Page 150 of The Strength Of A Woman

A voice screams in my head, barking the instructions.

We have rehearsed this quite a few times, so I’d get some muscle memory, and my feet would know where to carry me.

Panting like crazy, I hold my skirt up, move as fast as I can, and look for that damn door.

The echo of the gunshots mixed with shrilling screams fills the corridor as people dash to the exit––a crowd of sharply dressed men and women––in a frantic attempt to save their lives.

The guests weren’t the target, but once a rain of bullets started to fly over the people sitting quietly in their seats as the wedding ceremony was underway, nothing could stop the mayhem in the church.

Everything had been perfect up to that point.

Callum looked dashing in his three-piece dark grey suit. Who am I fooling here? He always looks dashing.

He walked me down the aisle as he had promised he would do, and my heart couldn’t stop spinning with emotion.

It was a mixed bag.

I was nervous since I knew what would happen. I was also emotional because of the symbolism of all this.

And lastly, I was scared for my life and his, although he had repeatedly told me things would be all right.

The groom was waiting for me near the priest.

Not in the slightest more handsome than he was the day he checked me out and agreed to Callum’s proposal.

He looked even more grotesque with that creepy expression on his face.

My grandparents sat in the first row.Next to them sat Flavia and her husband.

Rory had claimed to have a bad case of the flu and never showed up.

I counted the seconds in my head.

Two things needed to happen.

Callum’s signal to the priest and my pulling away, but not before everything else got started.

Once the priest stepped back, I had to turn right and run for my life.

Bullets were flying.

Some of the first ones were silent; they came from Callum’s gun and killed Varela at once.

The chaos that erupted afterward was mostly the fight that broke out between Callum’s men and Varela’s.

The last time I saw Callum, he was ducking as he grabbed another gun from his ankle.

The last time I saw my grandparents, I was sprinting past them.

Sylvia reflexively wanted to grab me, while Giorgio pulled her down to protect her.

They were never a target, but once people started shooting at each other, no one was safe.

All I know is that I have to find that door and hide.

The only other thing I also know is that Callum has stayed behind to lead his men and finish this.

My heart explodes with worry when I finally reach that room, push through the door, and lock it.