Slowly, I placed my hands on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my trembling fingers. The heat from his body seeped through his crisp suit, making my skin prickle. The cheers from the crowd grew louder, their applause ringing in my ears, drowning out the frantic thoughts racing through my mind.
This was it.
I had sealed my fate.
Just as Duke pulled away, a loud commotion erupted outside the church doors. My heart lurched. The muffled sound of angry shouts grew louder, overlapping with the excited murmurs of the guests. I turned my head instinctively, trying to see what was happening beyond the stained-glass windows.
Then, a gunshot.
A deafening crack that made the chandeliers tremble.
Screams followed, panicked and urgent. Guests started shifting uneasily in their seats, some already standing, whispering in alarm.
I barely had time to process what was happening before my feet moved on their own. I stepped away from Duke, my pulse thundering as I made my way toward the entrance, but before I could take another step, a firm grip closed around my wrist.
Duke.
“Don’t,” he said, his voice low, filled with authority.