Page 83 of Sleigh My Heart

Michelle got a good look at him. They had the same eyes, the same cleft in the chin.

Brother? Well, fuck. This family was going to kill Michelle yet.

Elaine grumbled as she followed them to the club.

The heat rushed over Michelle as the door closed behind them, but it did nothing to warm the icy chill that settled in her bones the moment she saw the gun. If anything, the click of the latch on the empty club’s door chilled her even more.

***

“Joel, now what are we going to do with her?” Panic filled Elaine’s face.

“Shut up. I’m thinking.”

The gun jabbed between Michelle’s shoulder blades, spurring her to move forward. They led her to a back room behind the stage. Rows of mirrors surrounded by lights lined the walls. She scanned the surface of the makeup stations for a weapon. Brushes, combs, hairpieces… anything?

Maybe she could stab an eye out with one of the rattail combs. Defeated, she slumped. She could probably disarm one of them, but two? Not a chance. Chuck Norris she was not.

As they passed through the room out into a hall, she eyed the stairs going up. “What’s up there?”

“The roof.” Joel paused.

The perfect location to shoot at someone in the alley.

He looked at her, then back up the stairs.

She could see the internal debate if they should go up there. Getting a body down again would be difficult, or at the least messy. She gulped. She would be that body. Think. Think.

He must have thought better of it and ushered her into a room with costumes. Sequins and feathers covered every inch of the room.

“Grab me something to tie her up.” He forced Michelle into a chair. Elaine held out a long purple feather boa. “What the fuck am I going to do with that? There’s an electrical cord by the mirrors.”

“Then why didn’t you say that?” She huffed and wrapped the boa around her neck and yanked the cord, and mumbled, “What does he think, I’m an idiot? These are high quality accessories.”

She yanked again. Nothing. “What the? It’s not coming out.”

“Watch her. I have to do everything. This is the last time.” Joel got on the floor to work the cords free.

Michelle watched the siblings squabble. Her mind whirled. Could she divide and conquer? Now was her chance. She side-eyed Joel as she whispered to Elaine, “Why do you let him treat you like that?”

Elaine’s gaze cut to her brother, currently cussing about electrical staples.

Now! Michelle bolted from the chair and hit Elaine with a flying tackle that would make the Vikings’ defensive coach proud.

Catlike nails scratched her face, and they scuffled. The gun skittered across the floor. Elaine reached for it.

Oh no you don’t. Michelle yanked the boa with all her might. Elaine jerked back.

She was right. Quality.

Elaine twisted and turned, unwrapping the purple garment from her neck.

Michelle dropped the feather boa and pinned her in a half-Nelson with an arm around her neck. Elaine’s struggle was short but not short enough.

A gun fired. Concrete chips flew from the wall. A second later, pain radiated through her arm. Fuck. He shot me. Michelle stared at the blood dripping from her sleeve. She slapped her hand over the wound.

They froze. Joel stood over them with a gun in one hand and a cord in the other.

“You could have shot me?” Elaine’s lip puffed out.