Page 142 of Rugger: The Huntress

I lowered the binoculars and readied my weapon for firing. My aim had been altered with the premature kills.

“Yes.”

“There’s your answer. Focus, baby. It’s showtime.”

Pew.

Pew.

Pew.

Pew.

Pew.

As requested, five bullets baked the flesh of Fahaad’s face. Pandemonium ensued. But, before anyone could get out of their seats and attempt to take cover, more bullets pierced the window.

Pew.

A shot to the chest left Mason slumped over the table.

Pew.

Between the eyes is where I caught Lafayette. His knees buckled and his body lunged forward before falling onto the floor.

“Aht. Aht,” Sonnie warned. “Jayce is mine.”

I stood on my feet, taking cover behind the brick wall. I placed the binoculars against my face again. Sonnie was easier to spot this time. I observed as his weapon jolted slightly, ending the life of his target.

“Still there, baby?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

“Good. I have something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Sonn–”

I watched him remove a piece of paper from the desk behind him. Slowly, he unfolded it and pressed it against the window. One letter at a time, I began to make out the words.

Will you ma–

“Urgh–”

Blood splattered onto the white paper. My heart plummeted from my chest to the ground in front of me.

“Sonnie!”

The wound in his neck began leaking profusely, forcing me to come to terms with what I was seeing on the other end of the binoculars.

“Sonnie!”

“Ga–” he coughed as his body dropped to the floor.

“Sonnie, stay with me. Stay with me, baby. Sta– stay wi–with me, Sonnie.”

My voice splintered as I sat in the chair. My heart was in flames. And, for the first time, I went against every boundary I’d set for myself when I entered the marksmanship realm. Blinded by the rage and pain of seeing Sonnie collapse on the floor as his blood poured from him in pints, I pressured my trigger.

Pew.

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