Page 292 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

He owed Charlotte that much. Even if she’d chosen to walk away from him, he would still protect her. He’d made a promise, and he kept his word.

They might even lead him back to her...

Hours ticked by like minutes. When he finally had enough and went to trace where the men were right now, his blood ran cold.

‘Cazzo!’he cursed.

Theyhadled him to Charlotte, but not because they had followed her to her new home. No, because Charlotte was in Perth.

And getting married to Campbell.

Enzo wouldn’t let that happen.

How had she ended up back there? How quickly had her father found her? Enzo was certain Charlotte was smart enough to evade Kim. Something about this didn’t sit right. And not just because the woman he loved was marrying another man. A man Enzo was now actively trying to ruin.

Time was up. Enzo had to act immediately or Charlotte would suffer. And there was no way in hell he was about to let that happen.

He grabbed his phone. ‘Get the plane ready. We’re going to Perth.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SEATEDATTHEvery spot on the plane he had last sat with Charlotte, Enzo drummed his fingers on the polished wood table. This was where he’d let her get lost in the thoughts that had taken her away from him. For a man who made so few mistakes, he had certainly made a massive one that day. Anger at himself battled with the fury he felt towards her father.

He had never felt so impatient to land in his life.

Hurry up. He willed the plane to go faster. He needed to get to Charlotte before she was caught in a trap she would never escape. Even if she never wanted to marry Enzo—and that thought hurt—he still wouldn’t let her marry this day.

Enzo could have tried to while away the time, perhaps with work, but he didn’t. He needed to suffer for his idiocy.

He felt every minute as if it was an hour. The moment the doors were opened and the stairs attached to the plane, he was racing down them and snatching the keys from the driver he’d ordered without even a greeting. He knew the only person he could rely on to get him to the church in time was himself. He was certain he would be getting a few speeding fines, but he didn’t care.

He started the low-slung sports car with a grunt and floored it in the direction of the church. He’d spent the five-hour flight compulsively studying the route. Every second counted. Darting between slower vehicles, he paid no attention to wagging fingers and shouted curses. He cared about nothing but getting to Charlotte. And when the grand church surrounded by beautiful gardens rose up in front of him, glorious in its Gothic architecture, he turned in sharply, bringing the car to a screeching halt right in front of the large doors.

Slamming the door shut, he sent up a silent prayer that he wasn’t too late. If he was, he would find a way to free Charlotte regardless. He ran up the stairs, throwing open the heavy wooden church door with a crash that had every head in the room swing towards him.

Silence.

For moment, no one moved. Not a sound was made.

A bible lay open in the hand of the pastor. Gordon Kim was halfway out of his seat, a look of shock and anger on his face. Grant Campbell, an unappealing man in every regard, held Charlotte’s hands tightly in his.

Charlotte.

Standing there, in a dress that reminded him of a cake topper, her black hair all pinned up under a long veil. It wasn’t her at all. Just a showpiece. It ratcheted his anger up even more. And when he looked at her face, at the shock and desolation, he wanted to sink to his knees and rip off the heads of everyone in the church in equal measure.

But that moment lasted a second. A breath.

With purposeful strides, he made his way down the aisle, but Gordon marched towards him. Whispers rose in volume.

‘Get out, De Luca,’ Gordon ordered.

‘No,’ Enzo growled, standing at his full height, looking down on the man he had never met but loathed. He took one step forward, and Gordon stuck out his arms in a pathetic attempt to stop him.

‘If you know what’s good for you, leave.’

‘Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you.’ Enzo bared his teeth at the man. ‘Get out of my way. You have more to worry about than your daughter’s wedding.’

The momentary look of fear in the older man’s eyes was all Enzo needed to see before he walked around Gordon and approached the altar.