Beautiful Outlaw by Emily Minton
44295, 44295, 44295
Shay
I wake in pain, agony so severe that it nearly takes my breath away. Fighting to shake off the darkness, I slowly open my eyes. Surprisingly, I find myself in Bowie’s house, lying on the bed in Tin-Man’s room. The smell of marijuana and stale beer causes my stomach to flip flop.
I try to roll to my side, but my side feels as if it has a knife lodged deeply in it. With each breath I take, it slices further into me. I take a deep breath, trying to work up the courage to move again. Before I can try, voices from the other room stop me. “Is she still out cold?”
“Yeah, the bitch fought like a wildcat.”
My brain is too foggy to make out who’s talking, but I focus on what is being said. “Whose fuckin’ idea was it for us to wait here?”
“Cash thought it would be funny for us to hold the little bitch at Bowie’s house. A little retribution for taking over the club,” says a female voice with an evil laugh. It can only be Tag’s mother’s, so that means the other voice probably belongs to Red.
The reminder that Bowie’s own father is behind this causes my pulse to quicken. I knew that he hated his son the moment I laid eyes on him, but I didn’t realize how truly evil he is. Even after everything that Bowie has told me, a small part of me couldn’t believe a father would want to hurt his own son.
“I still think that it’s a stupid idea, holding her at Bowie’s house.”
“He’ll be looking everywhere else. He’ll never think to come here,” she says with a laugh that sends chills down my spine.
The conversation goes on, but I only half listen as I climb from the bed. Looking around the room, a pistol resting on Tin’s dresser draws my attention. Memories of my brother teaching me to fire a gun run through my mind. For the first time in my life, I appreciate Jeremy’s lessons. He spent hours teaching me to handle a weapon with care.
With one hand pressing firmly against the ache in my side, I walk toward the dresser. Picking the gun up, I check if it’s loaded. When I see the bullets, I let out a relieved breath. Clicking off the safety, I turn toward the opened door. One of Jeremy’s rules keeps pushing itself to the forefront. Never pick up a gun unless you’re willing to use it. Right now, I’m more than willing.
When I reach the hallway, I look toward the kitchen. I can still hear them talking, but they’re nowhere in sight. I start to take a step out of the room when Red’s voice stops me in my tracks. “When’s the dick gonna get here? I want to deliver her ass to him and hit the road. If Bowie shows up, we’re all dead.”
“You’re dead anyway. Do you really think that Cash is gonna keep you by his side after you turned on Bowie?”
After a moment of silence, he finally replies, “I guess you think the fact you suck his dick will keep you safe?”
She doesn’t answer his question. Instead, she finally tells him what he wanted to know in the first place. “Her husband should be here any minute. As soon as he takes her, we can split the money and hide until Bowie and Cash kill each other.”
I spend the next few minutes listening to them plan to double-cross Cash, before finally stepping out into the hallway. The weight of the pistol in my hand causes my body to shake. I know if I go in there, I’m going to have to use it. If I’m lucky, I will end the day killing two people. If not, I will end up dead. Either way, I’ll leave this house a different person.
Knowing there isn’t a different choice, I take a step forward while raising the gun. A barely set my foot down before the sound of a car reaches my ear. “He’s here. Go get the bitch. Let’s get this shit done.”
A second later, a door slams, marking Red’s exit, and Domino walks into the kitchen. She turns to the hall and nearly trips when she sees me standing there with a gun in my hand. I hold it steady on her, trying to force myself to pull the trigger. I can’t. I just can’t take another person’s life. My mind races as my heart pounds in my chest.
If I don’t do this, I will be back in Marcus’ hands. I could handle that, if only I knew that everyone I cared about would be okay. No one is safe, though. I know this deep in my soul. Bowie knows he is in danger from his father, but he doesn’t know about Red. I have to stay alive and make sure he knows that he’s being betrayed.
She immediately starts to walk backwards, but she stops when she sees me hesitate. A cruel smile plays on her lips. “You won’t shoot me. You don’t have it in you.”
Her words shake me from my momentary stupor. Ignoring her taunt, I try to focus on a spot on her shoulder. I may not be able to take her life, but I could wound her bad enough that I would be able to get away. Taking aim, I squeeze the trigger.
She jumps away at the last second, taking the shot in her chest instead of the shoulder. As soon as she hits the ground, I take off running, hoping to get out the back door before Red and Marcus make it into the house. Luck isn’t with me. Before I can even make it to the kitchen, the front door slams open and I can hear footsteps rushing my way. I turn and run down the hallway, not sure of where I am going.
My first instinct is to go to my and Bowie’s room, barricade the door, and wait for Bowie to show up. Just as I reach the stairs, I see the door to the basement. My conversation with Tag runs through my mind- go to the safe room if anything happens. Changing directions, I jerk the door open and race down the steps. I can hear them running behind me, but I don’t take time to look back. Instead, I rush to the safe room. 44295, 44295, 44295, I chant as I push the numbers in.
As soon as I hear the clicking sound, I push the door open and step inside. Slamming it behind me, I slam my hand against the red button. The word ARMED flashes across the screen, just before pounding sounds at the door. A second later Red shouts, “Fuck!”