CARMELO
When the door opened, there was no one. The bride was nowhere to be seen. Gasps echoed as realization started to settle in. Murmurs about what was going on and where the bride was, erupted like a wildfire in the whole Church. It was chaotic.
Antonio's face though, it was a sight to see. I'd never seen the man looking so troubled and defeated before. He ordered Luca and his guards to go and search for her. While he was trying to coax Enzo to cool the heck down because they'd find Chiara and the wedding would resume. Chiara's mother was sobbing while Marco was sweet telling her that everything would be alright. It was like a fucking Novela. Where was she, honestly.
I stood up, straightened my suit and strode to the exit since I wasn't here for the drama. Our last encounter wasn't ideal but when I heard about her wedding, I had a lot of thoughts about it. Why didn't she tell me about it? Maybe we were not close friends, but something was going on between us. And then I suddenly received her text after days of trying to reach her without any success.
"You! Stop right there." A loud voice cut through the noise in the Church, making my steps pause. I turned back to find Antonio and the rest of the people staring at me. Some whispering and pointing fingers at me. People didn't see me earlier because I wanted to keep it low profile and sat at the back of the Church. Looks like that plan failed.
"How the fuck are you here?" Antonio drawled.
"I was invited of course, how else?" I replied calmly, watching as his frown deepened. Murmurs rose again. He didn't look convinced but before he could utter any word, Enzo stepped between us and aimed a gun at his head. "Where the fuck is your daughter Antonio?" Are you playing games with me now?" No sooner both sides held guns against each other. Uh-oh.
"Get your fucking hands off me! Do you think I had any part in this? She was a fucking trouble! I told you that from the fucking start!" He barked back. Since the attention was shifted elsewhere, I took it as my cue and resumed walking. "This is war, Antonio! I'm not leaving without Chiara!" I had only reached the Church doors when a shootout broke behind me. It was a freaking war back there. People screamed and started to run around in a trance of wanting to save their lives in the middle of two sick psycho's war. What a wedding.
"Stop this Enzo, we'll find her!" I heard Antonio's booming voice which made me turn with a wide smirk stretching on my lips. My guard opened the door for me, I sat in, and we left the war behind.
For the first time in my life, I was so happy to go home.
I did it. I took her. So what? Can't a man follow his heart for once too?