Page 53 of The Players

ANONTXT:Have them stop and park. You come in the front. Alone.

“They say to stop and park,” I said.

Hector eased to a stop a few rows from the store’s front doors. For a moment, we sat staring into the black windows. No one spoke.

“I have to go in alone.”

“Don’t do that,” Randy said. Lowell grumbled, and Hector shook his head.

“I have to. I have to finish this. For better or worse.”

Randy leaned forward until she could see my face. “Take your phone. If you text any of us 911 we’re coming in.”

“And if we hear anything crazy, like gunshots or see flames, we’re coming in.” Hector gripped my hand and held it.

I nodded, giving him a look that conveyed my eternal gratitude. Then I turned around until I could see Lowell.

“I need you to stay in the car. No violence, okay?”

Lowell stared out the window, but the veins on his neck were prominent as if he were straining not to charge into that building and rip everyone to shreds.

“If they harm one hair on your head…” He ground his jaw as his hands clenched.

“They won’t,” I said, trying to be soothing. “Please, just promise me you’ll let me handle this. I can’t have you going to jail.”

He met my gaze once, fixing me with a look that might undo me in any other circumstance. Then he turned his eyes back to the building. His fists were still locked in a fighting position. I guessed that was the best I was going to get.

“Wish me luck,” I said, taking a deep breath. Then I opened the car door and stepped out.

The store loomed ahead, a dark, silent creature ready to swallow me whole.

“Here we go,” I said, then sent up a little prayer. “Mom, Dad, watch over me and Gram tonight.”

Quietly, carefully, I walked the twenty yards to the sliding glass doors. Even standing in front of them I couldn’t see what was happening inside the store. There was the cash register, and there was a cart filled with discount cans of beans.

The rest was darkness.

I took another step and the doors’ sensors picked up my movement. The exterior doors slid open with a hiss.

I walked through. Then the second set of doors slid open.

My legs felt like they might collapse, and my heart was tearing itself to pieces, but it was now or never.

I stepped into the store.

Blinked.

Listened.

Then I took another step. Then another.

It happened so fast I didn’t have time to scream.

Hands grabbed me from behind and yanked me away from the windows. Then one clamped over my mouth while the other held me still.

“I told you to stay away,” Spencer’s voice said in my ear, as his hand pinned my body to his. “Now, it’s too late.”

Chapter twenty-two

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