CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER TEN: WEDDING WAR Eya and Zeth appear by my side in a split second, looking alert and clutching their guns. I discover Uncle Raven defending Belle, Nathan, and surrounding Belle in a circle while holding their weapons rigidly in their arms. I'm being carried by Ethan toward the priest's location. I flipped up my dress, twisted my hand free of his grip, and ran toward Uncle Raven, Father and Belle. Never would I put my family at risk to rescue myself. At least they stand up for the boss with enough loyalty. Hades rushes outside, pushing people aside as he looks through the revolver magazine. Like a gathering storm, his supporters follow him. Nathan agrees, saying, "The outside isn't safe yet. We have to remove the boss before Hades shows up." I point in the direction the priest went and say, "I'm not taking him away." I look back, believing Ethan has vanished, but a deep part of me, an irrational part, holds on to the hope that he didn't. "Old churches have hiding places." "They do." His voice comes swift and calm from beside me as he checks his gun. "Follow me." Hades grunts but complies when our guards and we circle around Uncle Raven, Belle, and Hades's and Nathan's wives, facing different angles as we unite toward the hideout. I remove my dress, take my revolver out of the holster fastened to my thigh, and jut my chin at Ethan as he tries to push me inside. He stops attempting to force me. Following his instructions, we make a few twists before descending some creaky, small stairs that can only fit two people simultaneously. We descend slowly as the outside glamour gradually fades away. Uncle Raven is panting when we enter a quiet place in the basement. I could tell from the paleness in his cheeks that he was suppressing his cough. It'll be horrible if he throws a fit and spills blood before the others. The priest was sitting quietly in a corner when we arrived. I quietly assisted Uncle Raven in settling onto a chair next to him. Belle clings to his arm as if it were a lifeline as she joins him. Nathan's wife, appears to have complete control over the situation. She stands beside her and holds her hand while speaking softly, which I consider comforting. Stella has always come across as a tough cookie who has successfully adapted to Nathan's way of life, even though she shouldn't be living in this realm. I notice the few looks that her husband steals at her as if to ensure her safety, even though he is speaking to his guards in Italian. Even though no words are said, a chain of communication has just occurred between them as Stella subtly nods at him. Being able to see their relationship firsthand is admirable. I finally understand why River used to say that Nathan was the luckiest person of his generation. Whether due to disease or murder, River, Uncle Raven, and many others lost their wives, but Nathan saved him with his life. The sound of gunfire rises above us and seems to be coming from inside the church as it gets closer by the second. "Stay here," Ethan commands. "Pharaoh and I will go check." They haven't even taken a step toward the door when they see me joining them. Their guards continue to stand by his boss's side, seeming attentive. "What do you think you're doing?" Ethan asks as he halts in his steps and turns to face me. "I'm going, too." 'You're not," he said. "Yes, I am. The bastards don't get to shoot my family at my own wedding and expect me to stay in hiding." He murmurs, "I'll take care of it." "Having me here will make it simpler." He grabs my shoulder and says, "Fuck, Rose," while whispering, "You're in your damn wedding dress." "I can run while wearing a dress." I recognize the caution in his voice when he says, "Rose," but I maintain eye contact and won't budge. When Pharaoh says, "If you're done flirting," he rolls his eyes from behind his glasses. Eya and Zeth stood on either side as I entered the room first. I tell them, "Stay and protect Uncle and Belle," without waiting for a response. They don't like being excluded from the activity, especially when I'm involved. Still, their support role for Uncle Raven is more important. I followed the path back to where we started. As they follow, Ethan and Pharaoh look out for one another and me. When we get to the church, everyone has left except the British, guarding their injured man. There are a lot of gunshots coming from outside. I can't quite identify the source of the gunfire because it is so random. Pharaoh raises his glasses up to his nose and says, "Let's separate." "Rose, stay here. Ethan, take the front. I'll take them back." Before we can agree, he and the guard depart. I let Ethan know that I'd take the front. "You stay right here." "Funny." 'You can kill any target from the inside, and I'm not exaggerating; you have better aim than I do." "No." I didn't wait for him to say yes since I knew he knew, "Then I'm coming with you." I sneaked to the door with my back to the wall and away from the windows. Ethan, however? He breezes past the door during the shots. I have no idea if he is too bold, doesn't value his life, or if he is both. As the gunfire continues and he puts himself in the midst, my heart almost jumps out of my chest. After locating several of Nathan's men, he gestures something at them before leaping the fence and into the parking lot. Why is he going anywhere at all? I shake my head as I carefully exit the room after loading my gun with bullets. After hearing a few stray gunfire echo around me, I fired two of my own shots. Another five to go. Ethan is the one who taught me to count my bullets, especially when I had no bullets left. He said there's nothing more stupid than dying by your own mistake. It's ironic how his words stayed with me, particularly during dire situations. I make sure Hades can't see me as I skulk behind our soldiers and follow Ethan to where he is going. He will forcefully take me and throw me back next to Uncle Raven if he does. The gunfire keeps coming at a pace. I hold my breath and hide behind the walls whenever I change surfaces. The parking area is full of cars, mostly Italian, but Ethan is nowhere to be found. While I hid for where he went, I hid behind the car. He has this habit of vanishing into thin air to the point where it's nearly impossible to locate him. Then, when someone does find him, he has already killed several people and returns covered in blood as if it were commonplace. Even though I kill only when necessary, usually in self-defense or to protect my family, Ethan and I are both killers. He is the kind of cold-blooded lunatic who does it for fun. Additionally, he doesn't accept backup. A true wolf in sheep's clothing. I lifted my head over to study my surroundings, but I came face to face with the opening of a gun. F-ck. The man holding the gun commands inaudibly, "Throw your gun behind you," but I don't have to guess where he's from. He could pass for Chinese or Japanese, thanks to his thick hair and Asian eyes. 'I'm Rose, Uncle Raven Amber's niece." "Gun on the ground, or it'll be your bosses," the man said. Sh-t. My gun is thrown far enough on its back for it not to go off as I gradually let go of it. He pointed his rifle in my direction. 'You should put your hands behind your head and come out." I obeyed his orders, and now I'm in front of him. 'You're seriously misinterpreting who I am if you don't know me." I was taken aback by the voice from my right, especially since I know it well, "Maybe you did it, Miss Amber." The gunman bends his head in deference to his superior. Min Hao.