Page 124 of Betrayal and Vows

"Can you move?" he asks.

I test my legs, rolling my shoulders. Everything hurts, but I'm alive. I'm mobile.

"I can move."

He tosses me a gun. I catch it, check the clip. Full.

"Let's go steal a bride,” he says.

We race up the basement stairs, taking them three at a time. My body screams in protest, but I push through the pain. Nothing matters except getting to her.

The main floor is chaos. Staff members run back and forth as they prepare for the wedding reception that will be starting any minute. No one notices two bloodied men moving through the corridors.

The doors are closed, but I can hear the priest speaking.

"Now or never," Dmitri whispers.

I check my gun one more time, then kick open the doors.

Every head turns toward me as I stride down the center aisle, blood trailing from my temple.

Candles flicker. The sickly-sweet scent of flowers hits me.

I ignore all of it.

I focus on Mikhail standing at the altar.

And Lena.

The sight of her makes my vision tilt. She’s gorgeous.

The dress is the ugliest fucking thing I’ve ever seen, but she’s beautiful.

And terrified.

The crowd turns. My gun is already raised.

And then everything erupts into chaos.

Mikhail’s guards are the first to react, drawing weapons from inside their coats.

The wedding was a no weapons zone.

Vadim’s orders.

That meant only the guards would be armed. I didn’t have to worry about the guests. And because I’ve been a part of the security detail, I know where every guard stands.

I fire. One shot center mass. He crumples before his gun leaves the holster. I vaguely hear the screams from the guests. Another tries to flank me, but Dmitri moves faster and puts a bullet in his neck before he can raise an alarm.

Screams erupt. Guests dive to the floor. The priest drops the cross and runs.

“Anton!” Lena screams. I see her trying to shove past Mikhail.

He grabs her wrist.

I snap.

I don’t think. I just move.