Page 27 of Xavier

The all too familiar sound of a gun firing echoes through the air.

My heart leaps in my chest as I fling the door open and run toward the restaurant’s back door.

Going in through the front door isn’t safe. They could be sitting there waiting for someone like me to come inside.

I’ll get in through the back door one way or another, even if I have to pry the board off with my bare hands.

If someone hurt Brianna, there will be hell to pay.

Chapter Seven

BRIANNA

There are plenty of moments in life where you wish for time to stand still, but being a witness to a cold-blooded murder isn’t one of them.

However, time is moving so slowly right now that even the whooshing in my ears seems to drag on.

The man with the gun walks over to Everett’s lifeless body and nudges it with the toe of his boot before tucking the gun back into the waistband of his pants.

With a quick glance at the taller man, he bends down and pats Everett’s jacket, looking for the treasure.

He pats the same pocket three, four, five times before digging inside and pulling out a tiny box. After tucking it inside his own jacket pocket, he stands and rights himself.

“Fucking liar. I hate liars.” He kicks Everett’s lifeless body over and over again.

The taller man barks out, “Let’s go. The cops will be here soon. Everett probably tripped the alarm.”

Without another glance at Everett, the killer flees from the restaurant with the accomplice on his heels.

When I’m sure they are gone and not coming back, I let out a shaky breath.

What the hell was in the box? Did Everett get that from the office?

Still hidden under the corner booth, I dial Uncle Zach’s number.

He immediately answers in a chipper tone. “Are you calling to tell me you ate all the pie?”

My voice is shaky and cracks with emotion. “You need to get here as soon as you can. There’s been a murder.”

“WHAT?” He yells before letting out a string of expletives.

When he composes himself a little, he asks, “Are you hurt? Did someone try to hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine, but hurry, please.” I hold in a sob that’s threatening to break loose as I beg him to get here.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Hang tight, kiddo.”

He hangs up the phone and reality sets in.

I’m alone in a boarded up restaurant with a dead body bleeding all over the floor as a hurricane draws closer. There’s a killer on the loose and another person who tried to stalk me.

What has my life turned into? Why is everything happening to me all at once?

I’m about ready to crawl out from under the booth when heavy footsteps approach the front door.

There’s no way that is Uncle Zach. He couldn’t get here that fast, even if he was in the area.

Have the killers come back to dispose of Everett’s body or torch the place to get rid of the evidence?

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