Page 101 of Sutton's Shadow

She burst into action, everything suddenly moving at normal speed again. She grabbed the Chromebook and swung it at the hand holding the gun. Melanie screamed, Bethany cringed at the sickening crunch, and the gun clattered to the ground.

Mel turned and ran down the stairs into the yard. The blur of her brother dashed past her as he ran after her. In no time, he’d tackled Mel to the ground, calling out to Bethany to bring something for him to tie her up with, then call 911.

Bethany whirled around to get what he needed but came to a screeching stop, seeing Sutton on the ground. The air left her lungs in a whoosh. Sutton was sitting up, clutching her upper arm. Bethany fell to her knees and threw herself at Sutton.

“Oh God. I thought you were dead.”

“I’m okay, Little Bee. Just the glass cutting me.” She was shaking so badly she couldn’t do anything but hug Sutton.

“Bethany!” Wyatt yelled, prompting her to let Sutton go.

“Get him what he needs. I’ll call 911,” Sutton pushed. She nodded and shot to her feet. Sutton’s voice while she talked to the dispatcher followed her as she went to the garage for the rope, and she’d never heard anything sweeter.

Her family was okay, and they were her everything.

Epilogue

Jude

Trudgingthroughtheunderbrushon his land in the Upper Peninsula, Jude Riker made his way back to his cabin with his catch. He would eat well tonight after pan frying the trout he’d caught. His mouth watered just thinking about it. Of course, it wouldn’t be anywhere as good as what Jolene could fry up, but he’d make do.

Thinking of Jolene had his thoughts turning to his friends. It’d been a crazy couple of years. Tin Man and Sutton had been the most recent ones to face adversity.

He hated that word. Adversity. It was just a nice way of saying a fucked-up situation. He’d heard it for most of his life. It was supposed to make you stronger. At least that’s how the saying went. He thought that was a crock of shit.

Adversity could leave you bleeding. Adversity could steal away everything you’d ever cherished. Adversity could leave you as a shell of the man you once were.

Fuck adversity.

He avoided it at all costs. He had his job and a few chosen friends. Nothing more. He wouldn’t allow it. He would willingly help his friends overcome their hardships but would keep that shit out of his own life. His friends were happy, and he was content to watch them. That was enough for him, and it was how he liked it. He kept his life simple. Work, friends, home. And occasionally, he’d escape to his cabin for the alone time he desired.

His satellite phone chimed, bringing him out of his musings. He dug it out of his pocket, finding Graham’s name on the readout.

“’Sup?” he said, answering it.

“Need some help.”

“What’s the problem?”

“Natalie’s sister has a friend who’s in trouble. She’s a pilot, a crop duster. She’d just witnessed her mentor getting shot, and she fled in her plane.”

“Shit. That’s fucked.”

“Gets worse. The guys fired at her as she escaped, hitting the plane. She called Maddie to relay her location; she’s going down in your forest. I know you need your alone time, but I need you to find her. Maddie’s beside herself with worry.”

“Say no more. I got this. I’ll call when I have her.”

“Thanks Jude.”

“What’s her name?”

“Hollynn Rowe.”

“Send me any coordinates you have for her location.”

As soon as he said it, he heard the sputtering of an engine. There were no roads nearby, so he looked to the sky. He could just make out the tiny yellow plane on the horizon.

“Fuck. I think I see the plane.”

---