“Sean!” he snaps, and Sean’s already moving, gun drawn, eyes on me. He gently grabs my arm and pulls me down behindthe altar where a small pulpit gives just enough cover.
“There’s a door off to the side,” he whispers. “We move fast, you hear me?”
More shots echo outside. My pulse is in my throat. My Glock is still in my purse which is… in the SUV. Useless. I rip the veil from my head and toss it aside, scooping up the front of my dress.
“Now,” Sean growls.
I crouch-run behind him, following his lead as he pushes through the side door, gun up, eyes sharp. He scans the hallway. Clear.
“That room I got ready in, it only has one door,” I whisper, pointing.
“We’re not going there.”
My heart sinks, but he’s already moving in the opposite direction. He leads me down another hallway and to a door I hadn’t noticed before.
“We can’t go outside!” I hiss. Shouting and gunfire still echo beyond the building.
“Aro, I need you to trust me,” he says, cracking the door. “My job is to keep you safe. I will. I promise. When I say run, we run.”
He pushes the door open wider, scans both directions. “Run!”
He takes off at a sprint. I follow, doing my best, but this damn wedding dress wasn’t made for fleeing. The satin tangles around my legs. I trip, just catching myself, but keep going.
By the time we reach the tree line, I’m gasping.
“Jesus. Your dress is so… white.”
I give him a look. “Yeah, Sean. That’s traditionally the color.”
He scowls. “I mean you’re lit up like a goddamn target. Take it off.”
“What?!”
“Take. It. Off.”
When I don’t move, he steps behind me, finds the zipper, and pulls it down. His fingers brush my spine, and my whole body tightens.
Now isnotthe time to be turned on.
He kneels, carefully tugging the dress over my hips. His breath hitches when it drops to the forest floor. I’m left standing in white lace lingerie and heels. Of course.
I turn and grip his shoulder for balance as I step out of the gown, but my heel catches. I stumble, but his strong hands fly to my hips, steadying me. For a second, we just… stare. Him kneeling at my feet, looking at me like I’m something he treasures. Wants, even.
Gunfire cracks in the distance. We snap back into motion.
“Let’s go,” he says, standing quickly. I catch him adjusting himself before he turns away. Well, damn. He has me so confused. He’s either the worst homosexual ever, or…
I kick off the heels and follow barefoot, wincing with every step across sharp pine needles and God knows what else. But I don’t complain. If Sean gets me out of this, I’ll deal with a few cuts.
We move through the trees until we can see the front of the church. The gunfire’s moved inside now. The parking lot is empty.
Sean pulls a set of keys from his pocket.
“Wait here. I’ll bring the car.”
“Got it.” I crouch behind a tree and hold my breath as he sprints across the lot. The car chirps as it unlocks. He jumps in,starts it.
The engine roar draws shouting from inside.
