Michaels, Skye - Mikaela's Debut [The Black Dahlia Hotel 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (15 page)

“Dad, I’m thinking about dropping out of the race. It’s too much strain on Mikki. We got engaged last night, by the way.”

“Are you crazy?” Of course he had glossed right over the engagement news. That was par for the course. “This woman is diverting your concentration from the campaign. This is not how to win an election. Would you abandon your future for a woman?”

“Not just a woman, Dad—my woman. This election is your dream, not mine.”

Dillon heard his mother in the background. “Joe, would you have given me up for a political career?”

“Of course not, Mary. That’s different. I love you.”

“And Dillon loves Mikaela. It’s no different.”

Joe blustered, “This is insanity. Break up with Mikaela and distance yourself from this unsavory situation. It’s not too late to save your campaign.”

“Not an option. As usual, Dad, when you’re wrong, you’re wrong at the top of your voice. I’ll talk to you and Mom later. I hope you will have calmed down by then. In any case, Mikki and I are getting married and living our lives. You can be a part of it or not, as can my possible constituents in the great state of Connecticut.”

* * * *

An hour later Dillon and Mikaela were seated in the luxurious lounge on the top deck while they waited for Greg and Natasha to set up a small, intimate area to make the response video. They had decided to go with a casual, absolutely unworried “at sea” look. Dillon wore a starched, white button-down collared shirt and pressed jeans with Topsiders while Mikaela wore white capris and a blue-and-white-striped knit shirt and had her hair pulled up into a bouncy ponytail. They looked like a true-blue, all-American couple.

“Mikki, Miguel Gatto wants to know if you want to prosecute Maggie. He can help with his contacts in the Brooklyn DA’s office if you want to go ahead.”

She looked thoughtful and then sighed. “Why not? It’s all out there in the public domain now. Ask him to go ahead. If this just affected me, I’d say let it go, but she hurt you, Dilly. One thing—I don’t want to involve Court’s people in anything that could come back to bite them. They did us a huge favor when we had no idea where to turn.”

“Understood. We’ll just say that you had a suspicion it was your cousin. We have the texts back and forth between you where she admits involvement and threatens you.”

When Greg gave the signal and the red light beamed on the video camera, Dillon said, “I’m making this announcement to the citizens of my congressional district. It has been an honor to run for the vacant seat from Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District, and particularly my home town of Greenwich. Recent events have made continuing uncomfortable for both myself and my fiancée, Mikaela Sexton.

“I’m sure most of you have already seen the scurrilous pictures that have been posted online and in the papers this morning. Let me be clear. We are not attempting to deny that Mikaela is the subject of the pictures. They were taken when she was nineteen, and her cousin and a friend drugged her with a date-rape drug, forced her into a compromised position, and took the video while she was unaware. Recently, this relative, and I use the term loosely, has attempted to blackmail Mikaela demanding five million dollars to not post the portion of the video showing her face. We determined not to pay her, and what you see in the news and on the Internet today is the result.

“I’m not going to withdraw from the race. If you want to vote for me—great. If not—fine. Either way, I have no intention of abandoning the woman I love. Withdrawing from the race would be caving in to the pressure of this unscrupulous person. Nonetheless, I am withdrawing from active campaigning at this time.

“The citizens of Fairfield and New Haven Counties can elect me or not as they see fit. If they do elect me, I will represent them in Congress to the best of my ability. If not, good luck and God speed. Mikki and I are getting married and living our lives. Friends, family, and constituents can be a part of that or not as they choose. This whole experience has been hurtful and mean spirited, but they say the best revenge is living well, and that is what we intend to do.” Dillon picked up Mikaela’s hand and kissed it as the video camera shut down.

“I’m so proud of you, Dillon. That was amazing.” Mikaela had tears in her eyes.

“That was excellent, Dillon. We’ll get it to Morgan Court’s people immediately. They are waiting to download it to all of the pertinent sites, YouTube, and to the newspapers as well.” Greg and Natasha began packing up the video equipment.

“Thanks, Greg. We appreciate everyone’s support and help.” He turned to Mikaela. “What do you think about getting married in Cozumel? I’m sure there is a cathedral there. The purser, Casey Campbell, can help us make arrangements. What do you say? I know you wanted a big church wedding, baby, but at least we can have the church part.”

“Honey, that would give us two days to arrange a wedding. I don’t think it can be done.”

“Anything can be done if you want it badly enough. The girls and the crew will help you get it together. What do you say? It sounds like an adventure. Then we can post pictures of our happy nuptials all over the Internet and screw them all.”

“I’m not promising to go along with this insane idea, but I will talk to Casey Campbell and the girls.”

* * * *

After the video response had been completed, Mikaela met the girls by the pool. “What do you guys think about Dillon and me getting married at the cathedral in Cozumel? It would be a terrible rush. I don’t know if it can be done.”

Anne Sutton smiled. “I have a little experience with rushed nuptials. We can all work on it, make it a project. I wish Anamaria and Max were here. But never fear, I’ve learned a lot from our resident wedding architect. Once we get to Cozumel, we can shop for a dress and other necessities. Casey Campbell can contact the church and arrange a time. The crew can handle the reception. We’ve had several weddings aboard, starting with mine. They are pros at setting them up.”

“Would you guys all be my bridesmaids? As you know, I lost my parents last year, and I don’t have any family.”

They chorused, “We’d love to!”

* * * *

Miguel Gatto and Gabriella Dellaveccia were stretched out on one of the double chaise lounges on the private deck of their suite. He had a glass of iced tea in one hand and his cell phone in the other while he scrolled his contacts at the Brooklyn DA’s office. When he zeroed in on the one he wanted, he pushed call. He had reached the private cell phone of Mario Ferrante, the Brooklyn DA.

“Mario, how the heck are you? Miguel Gatto here. I need a favor.” Might as well cut to the chase.

“What can I do for you, Miguel? I owe you one or two.” Miguel had aided in the prosecution of some gang members who had migrated north to Brooklyn.

“I presume you’ve seen the brouhaha on the Internet this morning about Mikaela Sexton and Dillon Cavanaugh.” When Mario answered in the affirmative, Miguel continued. “They are friends of mine. Let me fill you in on the details.” When he had finished, he said, “They want to prosecute since all the damaging information and photos are already out there. Do you think you can mount an investigation of this Maggie Sexton? The evidence we currently have is not admissible.”

“I won’t ask why it’s not admissible but will take your word for that. Yeah. I can look into it. Five million, huh? The girl has balls.”

“Balls on a viscous bitch can be dangerous. Keep me in the loop if you can. These are really good people. Gabriella tells me they are getting married at the cathedral in Cozumel on Tuesday or Wednesday.”

“I’ll keep you posted.” They ended the call.

“That was nice of you, Miguel.” Gabby reached up and kissed his cheek. “You are a good man.”

He pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss. He never got enough of her. “I don’t know what I’d do if someone did that to you, baby. We had our own scary moments, and I hate to see someone else going through it. Anyway, it’s a small thing. I hope Mario can get some justice for them.” He rolled her under him, pushed up the hem of her shirt, and took one peaked nipple into his mouth.

Aboard the
Golden Dolphin
, at the wharf in Cozumel Harbor, Isla Cozumel, in the Caribbean Sea, State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Sunday morning, January 3, 2016

After a quick breakfast, Mikaela, Anne, Kaylin, Gabriella, Chloe, and Nicollette exited the ship onto the Punta Langosta pier at the foot of downtown San Miguel on the west side of the island of Cozumel. Since Cozumel existed on tourism, all of the shops including those in the mall were open. The girls split into two teams with their lists of items to be bought. Mikaela, Anne, and Kaylin headed to the designer shops to look for the wedding dress and accessories. The first two shops yielded nothing that appealed to Mikaela.

“I wish I had known this was coming. I could have brought my mother’s wedding veil from home.”

“Can you have someone ship it overnight?”

“No. It’s in storage, and I don’t know who I could have root it out. I would have loved to wear her dress as well, but unfortunately it would require a lot of alterations and some remaking. My mother was much shorter and smaller than I am.”

“Do not despair. We will find the perfect thing.” Kaylin was a bouncy Irish optimist fresh from her dream honeymoon with her dream Dom. She was not disposed to be discouraged about anything.

Mikaela was curious about something she had seen on deck the day before. “Did I see you and Barbara Brown having a drink together on deck yesterday? It looked like you worked out your differences.”

Kaylin laughed. “We did. She said she’d beat my ass if I made Jack unhappy. I told her he’d take care of that himself if I did. She thought that was hysterical. She says he a pussy cat Dom, but she’ll talk to him about it. I told her to mind her own business. She got this shocked look on her face, and then she started to laugh, and it was okay.”

“I’m glad. You don’t need a problem like that while you are starting out your marriage.”

Kaylin reached over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for caring.”

The next shop was on a back street and appeared to carry one-of-a-kind handmade dresses and accessories. They went in and began combing the racks and cubbies.

Anne called out. “Mikaela, what do you thing about this? I know we have been looking at more formal dresses, but this is really lovely.” She turned with a long, strapless dress made of a double layer of white gauze in her arms. It was trimmed in handmade lace and embroidered all over with white-on-white tiny flowers with seed pearls in the center of each flower. “I think this would be beautiful on you. Maybe with just a coronet of flowers for your hair and some long satin ribbons hanging down. What do you think?”

Mikaela gasped when she turned and saw the dress draped over Anne’s arm.

“Anne. That’s perfect. I hope it fits.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem. It’s rather loose fitting and will drape over your figure.”

The shop’s proprietress came up to them. “Señoritas, can I help you? I am Señora Maria Gonzalez.”

“
Buenos días, Señora Gonzalez
. We’re looking for a wedding dress, underwear, shoes, and flowers.” Mikaela was blushing. She still wasn’t certain this rush wedding was going to work.

“Why don’t you try on the dress while I pull some things together?” She looked at Mikaela with a practiced eye. “Size six or eight I’d say. I can alter the dress if necessary. I also have a friend who can make a fresh floral headpiece and matching bouquet. Maybe white rosebuds, baby-pink orchids to add a little color, and baby’s breath?”

Anne and Kaylin were grinning as they shoved Mikaela into the dressing room with the dress. They quickly had her out of her clothes and helped her pull the dress over her head. Kaylin immediately began to gather Mikaela’s hair up in a loose bun on top of her head. All three were grinning as the dress fell over Mikaela’s body to the floor.

“OMG. This is it. This is it. This is it!” Mikaela was ecstatic.

“It’s beautiful, Mikaela. Ethereal. You look like a fairy bride.” Anne was smiling and Mikaela knew they had found
the
dress.

The dressmaker came into the room with a pincushion and tape measure in her hands. “Let me see.” She quickly turned Mikaela around and took small tucks under her bustline. “This is nothing. I can make these small alterations in a few minutes. Now for shoes. I have a pair of embroidered Italian leather ballerina flats that would look lovely—unless of course you wanted heels. I think the flats would be beautiful though and perfect for dancing.”

“Let me see them. I think high heels would be too much with this dress. It calls for something more casual. We need everything on a rush basis, Mrs. Gonzalez. I’m getting married on Tuesday at the Cathedral of Corpus Christi—I hope—if my fiancé can make arrangements at the church.”

“Oh, I think he will not have a problem. Father Christiano is very accommodating.” She bustled out into the store to gather some items. When she returned, her arms were full of lacy ivory underwear and two shoe boxes. “I would not recommend white undergarments because they will show through the gauze and detract from the look. Also, try these shoes. I only have two pairs, so I hope one will fit you.”