Page 151 of Overcast

Flying off the front porch, I dash through the yard and into the woods, trying to shove my worries about Stormi aside.

If I can get to them first, they’ll never make it off Reagan’s property.

I don’t care if there is an army out there waiting, they’ll all be slaughtered before they lay eyes on what’s mine.

The summary of the gorey story is as follows:

I killed the first fucker that was the lookout. He obviously sucked at it because there I was, stepping behind him and slitting his throat in one clean slice.

The second was a burly asshole who appeared like coffee and donuts were his food group of choice. He vibed me as an old cop that decided the payroll wasn’t enough on the good side, so he turned the tables on a new career.

He got shanked in the throat. His sharp gasp got his neck snapped next.

Douchebag number three was a kid, probably a recruit. I wanted him alive. The newbies were always the fucking easy ones to get information out of. So he got choked out so that I could come get him later.

Then it gets complicated.

Ass clown number four and five dart out of Reagan’s house a little faster than planned, and when they did the “deer in headlights” thing when I came into view, I reacted.

My first shot missed the guy on the right from the lack of light—because why would the moon cooperate—and I took cover behind Wade’s Mercedes Benz.

They returned fire, which brought out dickhead number six.

Three SUVs with only two dudes in each—something didn’t feel right. And my apprehension prompted me back to Stormi and how only a thicket of trees and brush kept anyone from taking her from me.

A full round of bullets smash through the glass of Wade’s ride—the bullet holes are going to make him look so badass when he goes into the office—as I make my way towards the hood.

As they focus their aim on the trunk where I disappeared behind, gunshots are going to get the attention of anyone else nearby. Anyone who might have not stayed around Reagan’s house and proceed en route to mine.

Since I have nothing to lose, because ass clowns number four and five are wasting good ammo on Wade’s paint job, I get the perfect vantage point and take out both in three shots.

Old man number six, his aim blows balls, so he’s a one-shot stop and then crickets.

My eyes trail to the woods leading home, and I impatiently wait. If there is anyone in there, they’re going to come out and head this way towards their buddies, but my ass has to move.

Reaching the side of the house, I get within the edge of the wood line and bide my time, praying to anything higher than this situation that no one has breached the inside of my house.

And just when I’m about to move because I can’t take the unknown any longer, sure shit, two figures cautiously break from the darkness.

I circle around to get behind them, watching my step to not snap any sticks or branches as they cautiously walk to their fallen buddies. One points for the other to check the side of the house while scoping the area for me, giving me only a small window to make my next move. When in range, I chuck my blade into the bigger guy’s back and barrel-run into the other.

Knocking him to the ground, I reach around for my Glock and yank on the trigger towards the dude I literally just backstabbed. The bitch underneath me is smaller, easier to carry, and became my newest member of my torture games.

Fast forward to now, and I’d rather be back to the vortex of adrenaline, worry, rage, and intent focus from last night instead of catching the fear in Stormi’s blue eyes as she slants her head up to me.

And the fucked up part...is that I want to fuck her right now as she asks me what I did.

I did it for her.

I did it for my sister and her family.

I did it for me so that I knew that when the time came, Stormi would be safe.

Because who the hell am I kidding?

I’m making this whole thing a mess in my head. I could take last night and file it away to keep forever, but I could never keep her. No matter how brightly she shined, it’d never be enough to keep my darkness well lit for her to find her way.

For her to be happy and safe.

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