EIGHTY-FOUR

One’s Beloved

Hayden's apprehension rose when he heard the first shot ring out. He packed his car at the side of the road and launched into a run. The man he'd been tracking was nearby, which means that it was only a matter of minutes before he would be able to get to them. When the second shot rang out, he bent and covered his ears for a moment, still running.

He was breathing harshly when he came upon the field. The first thing he saw was the large tent in the middle of the garden. It was a beautiful garden, alive with blooming flowers of all kinds. It was definitely the kind of place to have a peaceful wedding if the bride wasn’t kidnapped and forced against her own will. The flap covering the tent opened and a number of people jumped out. The figures looked like Lolita's family—her parents and brother with a little girl—accompanied by a priest in a purple robe. They were shouting, pointing below them.

Then he saw what they were seeing: Rocky with an army of six men, running to