As the officers stepped forward to take Erin, he suddenly shoved one of them hard, sending the man stumbling into a table. The guests gasped. Without warning, Erin lunged at Vanessa, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her in front of him.
"Don't move!" he shouted, pulling her close, his arm tight around her neck.
The whole room froze.
"Erin, stop!" Linda shouted, her voice cracking.
Fiona stood frozen. Kami stepped forward but stopped when Erin's glare hit her.
"Try anything," he growled, "and she gets hurt. I'm not kidding."
Vanessa didn't fight. She knew better. Erin was desperate now worse than she'd ever seen him.
"I want a car waiting outside in ten minutes," Erin said, backing up with her still in his grip. "And I want someone to call my lawyer. You think you can ruin me like this? You think I didn't plan for something like this?"
"Erin, please," Linda said again, her voice shaking. "Let her go. This isn't the way."
