People screamed.
The stranger grabbed my arm.
“Down!”
He pulled me behind the altar just as the first gunshot shattered one of the church windows.
Glass rained across the floor.
The congregation scattered.
Someone screamed my name.
The stranger pushed me beneath the wooden altar.
“Stay here.”
“Who are you?”
He looked at me.
“My name is Ethan.”
“I don't care!”
“You should.”
Another gunshot echoed through the church.
Ethan grabbed my hand.
“We have to leave.”
“No. I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me where Daniel is.”
He stared at me for a moment.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“Daniel asked me to marry you.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“He knew this would happen.”
“What would happen?”
“Your wedding.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It will.”
He pulled a folded piece of paper from inside his jacket.
My name was written on it.
MIA.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Daniel's handwriting.
I knew it immediately.
If you're reading this, I'm sorry.
Trust Ethan.
Do not marry him because you love him.
Marry him because someone is trying to make you a widow.
I looked up.
“What does this mean?”
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“Daniel discovered something about your family.”
“My family?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“He didn't tell me everything.”
“Then why should I trust you?”
“Because I'm the only reason you're still alive.”
I wanted to slap him.
Instead, I asked the question that frightened me most.
“Is Daniel dead?”
Ethan looked away.
“I don't know.”
The church doors burst open.
Lucas appeared.
“Ethan!”
Ethan stood.
Lucas ran toward us.
“They're coming.”
“Who?”
Lucas looked at me.
“The men who took Daniel.”
My heart stopped.
“You know where he is?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know he was taken?”
Lucas pulled out his phone.
He showed me a photograph.
Daniel was sitting in a chair.
His hands were tied.
A man stood behind him.
And beneath the photograph was a message:
THE BRIDE DIES AT MIDNIGHT.
I felt sick.
“What time is it?”
Lucas looked at his watch.
“Eleven thirty.”
Ethan took my hand.
“We have thirty minutes.”
“To do what?”
“Find Daniel.”
“And if we don't?”
Ethan looked into my eyes.
“Then you won't live long enough to find out why.”