I don’t have a rich boyfriend. His jawline clenched. And I’m not going to live my life like that. I won’t be manipulated like Jeb.
“I really want to know.” Mia plopped down in front of them and rested the gun on her lap, a coy smile playing on her bloodied lips. “When did you decide you wanted to be a man?”
Benji stared at her in bewilderment.
Were they in a hostage situation or were they having a pow-wow?
When he didn’t respond, her smile faded and she narrowed her eyes in his direction. “I’m not keen on people giving me the silent treatment, cutie. Either you answer my question or I’ll blow her head off right now.”
“Shit.” He snarled, lifting his eyes towards the sky. “I’ll fucking tell you, okay? But you have to stop threatening her.”
“Struck a nerve, did I?” Mia burst into a fit of giggles—the kind only diabolical maniacs were capable of. “It’s kind of cute how protective you are over her.”
Laney’s whimper caught his attention and he glanced at her, noting the way her shoulders shook with grief.
More than anything, he wished he could make her feel safe. If only he had a plan—if only he could back it up.
“What’s the matter with you, huh?” Mia pushed up from the ground and approached Laney, nudging her with the toe of her shoe. “Why are you crying?”
Gee, let’s count the ways.
“Hey, I’m talking to you.” Mia towered over them, one hand on her hip and the other gripping the gun as her menacing eyes moved back and forth between them. “It’s very rude not to speak when spoken to.”
“For fuck’s sake, she’s hurt.” Benji wrapped his arm around Laney’s shoulders as carefully as he could, wishing that he could take her pain away.
He would. He’d take every last ounce of whatever was hurting her, both emotionally and physically.
That’s what love was, right? Wanting to glue all the broken pieces back together, needing to make everything okay again. If only he possessed such powers.
If only I could get her out of this situation.
His eyes wandered back to the phone, still lying on the ground only a few feet away, and he swallowed his nerves into place.
I hope you’re still listening, lady.
“Oh, boo hoo. She’s hurt. Big deal!” Mia crouched in front of Laney and studied her, her eyes squinting and her lips thinning into a frown. “I’m hurt, too, you know. Do you understand how gutted I am over the realization my boyfriend still prefers you to me? What is it about you, huh? Do you have a golden pussy or something?”
“That’s enough.” Benji warned.
“Oh, shut up, you tranny freak. I get to decide when enough is enough, and to be honest, I’m just getting started.”
“Fuck you!” Laney’s trembling voice was filled with anger as she shrugged Benji’s arm away violently and cried out in pain, but it didn’t seem to stop her either. She pointed a finger at Mia, her upper lip curled back in disgust, and the rage in her eyes made Benji a little terrified.
He’d never seen her unravel so quickly before.
“I have had it with this abuse and with your…your absolute ape-shit behavior. You may have manipulated my brother, kidnapped us, and conned a good man out of a lot of money—which was really shitty by the way—but I will not sit here and listen to you call Benji names. He doesn’t deserve that. He hadn’t done anything to you, you psychotic cow. You think you’re so high and mighty just because you’ve got a gun?”
She laughed. It was one of those laughs a person used when they were experiencing many different emotions at once and didn’t know what to do with them. In this case, Benji was certain she was feeling scared and outraged at the same time, maybe even a little frightened.
But again, it didn’t stop her.
Struggling to her feet, Laney cradled her arm and glared at Mia, her chin trembling as she shook her head. “Enough is enough because I say so. Go ahead and shoot me if you feel big enough to do it, but don’t you dare call him that again. Do you understand me?”
“My, my. Look at you.” Mia’s bloodied smile grew bigger. “You’ve got some balls after all. Are you sure you’re not the tranny freak of the family? Because—”
Whatever harsh remark Mia may have been intending to deliver, it was forced into silence as Laney’s fist connected with her mouth. She released a cry of pain and glared at Laney through her tears.
“You stupid little bitch!” She spit out a tooth and growled in frustration as Laney tried to take the gun from her.
I should have grabbed it. Guilt sliced through him. This isn’t right.
He was frozen in place, unsure of what to do as the two women fell to the ground and it became a fight for survival. Laney pummeled away at Mia’s face and all Mia could do was kick and scream as the gun slipped from her hand and rested at his feet.
Now. His mind screamed. Now!
“No!” Mia shrieked as she struggled to fight Laney off, her fingers clawing at the ground, desperately trying to reach the gun. “No! You can’t do this! Get off of me!”
“Get the gun, Benji!” Laney cried, grabbing Mia’s wrist and jerking it back. “Get it!”
And he did, or at least he tried to. Just as his fingers brushed against the barrel, Mia’s elbow bashed Laney in the face and she shoved her off, scrambling to snatch the gun up before he could.
“You just hold it right there.” She pulled herself up from the ground and held the gun between her trembling hands, pointing it right at him. “I swear to fuck I’ll shoot you.”
Benji swallowed his nerves back into place and glanced down at Laney’s limp form on the ground.
Shit. He’d failed her again. All he had to do was grab the goddamn gun and he couldn’t even do that. What kind of man was he?
“I have had just about enough from you two. You’ve made this night hell and that’s really rude.” Mia sniffled. Blood seeped from the fresh cut on her face and she rubbed her cheek against her shoulder in an effort to wipe it away. Her eyes remained on him as she stepped closer, never once lowering the gun.
This is it. This is how I’m going to die. Laney is going to die because of me.
A vision of the future flashed through his mind. It involved Laney, smiling, and a perfect summer day. She was sitting on a tire swing and he was pushing her. They were laughing and gazing at one another adoringly, and then he bent down to steal a kiss…
The vision vanished from his mind and was suddenly replaced with a dark, gloomy funeral home. He could see two caskets, side by side, with Lydia, Jeb, Callum, and Ags grieving. He didn’t have to look in the coffins to know who was inside them.
It’s all over.
His throat began to tighten and emotions burned in his nose as he lifted his hands into the air, his eyes pleading.
“Don’t do this. Please, Mia. You don’t want our blood on your hands.”
“You don’t know the first thing about me, tranny boy. Don’t even pretend that you do. I’ve had blood on my hands before and I’m not afraid to do it again.”
“Right, because you killed your mom.”
“You’re damn right I killed the bitch.” Mia smiled, revealing her blood stained teeth—one was missing. “She made my life miserable. All I ever wanted was to be free, but she just couldn’t have that. I was meant to go to California, you know. I was going to do amazing things. I wanted to direct movies and win awards for the brilliance of my films. But then my mother went and got sick.”
“You…you killed your mom because she got sick?”
“No, you idiot.” She scowled. “I killed her because she was already in misery. It was a mercy killing. She was in pain and I freed her from it. Freeing her meant that I could be free, too. Don’t you see that?”
He only nodded to prevent her from shooting him faster. He still needed time to come up with a plan. Something. Anything.
What would Jeb do? Callum? Mr. McIntosh? If only he knew the answer to that…
“I’m not completely psycho, you know.” Mia murmured.
“Could have fooled me.” He said under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” His eyes moved to Laney again.
She still wasn’t moving.
“Don’t worry about your little girlfriend. She’s only knocked out. I’m sure she’ll come around long after this is over—after I’m long gone.”
“What about Devin?” He wasn’t even sure why he was asking that question. It was probably for the best if the psychotic match made in Hell left together. At least then he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else hurting Laney.
And I wouldn’t fail to protect her. Again.
“What about him?” One of her eyebrows arched. “You really think I’m going to take him with me after this? He was choosing her,”—she nodded to Laney—“over me. That’s seriously not okay. Why would I be stupid enough to take him with me?”
“You’re the one who said you loved him.” Shut up while you’re ahead, Benji.
“Well, I thought I did. But, what really counts is how a guy handles a ransom situation and he failed. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.”
“Yet you need to blackmail a decent guy and kidnap his sister?” He chewed at his inner cheek.
“I loved Jebson.” Her tone was flat as she stared at him, finally lowering the gun to her side. “I really loved him. I just…he was dumb, okay? He dumped me. Nobody dumps me.”
Because you’re such a catch. He wanted to say.
“I just wanted his attention. I knew he was going to break up with me and I couldn’t have that, so I did the only thing I know how; I dangled something precious in his face—in this case, his….um, sister, if we can call ‘it’ that—and I let him make a choice.” She sighed. “I was originally going to tell him I was pregnant or something, but then I came across that little gem in his car. You never know how far a man is willing to go until you threaten to shatter the life of someone he loves. You never know what he’s willing to do.”
“I don’t want to know what he did to try to keep you quiet.”
“Oh, don’t you?” She purred with a smile. “I always loved playing in the sack with Jeb. God, what a dick he’s got. He’s blessed, you know. We’re talking huge.”
“No offense, but I don’t want to hear about my best friend’s brother’s package.”
“Aw, why not?” She jutted her bottom lip outward. “Is it because you don’t have one?”
“No.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m just not interested in hearing your life history.”
“That’s too bad. I don’t think you’ve got a choice right now. Gun? Hello?” She waved it in the air carelessly and that made him nervous.
As if you’d let me forget.
“Anyway, I was a little upset about how this has turned out, but I suppose you just can’t fight fate.”
“You call this fate?” Benji glanced at Laney again and worry squeezed his lungs. He needed to get back to her, but not with Mia conscious and moving about, and definitely not while she still had that damn gun. It was no telling what the crazy cow had in her mind at the moment, and he refused to let her have another chance to hurt Laney.
“I call this improvising.” Mia giggled. “And it will be worth it after this is all over and I’m sitting on a sunny beach, away from this madness.”
“Madness?” He almost laughed. “You’re the one who kidnapped us, lady. You don’t know a damn thing about madness.”
“You don’t know me!” She wailed, throwing her hands up in the air. “Life has been hard, okay? No one’s ever understood me. My parents didn’t love me. They always wanted me to be someone else, but this is me. Okay? This is me. I’m a modern day Bonnie and Devin was supposed to be my Clyde. We were going to ride off into the sunset together, a million dollars richer and loads happier than either of us have ever been.”
“Excuse me.” Benji rolled his good eye and shook his head. “I just…don’t you think you’ve gone about this all wrong? Scaring my friend and threatening to expose her to the world; kidnapping the love of my life and nearly killing her in the process; robbing an innocent man of his money…just so you can be happy? How will you sleep at night knowing the things you’ve done?”
“I just will, okay?” She huffed. “Now, the question is…where’s Devin? We need to hustle if we’re going to make that flight.”
“I thought you were mad at him.”
“I’ll get over it. We’re partners, Devin and me. I’m not going to leave him behind and you are going to help me find him.”
Benji’s jawline tightened and he looked at Laney once more. Even if they made it out of this alive, how would she forgive him for letting Mia get away? For letting Devin run off after all the horrible things he’d done?
If only he knew what Callum and Jeb would do in this situation.
They wouldn’t be afraid. They wouldn’t let the bitch get away.
As stupid as it seemed at the moment, ‘Eye of the Tiger’ played in his mind and he couldn’t help but to envision swinging from a vine rope with Laney in his arms. If ever he had to prove he was a man, it was now.
“No.”
“What did you say?” Mia’s smile faded and she pointed the gun right at his face. “Need I remind you who is in charge, tranny boy?”
“I don’t give a fuck if you’re in charge.” His heart hammered against his ribs and his stomach twisted into sickening knots as he licked his lips and glanced at Laney briefly.
I’m going to get you out of this, baby.
“Come again, tranny boy?” She pulled the hammer back and slid her finger over the trigger. “You want to rethink that decision and give me an apology?”
“No.” His knees trembled. “I don’t.”
Get ready.
“You’re either very brave or very stupid.” She frowned. “I could shoot you right now. You know that, don’t you? I’m a very good aim.”
Tackle her. It’s just like football except she’s got a gun and she could shoot you.
“I’m going to give you one more chance, Benji.” Her voice trembled. Was she scared? Would she really shoot him? “Apologize to me. Now.”
Just tackle her and start punching. He readied himself.
“I’m not going to be your bitch boy, Mia. And Jeb never deserved that. You’re a real dragon, you know that? An ugly, miserable, low-life dragon.”
Mia’s eyes bulged out of her head and she clenched her teeth, releasing an angry, heinous growl that couldn’t possibly be human.
“That’s it! I’m going to kill you, but luckily I was raised right.” She whirled around and pointed the gun at Laney. “Ladies first.”
“No!” He bellowed. Something took over then. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to describe it, but there was heat surging through his veins and it didn’t even feel like he was in control anymore. His legs carried him fast and precise; his arms reached out of their own accord; a rally cry bubbled deep in his chest and escaped as fiercely as a hawk descending on its prey.
They both hit the ground with pained grunts and it sounded like an artillery shell had exploded right by his head as the gun went off. His ears rang and his lungs burned as he wrestled her for it, praying to God she hadn’t hit something.
Or someone.
She was a lot stronger than he anticipated, but she was no match for the weights he’d been lifting for months at the gym.
If only Jeb and Callum could see him now!
“Ow! You’re not supposed to hit a lady!” Mia grunted and dug her knuckles into his side. “Don’t hit me!”
“I’m not hitting you, you crazy bitch. I’m trying to keep you from shooting my girl.”
They scuffled for what seemed like an eternity. Her fists were flying, her nails broke through the flesh of his arm, but he somehow refrained from knocking the shit out of her as he finally got a good grip on the gun.
“It’s over, Mia. Give me the goddamn gun.” He p
anted.
“No! No, you can’t do this.” She sobbed. “This is my night! This isn’t how my story ends. You’re ruining everything.”
“You’ve already ruined everything. Don’t you see that?” He yanked the gun out of her hand and threw it as hard and as far as he could. Listening as it fell into the bushes, he sighed in relief and finally relaxed, but he didn’t let her move an inch.
“You’re…ruining…everything.” She cried like an injured child, tears rolling down her cheeks as she squirmed beneath him. “Please just let me get up. You’ve done enough damage.”
“Me?” He stared down at her with his one good eye, bewildered. “I’ve done enough damage? Take a look around, Mia. This? All of this is your fault. You’re responsible for it, and you’re going to go to jail for it, too.”
“I am not going to jail!” She became frantic as she kicked her feet against the ground. “That’s not part of the plan.”
“It is now.” His eye wandered until it landed on the phone, right where he left it. “They’ve heard everything, Mia.”
I hope they have.
Mia followed his gaze and whimpered, her bottom lip quivering. “Wh-what?”
“I called 9-1-1. They’re on their way. It’s too late to run, Mia. You need to give up.”
“No.” A sob ripped past her lips as she closed her eyes. Her head fell against the ground and she began to whine like a damn dog. “No, no, no! This isn’t fair.”
He should have known better than to let his guard down. For fuck’s sake, if he’d ever learned anything from watching movies, reading books, or getting lost in comics, he should have known never to let his guard down.
But he did.
The pain the adrenaline had numbed came back tenfold and he decided to let his wrist rest, just for a moment, and that’s when Mia struck.
Her knee slammed between his legs and damn if it didn’t hurt when bone hit bone, especially the pelvic bone. It was just like straddling his bicycle all over again.
He doubled over and the world turned upside down as Mia flipped them over and crushed her knees into his stomach, her cold fingers wrapping around his throat.
“I’m going to kill you.” Her teeth clenched together and she squeezed as hard as she could. “You fucking freak. I’m going to kill both of you now. I don’t care if I get the money or not.”
90 Days (Prairie Town Book 2) Page 21