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own wedding , but he would have to destroy divine property.
    “ Wait! ” Davidson yelled. “ I ’ ve got it! ”
    As soon as the window popped open, the men poured through in various states of dress. Thinking ahead, Davidson had packed their tuxedoes. What they hadn ’ t counted on was having to get dressed on an extremely bumpy helicopter ride streaking over Charleston.
    “ Boss, ” Lopez said , “ t hat tie won ’ t do. ”
    Despite being the last one to be able to don his tux, Lopez was by far the most put together. Guess it wasn ’ t a surprise , though. It was Lopez .
    The corporal trotted backward , fixing Brandt ’ s tie as they hurried down the hall.
    “ Enough, ” Brandt announced as they reached the steps down to the altar. “ She ’ s seen me far worse. ”
    Talli chuckled. “ At least you don ’ t have a bullet in your belly. ”
    “ Exactly, ” Brandt agreed as he went to make his way down the steps , but Levont stopped him.
    “ No , Sarge, we go in reverse order, ” the point man said.
    “ What in the hell difference does it — ”
    “ For the video, man , ” Levont insisted, nodding toward Lope z . Then the point man straightened his tux and head ed down the steps. Talli followed close behind.
    Lopez lingered at the landing. The first time Rebecca and Brandt had been engaged , it had been a no-brainer that Lopez would be the best man. After that stunt where the corporal didn ’ t bother to inform Brandt that he , too , had slept with his supposed baby momma? Lopez had kind of lost the whole best man gig.
    Davidson shifted from foot to foot. “ Sarge, I don ’ t mind, let Lopez — ”
    “ No offense, Ricky, but you let me marry another woman, ” Brandt said to his corporal.
    “ No offense taken, ” Lopez stated , heading down the steps after the other groomsmen.
    Which left Brandt and Davidson. At one time , he ’ d thought the younger man to be a brother. Not just in arms, but in his heart. Then , shortly thereafter , Brandt wanted to kill the son of a bitch. Yet here they were now. Despite all of that , they were standing here, ready to say his vows before his family , and God , he was glad for Davidson to be by his side.
    “ Thank you, ” Brandt said , putting his hand out.
    Davidson gulped , putting his scarred hand in Brandt ’ s. “ No, sir. Thank you . ”
    Brandt turned away before they both got all emotional. Davidson led the way, hurrying down the steps. Brandt was certain he wasn ’ t the proper number of steps behind his best man, but seriously , he didn ’ t give a crap anymore. He just wanted to get to the damned altar before Rebecca walked. Nobody would blame her.
    The music was still playing , so that had to be good. He couldn ’ t tell how far along the procession she was , as all the guests were standing, blocking his view of the aisle. A smattering of clapping went up as Davidson took his place. Brandt made his way past the men and stepped onto what he thought his spot at the altar should be , when a cheer erupted from the entire crowd.
    Guess they didn ’ t have much faith the groom was going to make it.
    Then he looked down the aisle to the angel floating toward him.
    Rebecca. She ’ d had faith. She ’ d trusted he ’ d be there.
    Breath caught in his throat as if he ’ d been punched in the solar plexus. She was a vision. An absolute vision. And she was his .
    * * *
    Rebecca felt tears spring to her eyes. Bunny would be so upset.
    The sight of Brandt in a rumpled tux , though a bleeding cut on his forehead and knuckles raw , was everything she had ever dreamed of. Who knew where the injuries came from ? A ll she cared about was that he was here. Ready to marry her.
    The rest of the walk up to the altar was a blur. Literally a blur as tears spilled down her cheek. Mr. Brandt made certain her hand was firmly in his son ’ s before the older man backed away.
    Brandt helped her up the small step to the altar. She clutched it as tightly as she had