Page 117 of Ozzie

I always did envy his relationship with his parents. They actually seemed to care about him and let him make his own choices. At least, that was what I thought. His pushing this business issue makes me wonder.

“Everything between us was good, wasn’t it? I mean, everyone thought we were perfect together. I really trusted you, but then you had to ruin it by leaving. You didn’t even have the decency to talk to me or leave a note.” John sniffles.

Wait, he isn’t actually crying like I ruined things, is he?

“You think I ruined things? You’re either dumb or delusional.”

He glares at me. Nope, not crying. Before he can interrupt, I push through.

“You ruined everything when you hit me. Why did you wait until I told you I loved you?”

His smile drops. “Well, once you loved me, I had tomake sure you stayed. That you understood we’re meant to be together. It’s how my parents get along. And it works for them.”

Did I hear him right? Is his dad an abuser too? His mom always seems happy. But that could be an act she puts on.

“Are you saying your dad hurts your mom?”

He steps closer, and I step back.

“I’m not here to discuss my parents. I’m here for you. We are meant to be together. Marry me, Piper.”

“No, I won’t marry you. John, you shot me, sued me, and kidnapped me. That is not behavior you can justify because you think we’re meant to be together. That’s the behavior of a bad person. So no, I won’t be going anywhere with you.” I glance over my shoulder, wondering why the guys aren’t out here yet.

“They won’t be getting out of there any time soon,” John says. “You see, before I came in, I checked for other exits. I found one in the back.”

I close my eyes. “It had a chain and lock too?”

He laughs. “No, that would have been nice. I found a two-by-four on the side of the building and put it through the double door handles. Trust me, no one is getting out of that building.”

The guys are locked in? Is John here alone? He wouldn’t hurt them, would he? No, he only wants me to go with him.

I turn back, and he’s staring at me.

“Piper, I really didn’t want to do this. I had hoped you would see things my way. But you left me no choice.” Hepresses on something inside his jacket, and it makes a beep sound.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

He opens his coat to reveal he has a bomb duct taped to his chest. A timer is counting down. “Less than five minutes. That’s how long you have to change your mind.”

This doesn’t make any sense. “If I don’t, you’ll kill yourself?”

He shakes his head. “No, I’ll run to the church door and cause the entire building to go up. And anyone inside.”

John is capable of some bad things, but I wouldn’t have guessed murder was on that list.

“You wouldn’t!” I yell.

He shrugs. “Well, you have four minutes to choose.”

There is only one thing I can do: lure him away. The farther he is from the church, the less likely he’ll run there in time. And if I have to, I’ll lie and tell him I’ll go with him. But at this point, I don’t trust him. If he takes the bomb off and throws it at the church, it could still possibly kill the two men I love the most in this world.

I walk past him toward a large headstone and stop. He steps up to me.

“Three minutes,” he says.

I continue to walk farther from the church. When I sense he isn’t following me, I turn back. “If I say yes, you’ll turn that off?” I point at the bomb.

He laughs. “Will you say yes? Or are you going to continue to try to get me farther from that building?” He points back at the church.

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