Page 45 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

Glen’s expression morphed into something both menacing and maniacal, “You spoiled, self-righteous little bitch. You think you have it all figured out, don’t you? You don’t know the half of it. None of you do, or just how deep half this town is in bullshit.”

“We do, actually,” Coy warned. “We have a task force, thanks to Owen, making arrests as we speak.”

“Uncle Glen…”

“You’re the Sheriff, Kenzie. Do something. Get us out of here. Don’t you see? Owen is trying to lay this on us because we go too close to his truth.”

“No.” She murmured softly, shaking her head, overwhelmed with emotion. “It’s over. You’re lying.”

“Kenzie…”

“I said no. You don’t get to manipulate me any more than you already have. You were all that I had left, and you tried to have me killed? That was you, behind the attack at the station, wasn’t it?” she said. “It’s all making sense now.”

Glen held up a hand, “Honey, come on now. It’s me. Your Uncle Glen. I’ve been like a second father to you.”

“Because you killed mine. He was working with Owen, wasn’t he? He figured it out, and you had to stop him.”

“Your daddy wasn’t friends with Owen any more than I was,” Glen said. “It was Owen…”

“It was you, Glen.” Kenzie tearfully said, “You know how I know? Besides all the overwhelming evidence? You left the hospital in a gown, and you’re fully dressed in fresh clothing. What kidnapping victim is returned to their home so they can change real quick? You didn’t think that through.”

“My ass was flying out of that thing. He threw clothes at me and…”

“And the jacket. You wore that jacket in the picture with Steele. The one that’s hanging in his office. I thought it was my father, but it was you.”

“Owen is in plenty of pictures with Steele…”

“I sure was. He was ready to flip on you.” Owen said, “But then you probably already know that. That’s why you killed him. Same as everyone else that got too close to the truth and threatened the empire.”

“Glen. It’s over.” Kenzie said. “The only honest thing out of your mouth is that Steele was the one who shot you, but only because he knew you were there to kill him. Stop. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

When Glen laughed, there was something sinister about it, as if the truth swirled in every evil chuckle. “Good luck with that. You won’t get off this property alive, and that task force will never find me. You’re all sitting ducks caught in the crosshairs. You think you have snipers planted on the property? I have more.”

Glen raised his hand and made a signal, prompting red lasers to appear, marking targets on each of them.

Coy mimicked Glen, making a similar gesture and suddenly all of the lasers shifted and it was Glen in their crosshairs.

“Game over, Glen,” Coy said, stepping in front of Kenzie protectively, shielding her from stray bullets and the impending bloodbath.

“Over my… dead… body.” He proclaimed as he whipped his gun in Devyn’s direction, a seething look on his face, and he fired.

Rip rushed to her, pushing her out of the way, but Diesel beat him to her, lunging in the air toward Glen, taking the bullet meant for Devyn. Diesel yelped, writhing in pain.

Amidst pure pandemonium, gunfire erupted, echoing across the space. Glen, unfazed, turned his weapon on everyone in his path — Coy, Nash, Charlotte, Owen, Rip, and even Kenzie. Despite being repeatedly hit by snipers hidden in plain sight, Glen continued firing, inflicting damage until a fatal shot to the head from Coy’s weapon finally stopped him, and he fell to the ground among the sea of bodies he was responsible for.

A bloodbath, indeed.

19

“Oh, those flowers are beautiful,” Dillon said as she carried a tray of food to the table outside, where they were preparing to enjoy a family dinner.

“I thought so, too,” Devyn said, cringing as she sat down, gripping her side.

“Let me help you,” Rip said, taking the flowers and placing them in two vases at the center of the table, his arm in a sling.

“I thought after dinner, I’d take them to the cemetery and do some visiting. One for each grave. Mama and Lucy.” Devyn shared with a weak smile.

“I’ll take you if you’d like.” Rip offered, then handed her the kitten she’d rescued weeks before. “This one wants you. Are you ever going to name it?”

---