19
1768 Words
With a little work and a lot of money, Cassia and Lance threw together a hasty wedding. It was amazing how quickly one could make plans with the phrase ‘money is no object.’ Lance had suggested Paris for their ceremony. They flew out her family and his to join them for their happy day. They found a lovely park with many flowers and trees with white and pink blossoms.
Cassia had found herself a lovely empress cut gown with a three-foot train and a jewelled headpiece holding her veil in place.
When his parents protested the wedding, Lance tossed the prenup at them with a proud smile. It was ironclad and gave them nothing further to complain about. With his Mother and Father sufficiently silenced Lance could enjoy his wedding.
He stood at the altar watching his bride walk his way on her father’s arm a light breeze causing the blossoms to fall around her. It was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Walter kissed his daughter and then handed her over to Lance with a smile.
Lance took her hand, and they turned to face the priest. It was a romantic ceremony, and when the priest said he could kiss his bride, the guests cheered. Lance took her in his arms and took his first kiss as a married man. It was a moment he would never forget.
They went from the ceremony to the pictures while the other guests made their way to the reception. As they were taking family pictures, Lance introduced Cassia to his twin Lucas. Lucas welcomed Cassia to the family and then his Mother surprisingly did the same. Lance was happy to see his Mother Embrace Cassia finally accepting her which was going to make his life all the easier.
The reception lasted well into the early morning. Lance was pleased with how well his family and Cassia’s family got along. Nothing unites people like a wedding. When they finally called it quits for the night Lance and Cassia retired to their hotel room where they spent the next three days making love and living on room service.
They spent the next two weeks touring France enjoying their honeymoon. He would have liked to take Cassia around the world for a few months, but unfortunately, he had to return to LA to work. He’d had a few contracts he’d pushed to the back burner, but he could only ignore them for so long.
***
Cindy shrieked and threw her cell phone at the TV shattering the screen. She had been watching ET only to see the coverage of Lance Sanchez’s wedding. Pictures of him and his new bride. That infuriating little hussy that had taken her place, both in his bed and in the industry. Thanks to Cassia Cindy hadn’t worked in months.
She couldn’t believe he’d married her. This was the final insult she couldn’t take it anymore that b***h needed to go. She’d do it herself.
***
Cassia sat on the sidelines watching Lance do what he did so well as he feverously shot the group of young models posing for a designer from Spain. She was gnawing on a carrot and eyeing the buffet table behind the scenes. Well maybe if she dedicated some time to the treadmill when she got home she could sneak a donut.
Cassia slipped off her seat and made her way to the buffet table trying to decide which one she wanted. She found one of those jelly filled powdered ones, and as she was about to put it in her mouth, she turned around and saw Lance cast a disapproving look her way. He didn’t even have to say a word she knew what he was thinking, a few blessed seconds on the lips and a lifetime on the hips. Grudgingly she put the donut back and picked up another carrot. So long as she wanted to model she had to watch what she ate very carefully.
It wouldn’t be forever after all, models had exasperation dates. By the time she hit thirty-five, she’d be forced into retirement. She’d be too old. That’s when she’d be free to start a family and eat whatever she liked. Until then she couldn’t afford to be indulging in pastry.
When the shoot was over Lance and Cassia helped clean up before they left. As usual, Lance was always the last to leave. They walked out to the parking lot where Cassia noticed the tires of the car were flat. All four tires slashed. Lance cussed and then took out his cell to call for roadside service.
“It’s going to be about half an hour.” He said returning his cell to his pocket. Cassia looked around the empty streets. It was getting dark, and they were all alone. “Damn do you know how expensive these tires are?”
“I’m sure you can easily afford it,” Cassia said taking his hand in hers and smiling at him. “At least we’re alone.” She said suggestively. “And we have thirty minutes.” She purred.
A wicked smirk curved his lips. “I think I know where you’re going with this. But the car doesn’t have a back seat.” He pointed out as she wrapped her arms around his neck to bring his lips down to hers.
She kissed his lips and then leaned back against the hood like a pin-up girl. “Who needs a backseat?”
He made a throaty husky sound of arousal and then pulled Cassia into his arms bringing her body in line with his. She melted into his arms as his mouth moved down her neck.
The sound of a loud bang startled them both and then a dull hot pain spread through Cassia’s back and chest. Lance grunted in pain and looked down at Cassia. Her strength is quickly fading her Cassia and Lance looked down to see both their shirts start turning red with blood.
Speechless Cassia touched her hand to the hole in her chest, her fingers stained crimson. Her legs began to buckle, and the world went black.
***
The bang had startled him and then his shoulder hurt. Lance looked down to see the blood between them and the colour fade from Cassia’s face as her blood mingled with his soaking both their shirts. It only took a moment for Lance to realize they were shot. Well, she had. And from the pain in his shoulder, the bullet had gone right through Cassia and lodged in his shoulder.
Cassia’s knees gave away, and she began to go limp in his arms as she passed out. “No!” He screamed lowering her to the ground keeping her in his arms. He looked up frantically for help, but all he saw was a car ripping out of a nearby alley and take off down the street. He recognized the car immediately, and he knew who was to blame. He’d deal with her later right now he had to get Cassia to a hospital before she bled out and died in his arms.
With his tires slashed he couldn’t drive her himself, so he took out his cell and called for an ambulance. They were there promptly, but every second felt like an eternity as Cassia lost more blood. The ground was stained red, and Cassia became a sickly pale white as the life drained out of her. The police pulled Lance aside while the paramedics worked quickly on Cassia. They tended the wound in her chest and hooked her up to an I.V. of blood as they strapped her to a gurney then lifted her into the back of the ambulance.
Lance climbed into the back of the ambulance with Cassia. As he sat holding Cassia’s hand, the paramedic tended the hole in his shoulder.
Finally reaching the hospital, the medical staff rushed Cassia into surgery in one O.R. and Lance into another to remove the bullet from his shoulder. His mind was racing with fears for his wife’s life as the anesthesiologist placed the mask over his mouth and the world faded away.
***
Damien hung up the phone and yelled for the boys. Brandon and Justin appeared at the top of the stairs. “Pack your bags. We’re going to LA. Your brother’s been shot.”
“Which one?” Brandon asked as Justin rushed off to pack.
“Lance.”
“What’s going on?” Dominic asked as he came out of the kitchen with a sandwich in his hands.
“Lance has been shot,” Brandon said from the top of the stairs.
“Is he ok?” Dominic asked.
“He’s in surgery. Dominic, call the airstrip and get the plane ready I want to be in the air in an hour.” Damien said as he went in search of his wife. He checked the study and then the kitchen when he heard Eve scream. He ran to the TV room to find his wife watching the breaking news bulletin on the TV where the ambulance was taking Cassia away on a stretcher and then the camera panned over all the blood on the street, but there was no sign of Lance.
Eve was a wreck instantly. “He’s been shot!” She cried. “My baby’s been shot.”
“I know the hospital just called me. Dominic’s readying the plane as we speak. We’ll be in LA in a few hours.”
She panicked and became incoherent. “Someone shot my baby. Is he alive? The news won’t say.” She cried grabbing Damien’s arms frantically. “Is he alive?”
“He’s in surgery. Come on let’s pack, and we’ll see him. Be quick about it.” Eve ran off to get her bag. Damien felt the stress. This sort of stress wasn’t good for a man his age. God help whoever was responsible. When he found out who had done this, they would wish they were dead.
- Writer
