Page 148 of Marks of Rebellion

Within minutes, two artists are in the car and doing as Carlos orders.

Somehow, my tears stop flowing, but my shaking gets worse, and my hives itch so badly, I scratch my arm hard enough that it bleeds.

"Stop scratching," Carlos barks and clutches my hands to stop me.

It seems to be forever, but the makeup people put their tools down and tell Carlos, "There is nothing else we can do. This is as good as she's going to get."

The hatred and rage in his eyes are the worst I've ever seen. If others weren't in the car, I'm sure I would be murdered.

He points in my face and growls, "You have one job today. To stand next to me proudly and say 'I do.' Don't embarrass me." Carlos gets out of the car and tugs me out.

My limbs are like spaghetti, and he has to hold me up. "Walk, goddammit!"

No matter what the consequences of not obeying him, I can't seem to get my legs to support me enough to move.

He finally gives up expecting me to walk. He picks me up and carries me up the steps.

My eyes begin to focus. The heavy wooden doors of the church are closed. They are exactly like in my nightmares. One of Carlos's men is at the top of the landing, waiting to open the doors.

Music is playing on the grand organ, and the muffled sounds snap me into reality.

"Here comes the bride" mocks me in my ears.

Wedding. I'm at my wedding.

We're two steps from the top, and Carlos's guard falls to his knees. Blood seeps all over his chest and then his face. He falls toward us, and we fly backward.

Carlos and I tumble down the steps, along with the man. Another man in black comes around the corner and shoves a piece of wood through the handles of the church doors.

We hit the ground hard. I'm sandwiched between the man who lies lifeless on top of me and Carlos underneath me, my lungs crushing from the pressure. When I turn my head, blood covers Carlos's face, and there is a hole in his head.

I begin to scream. The red turns to bright, white light.

The heaviness of the dead man goes away. Every sound dulls to nothing. My body feels lifeless, like I'm floating.

I drift slowly then faster and faster. The white light becomes so blinding, I have to close my eyes.

Once I shut them, I can't get them to open again. Everything rotates between black, white, and red before I'm eventually lying naked, rocking in a sea of red hibiscuses.

29

Hunter

Damn it,Mack!

Carlos's guy gets hit and falls forward, and it's like slow motion watching Vanessa get squished.

As soon as Carlos hits the pavement, I put the bullet in his head. The plan was to kill him without Vanessa near him, but he never got out without her. Once Mack hit his thug, there was only one option.

One of Mack's guys runs around the corner and traps the guests in the church. I rush to my Flower and roll the dead guy off her.

"Flower."

She's shaking and screaming and in a state of hysteria. Her dress and body are covered in blood, and her eyes tell me she's in another world.

I pick her up and run to the vehicle that is waiting for us. Mack jumps in the driver's seat, and I get in the back with Vanessa.

"Flower, wake up."