I can’t help the next question that comes out of my mouth.
“What the fuck do you think is here that’s rightfully yours?”
He looks at me like I’m dense.
“You said it when you answered the phone. It’s WestonandSons. My dad started this and passed it down to both of us. I’ve seen how well this has done over the years and I’ve come for my half of the money. I deserve it, and I’m not going to let Jonah have everything that should’ve been fucking mine since the beginning. Since we were kids, he always got everything, and I was always left out. I deserve it all.”
“Every time I see you Abel, you’re more and more delusional. Dad may have started this place, but it wasn’t worth anything when he signed it over to me. Me and me alone.” Pa slowly but purposefully walks into the office from the shop, without his cane. I can tell he’s got some of the brothers behind him. I can’t see if Shane’s one of them. Abel starts shaking his head and moving the gun back and forth between me and Shandy. I can tell Pa is thinking of ways to get him to aim it at him.
“No! It was left to both of us. That’s what he always said. Said that’s why he put sons in the name. He never said he wouldn’t give me my half. I need my half, damn it. That’s the plan. I need my half for the plan. Give me my fucking half!”
Pa’s studying Abel the whole time he’s talking. I can also see out of the corner of my eye that Juan and Jon are both right outside the door, looking for a shot or a way to get us out.
“Fuck, Abel. Have the drugs really killed that many of your brain cells over the years? He told us that when we were kids, not even teenagers. He told us that during one of the few brief times he was sober and actually coming back home to Mom. If you want half of what I paid him for the business, I can give you five bucks. Hell, I’ll give you the whole ten dollars I paid him. He was in massive debt when I took this over.”
Abel starts shouting “You’re a liar! This was Dad’s plan, and like everything else in my life, you’re ruining it!”
“You’ve ruined all my plans over the years! You interrupted my first plan all those years ago and ever since then, all you do is try to ruin everything I do! This is the plan. There is nothing withouttheplan. It’s all about the plan.”
I watch the moment that things go from bad to worse, and it dawns on him that he’s got nothing to lose now. He just brought a second gun out and is moving closer to me and Shandy. Somewhere in all of this, she grabbed my hand. We both squeeze at the same time. I have a gut feeling that this might not end well for all of us, and that scares the shit out of me. I never understood the saying “trembling with fear” till this exact moment in time.
Abel
Fuck Jonah.Fuck him.He’s been ruining my plans since we were kids. The do-gooder. The fucker even claimed three of my kids as his. They’re my DNA, even if I didn’t want a one of them. Stupid women not protecting themselves like they should. They didn’t go along with the plan. That’s why I had to give the first one’s mom those tainted drugs. She’d hidden the pregnancy from me and was trying to trap me and not let me go ahead with the plan that would’ve put me on easy street. Fuckin’ cunt.
I was supposed to come in, wave the gun at two of my kids, get the money and go. I can’t believe that our dad did me like that. Fuck him. Jonah was always his and everyone’s favorite. Time for a new plan. I’ve got both guns pointing at the girls. The van is in the parking lot with the kid in the driver’s seat. All I had to do was promise him a week’s worth of his drug of choice and he was a willing driver. The other girl is in the back, tied up and probably still unconscious.
“You two are going to come outside with me. If I can’t get my money one way, I’m gonna get it another.” Jonah starts to move forward to me.
“Don’t or I’ll shoot one of them. I know your righteous self will try and get me to shoot you instead. As much pleasure as that would give me, dear brother, it’s not gonna bring me any money. I need the money to keep with the plan. This is the best one I’ve thought of yet.” I wave the gun between them.
“See, this might even be better. I can get a lot for these two on the market. Hell of a lot. One is part of a set of very young, but legal twins, and the other is obviously able to be bred and that’s a whole different financial level. Yes, they can definitely get me the money I’m owed. I need the money I deserve.”
Jonah, like the fucker he is, interrupts me. “Abel, you are certifiable. Nobody owes you money. I would’ve loved for you to run this place next to me. Instead, you chose drugs and being in and out of prison. You always choose the way with the least amount of work. Instead of earning something, you just took. You don’tdeserveshit, except maybe a return trip to prison. There’s no one to blame for that but you. Now you’re going to let these girls go and be on your way before someone gets hurt.”
Kierstie
Watching Pa talk to Abel, I can see the moment that he’s made a decision and I know I’m not going to like it. I just hope Shandy and I make it out of this alive and in one piece.
“Fuck that. I’m not leaving here empty-handed.” Abel moves toward me and Shandy, keeping both guns trained on us.
“You two are going to start walking to the door and head outside. I’m going with you. No one’s going to shoot me ’cause if they do, I could shoot one or both of you.” Shandy and I are slowly moving to the other side of the counter. As much as I want to yell and scream at him, I know that would make things worse. I have to do whatever I can to get both Shandy and my little one to safety. Brandy too if she’s actually in his van.
Shandy gets around to the front before I do and he moves the gun to the back of her head. As soon as I’m in front, he does the same to me.Fuck.He did it. Even if any of the guys had a shot, they wouldn’t be able to take it now.
“Both of you start walking. The twin one, open the door and hold it as we all go out together. Preggo, you need to keep up with us.” I can feel the barrel of the gun on the back of my head, pushing in harder than it was a moment ago. When we step outside, I can hear all the guys from the shop. Jon and Juan must have seen what was going on through the windows ’cause they have the guys pushed back a bit. I can kind of look over that way and I can see Shane. He’s got his hands in his hair and is looking down. I must slow my walking ’cause Abel strongly taps me on the head with the gun.
“I told you to keep up, preggo. Get those feet moving.” Shane’s head pops up and I can see his glossy eyes. I mouthI love youto him. I really hope this isn’t the last time I see him.
Shane
When I see her tell me she loves me, I lose it. I start yelling, “Kierstie, fuck! Let her go! Kierstie!” I think I yell as loudly as my voice lets me. I must have started for the van because all of a sudden, I’m being held back by a pair of arms on both sides.
Pres, from one side of me, speaks up. “Stop, brother. You rush the van and that psycho’s likely to shoot her. She wouldn’t survive a shot like that. We’ve got to go after her when there’s not a fucking gun to the back of her head.” I know he’s right, but I can’t help but feel like I’m watching my entire world, my entire reason for living, being yanked away from me. Neither Jon nor Juan let go of my arms. They’re holding me back when I see the fucker push Kierstie into the back of the van.
Juan speaks this time. “Steady, brother. We’re going to get them back.” All I can do is watch as the doors to the van close and it starts to back up. This is the first time I get a good look at the driver in the van.What in the fuck?
“Tyson!” I fight to be let go, needing to get in front of the van and stop them.
