Page 114 of Shine: Sins of the Father
Finally, after another tense five minutes, my phone goes off.
RECKLESS: He bailed out of his truck and took to the woods. We tried to follow. Think one of us hit him. We can’t find him.
ME: Flatten all of his tires and get back here.
RECKLESS: Will do.
Two minutes later, I hear their Harleys approaching, and they turn in the drive.
I meet them outside.
Reckless dismounts with a rifle across his lap.
“Found this in the back of his truck. Cody’s got another one. What do you want to do?” Reckless asks.
“We’re sitting ducks here. He could come and flatten the tires on the rental car, and then we’re stuck. I’d go after the son-of-a-bitch and hunt him down if it was just us, but I’m not putting Fiona and Dylan at risk.”
“Okay. We goin’ back where his truck is or backtracking around the lake the other way?”
I glance across the lake. “It’d add an hour or more to our trip.”
“Yeah, but we also don’t know what firepower he has left. We took what we saw in the vehicle.”
“Did you see anything when he bailed?”
“He may have had something strapped to his back. It was hard to tell. He disappeared into the trees so quickly.”
“But you think you hit him?” I ask.
“I thought I heard a sound like he fell after the shot, but there was more rustling, and I’m pretty sure he kept going.”
My brain is spinning, considering options.
“Maybe Cody takes the vehicle and gets Fiona and Dylan out of here, going the long way, and you and I stay and finish this fucker off once and for all,” I suggest.
Reckless nods. “Sounds like a plan.”
I glance at the cabin. “Fiona’s not gonna like it. I promised her I wouldn’t leave her.”
“Then you take the vehicle, get your family to safety. Cody and I can deal with this motherfucker.”
I shake my head. “I can’t ask that of you. This is my mess.”
“Bullshit,” Cody snaps. “I’m not letting you leave Fiona. No way.”
“We’re wasting time. If I didn’t hit the son-of-a-bitch,” Reckless says, “he could be closing in on us right now.”
“You’re right. Fuck, I hate to split up.”
Cody shrugs. “We could all go the long way and just leave his ass here. Get the club and come back up.”
“He’ll be long gone by then. This is my one chance to finish this; otherwise, I’m looking over my shoulder forever, worried he’s going to take my family out.”
“I get that, but—”
“Christ, Reckless. Did I just do exactly what I said I wouldn’t and put my girl and child in danger? It’s my sister all over again.I couldn’t keep her safe, and now I’m endangering Fiona and Dylan.”
“Shine, quit thinking that shit. This guy’s a maniac who needs to be put down like a dog. None of this is your fault.”
