Page 110 of Broken Halo

My dad notices Ellie creeping away and grabs her. Her scream—spiked with pain and fear—seeps into me.

“Dammit, Ray.” Logan expels.

“I’m going in,” I whisper into the phone.

“Fuck! Wait—” But Pettit is too late. I disconnect the call and move.

34

My Angel

Reach out to grab the ones you love. And never let go.

Ellie

I scream when Ray grabs me, my bruised abdomen feeling the brunt of his violent jerk.

The sheriff reaches behind him, producing a gun, pointing it toward us, and I yelp. “I said this isn’t fucking going down on my property.”

I look to Quinn. “Run!”

Ray doesn’t look the least bit concerned as he stares at the barrel of a gun and lifts his chin at his brother. “Grab her.”

Dustin does, but this time, he picks her up by the waist where she can’t fight back. I try to twist and maneuver out of Ray’s hold, but the more I move, the sharper the pain.

The sheriff adjusts all his weight and takes a step toward us. “I told you, take them and go somewhere else.”

“Are we doin’ this?” Ray drawls. “Are we really fuckin’ doin’ this now? I’ve got phone calls to make and money to collect. You’re bein’ a pain in my ass, Logan.”

“Told you this isn’t happening.” Logan doesn’t lower his gun.

“Let go, you’re hurting me,” I beg.

Ray gives me an annoyed glance. “Oh, I’m gonna hurt you alright. I’m gonna get you back for every minute I spent in prison.”

Sheriff Logan shifts again and grips his gun tighter. “You’re not draggin’ me into this again. Do what you’re gonna do, but do it somewhere else.”

“Come on, Ray. Let’s get on with this shit,” Dustin growls, fighting to keep his hold on Quinn, who’s making him work for it.

Ray jerks me to his side and his other hand yanks at his shirt. I cry out as he produces his own gun.

He doesn’t even take a second to plant his weight, aim, or, hell, give Logan a chance to back off.

Just like that, Ray shoots.

I scream.

He proves he’s a good shot just like his son, because the old sheriff falls straight to the ground with a hole through his forehead.

“Let her go.”

My head whips around but I can’t see him. Tears run down my cheeks, trying but failing to take away the pain and fear.

Ray doesn’t let me go and his actions mirror mine, searching for the shadowed voice we both know so well.

“I’ve got you in my sight and you know I won’t miss. You taught me everything I know and I’m a hell of a lot sharper than you.”

“Trig!” I scream when Ray yanks me, pulling me to his chest and pressing the barrel of his gun painfully to the side of my head.

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