Page 87 of Nine

I can see her tossing cash into a plastic bag. I squirm to get loose.

He grabs me by the hair and pushes me down to the ground. I can feel the barrel of the shotgun against the back of my head. I start to cry. I don’t want Mya to see me die this way. I lift my head up to look at Trig. His chest is rising and falling fast, and his eyes are dark.

“I love you,” I mouth.

Trig takes Mya close to him, and whispers something in her ear.

“I don’t see you moving fast enough,” the robber yells over to the teller.

Right in that small time frame, Trig jumps up and comes running full speed at the robber. I see Mya take off toward a desk for cover. Trig grabs the shotgun and pushes the base of it hard into the guy’s face a few times. The gun drops and slides next to me. Trig wrestles with the man until both of them are on the floor. I can see fists flying and elbows dropping. I pick up the shotgun and stand up. I walk over to them and cock the gun. Trig has his hand around the man’s throat, cutting off his air supply. He’s choking and gagging and I just know Trig is seeing red. He’ll kill the guy. The sound makes both of them look up. I keep my eyes targeted in on the man.

“We are animals, and we will fuck you up. You just messed with the wrong pride,” I say.

Trig delivers one last punch and knocks the guy clean out.

Tellers come out from behind the glass, and the other employees slowly rise up from the floor. I see a few of them dash over to the man who was shot. They start checking for a pulse, and everyone whips out their cell phones.

“Cops are already on their way. Is everybody okay?” the branch manager asks.

Trig stands up. His knuckles are bloody and he’s breathing hard.

“I’m good,” I reply. I lean over to catch my breath.

Trig walks over and grabs my arm. He pulls me up.

“Are you alright? You look a little pale.”

“I’m just dizzy. That’s all.”

“Go sit down.”

He walks me over and we both take a seat. I turn and look at him.

“That was pretty bad-ass. You are one tough photographer.”

“I could say the same for you. You got all gangster out there.”

He puts his bloody hand on top of mine. I look around.

“Where’s Mya?” I ask with panic. I go to stand, but Trig stops me.

“Relax. She’s fine. I just saw a bank teller take her back to pee. I think it’s the very least they can do after what happened.”

We hear sirens and see police lights. Trig stands up and looks over at the robber on the floor.

“We will fuck you up,” he mimics me. “You’re hardcore, ya know that?”

I smile as he turns and walks toward the police that are running in with their guns drawn.

***

I turn off the light in Mya’s room. She’s tucked safely in her bed. The doors and windows are locked, and I can’t help but think about the bank robbery today. Mya’s eyes are just about to close as she yawns. I walk over to her bed and sit down.

“What did Daddy say to you at the bank in your ear?”

“He said that fear is the enemy and not to be scared. He told me he loved me and that I needed to run and hide where no one could see me, and then he said go.”

I take a deep breath.

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