AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fear clouds Athena’s face, and she glances at Shannon then back to me. “You’re right.”
Shannon throws her hands in the air. “It’s less than a fifteen-minute drive. We’ll be in and out. I promise we’ll be safe.”
Shaking my head, I stare into Athena’s eyes. “No.”
Shannon walks up to me, hands on hips. “If it will make you feel better, I have you on speed dial. I’ll call if anything goes wrong. But nothing will. Your girlissafe with me.”
Todd clears his throat. “Shannon, there are things you don’t know.”
Shannon flicks out a hand. “Give me your gun.”
“W-what? No!”
“I have a permit to carry.”
“Yes, at home, not here in LA,” counters Todd.
Shannon quirks an eyebrow at Todd. “Do you have a permit to carry here?”
“I’m in law enforcement.”
“So, that’s a no then?”
Athena gets between them. “It’s okay, I’ll stay. You go.”
Shannon and her exchange a look, and my heart breaks. This is no way to live, I can’t hide Athena from the world forever.
“Give Shannon your gun.”
“Are you serious?”
“They’ll be back in less than thirty minutes, there will be plenty of people around. They should be fine. The gun will ensure theyarefine. I’m assuming Shannon can shoot?”
Shannon giggles. “I can shoot the stripes off a raccoon at a hundred paces.”
Todd eyes both of us, then reluctantly hands over his gun.
“Thank you,” says Shannon as she slips it into her purse.
“The safety is on.”
She gives him a withering look. “I know.”
Shannon turns, links her arm with Athena’s and pulls her outside.
“You worried?” I ask Todd.
“Nah, she’s a better shot than me. Why’d you let them go.”
“I don’t want Athena scared all the time.” Todd tilts his head to the side. “How did she find my keys?”
Todd sits at the kitchen island. “It’s not like you hid them very well.”
“They’re behind a painting in the garage.”
Todd barks out a laugh. “Yeah, it’s the only painting in the garage and stands out like a sore thumb. You might as well have painted a big arrow on the wall that said, ‘Look here.’ Shannon is an excellent driver. They’ll be fine.”
With my hands on my hips, I swivel to look at Todd. I’m so grateful he and Shannon are here, especially with the threat of the Rivera family looming over us.
