Page 93 of Single Girl Rules: HoHoHo

I brought the binoculars back to my eyes.

Oh shit.

“Battle stations!” I yelled as Isabella took a Tommy gun fromone of her guards and started skiing down the mountain directly towards us. Herguards were right behind her. She must have known exactly where we were from thebackdrop of our picture. All the Christmas decorations in the lobby really wererecognizable. Because they were the best of the best.

Everyone sprung into action.

The Chadwicks flipped couches and coffee tables to hidebehind. They even knocked over a few Christmas trees. Someone grabbed a string oflights and pulled it taut between their hands like they were going to wrap itaround Isabella’s throat.

The Locatellis pulled out riot shields and formed a veryimpressive shield wall.

And Daddy’s guards ran up to the second-floor balcony, usingthe garland-clad railing to steady their rifles as they aimed up the mountain.

Ghostie and Teddybear helped me off the desk. And then theyformed a human shield between me and the entrance.

Ash ran up behind them.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t go with my snowmobile plan?” askedAsh. “Because I’m kind of freaking out right now.”

“It’ll be fine,” I said. “Isabella is gonna get lit up thesecond she’s in range.”I hope.I’d never taken part in a shootoutbefore, so I wasn’t sure exactly how it would go down. But I was feeling prettygood about our chances.

Ash started nervously humming along with the Christmas carol.The music seemed louder now that everyone was focused on the mission. And thetune about Santa was definitely way too cheery for the moment. I swallowed hardand said a silent prayer.Santa. If you really are real. Help us, please. Isabellahas been so naughty. And we’ve all been so good. Ish.

“Sorry I late,” said Slavanka as she skidded to a stop nextto the front desk. She tossed a suitcase on the floor and started fitting metalrods together.

“Is that a rocket launcher?” I asked.

“Yes, yes,” she said as she twisted two tubes together andshoved a green rocket into the end. “Always travel with rocket launcher.” She gotdown on one knee and hoisted it over her shoulder.

“Hold!” I yelled. Isabella was getting closer. But it wasn’ttime to fire yet.

Some of the Chadwicks shifted nervously behind their couchesand Christmas trees.

“Fuck this,” muttered Chad. “I’m outta here.” He got up andsprinted towards the hallway. And then he hit the slippy patch. In a splitsecond, his legs were above his head. He flew through the air, crashed through aglass door, and landed in the hallway.

It was the most amazing fall I’d ever seen. I just hoped I’dlive to tell about it.

I looked back up the mountain. Isabella and her guards weregetting close enough where I no longer needed my binoculars. “Get ready!” Iyelled.

The lobby rang with dozens of little clicks as everyone turnedoff their safeties.

“Aim!”

Everyone raised their weapons towards the glass wall.

Isabella and her guards did the same.

I was about to yell “FIRE!” when something unexpectedhappened.

One of Isabella’s skis hit something and she went fuckingflyingthrough the air. It was even more majestic than Chad’s wipeout.

I wished I could have seen it in slow motion. But it washappening in the fastest motion. She flew and tumbled and rolled and flew alittle more and then finally skidded to a stop.

She was completely motionless in a little heap and one of herlegs was bent at an unnatural angle.

Wow.

Some of her guards skied up next to her. The first one to arriveon the scene pulled his facemask off and vomited at the sight of her leg. Thesecond guard to arrive vomited too, but he’d forgotten to pull down his mask.

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