me to him.”
Getting out of the car, I let Tommy out of the back and he leads me inside the building, moving quietly for fear that someone is around. The place seems deserted. Finally, we round a corner and there he is.
Laying on a pile of dirty rags is a barely recognizable Derrick. His face is black and blue and swollen. One look at him tells me that he has fractures to his face and right arm, and God knows where else. I rush to him, squatting down beside his broken form and feel for a pulse. It’s weak, but it’s there.
I pull out my phone, ready to call 911 when I hear a loud click from behind. Both Tommy and I spin around, and the blood drains from my face.
The first thing I see is the gun, cocked and ready. And then I see where it’s pointed. Gabby’s terrified face is white as a sheet and covered in silent tears as the gun presses hard against her temple. The shaking and angry man holding the gun clutches Gabby to his body with a forearm across her throat.
“I knew you were a fuckin’ rat, Tommy,” he spits. “Fuckin’ piece of shit.”
Gabby
I keep my eyes pinned on Daniel, my body shaking with fear. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t see this guy’s face. I pulled up behind Daniel’s car and walked inside, listening for the sounds of their voices in the empty warehouse.
I heard the faint echo of footsteps off to the right and moved in that direction. I didn’t make it more than three steps before a strong arm wrapped around my neck and a gun is stabbed into my cheek. “Don’t fucking scream, bitch.”
The truth is, when he grabbed me I lost all of the air in my lungs. I couldn’t have screamed if I wanted to. With wide eyes I stare at the gun that is being held only inches from my eye. “Keep your mouth shut and do what I say,” he orders and starts walking, my body propelled along in front of his as he moves silently towards the sounds I’d been following a few seconds ago.
We round a corner and my body sags in relief when I see Daniel. The strange man behind me pulls the gun away from my face and uses his thumb to cock the hammer before pressing the muzzle to my temple.
Both Tommy and Daniel spin around, Daniel’s hand moving towards his hip. “I knew you were a fuckin’ rat, Tommy,” the man spits. “Fuckin’ piece of shit.”
Tears fill my eyes as I stare at Daniel who stands frozen in front of us, eyes locked on me, his jaw set. I watch as Tommy throws out his arms.
“Tooth, man,” he pleads. “You know I’d never rat. I just want Derrick to get some help, brother. He’s my best friend.” One of his hands drop while he’s talking and points at a pile of rags in the corner.
“Fuck you,” Tooth snarls. “You brought a fuckin’ cop to a fuckin’ Crip joint and likely told him all kinds of shit. Then ya got this bitch creepin’ through the goddamn building.”
I hear them talking, but I don’t know what they’re saying. My body trembles and my head screams as I stare at that rumpled pile of rags. Only it’s not rags. It’s my brother. My breath catches in my chest and I forget all about the gun pressed against my head. Attempting to shrug him off, I let out an anguished cry. “Derrick!”
He doesn’t move. I try to pull free once more and Tooth yanks me back, screaming into my ear. “Don’t move you crazy fuckin’ bitch!” He presses the gun even harder to my head, grinding it into my skull. “I’m gonna blow your fuckin’ brains all over this fucking room!”
I feel his hand move and my eyes lift to Daniel’s, an apology on my lips. Just then, Tommy lurches forward. “No! Tooth! Don’t—”
The sound of the gun going off so close to my face nearly deafens me, my head fills with a loud ringing as I stare in horror at Tommy. He clutches his chest, his mouth open in surprise as the blood stain on his shirt grows bigger right before my eyes. His mouth makes no sound as he drops to his knees.
I know I’m screaming, but I
Getting out of the car, I let Tommy out of the back and he leads me inside the building, moving quietly for fear that someone is around. The place seems deserted. Finally, we round a corner and there he is.
Laying on a pile of dirty rags is a barely recognizable Derrick. His face is black and blue and swollen. One look at him tells me that he has fractures to his face and right arm, and God knows where else. I rush to him, squatting down beside his broken form and feel for a pulse. It’s weak, but it’s there.
I pull out my phone, ready to call 911 when I hear a loud click from behind. Both Tommy and I spin around, and the blood drains from my face.
The first thing I see is the gun, cocked and ready. And then I see where it’s pointed. Gabby’s terrified face is white as a sheet and covered in silent tears as the gun presses hard against her temple. The shaking and angry man holding the gun clutches Gabby to his body with a forearm across her throat.
“I knew you were a fuckin’ rat, Tommy,” he spits. “Fuckin’ piece of shit.”
Gabby
I keep my eyes pinned on Daniel, my body shaking with fear. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t see this guy’s face. I pulled up behind Daniel’s car and walked inside, listening for the sounds of their voices in the empty warehouse.
I heard the faint echo of footsteps off to the right and moved in that direction. I didn’t make it more than three steps before a strong arm wrapped around my neck and a gun is stabbed into my cheek. “Don’t fucking scream, bitch.”
The truth is, when he grabbed me I lost all of the air in my lungs. I couldn’t have screamed if I wanted to. With wide eyes I stare at the gun that is being held only inches from my eye. “Keep your mouth shut and do what I say,” he orders and starts walking, my body propelled along in front of his as he moves silently towards the sounds I’d been following a few seconds ago.
We round a corner and my body sags in relief when I see Daniel. The strange man behind me pulls the gun away from my face and uses his thumb to cock the hammer before pressing the muzzle to my temple.
Both Tommy and Daniel spin around, Daniel’s hand moving towards his hip. “I knew you were a fuckin’ rat, Tommy,” the man spits. “Fuckin’ piece of shit.”
Tears fill my eyes as I stare at Daniel who stands frozen in front of us, eyes locked on me, his jaw set. I watch as Tommy throws out his arms.
“Tooth, man,” he pleads. “You know I’d never rat. I just want Derrick to get some help, brother. He’s my best friend.” One of his hands drop while he’s talking and points at a pile of rags in the corner.
“Fuck you,” Tooth snarls. “You brought a fuckin’ cop to a fuckin’ Crip joint and likely told him all kinds of shit. Then ya got this bitch creepin’ through the goddamn building.”
I hear them talking, but I don’t know what they’re saying. My body trembles and my head screams as I stare at that rumpled pile of rags. Only it’s not rags. It’s my brother. My breath catches in my chest and I forget all about the gun pressed against my head. Attempting to shrug him off, I let out an anguished cry. “Derrick!”
He doesn’t move. I try to pull free once more and Tooth yanks me back, screaming into my ear. “Don’t move you crazy fuckin’ bitch!” He presses the gun even harder to my head, grinding it into my skull. “I’m gonna blow your fuckin’ brains all over this fucking room!”
I feel his hand move and my eyes lift to Daniel’s, an apology on my lips. Just then, Tommy lurches forward. “No! Tooth! Don’t—”
The sound of the gun going off so close to my face nearly deafens me, my head fills with a loud ringing as I stare in horror at Tommy. He clutches his chest, his mouth open in surprise as the blood stain on his shirt grows bigger right before my eyes. His mouth makes no sound as he drops to his knees.
I know I’m screaming, but I
Similar Books
