Page 96 of Mountain Defender

He grimaces. “Sometimes, it’s not enough.” A pause, and then more firmly, “Put the gun down. Now. Before someone gets hurt.”

I know he’s trying to get close enough to disarm her. But he won’t dare with the gun pointed at me.

“I can’t let it go!” Melissa spins, now aiming the gun at Gage. “Fine. I won’t kill her. But you! It’s the only way!”

She’s crying now, and despite the heart-pounding fear, I can’t help feeling sorry for her.

“Melissa. This won’t bring Vince back.” Now he’s eight feet. Six.

Should I tackle her? But the gun is pointed at Gage. What if it goes off?

Now he’s almost an arm’s length away. And the gun is aimed dangerously close to his heart.

Oh, God.

What if?—

I can’t lose him.

I can’t.

“This needs to end,” Gage says. “Put down the gun.”

“I can’t!” Melissa’s arm flies up. “I need… I need…”

Then.

In a blur, Gage moves.

He lunges.

His arm snaps out.

One leg makes a quick sweeping motion.

Melissa shrieks, “No! No! I want Vince!”

The gun goes off.

Everything stops.

My heart.

My lungs.

Suffocating terror closes in.

Gage and Melissa are on the floor in a twisted tumble of limbs. She’s sobbing, “It’s not right, it’s not fair, it’s not right.”

Then, on the hardwood planks, a splash of red.

Gage’s blood?

No.

NO.

I can’t move. Can’t speak.

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