My head was on a swivel.
But I saw no one. Heard no one.
Fuck.
Fuck.
A shot rang out.
My stomach bottomed out.
The stranger yanked away and ran from the gunshots like his ass was on fire.
I ran toward the sound, knowing where it was coming from.
The alley.
Where Steph was hiding behind a fucking dumpster.
Dammit.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
I heard no cries of pain, no pleas for mercy.
I didn’t even hear any fucking footsteps.
I ran back down the alley, my heart hammering in my ears.
I saw the spot just above the dumpster where a bullet had taken a chunk out of brick.
I saw the casing on the ground.
My stomach twisted as I got to the edge of the dumpster.
There was no body sprawled out.
There was no one.
I wasn’t sure if it was hope or dread that was stronger.
Maybe she was smart, didn’t listen to me, got away.
Or, yeah, maybe the bastard grabbed her.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I flew down the street, looking for footsteps in the slush on the streets, for huffs of hot breath in the cold air.
Something. Anything.
But there was nothing.
I circled back, helplessness spreading through me, making my saliva go acidic.
It was just then that I heard it.
A shot.
