I think I’m right when I hear an engine hum behind me. I freeze because instinctively I know it’s not Riven following me.

Tires roll slow and deliberate. I turn to see the slick black luxury car roll to a stop beside me. The window glides down and I see his face.

“Need a ride, sweetheart?”

I step back instinctively. My stomach drops.

It’s Matthew.

“No, I’m good,” I say, already turning away. “Bad luck to see the bride…ever. Isn’t that the saying?”

He opens the door and climbs out and I know that after all the running I’ve just done, I don’t have a shot at getting away unscathed. I just need to hold him off until Riven gets here, because that’s my only shot. I shouldn’t have run from him, I know that’s what he’ll say. But he shouldn’t have disappeared and then popped back up to rip my dress off. I guess we’re even.

“Oh, come on now. No need to be skittish,” he says, sauntering around the front of his car. "I was actually headed to your father’s house for an impromptu meeting, but the universe has other plans, I suppose. I didn’t think I’d get you alone until the wedding night."

I sidestep to the right. He follows.

My heart kicks up.

He lunges left. I dart back and he comes so close to grabbing me that his fingers brush my forearm.

He laughs. "This how your weird brother taught you to play hard to get?"

"He’s not my brother and he’s not weird," I snap at him. I’m going to enjoy watching him die. Riven won’t be kind, and I’m thankful for that because this lunatic wouldn’t have given me an ounce of empathy had we made it to a marriage bed.

"There’s rumors going around that he’s back in town. Do you know anything about that? Your father and I are going to decide what to do with him. If you don’t fight me now, maybe I won’t make you watch him die."

I freeze for half a second. That’s all he needs to try and close the gap between us. Matthew reaches for my arm, but I’m too quick and spin just out of his grasp. I sprint around the back of his truck, but he’s not deterred.

“Goddamn, you run like you want me to catch you,” he pants.

I whip around the passenger side and yank the door open. I dive in, slam the button that locks everything down.

Click. It’s honestly the best sound I’ve heard in a long time.