Bobby shakes his head, his voice becoming a hiss, “Don’t call me stupid. I know she knows something,” he rants.
I’m not paying attention. I’m counting.
Three.
Two.
Before I can move to take him down, Sheriff Lyons comes into view, using one of the checkout stations as cover. His voice booms, “Bobby, put down the gun.”
Fucking hell.
“No,” Bobby snaps and looks over his shoulder before he looks back at me.
“Okay, son,” Lyons tries to make his voice placating, but it falls short. “How about we talk about this? What is going on here?”
I almost roll my eyes, but I keep them fixed on Bobby. On his hands. On his eyes.
They’re shifty. He’s uncertain and the fear is starting to overtake him. He’s not a criminal fucking mastermind or anything, but that doesn’t mean the situation isn’t dangerous.
But he keeps the gun trained on me.
That’s enough.
For right this moment.
“You don’t need to get involved, Sheriff,” he sneers the title like it’s a curse and I almost chuckle.
“Well, I’m here now,” he tries to sound congenial.
It doesn’t work.
“How about we talk about things,” Lyons offers again.
“There’s nothing to talk about. I need to have a private conversation with Ezra,” his words are almost crazed. It’s like his mind can’t let go of the idea of having a talk with Ezra because it’ll be the solution to all his problems. “She’s going to come with me.”
“That’s not going to happen,” the steel in Lyons’ voice is easy to hear.
But what surprises me is the hint of fear in the words as well. When I glance at him, his focus is entirely on Bobby.
Bobby keeps shifting his focus between us. His breathing picks up, like he’s realizing just how caged he is. How exposed he is. How this has no chance to end well.
When Bobby turns back toward me, I see corner of Lyons’ eye tighten. A moment. A hesitation.
“Bobby,” Ezra’s voice is shaky, pleading, “if you could calm down and put down the gun, I would talk with you. Right now, you’re scaring me.”
His hand lowers slightly just as Ezra starts to peek out from around my arm. When a clattering sound comes from where Lyons is taking cover, Bobby startles and he squeezes the trigger.
I see it happen. Slow and then fast; time seems to bend.
I don’t think about it and take a step. It’s just enough to ensure Ezra is completely covered. A searing pain rips through my abdomen just as another gun is fired.
Bobby’s body freezes and a bullet explodes through his head before he drops to the ground. I go down to one knee, my jaw clenched.
“Titus,” Ezra’s scream is almost as painful as the feeling of that bullet hitting me.
I try to stay up, but the strength leeches from my limbs. Only after I look to find the crimson stain of blood spreading from where Bobby has fallen do I allow myself to collapse onto my back. My breathing becomes shallow and labored. I fight against the pain and the need to close my eyes.
Ezra’s face comes into view, tearstained and filled with anguish.
