Signed, Sealed, and Stolen by Alpha Drexel

“Ryvessa, no....don’t go there. The slide is blinking.” “Oh shit...” Thud! That was the last thing I heard before I fell. My eyes fluttered open. It suddenly dawned on me that I was resting on someone. I looked down and realized I was on a human..not just any human, a dead bride. My brain spun. I glanced around and saw every wedding guest’s eyes fixed on the altar. All on me. The priest was nowhere to be found. Dead pin-drop silence filled the hall. I turned my head to the right and there he was...the kingpin himself. Las Vegas’s most wanted man. His eyes bored into mine. If looks could kill, I’d already be six feet under. My heart raced. I killed someone. I freaking killed someone. Blood soaked me everywhere. The chandelier had fallen straight onto her head. I tried to lift my legs, but sharp pain shot through me—I’d landed right on the damn thing. It felt like both legs were broken. Tears spilled instantly. Oh my goodness, not my legs. I haven’t found my billionaire husband yet. My beautiful legs, how am I going to wear my wedding gown? Damn, I shouldn’t be thinking that right now. I should be thinking about how this man is going to end my life. This wasn’t how we planned it. We had the building mapped out. We made sure there were no loopholes. I just hoped the rest of my team was safe, because I didn’t want any trace leading back to us being police officers. I snapped out of my thoughts and faced my harsh reality. I didn’t even notice when two huge men grabbed me and dragged me away from the hall. The bride’s blood was still dripping down my clothes...good thing I wasn’t in uniform. They dumped me into a black SUV, sleek and expensive, and sped off to God knows where. My eyes were sore and teary. How would Papa and Mama feel? How on earth would they find me? Of course everyone warned me, but I was too stubborn. I thought I could arrest the man who’d been wanted for the past thirty-six years...even when my dad was still an officer until retirement, they couldn’t catch him. Foolish me. Now look at my fate. I won’t walk down the aisle I’ve dreamed about, seeing my husband in tears, waiting to hold my hand and kiss my lips—tender, rough, hungry. I won’t hear the priest say, “You may now kiss the bride.” I won’t have my baby. How could I, when I just killed someone on her big day? It happened exactly when the priest said those words to her...that was when I landed. It wouldn’t be bad if I never got mine either, because I stole someone else’s moment. I screamed my lungs out until I couldn’t take it anymore. One of the men injected something sharp into my skin. Then I collapsed. Hours later, I woke up in a room so dark that anyone walking in would only see my eyes. My head throbbed. My legs screamed when I tried to move. For a second I thought they were really broken. Fresh tears came..not from fear this time, from pure frustration. I was chained. Pain still throbbed. I heard guards outside talking. “Boss is gonna kill her for sure. She just killed Samantha...the one he was supposed to marry.” “But you and I both know boss didn’t like her, let alone love her. It was just for the alliance.” One laughed. “Boss was smart to tell Max to weaken that ceiling for any attack. She was definitely sent. Who else would do this on his big day? I can’t wait for the execution basement tonight. It’s been a while. I love that burning iron stuff boss uses.” My ears burned like they were frying. s**t. I had to get out of this. First things first, I needed to think. Drexel must be a mafia lord. Gosh, how did I forget that? I had to act fast. I tried the chains..of course I’m police, I know these hacks. My fingers shook, but I got them off. I searched myself for anything useful. Yes, a small torchlight. I flashed it around slowly. Damn, this wasn’t just a room. It was like a princess suite. My heart pounded harder, whoever owned this place had money and taste. I pushed that aside. I still had pepper spray in my jacket pocket. I bent low, heart racing, stretched my hand under the door, and sprayed it into the air where the guards stood. They screamed. Good, just these two. I tried standing again, but my legs weren’t cooperating. Pain shot up like fire. I spotted a first aid box on the table, pulled down my trousers, and checked while their screams faded. I made the sign of the cross...thank goodness, just a sprain. I applied ointment carefully, biting my lip against the sting. Hell, whoever owned this room loved me too much. When I was done, I went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, washed the blood off. The hot water felt too good—like stolen luxury. I dried off, applied lotion from the table, breathing fast. Then I looked for a dress...something perfect for my plan. I found it. Damn, whoever owned this room was a big sassy baddie. I had to give her credit. Half the stuff here was worth my entire net worth. I slipped into the red lingerie, threw on a huge jacket, and made a mask—I needed it. I grabbed some injections and hid them in the jacket. Good thing we’d mapped Drexel’s house during planning. I remembered the layout. My heart was pounding so loud I was sure someone would hear. What if he recognized me? What if the drug didn’t work? But I had no choice. I took the back door and slipped out carefully. Maids gave me side eyes, but no one stopped me. Too easy...but my nightmare was just starting. Two guards stood at his door. When I got close, they stopped me. “What do you need? Boss needs private time.” I smiled sheepishly, hoping they’d buy it, and said, “Boss called me to help him… calm down.” They grinned. “Ohhh, okay. Make sure you calm him good. He’s stressed today. Give him all you got.” “Sure,” I said. “I’ll do my best.” They nodded and opened the huge mahogany door. Damn, this guy had a thing for black, nothing else in the room. Good, he was in the bathroom. I spotted his alcohol, added the substance from one of the injections, dropped the jacket, adjusted the mask so he wouldn’t recognize me. The red lingerie clung to my body like it was made for me. I lay sexily on the bed, waiting, praying this worked. I needed to get out safe. My pulse thundered in my ears. Every second felt like forever. He finally came out, dripping hot from the shower. He hadn’t noticed me yet. He drank from the glass. His eyes landed on my body. I saw the immediate bulge..begging to be freed. He groaned. “I’m not in the mood for this… but damn, come to daddy.” I smiled inside...the substance was working. I stood. He frowned. “Where are you going?” I froze. No way. He was supposed to collapse. Before I could move...Jack! He dragged me close and kissed me...calm, tender, rough. Oh no. This can’t be my billionaire husband. Hell no.