman he fell in love with, was equally as tall, surfer blond with mischievous hazel eyes. But there was an edge to him that could not be denied.
They all had it—Jack, Simon, Flynn, Justin, and Maddox. That unique command presence. They were leaders, not followers. Protectors. There was no doubt that no matter where they were or what they were doing, they would destroy any threat to the ones they loved.
Izzy felt supremely safe. Humbled and special that she was part of this elite group of human beings.
“I know it’s a day to celebrate,” Justin started, “but I wanted to tell you that I got a call from the lab right before the ceremony. We got a CODIS hit on the guy who broke into your house, Iz.” He glanced at Flynn.
Flynn’s arm tightened around her waist. “Who is it?” he asked. “What kind of priors?”
“Jerome Michael Larson. B and E mostly, loosely affiliated with an outlaw MC, up north. We’ve got an BOLF out on him now.”
“Kidnapping is quite a jump from breaking and entering,” Flynn said.
“We’re thinking the same thing,” Maddox replied.
Izzy stood silent for a moment, processing the information. “So there’s no connection to Boris or Bushnik?”
Justin shook his head. “There doesn’t appear to be, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t.”
Izzy suddenly felt nervous. “If there’s no connection, then this was something else?”
Flynn’s arm tightened around her. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions, Isa.” He looked at Justin. “I’m betting there’s a link between Larson and the senator.”
Izzy gasped. “What are you saying, Flynn?”
“What I’ve been thinking for a while now. Alex’s disappearance is tied to your old man. Sorlov may have had something on him, I don’t know. But I knew the night Larson broke into your house that it wasn’t connected to the Russians.”
Izzy looked at all three men. “Can’t you force my father to speak to you?”
“No, not unless we arrest him, and even then he’ll lawyer up.”
It had infuriated Izzy that when Justin and then Maddox had gone to speak to him several weeks ago in an official capacity, they were instructed to contact his attorney.
Izzy had convinced the guys to allow her to try on a personal level. She was turned away at the door. When she tried again several days later, this time at his local office, she was slapped with a restraining order the following day.
What was her father hiding and why?
“Can you bring a picture up of Larson?” Flynn asked Justin.
“Sure.” He pulled the cell phone of his pocket and tapped the screen a few times and then showed it to Izzy and Flynn.
Izzy’s stomach buzzed. The man in his early thirties had dark hair, a nasty scar that ran from his chin through his bottom lip, and from the mug shot, every inch of visible exposed skin was tattooed.
“Miro said the man who bought Jasmyn was dark haired, scarred and tattooed. Larson is too,” she said looking at Justin who nodded.
“I made that connection as well. We’re looking under every rock for this guy. We’ll get him.”
“He’ll surface, Iz,” Maddox said. “We’ll be waiting when he does.”
This Larson guy was the link to Alex. In her heart of hearts, she knew Alex was alive, and for the first time since that horrible night a month ago, Izzy felt hopeful that they would be soon be reunited.
Flynn caressed her cheek then kissed the tip of her nose. “There’s nothing we can do right now. So let’s go in and celebrate with the bride and groom.”
“Drinks on us,” Maddox said, slapping Justin on the shoulder and propelling him forward, toward the booze.
Izzy wanted to do something. The “being patient” part of this process drove her crazy. Flynn was right, though. There was nothing to be done at that moment. It was time to kick back and celebrate.
“Do you think Larson will tell us where Alex is?” she asked.
“I think once we find him, we’ll have enough leverage to make him talk. Then we’ll follow the bread crumbs.”
Hugging her to him, Flynn kissed the top of her head. “We’ll find Alex, Isa. I swear on my life, we’ll find her.”
“I know you will,” she said. “I know you will.” Emotion swelled in her chest. She loved this man. So much it hurt.
“I love you, Flynn,” she said softly. “Promise me we’ll grow old together?”
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head again before moving her so that he could look in her eyes. The breeze blew her hair gently around her face and he automatically brushed it away from her eyes.
“Old and gray and wrinkly.”
Izzy smiled as she imagined them just like that.
“I’m still going to spank that sweet ass of yours.”
The breeze carried her laughter out to the ocean, where the sun edged toward the horizon. Tucking her hand into the crook of his arm, Flynn smiled at her and said, “How does ‘Mrs. Flynn Ryker’ sound to you?”
Izzy laughed harder and said, “I was just going to ask you the same question!”