Page 181 of Puck Me Secretly

He put the gun against my cheek. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I swear to god.”

He walked to the island and opened and shut drawers. He pulled out a knife. I whimpered, but he only used the knife to slice the cables.

My shoulders were so numb I almost couldn’t use my hands. He yanked me to my feet.

“You’re going to get rid of them.”

He pushed me towards the front door. “And if you don’t, they will die and it’ll be your fault.”

The door chimed again.

He pushed the gun up against my chin. “I’ll be right here behind you. So play this smart.”

I wiped the tears off my cheeks and then Baxter, who hid himself behind the door, opened it.

A guy stood there with a pizza box. “Got your delivery.”

“There must be a mistake. I didn’t order a pizza.”

“Is this 2435 Beach Road?”

I swallowed. “That is my address, but I didn’t order a pizza.”

The man frowned. “Damn, that is the second time they’ve gotten the address mixed up. We have a new girl working the phones and I swear she’s dyslexic.”

“That’s okay,” I stepped back to shut the door. “Have a good night.”

“Wait, could you do me a favor? My cell phone died. Could you call them and confirm where this pizza is supposed to go?”

“I’m busy right now.”

“It won’t take a minute. Please? Could you do me a solid?”

Baxter stepped into view. “My wife said she’s busy. So, piss off before I call your shop and make a complaint to the owner.”

“Well, do you guys want a pizza?” The guy smiled with a shrug. “By the time I get back it’ll be cold and they’ll just toss it. So, you can have it for free.”

Baxter stared at the box. “What kind is it?”

The guy lifted the box lid and pulled out a gun which he pointed at Baxter’s forehead. “It’s called get the fuck on your knees, motherfucker.”

“What the hell?” Baxter staggered back, letting go of me.

Complete pandemonium broke out. Men in black SWAT uniforms came from all directions of the house. From the kitchen, the living room, down the stairs. They screamed and pointed huge guns at Baxter. More men in black ducked in and out of rooms, pointing their big guns, shouting back and forth to each other.

“Clear.”

“Clear.”

“Clear.”

I watched as they flipped Baxter over onto his stomach. The pizza guy knelt on his back and patted him down, removing the gun from his waistband.

“I didn’t do nothing,” Baxter screamed. “She begged me for a date. She’s been begging me to fuck her since the day she met me.”

“Shut up, asshole,” one of the scary guys in black kicked him.

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