Chapter 20
Camilla clutched Don Colen’s arm as the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the garden. Her voice shook with panic.
“What’s happening? What are we going to do?”
Don Colen’s sharp eyes scanned the chaos as he instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. “Stay calm,” he said, his tone steady despite the tension thick in the air. “I’ll handle this. My men will take care of the rest.”
More gunshots followed, sending guests screaming and scrambling for cover. Don Colen gestured toward his guards, barking commands. “Kill those bastards. Protect the perimeter!”
He grabbed her hand, squeezing it firmly.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. But we need to move. Now.”
Without waiting for a reply, Don Colen
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pulled her into a run, guiding her toward the safety of the nearby exit. They darted between overturned chairs and fallen decorations, the garden wedding now a battlefield. Just as they reached the edge of the altar, a thug stepped out from the
shadows, raising a gun and aiming straight at Camilla.
Don Colen didn’t hesitate. In one smooth motion, he pulled a gun from beneath his jacket and fired, the shot ringing out as the. thug crumpled to the ground.
Camilla froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“You brought a gun to our wedding?”
Don Colen glanced at her, a faint smirk playing on his lips despite the chaos. “Of course, my love. It’s for our safety, especially now that I have you. I can’t let anyone touch you without paying for it.”
Before she could respond, another round of gunfire erupted, louder and closer this time. Don Colen yanked her behind an ornate pillar, shielding her from the bullets
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flying past. “Stay behind me.”
Camilla clung to his arm, watching in a mix of fear and awe as Don Colen stepped out of cover and fired at the advancing attackers. His movements were precise, each shot deliberate, and his expression remained calm despite the danger.
Two thugs charged toward them, guns blazing. Don Colen dodged swiftly, shoving Camilla farther behind the pillar before firing back. One went down instantly, but the other managed to graze Don Colen’s arm before he took him out with a clean shot to the chest.
“Colen, you’re hurt!” Camilla exclaimed, reaching for his arm.
“It’s nothing,” he replied, brushing off her concern. “As long as you’re okay. That’s all that matters.”
Another thug burst into view, his weapon raised. Camilla gasped, but Don Colen was already moving. He tackled the man before
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he could fire, wrestling the gun away in a brutal struggle. Camilla watched as Don Colen’s raw strength and skill
overwhelmed the attacker, ending with a swift shot to the chest.
“Don‘ t look,” he told her, his tone softening as he noticed her pale face. “This will all be over soon. Trust me.
She nodded, her trust in him overriding her fear.
More gunmen appeared, and Don Colen pushed Camilla toward the garden‘ s edge, where a small path led to a hidden exit. “Go,” he urged, his voice sharp but protective.
“I’m not leaving you!” she protested, gripping his arm.
“You‘ re not,” he said, his gaze locking with hers. “But I need to make sure no
one follows us.”
Reluctantly, she obeyed, hurrying down the path as Don Colen covered her, firing at the
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attackers closing in. Despite his injury, he moved with lethal precision, each shot finding its mark. The thugs began to hesitate, realizing they were no match for
him.
Camilla stopped at the edge of the path, watching as Don Colen fought. Her heart pounded, fear and admiration swirling together. Even in the chaos, there was something undeniably magnetic about him -his confidence, his unwavering focus.
One of the attackers attempted to flank him, sneaking up from behind. “Colen, behind you!” she screamed.
Don Colen spun just in time, firing a single shot that dropped the man instantly. He glanced at her, his smirk returning. “Good catch, love. Now, keep going!”
As she turned to run, another round of gunfire erupted. Don Colen followed, keeping pace with her while firing over his shoulder at their pursuers. The tension between them was electric, the shared
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danger heightening every glance, every
touch.
Finally, they reached a small shed hidden at the edge of the property. Don Colen pushed the door open, ushering her inside. before locking it behind them. He pressed his back against the wall, catching his
breath.
Camilla stared at him, her chest heaving. “I can’t believe this is happening… at our wedding, Colen. Who would do this?”
“I have a few guesses,” he admitted, wiping sweat from his brow. “But I’ll deal with them later. Right now, all that matters is keeping you safe.”
He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. Despite the blood on his hand and the chaos outside, his touch was gentle.
“I’m sorry, Camilla,” he said softly. “I wanted this day to be perfect for you.”
Her fear melted slightly at his words,
replaced by a flicker of warmth. “You protected me. That’s all I need.”