At my sister's wedding, my dad announced that my brand-new car was her wedding gift in front of all the guests. I stood up and said, "no."

"Make room, everyone! Coming through!" Dad’s booming baritone echoed across the stone courtyard. Behind him, dozens of drunken wedding guests poured out of the venue, phones raised to record the "grand departure."

Madison was glowing with triumphant malice. She stopped five paces from where I stood in the shadows, spotting me. Her smile widened into a taunting sneer.

"Still here, Claire?" she mocked, swinging my silver-and-leather key fob in front of my face. "Trevor and I are taking *my* new ride to the airport. You can call an Uber. Dad said you'd pay for your own ride home anyway."

Trevor, whose slicked-back hair and tailored tuxedo barely hid the predatory look in his eyes, rested a heavy hand on Madison’s bare shoulder. "Come on, babe. Don't waste your breath on her. She’s just bitter nobody bought her anything nice."

Several bridesmaids giggled. Mom pushed her way to the front, smoothing Madison’s veil with tearful eyes. "Go, darling. Start your dream life. Your father and I made sure you had the best of everything."

"You certainly did, Eleanor," Dad said, shooting me a cold, warning glare. "Some people don't understand the meaning of sacrifice for family. But Madison will never have to worry about that."

"Try pressing the button, Madison," I said quietly, stepping into the warm glow of the lanterns.

Madison rolled her eyes. "Oh, what, are you going to tackle me?" She pressed the unlock button on the fob.

Nothing happened.

The sleek charcoal-grey SUV sat motionless under the portico lights, its mirrors folded tightly against the body, its running lights dark.

Madison scoffed, pressing the button repeatedly. "What’s wrong with this thing? Dad, did you break it?"

"Give it here," Arthur said, snatching the fob. He jammed his thumb into the unlock icon. The car remained dead. Frustrated, he grabbed the driver's door handle and yanked.

Instantly, the night shattered.

The vehicle’s perimeter security engaged with a deafening, rhythmic wail. High-intensity LED strobes blasted from the headlights and taillights, illuminating the entire circle in blinding white and red pulses. The horn blared in rapid-fire bursts, so loud that several guests shrieked and covered their ears.

"What did you do?!" Madison screamed over the siren, dropping her champagne flute. The crystal shattered on the pavers, sparkling wine splashing across her pristine hem. "Claire, turn it off! It’s embarrassing us!"

"I told you," I yelled over the din, holding up my phone screen, which displayed the flashing red icon of a vehicle theft in progress. "That car does not belong to you."

Before Arthur could lunge at me, two black-and-white cruisers from the local police department screeched around the circular drive, their sirens adding to the pandemonium. Blue and red emergency lights washed over the horrified crowd.

Mark Vance had moved even faster than I expected.

Two uniformed officers stepped out of the lead cruiser, their hands resting cautiously near their utility belts. The lead officer, a stern woman with a steel-grey braid, scanned the chaotic scene and locked eyes on Arthur, who was aggressively rattling the SUV’s locked handle.

"Step away from the vehicle!" the officer commanded through her loudspeaker.

Arthur froze, his face draining of color before flushing a violent, apoplectic purple. "Officers, this is a private family wedding! This car is a wedding gift to my daughter!"

"Sir, take your hands off the door immediately!" the second officer barked, approaching with a clipboard. "We have an active 911 dispatch for grand larceny auto and an assault on these premises. Who is Claire Montgomery?"

I took two steps forward, raising my hand. "I am Claire Montgomery, Officer. The vehicle is registered to my LLC, and the woman in the wedding dress just assaulted me inside the ballroom to take the keys."