windows of the Holy Trinity Church, casting vibrant

ire congregation rose to their fee

her face, hiding the absolute zero temperature of her eyes. She wa

ring a blush-pink silk dress. She had a tissue pressed to the corner of he

r stomach chur

his tailored black tuxedo. As Brooke approached, he offered he

tar. He took Brooke's hand

mured, playing his part for the

he physical contact sent a violent shudder of revulsion up Brooke's arm

d to face

oken only by the solemn, echoing voice of

e golden cross on the wall. She wa

, take Brooke Rivers to be your lawfully wedded wife,

jected his voice so the entire

d

approval rippled

t turned

take Gaven Cunningham to be

ence st

wo seconds. T

y. Guests began to shift uncomfortably in

d in slightly, his voice a harsh whisper

d. She looked at him through

h curled upward into a

reach out to stop her, she lunged sideways, snatching the microphone from the secondary stand that had bee

r voice rang out, crystal

don

choed off the v

ock tore through the crowd. Whi

ct mask shattered. He reached out to grab he

apped his

ering her mouth with both hands, though her

from his seat. His face was purple with

voice booming over the crowd.

She turned to face her

uted into the microphone. "You're selling me to a man

-fire clicking of camera shutters sounded like a swarm of lo

s slits. The family reputation was b

sed his right hand and sw

rrified silence of the church. Through the microphone she still clutched, her sharp intake of b

ad to the side. Her veil was ripped from

heek. She tasted fresh blood pooling in her mouth

cry. She

her. She ran her tongue over her bleeding lip

ands up in a placating gesture. "Pre

lare so lethal he act

g to a chillingly calm register, "just seve

heavy tulle skirt. Her fingers closed

h in the air, the small device ca

?" Brooke asked the silent, staring cro