Page 218 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“Maybe you should have Cooper. If you’d just been a good girl and given Mitchell what he wanted you wouldn’t be in this mess right now.”

“You really are an entitled prick aren’t you?” She said.

He pointed the gun at her again. “Say that again Cooper.” He stated.

“You think you have some sort of power because you’re pointing a gun is that it?” Maddie snapped. “Well here’s some news for you Holden. You don’t. Even if you kill us now, you still have nothing. You achieve nothing.”

He laughed. “Oh I achieve something.” He said moving the gun to point at Cole. “If I do nothing else but kill this prick then I achieve everything we wanted.”

“Go on then.” Cole snarled. “Only you don’t have the balls to do it. You’re full of shit. Standing here, forcing us to listen to your drivel, if you’re going to kill us get on with it. You’re boring us.”

Holden snorted. “There it is again, that arrogant Black attitude. You think everyone is here for your entertainment, your amusement.” He glanced at Maddie. “Well I guess Cooper is. I’m sure she was very entertaining, isn’t that right Cooper?”

“Fuck off.” Maddie snarled.

He grinned. “How about we give them some entertainment eh? A last show of sorts before the Black boys say night night forever?” He straddled her, one hand pointing the gun in her face and the other running up her body.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” She snarled jerking away but his legs pinned her down so all she could do was struggle as he groped her.

“You fucking dare.” Cole growled.

“What’s the matter Cole?” Holden asked. “Don’t like when someone takes something of yours for a change?”

Maddie kicked out and his hand wrapped around her throat squeezing tight enough to restrict her breathing.

“I could strangle her right here and there’s fuck all either of you can do about it.” Holden stated.

“You really think that one gun is going to keep us back?” Brandon asked.

“Go on then. You want to play hero?” Holden replied. “Try it. See who’s quicker, you or the bullet.”

“Let’s see shall we?” Maddie gasped grabbing the gun from where she’d hidden in under her body and pulled the trigger before he even registered the movement. The shot rang out, loud, echoing against the trees and Holden fell back.

Maddie held the gun up, still pointed. Holden lifted his own gun, snarling and she shot again, this time right between his eyes. He fell back, blood spurting everywhere and she scooted away on the gravel from him.

Cole sprang up to her while Brandon moved to check he was dead.

“You okay?” Cole asked and she nodded still staring at the man she’d just shot.

“I know I said I wanted a better proposal but you didn’t have to add so much drama.” She said and he laughed.

“He’s dead.” Brandon stated kicking Holden’s body. “Fucking prick.”

“Good fucking riddance.” Cole replied. His arm was wrapped around Maddie. He’d expected her to be shaking, to be acting like she was scared, to be showing that she’d just been in fear of her life, but she seemed cool, collected, calm even. Same tough Maddie, he thought.

“Let me take that.” Brandon said holding his hand for the pistol still in Maddie’s hand.

“Oh.” She said blinking, putting the safety on and passing it to him. “Why give it to me when you could have shot him?”

“I think we all agree you’re the better shot.” Brandon said. “I wasn’t going to let my pride get us all killed.”

“Maddie the assassin.” Cole said and she rolled her eyes.

“You did good Maddie.” Brandon said pulling his phone out.

“Who are you calling?” She asked.

“Andy Jackson. We’re gonna need his team here before the local police arrive.”

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