Chapter 5 The Six Sands on Topanga

Wren

Mag didn't hold my hand as we left the courthouse. He walked quickly ahead of me to the huge concrete courtyard in front of the building.

The crisp air stung my burning cheeks, and dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening rain once again. I struggled with my wet dress as I shuffled behind him with the marriage papers, my small purse, and the bouquet in my hands.

Finally, he stopped and turned. "I'm driving you home," he declared rudely.

For one surreal moment during the ceremony, I believed he might have been sincere. The way his face softened and the tenor of his voice changed. He'd looked me right in the eye and promised to protect me and be honest with me. It was disarming and oddly comforting at a time when I'd needed it most. Now, standing outside the courthouse, he'd reverted back to his default bossy personality.

My heart raced as I attempted to catch my breath and gather my thoughts. If he drove me home, I'd have to be alone with him in a car. "No. I'm fine taking the train."

I'd agreed to his crazy idea to lie to the court because I thought that the ceremony would be short, and I could leave right after getting the license signed. I'd be off the hook with Kenny, and we'd go our separate ways.

"I said I'm driving you home." His gaze was locked on the street as he ordered me around. So all of that inside the building was for the benefit of the justice of the peace? None of it was real? Of course it wasn't. I was such a fool to even think that.

"I really don't want to be alone in a car with you."

That got his attention. He propped his hands on his hips and stared down at me. "Why's that?"

I didn't answer him, but the truth was I didn't know if I could trust him. Gavin had said he was a commando. What did that even mean?

What if he was a cop? I couldn't risk getting caught. The stakes were too high. If Magnum found out I was involved with a local gang, he'd start asking questions and expose everything. Kenny had to believe that I was legitimately married to Gavin. Then he would leave me alone and stop hounding me for money.

His brows drew together at my silence. "You're wearing a wedding dress, and you're still soaked. I'm taking you home."

"You're allowed to wear a wet dress on the train." I accidentally dropped the flowers and the papers. I managed to grab the string of my purse and work it back over my shoulder.

He sighed and picked the items up for me, holding them in his hands instead of giving them back. "But there is no reason for you to take the train when my vehicle is here." His voice was condescending and frustrated.

"I want to be alone right now. It wasn't a great day." I pulled my shawl tighter around me to shield my shoulders from the wind.

"Then I'll drop you off and you'll be alone, but I'm driving you home. "

The firm set of his brow told me he wasn't going to give in, and honestly, I wasn't in any shape to ride the train. "Fine." I stomped toward the parking lot, but he walked in the direction of the street. "Hey!"

"This way," he called over his shoulder.

I followed behind him to a black Jeep Wrangler parked at a meter in front of the courthouse. He tossed my things in and then waited for me to climb into the passenger seat before he walked around to the driver's side. The inside was as rough and rugged as Magnum. My shoes crunched against the dirt on the floor. The back seat was loaded with bags.

"What's your address?" he asked.

I called it out impatiently, and he scowled as he punched it into his navigation system.

He didn't say anything on the drive home, and his frown didn't loosen. I held it together for the ride, but as soon as I was behind my door, I was going to let loose a torrent of tears. This whole day had turned into a worse disaster than it already was. Where was Gavin? Did he just get cold feet or did Kenny get to him?

"This is the bakery where you work?" He squinted at the Song Bakery logo imprinted on the glass with its music note and the closed sign below it.

"Yes."

"You going in to work tonight?" He turned his very intense gaze on me again.

I resisted the urge to shrink back at his barking tone. He was trying to intimidate me, and I had to stand my ground just a little longer. "No," I said confidently .

"Then what are we doing here?" He scanned the outside of the bakery.

"I live here," I admitted.

"Where? In the kitchen?" It wasn't a high-end neighborhood, but I'd spent a lot of time here while I was growing up. I wasn't afraid of it. His eyes locked on something he saw in the rearview mirror.

"The storage room has been converted to a bedroom."

He glared at me. "Gavin set up a honeymoon for you guys?"

His pointed question surprised me. "Yes. Why?"

"Go in and get a bag and come back out." He tilted his head in the direction of the bakery.

"Why?"

"Because whoever we're putting this show on for is gonna expect you to go on a honeymoon with your husband."

"We're not putting on a show."

"Then who's the guy in the Mercedes following us?"

I looked through the rear windshield at some headlights that were down the street. Shoot. Tommy, Kenny's tough guy, was following us. "How do you know he's following us?"

"Go in. Get a bag. Come back out."

"Really. I'll be fine."

"Woman, last chance to get your shit or we're leaving now and you're sleeping in your wedding dress tonight."

"Okay. Fine. Jeez." I angrily opened my door and stomped to the entrance of the bakery. He stood in front of the shop while I shoved a few more items into the bag I had already packed for tonight. This was supposed to be my wedding night and now look what it had become. A total mess.

I hurried back outside, and he stood behind me as I entered the Jeep. He closed the door, and his eyes were still on Tommy's headlights as we pulled away from the curb.

"Where did Gavin plan the honeymoon?" he asked me.

"The Six Sands on Topanga."

He gave me the side eye, but I didn't get what he was implying. Did he have something against that place?

We drove through downtown LA toward the canyon. He kept his eyes on the mirrors as much as the road.

It seemed like he was taking a very long and convoluted route to the hotel. When we reached Topanga Canyon Boulevard, he pulled to the side of the road and stopped in front of another hotel. A car passed by us, and his shoulders fell as he exhaled a long deep breath. The scowl on his face eased, and the tension in the car seemed less extreme.

I turned and looked out the back window but didn't see Tommy anymore.

"We lost 'em," he said, like he knew I was checking for them too.

"Mmm." I attempted to act nonchalant, but it was clear from the little murmur in my sound that I was nervous and also relieved we weren't being followed anymore.

"Give me your cell phone."

"Why?"

He reached into my purse and took the phone out. He checked it quickly then turned it off and stored it in his coat pocket.

"Hey! What if Gavin tries to call me? "

"I'll take care of it."

He pulled out again and eventually turned into the lot for the Six Sands Hotel. As we walked to the reception area, his silent steps behind me sent a shiver down my spine. The secrets between us were very loud even though the only sounds were the cars on the street.

We checked in as Gavin and Wren Beaumont, and once again, the clerk didn't question Magnum's identity. Our ruse now had a footprint that could be traced to this place. This was why I never lied. It always compounded exponentially and blew up in your face.

I startled when he pulled a gun as we entered the room. Did he have that on him this entire time? After making sure every nook and cranny of the room was empty, he stood next to the window and peeked out through the edge of the curtains. His silence on the ride was unnerving but a welcome respite after all that had happened. Now it felt deafening.

"It's a nice room," I offered awkwardly.

"You think this is nice?"

"Yes. Isn't it?"

"Have you ever stayed in a hotel before?"

"No."

He grunted like he expected that answer. "This is not what I consider nice, and I've stayed in some serious hellholes. Gavin didn't splurge on his honeymoon."

"Oh."

He tucked the gun back into his waistband and I realized why I hadn't seen it before. His jacket was covering it. "Why are you living in a storage room of a bakery in downtown LA?" He turned his attention from the window to me .

"It's convenient." I shrugged.

"Or you can't afford a place?"

I didn't reply as I stood awkwardly between the bed and the bathroom.

"Now tell me what's going on."

Uh oh. Shoot.

I had to keep Magnum out of this and hope that Gavin returned.

If Tommy and Kenny found out I was hanging out with a commando who might be a cop, they'd kill me. And if Magnum found out too much, they'd kill him.

Where was Gavin? Why didn't he show up for our wedding today? Was it all too much of a risk for him?

When I'd told him about my predicament, he'd acknowledged getting engaged was a crazy idea. We'd only been dating a few months, but after he got over the initial shock, he seemed like he was eager to marry me to help get Kenny off my case. He'd said he loved me. He'd given me hope this wasn't the tragedy it looked like.

Maybe Magnum was right and Gavin was delayed for reasons he couldn't control, but why didn't he call me and tell me he wasn't going to be there?

"I'm getting tired of repeating myself, little bird, so tell me what's going on now and save us both some trouble."