Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Fuck you! They had it coming! That asshole was going to make me wait until I was too old to fucking care before he finally croaked. You should thank me for giving you the chance to get the fuck out of here.” Everyone's watching him and he's too far gone to notice.
“You're going to lose everything.”
“I'm going to pray for you,” he snarls. “I'm going to pray for your soul.”
“My soul is fine,” I reply. “It's yours that needs saving.”
37
CRASH
I see it when he decides there’s no chance of reclaiming the situation. There’s a look a man gets in his eyes when he’s staring at death and has nothing left to lose. Grayson gets that look right before he dives towards the choir and grabs a young girl from the first row, probably about twelve years old.
He pulls out a gun and holds it to her forehead. “Stay back!”
Like we practiced it, all three of us form a shield around Summer. If there's gonna be bullets flying, I'm not letting a single one of them hit her.
“Jeanie! I used to babysit her!” exclaims Summer. “He can't do that!”
Screams erupt from all around the stage where people can see what’s happening, but none so loud as the little girl. Her shriek is going to haunt me, nearly as much as when it cuts off suddenly when Grayson shakes her and tells her to shut the fuck up.
“Let her go, man,” I yell, my hand going to my belt.
“No! Don't fucking touch it. If anyone in here as much as fucking looks at their weapon, I'm gonna blow this girl's brains out. I don't wanna do it, but I fucking know that the moment I leave this building, you fuckers are gonna come gunning for me. Jesus fucking Christ, I'm not an idiot.” Grayson presses the barrel into the girl's head and she whimpers.
Fuck. I made sure he didn't get a chance to get close to Summer, but a kid? I don’t want to plant a bullet in his head and give everyone here nightmares for life, but that would be a lot better than if he does the same to that girl. Someone is sobbing manically—the girl's mother, I bet.
“Okay,” says Grayson. His breathing is labored, stressed. He's a ticking time bomb. We gotta keep this real gentle so he doesn't go off. If he does, it'll be the last fucking thing for him, ever. “I'm gonna back right down this aisle, and I'm keeping the girl with me. Once I'm on my way, I'll drop the girl somewhere she'll be found. Unharmed. But if anyone as much as moves a fucking muscle…”
No need to complete the threat. We all get it.
“Plan?” asks Devil out of the corner of his mouth.
“He's got the upper hand, so I don't—fuck, Summer!” Preacher cuts off suddenly and I immediately know why.
“Take me instead.” Summer steps by and down the stairs. We were all watching Grayson so closely she got past us. “It's me you want anyway, isn't it? You know the bikers don't care about some girl they don't even know. But you know they care about me.”
Motherfucker, that's exactly why I told her to stay back. I do not fucking need this!
“Summer!” I snap.
She fucking ignores me. I'm gonna spank her ass until Santa can use it to light his way for fucking Christmas.
“No.” Grayson's gun doesn't waver. “It's another trap. Everything you do makes a bigger mess of my plans.”
“She's a little girl, Grayson. Don't do this. It’s okay, Jeanie. My friends will make sure we’re all safe.”
While she's distracting him, I slowly shift so I get a better angle on him, because if the opportunity comes up, I'm gonna fucking take it. I don't care where we are or who sees. Preacher and Devil do the same, moving to either side so we form a wedge with Grayson at the focus. No matter what happens, at least one of us is gonna have a shot at him.
I fucking hope it'll be me.
Summer's shaking like a leaf. Even from back here I can see it, but she keeps walking closer. “Grayson, please.”
“Don't come any closer! I'm not really in the fucking mood to chat!” He shakes the girl for emphasis, making her cry out. “Fuck, I should just shoot you for ruining all my plans. Years. Fucking years! Wasted! And it's all because of you and those animals you're fucking. This could've been so perfect. So good.”
Motherfucker.
I've got a good bead on him now, if we can only get him to point his piece somewhere other than at the girl's head. I'm not afraid of killing, but I'm not gonna risk a fucking kid.
Summer continues walking, following Grayson as he backs towards the exit. The Eagles have spread themselves out. The guards are nowhere to be found, and instead it’s the MC that’s forming a wall around the terrified crowd, slowly funneling people towards a side exit and standing ready to suppress a firefight if needed. They’re leaving the three of us to deal with Grayson, and are working to minimize potential damage.