Page 42 of Maddening Fixation

The realization swept across every face gathered around the table.

The Flynn family wasn’t surrounded.

They were trapped.

My second uncle suddenly shoved his chair backward.

His hand disappeared beneath his jacket.

I already knew what he was reaching for.

A pistol.

My voice cut through the room like ice.

“If you take one more step...”

Every eye turned toward me.

“...you’ll be the next man going straight to hell.”

He froze.

His fingers stopped halfway inside his jacket.

For several long seconds, neither of us moved.

Then...

Very slowly...

He withdrew his empty hand.

Sat back down.

Sweat glistened across his forehead.

Good.

Now they understood.

I wasn’t bluffing.

I looked around the table.

The expressions staring back at me were almost satisfying.

Ten years ago...

Those same faces had watched me dragged away in handcuffs.

Today...

Those smiles had vanished.

The laughter had died.

Confidence had been replaced by naked fear.