Page 76 of Further To Fall

Heat rose to my cheeks. “A little,” I said with regret.

“Bath for you tonight, and then I’ll kiss it all better,” he said with a devilish grin. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Okay, let me just grab my stuff.” He released me, giving my butt a pat as I turned away. I shot him a look over my shoulder as I picked up my purse.

“What?” he asked. “You said I could cop a feel if I was good!”

I shook my head at him and hooked Blue’s leash to his collar. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”

Austin grabbed my hand and led me down the hall. John was sitting in the lobby, facing both possible points of entry. “I’m sorry you had to sit around here all day, John.”

He smiled kindly at me. “Not a problem, it’s my job, and I’m happy to do it.”

“Stop flirting with my girl.” Austin drilled a faux punch into John’s stomach.

“Better keep on your toes,” John shot back.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go, Firecracker’s hungry.” He grabbed my hand again, and we headed out to the parking lot, John leading the way this time and scanning the cars for anyone unfamiliar. He circled around the area as Austin went to open the back door for Blue. A flyer fluttered in the breeze but was held in place by the passenger-side windshield wiper. I stepped forward to grab it. Honestly, did that kind of marketing ever work?

My hand froze as I brought the flyer up to read it. On the paper in blood-red marker read, “LYING LITTLE WHORE. IT’S TIME FOR SOMEONE TO DIE. MIGHT BE YOU. MIGHT BE YOUR BOYFRIEND. MIGHT BE YOUR STUPID FUCKING DOG.” My hands started shaking, but it wasn’t in fear, it was in fury. I’d had just about enough from this asshole.

Austin came up behind me, and I knew he’d read over my shoulder when I heard, “Fuck! You have got to be kidding me!” He started to call out for John when I heard a crack and the windshield splintered.

Austin’s body collided with mine as he took me down to the ground. The asphalt bit into my knees and cheek. I frantically reached out for Blue, who had started barking like crazy at the sound.

“Shooter!” Austin yelled to John, who already had his weapon out. The only thing I could think was,I didn’t even realize John carried a gun. Where did he hide it?

“Baby, are you okay?” Austin was still on top of me but was trying to pat me down, assessing for injuries.

“I think so, are you?”

“I’m fine.”

John rushed over to us, positioning himself between us and where the shooter must have been standing. “I can’t see anyone, but that doesn’t mean anything. I want you to slowly get up and face the gym. Austin, you lead, take Blue’s leash in one hand, and Carter’s hand in the other. Carter, you hold onto Austin and then link a finger through my back belt loop. We are going to, very slowly, make our way towards the gym. Ready?”

“Yes,” Austin and I both answered at the same time.

“Move.” It was an awkward and slow process, but we finally reached the doors and pushed inside. “Lock these and move away from any windows,” John ordered. “Can you make an announcement over the loudspeakers and let people know to do the same?”

“I’ll do that now.” Austin moved behind the empty reception desk to make an announcement, and John was on the phone with 911 and then Detective Massey. Within a minute, I heard sirens. Then, Austin was back at my side, examining my cheek. “Shit, I’m sorry, baby. Let me get some stuff to clean your scrapes.”

He moved to walk away, but I held tight to his hand. He cupped the unmarred side of my face. “I’m just going to the desk. There’s a first-aid kit in there.” I forced my fingers to unlock from around his. The fear was just hitting me, the reality that one of us could have just died. My hands had started to shake, my palms were clammy, and I felt sick to my stomach. When Austin returned, he looked at me with concerned eyes. “I want you to sit down.”

John walked over. “She’s as white as a sheet.”

“I think she might be going into shock.”

Swallowing my nausea, I forced myself to focus. “I’m okay.” Both Austin and John looked skeptical. “Really, I just felt a little lightheaded for a minute.”

John squeezed my shoulder and then headed over to the front door where four police officers had appeared. Austin set the first-aid kit down on the couch and removed a wipe of some sort. I hissed when the alcohol touched my broken skin. “Sorry.” He blew on my cheek, easing the sting. Then he knelt on the ground and lifted my yoga pants to above my knees and repeated his actions, covering all the scrapes with ointment and Band-Aids.

“Thank you.” My voice was soft as police crowded the lobby. “Austin, this is insane.” He sat down next to me and pulled me into his lap. Blue took that as a sign, and he jumped up next to us. I scratched his ears. “I know, Blue, everything’s okay now.” He pushed his head into my hand.

Before long, Detective Massey had arrived, looking harried and concerned. Austin, John, and I walked him through everything that had happened. Another officer had collected the note, which I had dropped in the chaos and handed it, sealed in an evidence bag, to the detective. Massey then took a few moments to peruse it, his eyes pinched as he analyzed the lettering. “The escalation is continuing.”

I shuddered but lifted a hand and placed it on Austin’s back. His muscles were wound so tightly, it seemed as if they might snap. I started to knead them with my thumb, not that it could do much. “You should look into Lexi Perkins.”

My hand stuttered at Austin’s words. “Lexi doesn’t know how to shoot.” At least I didn’t think she did. I knew Lexi disliked me, maybe even hated me, but would she really go that far? Would she kill Austin just because she couldn’t have him? Or me because I did?

---