THE BIKER’S RUNAWAY BRIDE

Chapter 2: Red Lights

Lena Marlowe POV

Four security guards in black suits stepped directly in front of the main exit doors, forming an impassable wall.

"Close those doors immediately!" my mother shouted, her loud, sharp voice ringing across the vaulted ceilings.

The guests in the pews began whispering furiously, leaning over to whisper to each other, their phone cameras flashing as they recorded everything.

My mother stepped down from the altar, smoothing her red silk dress. She turned toward the crowd, forcing a bright, sweet smile onto her face and letting out a quiet, high-pitched laugh.

"Please, everyone, stay in your seats," Eleanor said, keeping her tone light and friendly for the guests. "It’s just wedding day jitters! My sweet daughter is simply overwhelmed by emotion."

She turned her head slightly toward the guards near me, her bright smile instantly turning into a cold, vicious glare.

"Grab her," Eleanor ordered them in a harsh whisper under her breath. "Get her out of the public eye right now before she ruins our family's reputation."

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, backing away as two guards reached out to grab my arms.

"Lena, be reasonable," my father, Richard Marlowe, said as he stepped down the aisle, his voice low and dangerous. "You are making a huge scene in front of our investors. Walk back to that altar right now and sign the marriage papers."

"You killed Daniel!" I shouted back, my voice shaking with raw pain. "You beat my brother and burned him in that car! I have the autopsy report, Father! I know what you did!"

Richard’s face darkened, his jaw tightening. "You don't know a single thing about what happened to Daniel. You are being reckless and stupid. Guards, take her to the back room. Now."

One guard lunged forward, his gloved hand reaching for my wrist.

I spun around, dodging his fingers, and bolted toward the side hallway reserved for the church choir. My silk dress dragged behind me, slowing my steps and pulling against my waist.

I ran past a small decoration table set up near the choir entrance. Resting on top of a silk display tray was a large pair of silver ribbon-cutting scissors used for church ceremonies.

I grabbed the silver scissors with both hands.

"Lena, drop those!" my father yelled behind me, his dress shoes clicking rapidly against the tile floor as he gave chase.

I didn't listen. I grabbed the long silk train of my wedding dress, pulled it tight, and drove the sharp blades straight through the thick fabric. The silk tore with a loud, sharp sound. I cut through the fabric again and again, dropping the , ruined train to the floor.

Without the long train pulling me down, my legs moved faster.

"She's heading for the side door! Block the exit!" a guard shouted.

I sprinted down the narrow hallway, shoved the red emergency bar of the exit door with my entire body, and burst out into the pouring rain.

The cold water hit my face instantly, soaking my hair and ruining my bridal makeup. The alleyway behind the church was slick and dark, filled with the roar of falling rain.

Just past the alley, parked in the private VIP lane reserved for the wedding party, sat my father’s bright red luxury sports car.

A young valet guard was standing near the driver's side door, holding an umbrella over the vehicle while checking his phone. The engine was already idling softly, exhaust rising into the cool air.

"Hey! You're not allowed out here!" the valet called out, stepping toward me in surprise as he saw me in my cut dress.

I reached up to my neck, grabbed the diamond necklace my mother forced me to wear this morning, and snapped the delicate gold clasp.

"Catch!" I screamed, tossing the multi-thousand-dollar necklace straight over the valet's head into the crowd of photographers gathered near the outer gate.

"My diamonds! She threw the Marlowe diamonds!" a photographer yelled.

The crowd surged forward, pushing past the outer security line as people scrambled across the wet pavement to grab the jewelry.

The valet's eyes went wide. "Wait! Stop!" he yelled, turning his back on me to try and push the crowd away from the car.

As he turned, the set of master car keys hanging from his leather belt swung out. I reached out, snatched the key fob straight off his loop, and yanked the driver's side door open.

"Hey! Stop her!" my father shouted as he burst through the side emergency door, his expensive suit getting soaked in the downpour.

I jumped into the leather driver's seat, slammed the door shut, and locked it before Richard could reach the handle.

"Lena, open this door right now!" Richard screamed, pounding his fist hard against the glass window. "You are destroying this family!"

I looked through the wet glass at my father’s furious face—the face of a man who cared more about money and power than his own murdered son.

"This is for Daniel," I whispered.

I shoved the gear shift into drive, slammed my foot down hard on the gas pedal, and turned the steering wheel sharply.

The tires shrieked against the wet pavement, spraying water everywhere as the sports car shot forward out of the alleyway.

I pulled out onto the main driveway, speeding toward the private estate security gates at the end of the road.

"Close the gates! Stop that car!" a security officer shouted over his radio from the guard booth.

The iron gates began to swing shut slowly, blocking my only way out to the public highway.

My heart pounded violently in my chest. Tears mixed with rain streamed down my face. I gripped the leather steering wheel tightly with my freezing hands, refusing to hit the brakes.

I pressed the gas pedal all the way to the floor.

The car accelerated wildly, roaring down the driveway. I ducked my head as the front bumper slammed directly into the closing iron gates.

The metal groaned and snapped, the gates flying open as the car smashed through, tearing through the wooden barrier and sliding out onto the main rain-slicked highway.

Glass and plastic debris scattered across the road behind me.

I straightened the wheel, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps as I looked in the rear-view mirror.

Two dark black SUVs parked near the church perimeter suddenly turned on their high-beam headlights, their powerful engines roaring as they pulled onto the highway directly behind me, speeding up to give chase.