Page 46 of Waiting Game

A cloud of dust rose behind the wheels of the car, and blinded me to the others. I came to a screaming halt next to a dumpster behind the shed.

“Take this,” Ren said, handing me the second gun.

“No,” I shook my head, “you might need it.”

“I’ll be fine, Val. Take it,” he took my hand and placed it in my palm, “if anyone comes near you - you shoot, okay?”

“I don’t-”

“Valerie,” he grabbed my chin, “I willnotlet them hurt you, okay?”

I nodded.

“If anyone comes near you, you shoot.”

I looked down at it, and then back up at him.

He leaned forward, putting his hand behind my head and pulling me close, kissing me on the forehead for a few seconds. Now was not the time to fight it, and I let him.

I felt myself wanting to cry, but I didn’t.

If he said that we would be alright then I believed him.

Rome and Antoni pulled up behind us, and Rome pulled in front of Ren’s ute, blocking their view of me.

“Get in the back, now,” Ren ordered as the other cars came to a stop in front of us.

I nodded, climbing over the seats to hide in the back.

Rome and Antoni got out of their car, and approached the other men slowly. Antoni had his hands out in a gesture of peace, but I noticed the gun in Rome’s hand pressed against her thigh.

Ren looked at me once more, with a small smile, before hopping out and shutting the door. He joined Antoni and Rome. I could see Antoni’s mouth moving, speaking to what looked to be the guy in charge.

He was a big bloke, not much bigger than Antoni, with his arms and face covered in tattoos and a big bushy beard. I couldn’t hear a word, but I could see from their facial expressions that they were growing more tense.

I clamped a hand over my mouth as one of them drew a gun, and shot towards my brother.

Rome fired back quickly, shielding herself behind the car door.

Ren sprinted toward Antoni, pushing him out of the way and firing his own gun.

More men got out of their cars, and there were much more of them than there were of us. I could feel my heart beating hard, rattling in my chest. I wanted to help, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to.

I never should have come back to this fucking city.

Now, I would have to watch my brother either die, or kill.

Same for Lorenzo.

This is exactly what I was hoping to avoid.

I never wanted to witness this.

Not again.

Though I anticipated it and tried to fight it, the flashbacks came anyway.

I watched Antoni, but only saw my father.

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