Page 102 of Head Over Feels
“Rightfront pocket.”
“Pullthem out slowly.”
Malcolmmade a big show of transferring his cane to his left hand and having to steady himself before he stuck two fingers into his right front pocket and pulled out the keys.
Shawnsaid. “Staythere just like that.Nomoving.”Heglanced quickly at the rest of us, then back atMalcolm.Hisgun hand was starting to tremble.Fuck.
Fine, here went nothing. “Um, hey.WhatifIlead everyone out, single file along the wall.You’llsee each of us leave without having to take your eyes offMalcolm.”
Meaningwe’d all have to walk behindMalcolmto get to the door.Rightpast whereShawnwas pointing the gun.Butit was the best option to keepShawnfrom panicking.
Malcolmgrunted but covered it by adjusting his grip on his cane.Toobad.Hedidn’t get to complain.Thiswas his idea after all.
Shawnconsidered it, then jerked his head toward the door. “Fine.Go.Butslowly.Handson top of your heads.Nofunny business.”
Weall put our hands on our heads.Iwalked to the door.WhenIglanced down,IsawMalcolm’sphone was still on an open line to the 911 dispatcher.
“Um,Ineed to use one of my hands to open the door,”Icalled toShawn.
“Fine, fine.Geton with it.”Islowly lowered my right hand and opened the door.Ileft it ajar afterIpassed through.
CarlosandArtie, along with a couple of patrol officers, were plastered against the wall to the left, guns held high and wearing bulletproof vests.Artieheld his finger to his lips then pointed at the front doors, soIkept walking out through the empty restaurant, getting faster and faster asIneared the exit.Theother guys were right behind me.
Whenwe came outside,Foster,Amyand a tall older guy with huge shoulders gestured for us to head toward some ambulances at the edge of the parking lot.
Istopped and grabbedAmy’sarm. “Havey’all been listening?”
“Yep, we heardMalcolmconvince the guy to let all of you go.”
Isaid, “I’mpretty sure that’s not the whole plan.”
ON DISCORD PRIVATE MESSAGES
ProfXMay9, 1:47am
Quinnsays you’ll be free in a few hours!Ilove you, you know.I’mgoing to tell you to your face as soon asIsee you, butIcouldn’t wait.I’mcounting the minutes untilIcan hold you again.
CHAPTER27
MALCOLM
JUNE
Itwas a miracleIhadn’t gone full fetal position as soon asShawnaimed his gun at me.Don’tget me wrong,Iwas sweating uncontrollably and having to pace my breathing to keep from hyperventilating.ButFelixbeing in danger was keeping me present and functional.
LaterI’dcurl up with a couple of sleeping pills and a shot of tequila.OrmaybeFelixwould be willing to use his luscious body to distract me.
Butright nowIneeded to take thisShawnfucker down.He’dtried to killFelixonce and he wouldn’t get another chance.
Myshakiness seemed to be givingShawnthe impressionIwas afraid of him, which was all to the good.
Afterthe other guys followedFelixout of the room,Iremained whereIwas, waiting forShawnto decide how he was going to position me to shield himself as we went outside.Heended up choosing the classic hostage-in-front-with-a-gun-to-his-head option.Thisworked well for him because he was a few inches shorter than me, so no one would be able to get a clear head shot.
Butfor me it was difficult to move withShawncrowding my back and trying to hurry me along.Iwas exaggerating how much weightIput on my cane, but it wasn’t likeIcould walk without it.Weleft the party room andIfeltShawn’sbody tense up when he clockedCarlosandArtie, backed by two patrol officers, standing between us and the exit door.
“Backthe fuck up, orI’llblow his head off!”Shawnblustered.Iwas fairly sure he was narcissistic enough not to want to die tonight, butIcould always be wrong.
Allthe cops holstered their weapons and held their hands out soShawncould see they weren’t going to shoot him.Iimagined there’d be snipers positioned as we left the building, but ifShawnkept his gun on me, they wouldn’t fire due to the risk he’d squeeze the trigger as he died.
