Read Online Wedding Duress (Events By Design Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) by Ally Gray - Free Book Online Page B

explain why they’ve come here, we can move forward quickly.”
    She gestured for them to begin. Heaven and Brianna exchanged a look, then Brianna jerked her head in the direction of the happy couple, indicating that Heaven could go first. Instead, the girl froze, suddenly aware that she was way out of her league with this crowd. Stacy jumped in again.
    “I think what this young lady would like to say is that she feels Ben needs to… do what, exactly?” she asked, guiding Heaven along and then waiting for her to answer. Heaven only stammered softly, until Stacy added, “Perhaps you came here today to explain to Ben how you think he’s making a serious mistake, and you’d like to tell him how you really feel about him?” That seemed to snap Heaven out of her panic, as both she and Ben grimaced at Stacy’s suggestion.
    “What? Ew, no! That’s gross! I don’t have feelings for Ben! He’s my brother!” Heaven yelled, looking at Stacy as though she’d just suggested an incestuous wedding should be on the agenda. In a way, Stacy had, much to her embarrassment.
    “I’m confused, what was all that you told me about how he’s making a big mistake, and you had to tell him how you really feel?”
    “Yeah, he IS making a mistake! But that doesn’t mean I’m in love with my brother! Ew!”
    “Okay then, well next time you can do your own talking!” Stacy said through gritted teeth. Brianna stepped in before any more confusing love triangles could be uncovered.
    “Ben, I’m the one who still has feelings for you,” she said softly, stepping forward as much as the chains connecting her ankles would let her. Her arms were still pinned behind her back according to protocol for transporting a prisoner, but instead of making her look dangerous, it made her all the more vulnerable.
    “You do?” Ben asked, a look of hope on his face, coupled with the constant mask of confusion he wore from taking a few too many hits to the head. She nodded, but Diana quickly got between them, blocking the mesmerizing view of the woman Ben loved wearing an orange jumpsuit and prison-issue flip flops.
    “That is enough out of both of you!” Mrs. Barber screamed. “Where is the security here? I cannot believe my daughter’s wedding has been crashed by criminals and trailer trash!” Just then, Mrs. Curry, the mother of the groom, stood up across the aisle from Mrs. Barber in what looked like a show of solidarity, but instead, she stormed across the aisle not caring as she ground her heels into Diana’s twenty-foot train, and lunged for the mother of the bride, grabbing her around her neck with both hands and shaking her violently.
    The hired security watched the two women squabble and claw at each other without moving, finally turning to look at Stacy for direction. She watched for a moment in horror, then resigned herself to the outcome. “If Mrs. Curry starts to lose, you can step in,” she whispered blithely into her headset microphone. The security guards received the message with wide eyes, but did as they were told.
    Diana did her best to pull her would-be mother-in-law off of her mother, but only succeeded in getting in the way and taking an elbow to the eye, knocking her wig off in the process. She clutched her face with both hands, trying and failing to hide her appearance behind her massive bouquet. The beauty queen finally threw down her flowers and raced for the privacy of one of the upstairs rooms, followed by a bevy of bridesmaids.
    Stacy smirked mirthfully at the sight of hundreds of guests recording the entire scene on their smartphones, knowing this would be uploaded to YouTube before she could do anything to stop it. She leaned against the stone wall and watched her career evaporate as two southern mama cats battled it out at the front of the church.
    “I have put up with all of your mouth I intend to take!” Mrs. Curry screamed between slaps at Mrs. Barber’s face, holding her victim by her recently frosted