Suddenly the doors moved and a voice rang out
loudly.
“Stop
this wedding!”
Josh
smiled despite himself; Justin.
“You
can’t object now! Answer the question Josh” Louisa demanded but Josh didn’t
listen, not anymore.
“Louisa
get your bitchy little hands off of my brother and leave him alone, this all
stops now!” Justin yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. Josh’s smile
widened as he pulled his hands out of Louisa’s grasp.
“Get
them” Justin instructed the numerous of police officers he’d brought along.
Chris bringing up the rear. Dan was seething and Louisa was in shock as the
officers stormed down the aisle towards them.
The
upper hand Josh seemed to have for the first time in months changed drastically
and in the blink of an eye. Dan moved quickly; he grabbed the small gun, hidden
under his pants leg and grabbed the one closest to him; the man that this was
all about; Josh. Dan stepped behind Josh, setting the gun in his neck. A
collective gasp could be heard. Justin’s being the loudest.
“Back
away!” Dan instructed the police officers who were halfway down the aisle, Dan
had moved in front of Louisa with Josh, using him as a shield for the both of
them. The priest had already taken cover when the gun appeared; he’d seen it
appear and ducked under the altar and the guests had slid to the floor, taking
cover behind the church benches.
“Do
it or I’ll shoot” he threatened pressing the gun harder into Josh’s neck. Josh
closed his eyes tightly, struggling to breathe. The officers backed away slowly,
halting about two third from the altar.
“Nobody
move or I’ll shoot” he threatened as he took two careful steps to the right, to
the back exit. Both Louisa and Josh moved along with him. Josh opened his eyes,
searching for his brother. He found him directly in front of him, down the
aisle behind the row of cops.
“We’ll
leave through the back door, if I see anyone following us I will shoot him!” he
barked.
“He
will marry my sister” he added as an after thought.
It
suddenly went so fast. A yell of protest rung out.
“NOOO!”
A
startled Dan.
The
gun went off.
More
screams.
Another
shot was fired followed by a deep moan…
***
Josh
ran towards Justin who was sprawled out on the floor.
“Oh
my God, Justin! Are you okay? Fuck! Justin!” he cried in panic. Justin crawled
up, rubbing his head.
“I’m
fine” Justin looked around, finally seeing he was laying on the floor.
“How
did I end up on the floor?” he wondered. Josh grinned.
“An
officer knocked you down when they shot at Dan”
“Oh”
Justin breathed but with a frown, still rubbing his head.
“You
were in the way, you always are but don’t ever change that” Josh joked.
Suddenly getting serious when Justin kept rubbing his head.
“Are
you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt?” Josh asked, helping him up to a sitting
position as he checked him over with his hands.
“I’m
not hurt thanks to you” Justin smiled, stilling his hand that had been rubbing
his skull.
“You
scared me half to death!” Josh fussed as he pulled Justin in a tight hug.
“You
scared me too Josh” Justin whispered against his shoulder, still in his
brother’s tight embrace.
When
he’d seen his brother in the hands of Dan, a gun trained on him he’d been
scared to death. Then Justin realized Dan was not planning on killing his
brother; he was planning on taking him with them to force him to marry Louisa
somewhere else!
Once
these words seeped in his brain Justin had sprung into action. He’d pushed
passed the officers who were blocking his way and stormed towards his brother
in need. He wasn’t even half way down the aisle when the gun that had
threatened his brother was now trained on him. He’d seen how Dan released the
safety pin and in slow motion Dan’s finger went to the trigger. Just as the gun
went off, Josh elbowed Dan in the gut; hard and Justin had closed his eyes,
anticipating the bullet that would bore into his body. However he hadn’t felt
the impact of the bullet, in fact he was still standing. When he’d reopened his
eyes he saw Dan doubled over, Louisa in shock behind him and Josh… His eyes had
flown around in panic, trying to locate Josh. Finally he’d found him; crouched
down to the side, having rolled away as soon as the gun had been fired. The
next thing he knew he was on the floor and another gun went off. Justin had
been afraid to look, he did however when Josh called his name. He was okay.
“I’m
so glad you’re okay!” Josh said relieved more than ever as he rocked them.
“That
was a very stupid move Justin! He almost killed you!” Josh scolded.
“I
know” Justin said shamefully.
“It
was also a very brave move… thank you” Josh said gently.
Justin
grinned. “You’re welcome and thank you”
Josh
smiled. “Mom and dad would have never forgiven me if I’d let anything happen to
their baby”
“Shut
up” Justin countered. They joked; trying to ignore the fact they both had been
this close to dying and losing a brother.
Josh
helped Justin get up, he kept one arm around him to steady him. Josh saw Chris
cuffing Louisa; he smiled at Chris as he passed with the prisoner. Louisa
glared at Josh the whole way down the aisle till she was led outside. Chris,
who led her away, passed by with a smile. Justin smiled back, mouthing thanks,
welcome was his reply. Other officers waited for an ambulance to pick up Dan
who’d been shot in the leg. Dan was in pain but still managed to glare when
they wheeled him past Josh. The two brothers watched how he was wheeled away,
still holding onto each other. When Dan was fully out of sight Josh turned to
Justin,
“Let’s
go home”
