The Infamous Bride: Boundless Billionaires, #3

1

Rockets burst midair while neon purple and green lights exploded over the crowd of ecstatic onlookers. The wind machine hidden offstage blew at slightly less than hurricane force while Breezy and her voluminous gown rose on a crescent moon over the crowd. The body mic attached to her low cut corset picked up every note she belted out, and the crowd roared its approval as the familiar strains of the Mangy Mutts’ biggest hit reverberated from speaker to speaker .

Three hours of singing and dancing—with a few quick costume changes backstage thrown in for good measure—had power pumping through Breezy’s tiny body. When this performance was over she would have energy shooting through her for hours, but her voice was starting to wear thin. Unlike many of the pop stars on tour, Breezy sang live at every show. As long as the amps worked, faulty sound equipment or software would never shut down one of her shows.

The moon drew back over the stage until it bumped into the platform she was to step onto.

The stadium went dark. The chant began. BREEZY. BREEZY.

Controlling her breathing so that the mic wouldn’t pick up the sound, Breezy carefully stepped off the moon and onto the catwalk. She followed the dimly glowing lines that led her to a giant slide.

Out of the dark, the opening cords of her first encore number were struck.

Before Breezy flopped down onto the top of the slide, she pulled the corset as high up over her boobs as she could get the tight garment to go. She was not going to have a costume malfunction tonight or any night for that matter. Nollie’s No-No Number Three—no nip slip. Too many young girls looked up to Breezy.

Shaking off the thought, she dropped the huge skirt on the catwalk and adjusted the legs of the sequined boy shorts that covered the parts that Breezy preferred to keep private. She gingerly plopped down on the shelf at the top of the slide. Belly down, head leading the way, she pushed off, arms spread like wings, and landed near the old-fashioned mic. She started singing the lively ditty as her feet hit the stage.

Five songs later, she left the crowd begging for more as she departed the stage.

The charismatic smile she was famous for covered her face as she ran into a wall of backstage admirers. Shaking hands, giving hugs, signing autographs, and posing for selfies stole another forty-five minutes from her before she could get to her dressing room and the hot tea and honey her throat so desperately cried for.

One of her personal security team opened the door to the dressing room and closed it again behind her. Breezy’s eyes darted around the room.

"It’s okay, chica, it’s just the two of us in here," Nanny Rosie said as she stepped out of the bathroom.

Her long blonde hair was the same shade and style as Breezy’s. The face looked the same. Courtesy of the prosthetics Auntie Renee had devised, the two women facing each other had the same cheekbones, nose, and chin. None of which were natural to them. With the proper application of make-up, no one could tell which one was the real deal. At least as long as Rosie didn’t sing and wore her white body make-up.

Rosie was wearing a gorgeous confection of rhinestones and lace, suitable for a glamourous rockstar, as she helped Breezy unlace the corset in their nightly routine of transforming Breezy into Magnolia. Half an hour later, Magnolia Brisland, Breezy’s anonymous alter-ego and also the road manager for the Mangy Mutts, stepped out of the dressing room. The crowd outside of the door sighed in disappointment as the bare-faced woman in a baseball cap, plaid shirt, cut-off jeans, and steel-toed boots walked down the corridor.

She waved a clipboard at the similarly dressed young man leaning against the opposite wall. He took his hands out of his pockets before he joined her. They were both halfway down the corridor, leaving the crowd of celebrity seekers waiting hopefully for Breezy.

A cheer raised the hair on the back of Magnolia’s neck as Breezy stepped out of the dressing room, bedecked in rhinestones and lace. Nanny Rosie was about to become the life of the party and Magnolia was happy to have Rosie be her surrogate.

You okay, Nollie? Ethan Tillman asked Magnolia. Your usual swagger is missing.

Just tired tonight, Eth. I can’t wait to get to my room and cuddle with the kids. Nollie whispered. They had to keep their voices down because every little sound echoed against the cement walls of the corridor.

Nollie, how much longer do you think you can keep up this schedule? Everyone is exhausted. We have to rotate the security team every couple of weeks so that they can remain sharp. Even the nannies have lost their taste for partying. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. You can only ride the tide for so long before the crash comes, and you’ve been riding high for far too long. It’s going to take a toll on you.

I know everyone is exhausted. My uncles are begging to make this the farewell tour and I really want it to be. I’m tired too. I want to be the one putting my kids to sleep every night. I want to be the one holding their hands when they have booboos, and taking them to the zoo. Nollie whispered. I would love to make them macaroni and cheese for dinner.

Honey, I’ve tasted your macaroni and cheese. It might be better if you got a chef.

Magnolia choked on her laugh as she elbowed her foster brother. He was one of the few people around her who dared to poke fun at her.

Seriously, Nollie. Tell ’em all to go take a flying leap, and worry about yourself for a change.

I’m giving it serious consideration, Ethan.

I hope so. You may be our biggest client, but no one will be happier to have you and the kids settle down than Mama and Dad.

I’m not so sure about Mama. She’s already told me that if I plan to be on the road next year she’s keeping the kids and putting them into kindergarten in Whale’s Point.

That’s it! I’m leaking it to the press tomorrow that Breezy and the Mangy Mutts are retiring. Mrs. Sharon is still teaching, and I’m not allowing that woman anywhere near my niece and nephews. Take my advice and find a nice place in Massachusetts. They have good schools there, and we will be able to keep the kids as far away from that harridan as we can. Ethan feigned enough alarm to get another choked laugh out of Nollie.

Ethan, you know if that woman had the Trio of Terror in her class she would have a stroke. She barely survived Callie and Mara and then she got me. She hated me and the way I sang all my answers. I honestly thought her skin color was red. She was burbling her words. She still had too much energy flowing. I got suspended in kindergarten because I asked her if she was an Indian. I never saw the woman when she wasn’t furious and red-faced.

She does tell anyone who listens that the Tillman house is cursed. Ethan chuckled. She says it has to be to have turned out so many hellions.

W-e-l-ll, there could be something in that. Nollie said around her laughter. The house did produce a pack of demons.

It was selfish, but Nollie hoped the kids were still awake. She needed to hug and kiss them. Instead she was disappointed to see her half-sister Joyelle, the head nanny of the army of nannies Nollie employed, sitting in front of the television working on her current hand quilted square .

Joyelle swung her blonde head around and gave Nollie a rueful smile. Sorry, they’re sleeping like angels.

That’s as it should be, Nollie sighed. I guess I’ll go in my room and do some stretching.

If you really want to do some yoga, you should do it in here. Joyelle chuckled. Harper insisted they had to sleep in your bed so you wouldn’t have nightmares sleeping in a strange bed alone.

Warmth spread through Nollie. She might not be able to spend a lot of waking time with her children, but at least she would get to cuddle them in their sleep tonight.

In that case, I’ll just go take a nice hot shower and turn in. She couldn’t keep the big foolish grin off her face.

If you change your mind there’s a Cagney and Hepburn marathon on. It’s a hoot watching them dubbed in Spanish.

Thanks, sis, but I think I’ll leave that pleasure to you.

The hot water pounded all the stress from her overused muscles and washed it down the drain. After the shower, she wrapped herself in the luxurious hotel robe and used a towel around her long hair .

If she was serious about quitting show business and setting up a house for her and the kids, she had a lot of decisions to make. Like where to settle and what kind of robes to buy. At least it would give her something to think about as she cuddled the kids and stared off into the dark night sky outside of her window.

Sleep was such an elusive thing, especially with adrenaline still racing through her body.

Magnolia tried not to move too much as she shifted position. Four-year-old Harper snuffled into her neck while one of Harper’s brothers had spread himself over Nollie’s legs. She was pretty sure it was Atticus’s curls tickling her calf.

Nollie couldn’t get comfortable, even with her precious babies draped all over her. She had an awful feeling something bad was about to happen and she couldn’t shake it by planning her new house or letting a new song play in her head.

She really hoped her paranoia didn’t presage the crash Ethan had so blithely predicted. She only had to make it through the next two months on tour and then she could give in to the depression. Depression was good for her ballad writing. Everyone complained that her music was too upbeat this tour. They wanted more mushy songs so that couples could cling and sway. For some reason three of her ballads were the most requested wedding songs of the last decade. If she wanted to maintain that record she needed to add some new songs into the rotation.

Notes started to appear behind her closed eyelids as a ballad took shape. The tune was reaching a crescendo when a tiny sound stopped the music and popped Magnolia’s eyes open. She could barely hear it over Elijah’s snores, but as a musician she never missed a note that was out of place. Slowly she eased her legs out from under Atticus’s head. When her legs were clear, she used her hand to gently lift Harper off her shoulder and placed the girl’s head onto the pillow that had been under her own head.

When the grate covering the air vent plopped onto the carpeting Magnolia held her breath. Her eyes focused on the wall and she saw a man ease himself out of the vent. She jumped to her feet and flew over the bed. Her elbow made contact with the man’s face before he could straighten up. A loud crack hit her ears before pain reverberated through her elbow. The creep had a hard mask on over his face.

Her children were in this room. They were sleeping in the bed behind her. This thing was not going to get anywhere near her children. She wouldn’t let him.

The world slowed down so that she could protect her babies. Although it was dark, Nollie felt as if she could see everything perfectly.

Magnolia Brisland raised her right knee with all the force her one-hundred and twenty pound, five-foot-four frame possessed and planted it in the man’s testicles. As the man bent forward from the unexpected assault on his manhood, Magnolia grabbed the back of his head in one hand, his chin in the other and pulled both hands in opposite directions.

If there had been any noise from the altercation, she hadn’t heard it above the beating of her own heart. Nollie snapped her head towards the children on the bed. They were still safely sleeping.

She dropped her hands and the body dropped to the floor. When she rolled him over to make sure he was truly incapacitated Nollie saw a knife she hadn’t seen in his hand protruding from his chest.

The room was suddenly flooded with light as Joyelle had her arms wrapped around Nollie’s shoulders.

Nollie, we have to get the children out of here before they wake up. Joyelle shook Magnolia. Nollie, do you understand?

Nollie heard Joyelle, but didn’t understand the sounds she was making.

Stars and damnation! Nollie! You’re in shock. Joyelle took off her sweater and draped it over Nollie’s shoulders. "I should slap your face, try to knock you out of it, but with your training you would probably knock me all the way back to Kansas.

I’m going to shut off the light, so if the kids wake up they won’t see anything. Then I’ll take them into the other bedroom. Do you think you can go into the living room without any help?

Nollie heard the whispered sounds, but still couldn’t make any sense of them.

Ethan rushed into the room and swept Nollie into his arms. He placed her gently on the couch in the other room and Joyelle began piling blankets on top of her.

She’s in shock. We have to get a doctor in here. Joyelle whispered to Ethan.

No doctor. No one is getting in here before Callie can examine the scene. Ethan’s voice was harsh.

But . . .

No buts, Joy. We have to get Nollie and the kids out of this country. Now.

But Nollie can’t even walk. Her elbow is bleeding. She’s covered in blood. She needs to see a doctor.

She’ll be fine until Adam can see her. Callie’s voice spoke from out of the gloom of the doorway.

But Adam’s in Boston. Joy wouldn’t let go of Nollie’s hand.

She may be named Magnolia Blossom, but underneath that petal white skin of hers, she’s as tough as an old iron nail. Ciara is already on the plane, filing a flight plan. Callie pulled the blanket away from Nollie’s face. You listen to me, girl. I’m sending Ethan with you and what he says is law. Do you understand?

Nollie understood, but she didn’t like it. Callie had a plan and she wasn’t telling them what it was. Nollie wanted to say something, but her brain couldn’t form a thought. Callie gave Nollie her badass look before walking back to her brother.

Ethan, did you notice the creep had on night vision goggles?

Yeah. Ethan ran his hand through his hair.

Did you also notice his shirt was inside out? Callie asked.

I’ve been too busy keeping Joy away from the phone. Ethan waved his hand towards the phone.

We have to get help in here. At least a doctor for Nollie. Joyelle’s soft voice soothed as she stroked Nollie’s hair.

The guy’s shirt is on inside out so that the white print on the other side wouldn’t glow in the dark. He’s one of those bat-shit crazies from the Church of the Sanctified Blood."

The people who belonged to the religious cult were misogynistic nutjobs. For some reason their obsession had focused on Breezy several years before. Occasionally they protested against the other top women in Rock, but their true hatred was reserved for Breezy.

He’s a Believer? Joyelle gasped.

That’s what his shirt says. Callie’s voice was dry. Those idiot cultists have gone from protests and placards to trying to do physical harm to those around Breezy. They’re no longer minor nuisances, now they’re major threats. It’s time we took them out.

They’re going to be worse when they find out she’s killed one of them. Ethan said.

Sorry to disillusion you, Bro, but the guy isn’t dead, but he’ll wish he was. She snapped his neck, probably damaged his spinal column. My guess is he’s going to end up in a wheelchair.

Then we have to get a doctor in here before he dies! Joyelle exclaimed.

Couldn’t we just let him die? Ethan half joked.

I thought about it, but Nollie has a conscience. His death will haunt her for the rest of her life. Better to let him live and let her pay for his medical bills. It will ease the Jiminy Cricket inside her.

I have a feeling in the end we will all wish this guy was dead, Joy whispered.

Nollie silently agreed with her gentle sister.

2

Mara tried to slide out from under her husband’s protective (or was it possessive?) embrace. With Ajax it was usually a large dose of both, but she didn’t mind. She hated sneaking away in the dark of the night, but her bladder was being batted and she really needed to get into the bathroom. Hopefully she’d be back in her cozy cocoon before he noticed she was gone. He tried so hard to present an image of nonchalance, but he was a first time daddy and it was so sweet watching him blunder his way through the prenatal period .

Of course, once she was in position the bedroom phone started clanging loudly. She could hear Ajax’s low voice murmuring into the phone. She really hoped it wasn’t something that was going to drag him out of bed and halfway across the world. After all, she was a first time mom and she needed her man to keep her and her bump happy. And supply her with ice cream and chips at strange hours of the day and night.

For a few weeks her brother-in-law Ado had been at her beck and call, but after the holidays he gleefully returned to his classes in Boston. Jax said the poor boy went back early to avoid any more midnight ice cream runs. If Jax had to fly off to Timbuktu, New York, or Mars, he had better be planning on taking her and the Kick Monster with him. Otherwise the ice cream cravings might cause problems in her marriage.

In a weak moment, she had promised her hunky hubby that she wouldn’t go out alone, and there was no way she was going to drag a security detail out in the middle of the night because she wanted strawberry gelato and all they had in the freezer was chocolate or vice-versa.

Ajax tapped on the door. He was coming to tell her he had to leave. Again.

Mara dragged tissue across her face to wipe away the tears that pissed her off more than Ajax flying off again. Her hormones had turned her into a watering pot, crying over every little thing. She couldn’t let Jax know she was crying. He’d insist on ignoring whatever crisis had called him away out of guilt and she wouldn’t do that to him. Those were his mother’s tactics. Mara prided herself on having no tactics, she was a straight shooter.

"Agape mou, Callie is on the phone. She says it is quite urgent that she speak to you." Ajax’s concerned tone reached her through the door.

Tell her I’ll be right there. She washed her hands and rushed into the bedroom to take the phone.

Mara, I am sorry to bother you in the middle of the night, I forgot about the time difference. I was afraid that husband of yours was going to hang up on me. He hates me you know? He thinks I’m a hangeroner, like a cling-on or something.

He doesn’t hate you, Callie. Mara hiccupped.

I wanted to let you know you will have you to go to the port building, Callie’s voice sounded calm, but Mara picked up a frantic edge to it. I’m afraid I may have caused you a problem with customs.

Okay. Oh no! Something really bad must have happened for Callie to resort to their old childhood code.

I’m sending you a tree for your garden. I hope it doesn’t violate the second prime directive or anything? And she was using a Star Trek reference! Nollie was involved.

Have you been drinking? Mara forced a giggle.

The baby rolled as Mara’s heart sped up. Nollie was in trouble and Callie had to move her out of whatever country they were in. Fast. Mara racked her brains trying to remember what country they were in for the final leg of the Mangy Mutts tour.

Why couldn’t Mara remember? She was a flippin’ genius. She never forgot anything. The baby punched her sacroiliac and she deserved it. She was a terrible friend.

Naw, not really. Just three or four shots of tequila with the boys, Callie, the woman who could drink every man on the crew under the table without batting an eyelash, slurred her words. The baby kicked Mara’s heart as it passed by on its way to her feet. Callie and Nollie were in Mexico. The Mexican government could be really tricky for a woman in trouble to deal with.

Can the tree handle the heat of a Greek summer? Tamara answered in the code they had developed as children. You know the temperatures have been unseasonably high this winter, and summer is on its way.

Ajax gave Mara a funny look, but she merely frowned and shook her head.

I’m not sure. It had some bruising before it was shipped out, but it is of hearty stock. I’m sorry to bother you with this now. I know it isn’t really that important, but once I saw the tree I knew it was perfect to shade your baby on your hubby’s private island.

Oooo. It sounds wonderful, but Ajax gave away the island before we got together. Don’t worry, it will work out better than planned. I’m sure it will fit nicely into our garden in Athens. When should I expect it to arrive? Mara forced her voice to sound jovial.

He gave away the island? Callie lost her cool tone.

Yes, he did. But your tree will be arriving at an ideal time. Our garden needs a lot of work. It’s currently filled with weeds and stones. I’m in the process of hiring a crew to landscape it for me.

Okay. I’ll let you handle the details. You know me. I have a black thumb.

Crap! Callie had a dead body to handle!

Callie, don’t forget, you promised to be here when I have the baby.

Don’t worry. I’ll be there before you know it. I just have a few loose ends to tie up. Good bye, Digger.

Toodles. Mara whispered.

Mara absently rubbed her baby belly as Ajax took the phone out of her hand.

What can I do to help, my love?

If someone wanted to sneak an airplane into this country where are they most likely to land? Mara asked.

On a private island. Where would this plane be coming from? he asked.

Mexico.

Ah, then there are only a few islands that would fit that bill. Ajax moved closer to her and rubbed the aching spot on her lower back. The baby really seemed to be fond of her sacroiliac when it wasn’t beating up on it. Theron’s island is one of the islands with a landing strip that could handle that kind of plane.

Can we be there in three hours?

Why? Jax’s thumbs dug into the muscle and worked at the pain.

Nollie is in some kind of trouble. She and the kids will be arriving soon. I’ll have to be there to move them to a safe place before all hell breaks loose.

Callie told you all that on the telephone?

No, she was talking in code, which means she thinks her calls are being monitored. Tears rolled down Mara’s cheeks. Ajax pulled her into his arms. I don’t think I’m ever going to see her again.

Why do you say that, love?

She said goodbye. She always says ‘see ya,’ never goodbye because it’s too final.

3

Nollie stumbled off the plane alone. The sling on her arm irritated her neck. And her pride. She had to fight with her bodyguard, but he remained on the plane with the children and their nanny. No matter what awaited her at the bottom of the stairs, Nollie trusted Joyelle would never allow any danger to touch the children .

Are you Magnolia? A heavily accented Greek voice asked.

Nollie had never seen this man in her life. The man was handsome, but he wasn’t Ajax. Could he be one of them?

Sunglasses covered his eyes. She didn’t trust a man when she couldn’t read his eyes.

I am Theron Christofides. Welcome to my island, he said, but no smile accompanied his words.

Nollie lost the power of thought for a moment as her knees grew weak and threatened to leave her sprawled on the ground in a blubbering heap at his feet. She read the tabloids. She had heard of the notorious playboy. Did Greece grow any other kind? The disdainful thought flashed through her mind.

She didn’t trust men as far as she could throw them, and she trusted playboys even less.

Had Ciara flown her into a trap?

Had the cult gotten to her pilot?

Nollie had thought Ciara could be trusted. She had been carefully vetted by the Tillman’s, and she had flown them around the world at least a dozen times over the years. Before the plane landed, Nollie had instructed Ciara carefully. The instructions were simple—if there was any trouble, she was to take off immediately. Both the pilot and the nanny had been charged with getting the children to safety, even if it meant leaving their mother behind.

Nollie pinched the web of skin between her finger and thumb to stop the crazy, paranoid thoughts. Ciara occasionally posed as one of her doubles. There was no way she had joined the Sanctified crazies.

"Are you all right thespinis? Theron placed his hand under her good elbow and started leading her across the runway. My wife wanted to be here to greet your plane, but our daughter just awoke from her nap and was demanding immediate nourishment. Cassidy begs your pardon for neglecting you."

You have a wife and she knows I’m here? Relief began to wash through Magnolia.

But of course. Tamara and Ajax are on their way, but due to some unforeseen engine problems, they were not able to reach the island before you were due to land.

They had almost reached a golf cart before Nollie had the presence of mind to stop walking.

My man will see to your luggage, Theron assured her.

My children are still on board the plane, Nollie spoke in a whisper. I had to make sure this wasn’t a trap before they got off.

Do not worry. My men will get them off the plane and deliver them to the house. Theron’s voice was calm, almost soothing. Too calm. Too soothing. How many children are there? Are they with an adult?

Suspicion roiled through Nollie’s mind. She didn’t know