Mitch Glover marched down the center aisle. He brought the aggressive, chaotic energy of an NYPD detective straight into the sacred space. His jaw was set, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles popped.
Right behind him, Ezekiel pushed his gold wire-rimmed glasses up his nose, his face a mask of cold fury. Their mother, Helen, trailed behind, her hands pressed to her mouth in horror.
Blair's stomach plummeted. The lingering heat from Judge's lips vanished, replaced by a cold sweat that broke out across the back of her neck.
Judge didn't rush. He slowly straightened his posture and took a deliberate half-step in front of Blair, positioning his broad shoulders between her and her charging brother.
Mitch stopped at the base of the altar. He pointed a thick finger right at Judge's face. "What the hell did you do to her?!"
Instantly, four of Harrell's security men stepped forward. The sound of leather holsters unsnapping echoed sharply in the quiet church.
Judge raised a single hand. The guards froze.
Judge looked down at Mitch, his expression completely bored. "As you can see, we are getting married."
Ezekiel stepped up next to Mitch. His voice was clinical and sharp. "The Glover family does not recognize this circus."
Blair panicked. She stepped out from behind Judge's back, her hands raised. "Mitch, Zeke, stop. I did this. I volunteered-"
Mitch lunged forward and grabbed Blair's wrist. He yanked her toward him. The sudden force jerked her shoulder, pulling a sharp gasp from her lips.
Judge's eyes snapped to Mitch's hand wrapped around Blair's pale skin. The boredom vanished from his face. The temperature around him seemed to plummet.
He took one step down the stairs. His presence was massive, suffocating. "Let go of my wife."
Mitch let out a harsh bark of laughter. He didn't loosen his grip. "She is my sister first."
The two men stared each other down. The air in the cathedral grew so thick it felt hard to breathe.
Add Harrell stepped forward. He slammed his cane against the marble. "Enough! Control your children, Glover. This is not a precinct."
Helen rushed forward, tears welling in her eyes. "Blair, please. Come home with us. You don't know what you're doing."
Blair looked back at Judge. Her chest ached. She needed him to say something. She needed him to pull her back, to claim her.
Judge looked at her. He reached up and adjusted his silver cufflink. The terrifying intensity in his eyes was gone, replaced by a smooth, impenetrable wall.
"Go," Judge said, his voice flat. "Handle your family."
The words hit her like a bucket of ice water. Her lungs seized. He didn't care. He had the ring on her finger, the legal requirement met. She was just a problem he didn't want to deal with.
Mitch pulled her hard. Blair stumbled down the last step, her ankle twisting slightly in her heels.
Judge's hands, held firmly at his sides, clenched into fists for a fraction of a second. His eyebrow twitched, a microscopic storm gathering in his eyes before he smoothed his expression back into a mask of indifference.
Mitch dragged her down the aisle. Blair couldn't fight him. Her legs felt like lead. They pushed through the heavy doors and out into the biting New York air.
Mitch shoved her into the back seat of a black SUV parked at the curb. The heavy door slammed shut, sealing her inside.
Mitch rolled down the window and glared at Judge, who was now standing at the top of the cathedral steps. "This isn't over, Harrell."
The SUV's engine roared. The tires screeched against the pavement as it tore away from the plaza, merging violently into the evening traffic.
Judge stood perfectly still on the stone steps. He watched the red taillights disappear into the sea of yellow cabs.
Frankie walked up beside him and pulled a cigar from his pocket. He offered it to Judge. "You're just going to let them take her?"
Judge took the cigar. He didn't look at Frankie. "She'll be back."
He looked down at his right hand. His fingers curled inward, remembering the soft, trembling fabric of her dress against his knuckles.
Judge turned his back on the street and walked back into the hushed cathedral. He pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Get my lawyers," Judge said into the receiver. "I need a postnup drafted immediately."
