Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

I wake up to an incessant buzzing. Picking up my phone, I rub at my eyes, glance at the time, and shut off my alarm. Then I turn on my side and wrap an arm around Montana's naked body. My wife's naked body.

"Morning, wife." I kiss the back of her shoulder.

"This isn't morning, Luke. It's still dark out," she groans.

"I have to be at the arena in an hour," I tell her.

"Okay, but I don't."

"I want you to come with me," I say. "I'm not ready to let you go."

Montana rolls over to look at me. "Okay. But won't I just be in the way?"

"You could never be in the way." I lean in, planning to kiss her, until the noise of my phone ringing stops me. I let out an annoyed grunt as I eye the screen and slide the green answer button across when I see Aliyah's name. "Hey, Lia. I'm a little busy right now?—"

"Luke Jameson, what have you done? Have you seen the news? Oh my god! My dad is having a fit right now. It's everywhere!" Aliyah practically screams down the line.

"What's everywhere?"

"You eloped with Montana last night. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I love her and wanted to marry her," I say confidently.

"It's a scandal. The speculations are insane. Turn on the news. Actually, no, don't let her see it. Shit. She's going to freak, Luke. This isn't good. Where are you?"

"Lia, calm down. It'll all be fine. This will blow over." The tabloid stories always do.

"This is huge. Vancouver's number one bachelor officially off the market kind of huge." Aliyah sighs. "Where are you? I'll come to you."

"We're at Planet Hollywood."

"Planet Hollywood? You're kidding me, right? Please, for the love of God, tell me you're joking?"

"No, why?"

"You took her to Planet Hollywood? Are times that tough, Jameson? You could have least taken her across the road to the Bellagio. I mean, seriously?" She continues to drone on.

"Okay, Aliyah, I'm hanging up," I tell her.

"Wait! What room number?"

It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her not to come here, but she's Montana's friend. And I have a feeling she might be able to help ease the panic that will set in when my new bride sees what's going on. I don't need to turn on the news outlets to know some of what they're saying.

Vancouver Knights cover up secret love child…

Number six blackmailed into shotgun wedding …

First a mysterious injury, now a mysterious bride. Sources say it's likely drug-related…

"Room 912," I huff into the phone.

"It's not even a penthouse suite. Oh my god."

I can hear the disapproval in Aliyah's tone. It doesn't matter, though, because I know Montana, and she couldn't care less about where we are as long as we're together. I cut the call and see my new wife waiting patiently for an update. "Aliyah is on her way over. We need to get dressed."

"What's happened?"

I look away. I don't want to tell her, but I don't want to lie to her either. "I don't want you to worry, Tanna. Whatever they're saying doesn't matter. All that matters is that you and I know the truth, our truth. We love each other."

"What who are saying?"

"The news outlets caught wind of our nuptials. It's all over the tabloids," I explain.

"Shit." She jumps up out of bed and runs into the bathroom. By the time I have my boxers and slacks on, Montana walks back out with a robe wrapped around her. "Okay, what do I do? Tell me what to do," she says.

"Are you okay? "

"No, but we're going to deal with this together, right?"

"Always together. You and me, Tanna."

"Okay, then tell me what I need to do."

"Don't say anything. If anyone approaches you, don't answer their questions. Don't let them bait you into getting angry or upset, because they will try. The paparazzi are nothing but a bunch of vultures. But I'm going to make sure you're never alone. I'm going to call Gray. Get him to send us a security detail."

"Okay. What if…" She doesn't finish her sentence.

"What if what ?"

"What if he comes for me?" she asks. "I mean, I know him. He's going to see this and he's going to do something."

"I won't let him get anywhere near you, Tanna. I promise," I tell her.

"Okay, so just don't say anything. That's it? What should I wear? How should I do my hair?" She looks around the room, clearly distressed.

"Tanna, I don't care what you wear or how you do your hair. You don't need to dress to impress anyone but yourself. "

"But if they're taking pictures… Luke, I don't want to embarrass you."

"You could never embarrass me." I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her tight against my body. "I love you. Never forget that."

"I love you too."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with this." I sigh before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"It's not half as bad as the baggage I'm bringing into this marriage. Everyone wants a piece of you, Luke. I can't fault them for that. Look at you." Montana peers up at me.

"You really are perfect."

"Thank you," she says at the same time there's a knock on the door and then it's opening.

"How'd you get a key?" I ask Aliyah, who's now walking into the room, followed by King, O'Neil, Gray, Liliana, and Enzo.

"Put on a shirt. No one needs to see all of that." Aliyah waves a hand at me. "I brought you some clothes. Thought you wouldn't want to walk out in last night's dress." Aliyah passes a bag to Montana before pulling her into a hug. "And we're doing this wedding thing again, properly. I want to be there. Also, congratulations. I'm so freaking happy for you. You deserve this." She keeps her voice low, but not so low I can't hear her.

"Thank you," Montana says.

The guys all congratulate us before Gray's expression turns serious. "We have a game plan. I have more guys flying in. But until then, Montana's coming everywhere with us." I nod my agreement, and he adds, "Enzo will sit with her and the girls while we're in meetings or out on the ice."

I turn my attention to Enzo. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," he says.

"Okay. You, shirt." Aliyah looks at me, then ushers Montana towards the bathroom. "You, go get changed."

I grab my shirt from the floor and slide my arms through the sleeves. When Montana walks out of the bathroom again, my heart stutters. She's wearing my jersey and a pair of jeans. Her hair is tied up in a high ponytail and her face is free of makeup. She takes my breath away.

"All right, when we walk out, stick between Luke and Gray," Aliyah says. "Oh, and here." She pulls a pair of sunglasses out of her bag before passing them to Montana. "The trick is to pretend they're not there. Think of them like annoying little ghosts who don't actually exist. "

Montana takes a deep breath. "Okay. I guess we can't hide out in here forever, right?" She looks to me.

"I wouldn't mind." I raise my eyebrows at her.

"I bet you wouldn't. Now, come on. It's going to be fine. I've got this. Trust me, I managed to get the press to love Liam even after he was unlovable," Aliyah tells Montana.

"You loved me from the very first moment we met," King chimes in.

"It was like a real-life episode of Naked and Afraid ." Aliyah laughs.

"Yeah, that's enough of that," Gray grunts as we all exit the hotel room.

Montana's hand is gripped firmly in mine. Liliana stops us the moment we hit the lobby. "Travis and I are going to go out first. We're going to make a scene and try to get them to follow us in the opposite direction," she says.

"You guys don't need to do that," I tell them.

"It's fine. I'm used to it. Besides, it'll be fun." Liliana smirks.

"I have to go with her. I'll meet you guys at the arena," Enzo says before following his cousin out the door. The moment they step foot outside, the flashes start up again.

Did those fuckers camp out all damn night? Probably. Like I said, they're nothing but fucking vultures waiting for a fresh carcass to pick at. And I refuse to let them have a taste of Montana.