Leanne was less-than-pleased with this strange turn of events. This whole thing was supposed to have been cake. She had planned it out; no hitches. "Damn it, Donny!" she hissed. "Look what you've done!"

Donny grunted as he lifted the unconscious Katharine up into his arms. "Not my fault," he said. "I didn't know she was there."

"You were sloppy! I told you, save the PDA for when we're alone!" She looked down at Tim's still form with her lips curled into a snarl. It was bad enough Nick's nosy sister had been there, but then his friend had jumped out like that. Nick had said he was a federal agent—some Navy agency, she recalled—so she had acted on instinct when he'd popped out, swinging her purse and smacking him on the back of the head with it. She didn't think he was dead, but she couldn't say she cared one way or another.

"Don't blame this on me!" he growled. "This whole stupid thing was your idea!"

"Yeah, and I'm the one doing most of the work!"

He let out a mirthless laugh. "Oh, yeah, you're really working your ass off! I know how hard it is for you to spend the day shopping and getting your nails done while your little lapdog picks up the tab."

She frowned, but knew she couldn't argue. Manual labor wasn't really her thing. She didn't like getting her hands dirty. That's why she was marrying into money.

"So what should I do with her? Want me to dump them in the lake or something?"

Leanne considered her options. With her arms wrapped tightly around her naked shoulders, she looked back and forth between the two unconscious forms. One of them she could have easily gotten rid of without much trouble; the two of them together presented a problem. She didn't know how much Tim had heard or what he knew about his and Katharine's attackers, but there wasn't a doubt in her mind that Katharine had heard far too much. She was a threat now.

"Stay here," she said as she leaned down to Tim. She looked through his pockets until she found a valet ticket. Perfect. "I'm going to go get his car and bring it around. Just stay right here and if they come to, hit them again. And put something in front of this door so nobody else comes out!"

She retreated back into the building with the valet ticket tucked into her purse. She stopped before the door leading back into the banquet hall and took a few seconds to regain her composure. She tucked her stray hairs behind her ear, took a deep breath to steady herself, and plastered a large smile on her face.

"Leanne!"

Sure enough, the moment she entered, Nick managed to zone in on her. Somehow, he always sensed when she entered a room. She would have found his constant need to be near her pathetic, but it was hard to see anything other than dollar signs when she looked at her husband-to-be.

"Nicky," she cooed, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Donny's safe and on his way?"

"Yes, and I made him promise to call me when he gets home. Otherwise, I know I'll be up all night worrying."

"Aw, baby!" He pulled her against him tenderly and let his thumb brush down along her arm. "I don't want you up all night worrying. I want you to be fresh-faced and beautiful tomorrow. Of course, that shouldn't be hard for you; you're always beautiful."

She responded with her customary giggle, giving him a playful slap on the chest. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Nick Ahrens."

"It's gotten me this far," he said with a wide smile. "Hey, Tim had to split, too, but he told me to say goodbye and good luck for him. Oh, and to let you know that he thinks you're making the absolute right decision in marrying me."

Leanne's expression didn't falter, even as she thought of Tim, crumpled on the ground right outside. Chances were his opinion of her was going to change very soon. Not that he'd live long enough for it to matter. "Well, isn't he just the sweetest."

"Oh, I wanted to introduce you to a couple more people," he continued, grabbing her hand. He started to pull her away from the front door.

She resisted, her mind on getting out to the valet. "Uh, in a moment, honey. I actually just have to go, uh, check my coat. I think I left my lipstick in there."

"Let me," he offered. "Just give me your ticket and I'll do that while you chat with my friends."

"No!" she said a little more forcefully than she'd intended. "Ah, I mean, I'd rather not meet them without you. I can just be so shy at times. Let me go do this, and I'll be right back, okay?" She sealed the question with a passionate kiss on his lips. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him against her forcefully, and her hands intertwined with his hair. When she ended the kiss, gently pulling away, Nick was in such a daze she doubted he'd notice if the earth suddenly started shaking. "Be right back," she assured him in a husky tone before rushing off toward the door.

She ran out into the night, not even bothering to get her coat. She handed the ticket over to the guy at the valet station with a dazzling smile, hoping he wouldn't remember who drove which car.

If the valet was suspicious about her picking up the silver Porsche when it had been dropped off by a man, he didn't mention it. He retrieved the car and pulled it up for her. Leanne slipped him a ten dollar bill as her way of thanking him for not asking too many questions. Then she slid into the driver's seat and pulled out. She had to admit, it felt quite nice to be behind the wheel of such a choice car. This was what her life would be soon. Fancy clothes, luxury cars, and anything else her heart desired.

"Took you long enough," Donny snapped as she pulled the car around. Leanne was relieved to see that both Tim and Katharine were still motionless.

"I had to pry from Nick's arms," she explained, partially because it was true, and partially because she knew it would make Donny jealous. She liked teasing him.

He grunted, but didn't make a fuss. "What do you want me to do?"

"Put him in the driver's seat. I'll try to get her into the passenger seat. Then, I want you to hook the car to your truck."

"Why?" he asked as he grabbed Tim and began dragging him toward the Porsche.

"You're going to bring the car into the woods. Get it on some kind of downward slope. Cut the brakes and get the car into motion. Gravity and momentum should take care of the rest." She managed to deposit Katharine into the car and she slammed the door. "It'll just be a tragic accident. Nick's friend gave Katharine a ride back to her hotel and, unfortunately, on the way, the brakes gave out and they went over. It'll be sad for everyone. May even make a case for Nick committing suicide during our honeymoon."

For the first time that night, a smile split across Donny's face and he looked at Leanne with absolute awe. "You're so crafty."

"That's why I'm the brains and you're the brawn. Now you go get your truck. I'll keep an eye on them."

Donny ran off and Leanne peeked into the car. Both Tim and Katharine were still out. This was the best they could do with this situation. The car crash would explain the blows to their heads. She could easily claim she saw them kissing, suggesting they were headed off to the hotel for their own sexual tryst. Tim had told Nick he was leaving. It made perfect sense.

Of course, Nick would be concerned tomorrow, she knew. It would be quite obvious that the Best Man and Maid of Honor were missing in action. She would need to use all of her feminine wiles to make sure the ceremony happened tomorrow. They couldn't wait on this any longer.

Donny backed the truck up in front of the Porsche. He hopped out and began hooking them together. "What if they come to before I can get the brakes cut and the car in motion?"

She frowned. "Use the gun if you have to, but only if you have to. We need this to look as much like an accident as possible."

"Got it." He finished securing the truck to the car and he slipped back into the driver's seat. "Want me to come back after?"

"No, head to the house. I already told Nick you were gone, so it would look strange if you suddenly showed up again. Speaking of Nick, he's probably wondering what's taking so long. I need to get back in."

Leanne leaned in through the truck's open window and kissed Donny hard on the lips, not unlike the way she had kissed Nick only minutes before. She pulled away and grinned at him. "Don't worry, baby. Soon you won't have to pretend to be my brother anymore. It'll be you, me, and millions of dollars."

She watched him pull out, her heart still racing. It wasn't from the kiss; it was her feeling that she had dodged a bullet there.

"Baby! What took you?"

Nick ran up to her when she entered, visibly concerned by the fact that it had taken her almost ten minutes to check the pocket of her coat.

She sidled up beside him, once again slipping into the role of ditzy, yet loving, fiancée. "Oh, pooky! I didn't mean to upset you! It's just that it's so hot in here, I needed to step out for a breath of fresh air. It's so pretty out there with all the stars like that and I guess I lost track of time."

If he thought her explanation was disingenuous, he didn't say it. He just clutched her against his side and shook his head with a grin. "You know, every day, I find myself learning more and more about you. I had no idea you had an interest in stars."

"Oh, I'm crazy about them," she lied. The only things she liked to watch twinkle were gems and jewelry.

"Well, I'll make sure we spend the night out under the stars at some point during out honeymoon. Maybe while we're in Greece?"

"Sure, baby, whatever you say. Now who were those people you wanted me to meet?"

Donny gripped the steering wheel as he made his way through the curves and swerves of the wooded area. He was on his way up, but once he reached a suitable height, he would turn around, detach the Porsche, tinker with the brakes (he knew Leanne had said cut them, but he didn't want anyone to be too suspicious), and set it into motion. As long as neither of them woke up before then, they'd be golden.

He thought about Leanne. Since the day he'd met her, she'd been the woman of his dreams. Sexy, sly, and ambitious. Everyone saw her and assumed she was just some airhead bimbo; they usually sang a different tune when they realized she'd conned hundreds—or sometimes thousands—of dollars out of them. Donny, though, appreciated her in a way no one else could. That's because he knew the real her, the side she rarely showed anyone else. She belonged to him completely. Or, at least, she had once. Now she had allowed herself to belong to another man.

Stupid Nick Ahrens. He hated watching her cozy up to him and kiss him, even if she insisted it didn't mean anything. He didn't understand why she'd gotten it in her head that she had to marry him. He'd suggested many times that they kidnap the guy and hold him ransom, or just tie him up and rob him blind. But no, that just wasn't good enough for Leanne. She wanted it all. So she'd hatched this plan, the biggest con they would pull. All she had to do was woo the millionaire geek, get married, then off him and collect. Donny had pointed out that the death needed to look accidental or else she'd never see a penny of that money; she had assured him it would. No doubt Leanne knew exactly how to stage it. She was smart that way.

Nick's sister had presented a major upset in the plan. She was never supposed to die. But she had seen them together, had heard them talking. They had no choice. Then the friend had to jump in and play hero, so now he was left with the task of getting rid of two people.

This could actually work in their favor. Nick Ahrens, after losing his parents and sister to car crashes, commits suicide during honeymoon with new wife. It made perfect sense.

Or it would just make everyone suspicious. Hard to tell which way this one would go.

It didn't look like the road was going to get any higher, so Donny pulled over onto the side and made a turn so the vehicles were facing the opposite direction. He stopped the truck and got out.

Katharine was still out, but it looked like Tim was starting to come to. Donny opened the driver's side door and gave him another blow. That instantly quieted him.

Not wanting to waste another second, Donny set to work on the brakes. He knew just what to do to them so they were sure to fail without it looking like they had been tampered with. It would take a miracle for either of these two to survive the resulting crash.

Soon, his handiwork was complete. He moved his truck off to the side, making a clear path for the car. He rolled down the driver's side window so he could reach in and turn the key in the ignition. The car roared to life and he put it into neutral. He then began pushing the car along, waiting for gravity to take over.

Finally, the car began moving forward on its own accord and Donny let go. The car continued forward, albeit at a slower pace than he would have liked. But it didn't bother him so much. The car would begin to pick up speed, and soon it would be beyond the control of either of the occupants, assuming they came to before the inevitable crash.

He stood in the road, watching as the car continued on its path, rolling into a blanket of darkness.

Tim was aware of the earth moving beneath him, but he wasn't sure if part of it had to do with the splitting headache ailing him. With a groan, he brought his hand up to his head, wondering what he'd done to make it throb like that. He didn't think he'd had that much to drink.

Slowly, he pried his eyes open and was perturbed to find himself inside his car. How had he gotten here?

A moan sounded beside him. He looked and found Katharine lying limply in the passenger seat, her body slumped down in a most disconcerting manner.

"Katharine," he rasped. She didn't respond.

Nick. The engagement party. He had been looking for Katharine and had heard her scream. He remembered running outside and seeing her. Then someone had knocked him out. But who? And why?

The seat beneath him began to bounce and shake. He was moving. The car was moving. Tim began to push through the haze in his mind, ignoring the pain in his head. What had happened between the time he'd been knocked out and now?

With his head still pounding like bongo drums, he grabbed the wheel and flipped on his headlights. They were obviously in some sort of rural area and it looked as though they were on a downward incline. The car wasn't moving incredibly quickly at the moment, but it was picking up speed with every second that passed.

So Tim anxiously pressed his foot against the brakes. But that did nothing. He did it again with even more fervor, this time pumping it like his parents had always taught him, but that still didn't help.

This was not good.

The car was getting faster. Worse, the roads were beginning to curve. Tim maneuvered them as best he could, his body shaking ferociously and his palms sweating furiously. But he felt the car edge onto the shoulder more times than he would have liked. With one hand on the wheel, he used the other to grab and pull his seatbelt across his chest. It may have been a superfluous action, but he was running out of ideas of what else to do.

"Katharine!" he shouted.

"Uh…" she groaned.

"Kat, I need you to open your eyes."

"Tim?" she slurred. "My head hurts."

"It's going to hurt a lot more," he said with a wince. "Get your seatbelt on."

"Huh?" Her eyes were just beginning to flutter open.

"Your seatbelt!" he said forcefully. "Get it on!"

"Where're we?"

"Katharine Ahrens, put on your damn seatbelt!" He didn't dare take his eyes off the road for a second, lest the road should take a sudden, sharp turn, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the telltale click of a seatbelt next to him.

"Tim…"

"I don't know what's going on," he said, anticipating her question before she asked. "Just hold on tight."

"Can you stop the car?"

"The brakes aren't working. I…I don't understand this!" The roads were becoming almost snake-like in their curves and the car was beginning to reach a dangerous speed.

How had this happened? Who had done this? Did Nick know they were missing? Did anyone know that they were missing?

"Tim!" Katharine shrieked as they made a wide turn, coming only inches from going off the road.

"I need you to be quiet!" He wasn't trying to be mean; he understood she was scared. But he needed his mind to be on his driving. "Cover your head."

"What?"

"Your head! If we crash, you don't want glass piercing your neck. Now cover it!"

"But what about you?"

"Don't worry about me! Just do as I tell you!" He was trying to hide the fear in his voice in a feeble attempt to calm her. One of them had to keep a straight head.

Katharine's head fell forward and her arms flanked either side, her hands covering her neck specifically. He heard a soft whimpering from her.

That was when Tim saw something that made his heart almost stop. The curve ahead was sharp. At his speed, there was no way for him to make it and he knew that. He tried to run along the shoulder, hoping some of the gravel and grass would create friction, but even that wasn't enough. He pulled the wheel to the side, but the momentum was too great.

Tim watched in horror as his car fell over the side and he looked down in what he could only call a wide, black abyss. His heart leapt up into his throat and he couldn't even breathe as he saw his fate. In his mind, he saw his life flash by in spurts; he couldn't imagine how they could possibly survive this.

It was the end.

With nothing else to do, he released his grip on the wheel and wrapped his arms and as much of his body as he could over Katharine, and then waited for the impact, his mind sending up a hopeless prayer to the angels above.

AN: Hey, guys! Thanks for all of the reviews so far! Hope you liked this chapter as well!