They were powerful words for someone like me to hear, someone who’d indeed lived a pretty selfish existence. But as I met Sydney’s shining eyes and saw the hope and joy radiating from her, I felt up to them. I was ready to take that selfless step with her, to know that everything we did now was about the two of us and, eventually, our family. This was the biggest decision I’d made in my life . . . and the one I did most happily.
When the vows were said and the rings were on, the officiant pronounced us husband and wife. I drew Sydney to me and kissed her, full of love and life and the happiness of what we had in store for us. When we finally pulled apart, the minister added, “I’m very pleased to introduce the world to Adrian and Sydney Ivashkov.”
Sydney’s smile turned a little wry at that, and I couldn’t help but groan. “Oh no. What?”
She laughed. “Nothing, nothing. I just always figured I’d keep my own name. Or at least hyphenate.”
“Really, woman?” I said. “You bring that up now? You owe me another kiss for that.”
I drew her back to me and actually got two kisses. We signed the paperwork with the officiant, and then I paid him and the photographer their bonuses. I also bought the memory card out of the photographer’s camera then and there, despite his protests about how he normally touched up the photos and uploaded them for online viewing. “No time,” I said, waving the magic wad of cash around. It was nearly as good as compulsion.
With everything done, we gathered up our things and said farewell to our tiny slice of Italy. “What now?” asked Sydney, as we moved toward the door hand in hand.
“Now, we get out of here, and believe me, we’re going in style.”
The reservations guy held the door open for us, more than relieved his little escapade was over. I thanked him again and stepped out into the main hallway . . .
. . . where a group of Alchemists was waiting for us.
CHAPTER 21
SYDNEY
AN UNSEEN FORCE suddenly sent the Alchemists flying against the walls, and I didn’t have to ask to know that was Adrian’s handiwork. I felt his hand on my back, pushing me forward. “Come on.”
We tore off down the hall, not looking back, both of us knowing the Alchemists wouldn’t stay down for long. “We just have to make it to the Blue Lagoon,” he told me.
“Is that a pool here or something?” I asked. My shoes and dress made it harder to keep up with him, and he grabbed my hand to pull me along.
“It’s a new hotel. South end of the Strip.”
“South end . . .” I pulled up my mental map of Las Vegas Boulevard. “That’s at least a mile or more away!”
“Sorry,” he said. “It couldn’t be helped. We have some pretty specific parameters, and they were one of the few places that fit the bill.”
I didn’t ask for elaboration as we emerged onto the gaming floor. Normally, I would’ve welcomed a congested area to get lost in, but Adrian and I didn’t exactly blend in wearing our wedding finery. The fact that we were tearing through the crowd and bumping into people kind of made us stand out too.
“Sorry,” I called back, when Adrian accidentally bumped into a waitress carrying a tray of drinks. They spilled on some very surprised people at a blackjack table, but there was no time for further apologies or amends. A quick glance back didn’t reveal the Alchemists, but I could see signs of commotion in the crowd, making me think our pursuers were hot on our trail.
The casino floor was like a maze to me, but Adrian seemed to have a sense of purpose. Before long, we emerged out the front door, to the Firenze’s circular drive, which was abuzz with a whole different type of chaos. Evening had fallen, and the number of people moving in and around us had increased significantly, as pleasure-seekers came out for gambling, shows, and other diversions. The Alchemists hadn’t followed us out yet, and we both peered around for our next move.
“Where are the taxis?” exclaimed Adrian.
A large group of young women, dressed to impress, stood near us. One of them wore a “bride-to-be” sash and a rhinestone tiara, and the vibe surrounding them suggested they’d already had more than one drink in her honor tonight. They ooh’ed and ahh’ed when they saw us. “We’re waiting for a taxi too,” said the girl nearest me. She giggled. “A few of them, actually.”
“Are you in some kind of trouble?” asked another.
“Yes,” I said, thinking swiftly. “We eloped, and my dad doesn’t approve. He and some of my family are right behind us, trying to get us to annul.”
It wasn’t that much of a stretch of the truth, and they gasped and exclaimed in dismay. Adrian swept his gaze over all of them and said in a honey-like voice, “It’d be really great if you could let us have this next cab.” I looked up and saw a yellow taxi approaching where we all stood.
Mass suggestion was difficult, but drinking had made this group weak-willed. And honestly, they might have helped anyway in the name of romance. They started chattering about true love, and the bride-to-be waved us toward the taxi. “Take it, take it!”
As Adrian and I were getting in, the Alchemists appeared at the bank of glass doors and pushed them open. “Hey,” I called to the girls, waving my bouquet. “Get some early practice!” I chucked it toward them, purposely aiming over and past them—right to the Alchemists coming out the doors. The girls screamed in delight, turning into a rabid pack as they all went after the bouquet and collided right with our startled pursuers. I didn’t see how it resolved, because by that time, I was in the car, and Adrian was giving orders to the Blue Lagoon. The cab pulled out.
“Let’s hope this is as simple as getting a ride down the street,” said Adrian grimly. “How did they find us?”
“Hard to say. Could’ve been as simple as their eyes and ears catching sight of us somewhere.” I sighed in dismay. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t gotten so silly about a ‘real’ wedding, we would’ve been out of this city a long time ago.”
He slipped an arm around me. “No way,” he said. “I’m glad we did this. They’ve taken so much from us already. They can’t take this day from us too.”
“At the very least,” I said wryly, “I should’ve anticipated something like this happening and picked a dress that was easier to move in. This mermaid style does not have a lot of leg mobility, but that lady assured me if she laced it up correctly in the back, she could make it look like I have more of a figure than I do.”