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Javier raised the flame so it licked a white rose petal.
Ariana gasped. “No!”
“I’ll do it. I’ll burn down the whole hotel if that’s what it takes.”
“What do you want?” Damon demanded.
“Rita.”
“Even though she wants to marry someone else?”
Javier pressed the flame into the rose. It didn’t catch fire. Yet. “We’re meant to be together. She just doesn’t realize it. But she will, and soon. Or else.”
Damon leaped toward him, knocking the lighter from his hands. The flame disappeared as the lighter bounced across the altar.
Javier threw himself at Damon, wrapping his fingers around his throat. Damon barely stumbled, then he fought back, hitting Javier in the face.
Ariana raced toward them. Landed a solid strike on Javier’s spine. Squeezed one of his arms then pulled it back, trying to release his hold on her husband’s airway.
Javier was stronger than he looked. He kept his grip on Damon’s neck and shrugged free from Ariana, all while Damon continued whaling on him.
They all fell sideways, crashing into a row of chairs. Javier let go of Damon, who cried out as his head hit the joint of a chair leg. Blood oozed from his temple and wove down to his chin.
Ariana jumped to her feet, grabbed Javier’s collar. She yanked him up then shoved him away from Damon.
He turned to her, fists flying toward her face.
She leaned back, barely avoiding a swing. After regaining her center of gravity, she kicked his knee.
Javier hollered and doubled over, releasing a string of profanities.
Damon flew across the aisle. Crashed into Javier, sending them both across several rows of chairs. Javier gasped as he landed on a wooden leg. Fists flew. Drops of blood sprayed in all directions.
Ariana swung a chair at Javier. Hit him in the back of the head.
He froze in place. Felt his head. Looked at the blood on his fingers.
Then he glowered at Ariana, his gaze murderous.
Uh-oh.
Javier lunged for her, a primal scream pouring from his lips.
She leaped out of his path but landed poorly. Her ankle twisted painfully. Ari cried out. When she tried to put weight on it, red hot pain arched up her leg. She stumbled. Grabbed a chair. Tried to steady herself.
Damon tackled Javier. They rolled on the floor before surging back to their feet, then began throwing punches while inching closer to the altar. Javier ducked under a left cross, shoved Damon instead of countering.
Damon stumbled, tripped over the raised platform, crashed into the flower arch.
It wobbled before falling backward. Damon, still off balance, scrabbled toward it. His fingers barely missed.
The arch landed with a sickening thud, breaking into several pieces.
Javier laughed maniacally.
“You think that’ll stop the wedding?” came a voice from behind.
Ariana spun around.
