Page 137 of For the Birds

Will James killMerv?

Nothing.

Will James survive?

Nothing.

Will Merv survive?

Nothing.

I had to tell him something, so I decided to psych him out. But first I came up with a plan of myown.

Several seconds later, I opened my eyes and said, “James is goin’ to killyou.”

His momentary reaction of fear and surprise was enough—I bucked up my legs and dislodged his hands as I brought the blade against the edge of the tape. It was sharper than I expected, and it sliced through the tape like butter. My plan hadn’t included Merv to still be squatting in front of me, but the opportunity was too good to be missed. Going off instinct, I swung my left hand around and buried the blade into Merv’s right bicep until it embedded into bone. Merv looked up at me with a stunned expression before I kicked his crotch so hard the top of my foot throbbed. The force of my kick sent him to the floor on his back. I grabbed my gun and stood, pointing it at Merv’s chest, then said in a deadly calm voice, “If you ever touch me again, I’ll bury that knife where my foot justwas.”

“Put the gun down,” Paul said in an exasperated tone. “Or I’ll shootyou.”

Merv lay on his back with the blade still buried to the hilt in his right arm, his knees drawn up to his chest. Confusion and pain waverd in hiseyes.

I could see that Gary had his gun trained on me aswell.

“Put down your guns, or I’ll shoot Merv first,” Isaid.

“Go ahead,” Gary said. “I’m second in command. I’ll get his place.”

Paul looked torn between saving his brother and moving up to second.

So much for loyalty among thieves.

We stood like that for several seconds before a gunshot rang out. I was sure one of Merv’s guys had shot me and I just hadn’t felt it yet, but to my surprise, Gary fell to the ground. Merv rolled to his right side, away from the shooter, and jarred the knife in his arm. He shouted out inpain.

I shifted my gaze to James, but he was already running for me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and picked me up off the ground, carting me around the front of Merv’s car and out of the line offire.

“That wasn’t the plan,” he snarled as he snatched my gun from myhand.

“I did the best I could with what I had,” I said. I was starting to get light-headed from the adrenaline crash. “Sorry I lost your knife.”

He glanced around the bumper. “Don’t you worry. I plan on gettin’ it back,” he said in a menacing tone. He aimed and shot—several rounds rang out, one bullet hitting the hood of thecar.

I glanced across the warehouse floor. “Where’s Scooter?”

“He’s out of sight.”

“How?”

He ignored me and got off another couple of rounds.

There was silence for several long seconds before James called out, “Jed?”

“Here.” Jed’s voice echoed across the space.

“Who’sleft?”

“Merv. Looks like he went out back. I stayed to make sure you and Rose were covered.”

“You take the front. I’ll take the back.” James grabbed my chin and stared into my eyes with a stern expression. “Swear to me you’ll stayput.”

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