Page 48 of Bishop

“The man who kidnapped me…it's his mother…”

An audible gasp filled the room as Gayle sat up and reached for her gun that lay nearby. Not even wasting a moment, I snatched Zane’s gun from him and shot Gayle dead between her eyes. Her body slumped to the ground like a dirty sack of potatoes.

This time, I knew she was dead.

“Holy shit!” He repeated as I handed the gun back to him. “How’d know?”

Taking a deep breath, letting the adrenaline rush over me.

“Nobody that crazy could die just once…”

“Let’s get you out of here…the cops are going to have a shit ton of questions for you. I knew something was wrong, so I called them and asked them to come check on you when you didn’t answer my calls.”

Slowly, the two of us walked out of the dining room and into the rain. I’d never been so happy to get my hair wet in my life. I made a note to myself that I would call and set up an appointment with my therapist.

Ryan Lavery wouldn’t occupy one more corner of my mind.

Zane never left my side, even hours later after the cops questioned the hell out of me.

On our way back into NOLA, wrapped in his old Saints hoodie, I glanced over at him as he focused on the road.

“Zane Bishop?”

He looked over that stupid smirk on his face that I’d grown accustomed to. “Yeah, Stank?”

“I think you should know…”

“Know what?”

“I actually kind of love you and that stupid name now.”

EPILOGUE

EMMY

Afew months later…

The sound of jingle bells and The Temptations Christmas album filled the air as I opened gifts with my family.My cellphone gave a few vibrations and I saw Zane’s name flash on the screen.

Can’t wait to see you tonight,the text read.

Me either. I can’t wait to give you your present,I sent back to him as laughter broke out around me.

My Uncle Joe, and my brothers Benny and Jeff were cracking jokes on each other about something that had happened years prior.

Slowly, I got up from the table and headed into the kitchen to fix another plate of food.

“Girl you are starting to fill out some,” my mama commented from where she stood at the stove.

“Mama, leave Emerald alone,” Diamond walked in behind me. “Besides, y'all know who the thickest one in this family is.”

I rolled my eyes playfully because Diamond’s ass was the size of Houston.

“So what’s this I hear about you going to a Christmas dance at a motorcycle club?” Mama Kay asked.

I chuckled because if my mom saw the leather outfit I was wearing to this party she’d lock me in her bedroom and never let me out. “The Sinners are doing a toy drive and a Christmas party. Nothing too fancy.”

“So you and Zane are getting really serious, huh?” Diamond asked.

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