Page 75 of To Keep A Wolf
Jadick’s face flushes red.
He looks from his messenger to me and then to my mother.
Clearly, he knows the witch is dead. I wonder if he knows Marilyn is the one who killed her.
“You think you’ve won, but you’ve only—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” My mother raises the gun. “You talk too damn much.” She points the barrel at Jadick and fires.
I tense, helpless to stop my mother’s reckless act, one that will surely plunge this scene into chaos—and worse, cost lives.But as she fires the gun, she pulls the barrel up sharply. The bullet unleashes itself on a trajectory that soars high over our heads. Less than a second later, one of the guards standing on the rooftop is blown backward off his feet as the bullet tears through his skull.
No more darts then.
The other guards react, screaming and attacking the Jades.
Unaffected, my mother fires again.
I don’t get a chance to see who she hits before Levi grabs my arm, tugging me urgently and yelling about taking cover. I glance at my mom, who’s re-aiming at another guard. Before she can get a shot off, a guard on the far end of the row is shoved roughly forward until he’s tumbling over the edge of the roof, arms flailing. His body makes a disgusting sound as it hits the concrete walkway below and sticks.The rest of Jadick’s men are screaming at the prisoners, threatening death if they so much as move.
My heart thunders in my chest.
Levi and I backtrack to the SUV where Jadick’s men have abandoned their post to rush into the house at Jadick’s orders.Undoubtedly headed upstairs to gain control over the chaos on the roof. Above me, Jades have begun to get off their knees and fight back even with their hands tied. My gaze catches on two figures, neither guard nor Jade, racing around and cutting the ties on the Jades’ wrists and ankles.
Tripp pauses long enough to salute us with dramatic flair, and then he rejoins my father as they free everyone and battle the guards.
My heart swells.
Across the concrete, Jadick screams for more backup to no one in particular and then rushes for the house, only to pull up short when a second falling guard nearly flattens him. He scrambles backward and then turns sharply, disappearing into the three-car garage behind him.
“Levi,” I start, tugging on his sleeve.
“I see.” He glances back, making sure I’m right behind him before turning his attention back to the garage—and the distance separating us from it.
Scanning our backs, I note movement. Far down at the other end of the drive, two more SUVs pull in. I glance back to my mom, who’s still firing at the guards stupid enough to get close enough to the roof’s edge.
“Mom,” I shout.
Our eyes meet, and I point to the incoming vehicles.
Her expression hardens. “Where’s Jadick?” she asks.
The third garage door begins to lift, and I see her gaze catch on the movement. “Go,” she says.
“What about you?” I ask.
Her eyes burn with intensity as she pops out the empty cartridge and loads another. “I’ll find you,” she says. “Go.”
I don’t tell her goodbye. Or that I love her. Or any of the other thousand things I could say. Hopefully, there will be time later. There has to be.
Levi grabs my hand, and together, we race for the garage.
Inside the garage are three parking bays. The first two are empty. The third holds two small ATVs, each only big enough for one person. The garage door on that side is wide open. A third ATV whines loudly as it races across the lawn beyond where we stand. I catch sight of it just before it disappears over the hill.
Urgency drives me, and I hurry to one of the remaining ATVs, climbing in.
“Mac,” Levi says, but I just grab the three-point harness and buckle myself in.
“Mac,” he says again as I turn the small key and the motor comes to life. He stands over me now, blocking my exit, and I finally look up, an argument ready on my lips.
