Page 212 of Psycho

I was rendered speechless, and had Roman not pushed me back, I would have stayed frozen on the spot.

“Stay here and don’t come out unless I say otherwise, okay?” Roman said.

He waited until I nodded before he moved away from the wall.

Gunshots rang out, and I crouched down, covering my ears with my hands, my heart racing wildly in my chest.

Fuck, but what was I supposed to do now?

The roar of an engine caught my attention then, and though I fucking hoped it was men from the King’s Men, my hope was dashed when I heard Dominic let out a string of expletive words.

I opened my eyes and took in the scene as at least ten more men entered. Now Roman and Dominic were outnumbered.

Roman looked back at me with horror-filled eyes, and for a moment, it was as if all the noise had dropped away, and nothing mattered but the look in his eyes.

Then he ran toward me, mouthing something I didn’t hear.

A ringing started in my ears, and vaguely, I thought this must be what shock felt like.

Then Roman came up to me, and the noise came back on as more gunshots rang out.

He pushed something hard into my hand. I looked down to see the gun he had been using.

“Run,” he said, pointing to the opposite side of the alleyway, opening to the other side of the block.

I shook my head, and Roman shook me.

“Listen to me, Lainey. You have to run and don’t look back. Any fucker chases you, and you shoot without hesitation. Got me?”

I opened my mouth to tell him I couldn’t do it when a bullet flew past us and hit the wall next to me.

I cried out as more tears streamed down my face.

He shook me again to get my attention.

“Got me?”

“G-Got you.”

He gently shoved me away. “Go, Lainey.”

I hesitated. I couldn’t just leave Dominic and Roman.

Roman’s eyes hardened, and he said firmly, “Go. Or Micah is going to be pissed at both of us.”

I turned and headed to the mouth of the alley.

Turning around, I could see both Dominic and Roman had taken cover behind a wall, shooting at the other men.

Bodies littered the ground, and the scent of blood teased my nostrils.

Dominic caught my eyes and made a hand motion for me to leave.

I cried harder as I left, wiping my eyes and hoping to clear my vision.

I headed left as soon as I got out of the alley, hoping I had made the right choice, but after running for a few minutes and not seeing anyone, I wasn’t sure if I had.

And even if I saw someone, what was I supposed to say?

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