Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

They were making it pretty clear to him, each in their own way:

Elysia isn't alone. She's not some helpless girl with no one to have her back, no support, no family standing behind her. If anyone dared to mess with her- especially him—there'd be hell to pay.

It wasn't anger Tarquin felt as he listened to these old men; it was gratitude, honestly.

He was grateful that his wife and kids had people who loved them this fiercely.

"I really have let Elysia down," he admitted, guilt heavy in his voice. "It was my fault, back then. I—"

He apologized first, then spoke from the heart, making his loyalty clear.

It was the third time he'd said something like that today, but he didn't mind. He meant every word.

Every time they brought it up, it felt like he was apologizing to Elysia all over again. Three times, thirty times, three hundred times-hell, three thousand times -he'd do it, and never get angry about it.

He really had wronged her.

Quincy, ever the gentleman, looked just like the sort of old man who'd have a library full of leather-bound books and always know which fork to use at dinner.

"Since you followed Elysia all the way here, and could spot us right away," Quincy said, "I suppose you know a thing or two about who we were before we disappeared off the map."

"You know why Gerald was such a legend in the business world?"

"Skill and luck-can't have one without the other."

"But do you know why he was always so lucky?"

"I'm not even exaggerating-it was because he loved his wife."

"Every time things got rough, Gerald would go out and buy her something special —a diamond necklace, a designer purse, even a whole box of Belgian chocolates just to make her happy."

"He used to say the happier his wife was, the luckier he felt. The more he loved her, the more the world seemed to go his way."

"His advice was simple: a man who loves his wife isn't going to have bad luck."

"That's some real old-school wisdom. You should remember it."

"I know you're already at the top of your game, but if you want to even higher, you need to love

with everything you've gotnoveldrama

Tarquin paused, silent for a moment. He'd heard about how much Gerald had loved his wife.

After his wife died, Gerald didn't last long himself. People still said he died of a broken heart.

Tarquin didn't know why Gerald had faked his own death and

disappeared-but he did

everyone admired that kindel.ne

love.

Quincy kept going:

"I just saw Elysia a minute ago. It's obvious-she loves you, and she loves you deeply."

"We love her, too. So if Elysia loves you, we'll accept you. If she likes you, we'll like you."

"But let's two.

clear-one strike, not

opened in the p , for Elysia and theat sake." east,

"But if you ever hurt her again, if you ever let her down, we won't let it slide."

As soon as Quincy finished, Walter chimed in, voice firm,

"We're not like those jokers out there. Sure, there's plenty of folks who want you gone, but none of them can touch you."

"But if we decide to make a move-you'd be done for."

Tarquin didn't flinch. His tone was steady, respectful. "I understand."

Walter's eyes narrowed, a no-nonsense air about him that screamed military through and through.

"No need for more threats," he said. "We'll just see how you behave."

He'd barely finished the sentence when Elysia came running over, calling out, "Tarquin! Quincy! Walter!"