Page 30 of Brave as It

I remember standing in the living room with my dad and Diem. Two people who mattered the most to me in the world in that moment. Feeling like I had to choose because we didn’t know at that time what my dad had done, I didn’t understand why Diem wouldn’t let him take us out of there. Her hesitation caused me to pause. That lead to her dad killing my dad by firinga gun shot into a window. All the emotions from my trauma invade and I don’t know how to process anything.

Fight or flight has kicked in. I want to yank Hollis up and flee, but he won’t leave. I’m going to have to fight. My hands may be bound, but my mind, I can think of something. I will think of something.

There is a pop. The gun goes off. Instantly, Maritza cries out in pain as Anna looks in shock. Maritza drops to the bed, her lower abdomen bleeding. Hollis takes off from standing behind Dia rushing to Maritza. His mother yanks him up again with the gun pressed to his head once more. Hollis cries out in fear.

“You two stay right where you are, or I’ll shoot her again and him.”

How in the hell can I get help?

“I’m okay, buddy,” Maritza chokes out grabbing her stomach while trying to calm Hollis. “Just do what your momma says, okay?”

Hollis shakes his head while trying to get out from his mother’s grip that is now around his neck. He kicks back hitting her in the shins, but she doesn’t release him.

“Hollis,” Maritza focuses on the boy. “Remember when it’s a foul ball and the ball is caught, it’s an automatic out. Right now, we hit a foul ball, and your momma caught it. We gotta take this as an out. I’m okay, but I need you to calm down.” She’s gritting her teeth to get the last words out.

“Why?” I ask Anna. “I don’t understand how you came here. I get wanting time with your son. Of all the places you come here, to me?” It’s been plaguing my mind since Dia and Maritza arrived.

I don’t believe in coincidence.

She looks to the ceiling like she’s losing patience. “I have a debt to a man. He said he would clear the debt if I got to you and got you to Key West.”

I look to Dia and then back to Anna. “Me? You came here for me?”

She nods, “I don’t know what makes you worth the headache, but in order to clear my debt I had to get you to Key West. I couldn’t come up with a plan until I got a second call from the man I owe. He said you were a sucker for kids. Since you’re an ol’ lady and my kid is a little Hellion, he said you wouldn’t resist a chance to keep my boy safe, even from me.” Tears begin to roll down her face and I’m in shock that the bitch has any emotions.

“What the hell does anyone want with me?” I ask flabbergasted.

Dia clears her throat. “Why did you leave Haywood’s Landing, Emmalee?” I turn to her. “The truth. Not what you want Diem to think.”

I sigh because I really don’t want to say anything in front of Anna. But we need answers to get out of this.

“I got a call from my mother,” I begin, and Dia’s mouth drops open. “I don’t know how much you know of what my dad and Diem’s dad did. I still don’t even know the truth. Anyway, my mom told me there would be some instructions coming. I needed to follow them precisely or she would be hurt. She said my dad did more than I knew about, and they had her.”

“Who is they?” Dia asks.

“Patrick O’Leary,” Anna answers for me.

“How do you know him?” Dia questions her. “Is that who you owe?”

“I owe one of his guys, yes. And I know her dad stole millions from O’Leary in a money scheme that caught up to him and Thomas Reigns.”

“What else do you know,” Dia continues to interrogate.

I’m rather shocked that Anna is even answering questions since she has all the power here.

Before she can answer though, the door flies open, and Dia lunges her body at me pushing me to the bed and covering me with her body while Maritza rolls off the bed yanking Hollis from his mother and down to the ground with her trying to use her body as a shield.

A pop sounds.

I freeze thinking Anna has fired again as I hear a woman’s scream. Twisting my head, I watch Anna fall to the floor with half of her face blown off. Maritza moves to shield Hollis from seeing it as she moans in agony.

“Buddy, close your eyes,” I hear her say.

Dia is lifted off me with a yelp as she’s brought to her feet by a large man in a button up shirt and dress pants. Before I can sort myself, I’m being lifted in the air by another man holding the gun that just ended Anna Jacoby.

“Time for a road trip,” the man holding me states.

“Wait,” I beg. “Maritza and Hollis and Dia aren’t part of this. Let them go and I’ll go with you and do anything I need to without a fight.”

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