Page 84 of Tactical Revival

“Sure.” I clear my throat as emotion claws at me. “You’re really going to get help?”

He nods. “Matty deserves better. The alcohol changed me. The way I saw things, the way I saw myself, I know I can’t break the addiction alone. I spoke with Pastor Redding this morning, and he’s going to come sit with me once a week so we can work past the blocks I have when it comes to my faith, and hopefully, with God’s help, I’ll be able to be the father I should have been from the beginning.”

I smile even as tears fill my eyes. There’s a glimpse of the teenager I’d fallen so hard for, a small shred of hope beneath the weight of despair he’s carried ever since those two pink lines showed up on that pregnancy test. Even before then, really. “That’s great, Chad.”

He smiles. “I hope that—” A gunshot rings out, and Chad stops speaking, his eyes going wide.

I don’t even have time to scream before blood is pooling on the front of his shirt, and he stumbles forward.

I rush for him. “Chad!”

Standing behind him is someone in a mask, their gun held straight out.

“Run,” Chad urges. He tries to stay standing but falls, I manage to slow his fall, cradling him as best I can as we sink to the floor.

“There are cameras,” I tell the person as they move further inside. “They’re monitored.”

“Get up.” The voice is disguised with some kind of device, making the person sound even more menacing. They aim the weapon at Chad again. “Or I’ll finish him now.”

I get to my feet. “Okay. Please, no.”

“Get out and get into my car.”

“Margot, don’t.” Chad grips my ankle. He tries to get up again, but falls down. He’s pale, too pale, his eyes rolling back into his head.

Blood pools on the floor beneath him, and I know he doesn’t have long. So I kneel and remove his hand from my ankle. “Get Jaxson,” I whisper, then stand and pull away. The masked man grips my arm, and I feel the pressure of a weapon against my back.

“You try to fight and I put a bullet in you now, understand?”

“Yes,” I choke out.

“Good girl.”

CHAPTER 23

Jaxson

For what is probably the tenth time in the last five minutes, I look down at my phone. Margot still hasn’t texted me back. Which, given the workload she told me about earlier today, I’m not overly surprised about. She wanted to spend the morning going over the B&B’s financials, trying to come up with a plan for after Lance’s buddy Everett gives her a quote.

I’ve already decided that I’m going to help. Even if she won’t accept money, I plan to lend a hand on labor so she can at least save something.

“You look like a man with a lot on his mind.” Lanetti sets a mug of coffee in front of me, then takes a seat on her couch and smiles.

“Somewhat.”

“More about your date tonight?” she asks. Her tone isn’t joyful, though, and based on the look she gave me when I was talking to Michael on the phone earlier, I decided to keep Margot out of our conversations.

It’s clear Lanetti has feelings for me, and I’m not entirely sure how to explain to her that I’m not interested in her that way. At least not without hurting her feelings.

“Somewhat,” I reply.

“No need to be nervous, any woman would be lucky to have dinner with you.”

“Thanks.” I try not to look too uncomfortable as I check my phone yet again. Why hasn’t she texted back?

“Do you like to fish?” Lanetti asks.

“Sometimes,” I reply. “Though admittedly it’s more about the quiet than the actual fishing.”

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