Page 77 of Blaze

Sheriff Johnston pulls out a set of cuffs.“Let me add to that list.”He grabs Sheila’s hands and slaps the cuffs on them so fast even I’m surprised.“Sheila Mahoney, you’re under arrest for credit card fraud and identity theft.Anything you say, can and will be used against you…”

As he continues reading her rights, dragging her toward his car, she starts shouting.“What are you talking about?You can’t arrest me!I have rights.”

Johnston tucks her into the back seat and shuts the door, silencing her protests from our ears.He takes a few strides toward us.“Sorry about the surprise.I didn’t have a lot of notice.Apparently, she’s had credit cards open in Victoria’s name for years.Lots of them.”

Victoria’s breath hitches.“I’ve never even had a credit card.She told me I wouldn’t qualify for one until I had a decent job.”

Johnston winces.“Sorry, ma’am.She’s been lying to you.Stealing from you and lying.I’ll be turning her over to the State of Oregon to prosecute.If you have any questions, Thomas McAndrews has all the details.The PI he hired uncovered her numerous crimes.”

“Thank you,” I tell the sheriff.Thank goodness there are good people working in this town.They’ve been selflessly giving to Wilde for decades with little to no thanks from my grandfather.That’s all changing now.

As soon as Johnston’s car is no longer in sight, Victoria nearly collapses against me.He’ll send someone to get Sheila’s rental later today.A rental she paid for with Victoria’s inheritance.

“Please tell me that’s over,” she mutters.

I swing her into my arms and turn to enter the house as the rest of my family disperses.They never had to get involved, but I’m grateful for their intimidating presence.We are family.We protect our own.

Victoria is mine.She’s a member of our family now.

I kiss her forehead as I jog up the ornate front stairs to the second floor.“That’s over,” I promise her.“The State of Oregon will handle it.We’ll meet with McAndrews when you’re ready and the dust is settled.He’ll explain your options.”

She wraps her arms tighter around my neck.“We should make love to celebrate.”

I chuckle.“Nice try, baby.”

Chapter27

Victoria

“What is this place?”I ask, leaning to look out the passenger window of Blaze’s truck.We’re at some sort of tiny house.I smooth my hands over the white silk skirt of my wedding dress for the millionth time, mostly because the material feels so good against my fingers.

I’ve never owned a silk dress.It hadn’t occurred to me until this week that I’ve never owned anything very pretty.Somehow, my stepmother convinced me I was a tomboy, and that was the end of the discussion.In retrospect, now I see that she never wanted me to stand out over her, so she kept me boring and drab.

I didn’t buy clothes for myself because she said they were too expensive.Meanwhile, the woman owned an extremely impressive wardrobe.The bitch.That’s what I call her now.

The bitch.

Not out loud anymore, though.The first two times, Blaze laughed and let it slide.The third time, I ended up standing in the corner of the kitchen.That would have been humiliating in and of itself, but first he spanked me in front of Gretchen, Isabel, and all five wives.Then, he sent me to the corner.

After that, he took me upstairs and sucked on my clit until I came so hard that everyone in the house knew about it.

Standing in the corner has its perks.

I’m still not sure what this house is that we’ve pulled up to.It’s on the Wilde property.I’ve been confused ever since Blaze whisked me away from our wedding reception at the mansion.

He shuts off the engine and turns to me, grabbing my hand.“Well,Mrs.Wilde, it used to house a man and his wife who worked at the estate in the 1950s.There are several such small homes around the property.My great-grandfather was apparently not as much of a curmudgeon as his son was.Though I don’t believe Amos was in his youth, either.He changed later in life.Perhaps after his wife died.”

I smile.I love all the stories about this family.The more I learn, the more intrigued I am to study their past.A lot of it is written in diaries and journals in the library.I’m hoping to read through half of them before I die.That’s how many there are.

“Please tell me we’re going to stay here tonight.”I’ve been concerned about staying in the mansion tonight.I’d rather be alone with my husband.At least for a night.I just didn’t see how it was possible.

It’s been two days since my stupid stepmother showed up.Two days since I said I would marry Blaze.Two long, long days of waiting for him to stop tormenting me and make love to me.

“We are.We can stay as long as we’d like.I figured at least for a few days.It’s not elegant or anything.Brody only stumbled upon these houses a few weeks ago.Haden has had a team working to get this one cleaned up, repainted, and in decent condition.”

“Does it have a bed?”I tease.That’s all that matters.

He chuckles.“And a fridge.It even has an oven.Gretchen already stocked the fridge with precooked meals.All we have to do is heat things up.”He opens the door and jumps down from his side before rounding to mine.