Page 105 of An Eye For Illusion

“Get these people inside!”

“Set up a perimeter!”

“We have some injuries over here! Call in more buses!”

“It’s the police; the police are here.” My father’s words rush out as he finally rolls off me and stands. He looks around to make sure it’s safe before quickly pulling me up and to his side. His first instinct has always been to keep me safe.

My dress is disheveled, and I somehow lost a shoe when I went down, but the only thing I can think about is getting to Colin.

My father’s face is lined with worry as he takes in the scene around us. His hand shakes as he reaches for mine and clasps it tightly. I feel tears threaten to fall as I look around at the mess I’ve made. People crowd around the back patio pillars or lie on the ground with their hands covering their heads too scared to move.

People are scraped up and bruised. Some are crying and everyone is scared. I look for Bridgette and find her across the aisle tending to her parents. She looks up just in time for us to make eye contact. I start to go towards her, but she stops me by shaking her head and mouthing, we are fine. Go find Colin.

I want to go to her, but I have an undeniable need to find Colin above all else. I pray that no one was seriously injured. I’ll never be able to forgive myself if anyone was hurt because of me. I still don’t know exactly what happened. Who fired the shots?

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. You’re safe, and the police are here now. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Won’t we, Elliott?”

My dad turns as he says that bastard’s name, expecting to find him still near the altar. Instead, Elliott is nowhere in sight. He ran like the coward he is. I’m sure the heartbreak my father will soon feel when he learns the truth will be enough to cripple me. We’re here today solely because of my decisions.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to get it together. I need to make sure Colin is okay, and I need to tell my dad the truth.

“I’m so sorry, Daddy. This is all my fault. I have so much to tell you, but… later, okay?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” he says before pulling me into a hug. He seems hesitant, but he must get the importance of me waiting because he doesn’t stop me.

More sirens approach, and my dad releases me. I turn to scan the crowd, looking for Colin where I last thought I saw him, but he isn’t there anymore. There is so much chaos that it’s hard to identify anything or anyone, but finally, Donovan’s face comes into view. He pushes through the crowd, making his way directly toward us, and I grow hopeful he’ll know where Colin is. As he draws near, my father steps between us protectively.

“It’s okay, Daddy. I know him.” I place my hand on Dad’s arm, urging him to allow Donovan through. My father steps aside but remains close. “Dad, this is Donovan Blake. He works with Colin, who you also don’t know yet.” My explanations won’t mean shit right now, but we don’t have time for anything more.

My dad extends his hand, and Donovan takes it to shake. “Harrison Foster,” he says simply with a respectful nod before turning his attention back to me. “He’s alive, but not doing great.”

His words wash over me, making me dizzy. I reach out to grab my father’s forearm to steady myself. “Who shot him?” I croak out. “Did they catch who shot him?”

“He wasn’t shot. Vinny tried to but missed. He’s weak and pretty beat up from being held hostage. The ambulance just got here to take him to the hospital. He’s asking for you.”

“How did they get here so quickly?” my father asks.

“We already had half the cavalry ready and waiting, when they heard the gunshots they called in the medics and rushed in,” Donovan answers.

I hitch up the bottom of my wedding gown and throw off the one shoe I still have on. “Take me to him.”

Donovan rushes off with me on his right, while my father keeps pace just behind me. Donovan explains that Vinny was sitting in the back row to ensure I married Elliott as promised, and as soon as he saw Colin, he pulled his gun and took a shot. Colin was able to duck just in time.

“Mr. Blake, there were two shots. Who fired the second shot?” my dad asks quickly; he doesn’t miss a thing.

“Me. I got here just as Colin did. I saw him running towards the ceremony with those fucking goons running after him and I was able to cover him from behind.” Donovan says calmly but doesn’t offer any additional information.

I’m slack jawed by his response, we get to where Donovan indicates Colin is in time to see him being attended to by other officers. I try to rush towards him, but a SWAT officer stops me from going any further.

“I need to get to him.” I say as I push against the officer’s chest.

“I can’t let you pass yet. We are still clearing the area.”

I shuffle on my feet, unwilling to just stay put but it’s not like they are giving me much choice. Donovan steps up to speak to the cop and after they exchange a few words the officer looks at me. “We just need a few more moments to fully clear the area. Then they will bring the medics down. Let them get him on the stretcher and to the ambulance and then you can go but until then you stay here,” he says firmly.

I try once more to push against him but give up on any attempt of getting past him when my father pulls me back into his chest.

“Just give them a moment to make sure it’s safe, honey, and then you can go.” He tries to soothe me but all I can feel is my heart pounding so hard in my chest that I’m worried it’s going to break free.

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