Epilogue

Pert stretched carefully, the crick in her neck still there, but slightly lessened. She was getting married tomorrow night, and still had to prepare Charleston Corp. to run on its own while she was having her honeymoon. After all, she was a patient enough woman, but she wasn’t going to wait much longer before she ripped Michael’s clothes off. It was his own fault, anyways. He didn’t have to look that damned sexy, did he? Ollie had already signed the papers that made Pert’s house her legal property and she was already beginning to be carefully trained to take care of the business while Pert was off enjoying herself.

Pert wasn’t taking any chances, however, knowing full well that her friend was as inconsistent as a – well, as an Ollie. There was really no comparing that girl to anything else. She could very well be sitting down to a business lunch one minute and be water-skiing the next. The wind seemed to be a good comparison. Not good enough, though. Pert turned off the lights, plunging her office into darkness. She’d miss it, but Artemis had made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. After all, justice and power were far more alluring than paperwork.

For the past few weeks she and Ollie had been carefully going over every possible aspect of running a business. It was an unspoken agreement that if Ollie ever needed anything, then Pert would drop everything and come save her ass. It was how it had always worked. That and the salad bit. That was around forever too. Pert didn’t yawn. The whole live-by-night thing had already changed her sleep patterns. Besides, she’d always have time to sleep in after the honeymoon. Her smile could easily have been considered predatory. She walked out of her office whistling softly.

A hand slapped over her mouth, her hands were bound behind her back, and she was blindfolded. All within the space of four seconds.

Pert rolled her eyed behind the blindfold as she was draped over a masculine shoulder. She didn’t bother struggling; she was used to it by now. Amazing as it may seem, being kidnapped gets real old real fast. She would have said so, too, if it wasn’t for the bloody hand covering her mouth.

Her kidnappers didn’t speak, but she heard her office door being conscientiously locked behind her. Ah, that would explain a lot. She felt the cool breeze on her body and knew she was outside. Whoever was carrying her was being real gentle. She rolled her eyes again, this time from sheer boredom. She would have drummed her fingers impatiently on his back if her hands had been free.

She was sat on what felt like a very plush car seat. The blindfold was carefully untied. She looked at the grinning faces before her.

“Okay. So I’ve been kidnapped by family, fiancé, and friends. In that order. What gives?”

Ollie grinned at her, sitting next to Caprice. They were wearing bright-colored dresses that they would likely fall out of at the slightest provocation. An interesting thought…

“Well, since Caprice here’s a vampire, we figured we’d take you to a few night clubs on your last night of freedom.”

“Wait…how do you know that she’s –”

“I told her on the way here. Chance, step on it.”

Ah, a limo. That’s more like it. “So….this’ll be fun, right??”

Ollie grinned and tossed a scrap of orange cloth at her. “Put it on.”

It turned out to be a rather skimpy dress. Pert grinned. This would be fun!

Pert was a little put-out that Caprice had seen fit to tell Ollie about everything, but not her…but then, she’d found out the fun way. Well, it was fun to look back on, anyways.

She changed in the large space in the back of the limo that was only cramped when one both stripped and put something on. Especially when that something had little to no wiggle room. The skin-tight dress was adjusted to all the females’ satisfaction by the time Chance pulled up in front of a night club with a flickering sign. As the girls were walking in, he called out, “I love you!”

Caprice turned back and blew him a kiss before she was shoved into the building.

Pert turned to say something, but Ollie interrupted her. “We brought you here so you could have one last look at what you’re giving up by marrying him.”

“Are you having second thoughts?” Pert asked, arching one fine eyebrow in amusement. “After all, it’s your fault I’m getting married. You can still call it off.”

“Shut up. There’s the bar. Go get a martini. Or three. Or eight. Whatever. We’re buying.”

Pert laughed, naturally assuming that if Michael could have a stripper, then she could have a drink or two.

Michael did not have a stripper. He had a beer. His twelfth one of the night. Blaize was passed out under the table and Chance had just arrived. “I’ve brought a few of Caprice’s old friends, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Welcome to the party. The woman got in a huff and left when I had Blaize blindfold me.”

“You would prefer to be blindfolded than see a naked woman?”

“I would rather be blindfolded than have Pert pry my eyeballs out of my skull with a rusty spork.”

“Yeah, well. This is Lucian,” he pointed to a hulking blond giant, “and this is Taman. He gave me a run for my money when I decided that Caprice was mine.” This man was taller than Lucian, with long, dark brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and an almost lethal feel to him.

Michael raised an eyebrow, in unconscious imitation of his bride. “You are friends with Olympians?”

“Only because they saved my ass. Multiple times.”

Taman grinned at the reminder. “Mind you, Caprice doesn’t know about any of them.”

“They immediately decided they would come to the reception just because Caprice would be wearing….well, you’ll see what Pert is making them wear.”

Michael drained his beer and reached for another. “I don’t want to know. I don’t want to get married. Do I? I don’t know any more. I think so.”

Chance sighed and walked into the kitchen. He came back with a glass of ice water. It was dumped on Michael’s head.

The bear sputtered and shook his head to clear his thoughts and get rid of the water. “What was that for?”

“Do you love her?”

“Yes.”

“I should hope so. You glued a ring to her finger. And, according to her, she still can’t get the damned thing off. Of course, her language was a bit more creative.”

Michael’s head snapped up. “She tried to take it off?”

“No. I think she’s resigned. Just like you are.”

“I’m not resigned. Are you kidding me? Six months in Jamaica is not a death sentence. Neither is eternity with that woman.”

“No, I’d think it would be torture with no hope of death.”

Before chance had time to blink, Michael’s hand was around his throat and he was being held a foot above the ground. Lucian and Taman started forward. Chance laughed. “Now we know he means it.”

THE END!!!!!!

A/N: Alrighty, kiddos. I love y'all, but this story is officially over. So sorry. Don't worry, though. Pert will eb sure to make an appearance in other stories. I love all of you for reviewing just because I can. And I love everybody that I read. Right. This is getting sappy. Bye.