Randle's Princess (29 page)

Finally they stopped just in front of the minister.  “Who gives this woman away?” he then asked.

“I do,” Marc started with a grin then followed by a chorus of “And me…and me,” with laughter from behind as she glimpsed slyly behind her now to see
all
of Randle’s security behind them to the rear of the room.  “And let
him
chase her around from now on,” she then heard as well as a chuckle befell the room.

Randle shook his head with amusement and chuckled out as well as he took her hand and pulled her to face him.  “I will gladly chase her,” he replied proudly.

Lia knew she had nearly tortured these guys all these years with her spoiled tantrums and fits.  But she now realized just how much she loved them all.

Finally the minister began the wedding and this time she listened intently to all the words.  Marc handed her Randle’s ring and she happily slid it onto his finger and waited patiently as he did the same in return. 

Then finally the moment she had so much longed to hear.

“I now pronounce you…husband and wife.  You may kiss your bride Randle.”

Randle held her against him with the most passionate kiss ever as the guests cheered them on.  Lia had never imagined the powerful feeling she would have becoming Lia Malcolm.  She felt as if she could conquer the world with this man at her side.

Finally they faced the guests and she held his arm tightly with both her hands as the minster made his final announcement.

“I present to you all…Mr. and Mrs. Randle Malcolm.”

Her face beamed and so did Randle’s and she swore he looked happier than she.  They made their way down the middle of the room and everyone began to mingle at last and offer their personal congratulations.  Lia found herself now hugging each and every security guard she had ever tormented.   They toasted and she drank and only laughed when she tasted the water Randle had placed in her champagne glass.

“You’re not getting my son drunk,” he teased in a whisper as they had not yet told anyone else about the baby.

“You are so funny,” she exclaimed.

Finally her head was spinning from all the excitement and she felt it was time for a break.  She reached for Randle’s hand and pulled him from his guest.

“What’s wrong Princess?” he asked.

“Nothing, but I’d like to get some fresh air if you don’t mind.  I’m really getting tired.”

“Of course,” he stated with concern knowing the pregnancy would be stressful for her today.

They made their way out to the patio next to the pool. 

“Well,” she started as she rested her hands against his chest.  “Are you happy?”

“I am the happiest man alive,” he stated honestly.  “I have the most beautiful wife in the world and soon she will bare my son.”

Lia couldn’t quit smiling.  “And RJ is gonna be as spoiled as you have spoiled me,” she then stated.

“RJ?” he repeated.

“Randle Junior of course,” she then stated proudly.

“Oh…I like that,” he then agreed with her.  “And I’m gonna make sure he’s as mean as his old man too.”

“Ummm…I’m not too sure I like that one,” she teased.

Randle was grinning at her with a sly little grin.  “Remember that first time you flew with me?  To Arizona?” he then asked.

Lia looked to him curiously.  “Yes I do.  Very well…why?”

“Well…you asked me then if I would take you Paris France so now I’m finally gonna do it,” he then stated proudly.

“Oh Randle!  Do you mean it?”  She looked more excited then ever now.

“Anything for my Princess,” he then assured her with a kiss.

“I love you Lia Malcolm,” he then stated as he held her gaze steady.

“I love you too Randle,” she answered and they again embraced with a passionate kiss then they were suddenly disturbed hearing a strange noise at a distance, but then it grew louder and seemed to near closer to them.

Finally Randle looked up and at the same time she felt both his hands slam into her chest and knock her to the ground a couple of feet from him.  Then things appeared to move in slow motion before her as she too looked up now after seeing Randle draw his gun and aim at a helicopter that was hovering just above them but he was too late.

A man was already half exposed from the side door with a machine gun in hand and had started popping off rounds. 

Lia watched horrified as the bullets slammed into Randle’s chest with a spray of blood shooting into the air with each hit and his body jerked upon the impact of each and every one of them.  His gun fell from his hand and bounced loudly on the concrete as his stout body began to fall backward hitting the ground with such force all she saw was blood again shooting into the air and now landing all over her as well.

“NO!” she screamed as the chopper now flew away as quickly as it had appeared.

She came to her knees and in her blood drenched wedding dress she crawled to him and dropped her head to his chest and sobbed out loud as she now saw security running to them but she knew it was too late.  There was nothing anyone could do for him.  There were just too many wounds and his body now lay motionless beneath her.

Everyone now watched as Lia bent down for one final kiss to his still warm lips then looked ever so lovingly into those beautiful blue eyes one last time but they were now still.  She reached up with her left hand and gently pulled them closed.  Then suddenly her expression changed fiercely and her brows downed as she reached over and flipped back the left side of his now tattered jacket.  She unhooked the clasp that held his black leather gun holster and pulled it from his lifeless body and threw it over her own shoulder then reached out with her right hand and grabbed up his gun.

As all the men watched her now she slowly rose in her blood stained gown as yet another large bead of blood rolled down her long white skirt.  She stood with the holster on her left shoulder and her right arm dangling straight at her side with Randle’s revolver in her hand as she turned her head with an evil glare to face all of his men.  She drew in a deep breath and finally found the strength to speak.

“If it’s the last thing I do before I take my final dying breath…I’m gonna
kill
the bastard whom is responsible for this.”

Melissa Gaye Perez is married to George Perez and has lived her entire life in Louise, Texas a very small town on the Gulf Coast just south of Houston.  She has 2 grown children and a small grandson who is now the center of her life.  She also holds an AAS Degree in Computer Science from Wharton County Junior College where she also minored in Accounting.
Writing is something she started over 20 years ago but abandoned it after a divorce and spent the next few years struggling as a single mother just trying to make ends meet. Finally after the company where she worked for 13 years suddenly closed down she felt now this was the time to get back into her passion and go for her dream.