He stepped closer, towering, trying to rattle my five-foot-six frame. “Youwillmarry Don. Youwilldo what’s best for this family.”
“Hmm.” I glanced up, matching his stare. “We shall see.” I could feel the heat of his fury as I turned my back on him and walked away. My heart was pounding but was it out of fear or exhilaration?
I kept my head high, determined. Every step felt like defiance, cracking the glass walls of the life he built for me. The hallway was long and silent, but my heels echoed like a war drum, each beat fueling my resolve.
My mother stood by the double doors of the sanctuary with two of the church women, adjusting my veil as if everything were fine. How could she act like I hadn’t just gone head-to-head with the man who thought he owned me?
The doors creaked open as the music began. That old “here comes the bride” from centuries ago. I could see rows of people turning to see the big reveal. My father now stood near the altar, face stretched into a practised grin, while Don stood beside him in a tux and a smirk I wanted to slap off.
I took a breath and a step. The air suddenly felt tight. My dress dragged behind me like dead weight. The eyes, the whispers, and all theexpectationpressed down like bricks on my shoulders.
Then, out of nowhere, gunshots rang out and screams tore through the pews. My shock was immediate. Fear hit me as people ducked, panicked, and ran. I froze, uncertain whether toflee or hide, as more gunshots rang out and tires screeched in the distance.
Before I could move or even blink, I felt an arm wrap around my waist. My bouquet hit the ground as I gasped and tried to twist, but whoever had me was bigger, stronger, and had absolutely no interest in letting go.
A deep voice gritted against my ear. “Time to go, Princess.”
I screamed and a hand clamped over my mouth. Suddenly, I was moving. My heels scraped the ground with my legs tangled in lace as I kicked, clawed, and elbowed. None of it mattered. Whoever had me wasn’t fazed one bit.
They quickly dragged me across the lawn and past screaming guests, all while shooting back at the guards, until we rounded the corner of the estate. A black SUV skidded to a stop, tires throwing up gravel. The back door swung open before the vehicle even stopped moving.
“Hurry the fuck up, bro,” a deep voice barked.
I screamed as the man holding me lifted me and shoved me into the back seat. I landed hard, dress bunched around me, heels scraping. I turned, scrambling to fix myself, just in time to hear the doors slam shut and lock. My chest heaved as it sped away, bullets ricocheting off the heavily tinted SUV. Two men sat in the front, dressed in all black, with sheisty’s covering their faces.
“What the hell is this? Who… who are you?” My voice came out damn near breathless and shaky. Of course, they didn’t respond. I gripped the seat with my heart jackhammering inmy chest. This wasn’t a random kidnapping. This was planned. “Where are you taking me?” I demanded. Still nothing.
Finally, the man in the passenger seat reached back and roughly slapped handcuffs on my wrists. His eyes were dark. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I stared at him, jaw tight, chest still heaving. Confusion battled with a strange surge of resolve. Whoever they were, they hadn’t just ruined my father’s precious wedding for me. They’d just lit the first match in whatever war was coming next.
