Swallowing, Celia nodded and managed a smile.
Christopher used his .9mm to wave Celia over. “Close the fuckin’ door, Megan.”
“It’s off the hinges.”
Ignoring her, he situated Celia in front of him, then shoved his gun in her back. Meggie watched in stoic silence, terrified that she’d probably suffer the same fate at Bash’s hands.
“Show yourfuckinselves,” Christopher ordered. “With hands the fuck up. One fuckin’ wrong move and I’m shootin’ the fuck outta Celia.”
The shot up kitchen door slowly opened. Johnnie followed Bash into the hallway, their hands high.
Meggie cringed at her husband’s livid expression. But when he put the .9mm against Celia’s temple, she and Celia shivered. Bash’s regret as he looked at his sister revealed just how important Celia was to him.
“Now, fuckheads, disarm.”
Johnnie rushed to obey, removing his weapons and setting them on the hallway table.
Bash shook his head. “No. You won’t leave me defenseless to shoot me down.”
“I ain’t fuckin’ shootin’ you, fuckhead,” Christopher snapped. “But I ain’t lettin’ you take Megan hostage while you have a fuckin’ gun either.”
“Don’tyouhave a gun on my sister?”
“Bash, just do what he says,” Johnnie suggested, aware of what Christopher’s returning agitation meant.
“I’ve never been one for uneven odds,” Bash argued.
“Omigod, would you please shut up?” she snarled, out of patience. “Please? Christopher isn’t going to keep his gun on Celia, moron. He just doesn’t want to be shot down when he lowers it.”
“You called me a fucking moron once before.”
“I call them the way I see them,” Meggie snapped.
Bash glared at her, but Meggie sniffed and folded her arms.
“How the fuck can Celia or Meggie be hostages if we don’t have fucking guns, Christopher?” he demanded, giving up on his standoff with her.
“I’m fuckin’ positive you can snap Megan’s neck as quickly as I can Celia’s. I don’t need a fuckin’ weapon to consider myself armed, assfuck.”
“I better not fucking regret this,” Bash grumbled, glowering at Celia. “You and me are talking later.”
Meggie remained silent while Bash removed four guns, three knives, and brass knuckles, then set them next to Johnnie’s weapons.
“What now, little brother?”
Now, Meggie had to put herself in Bash’s hands and trust that he was completely disarmed.
A pained expression crossed Christopher’s face.
Swallowing, she walked to him, suddenly feeling her height, or lack thereof, because Bash was nearly as tall as her husband. She bit her lip and turned her back on him, just as Christopher made Celia do.
Meggie smiled gently at Christopher, hoping to calm the wild light dropping into his eyes.
“Bash is probably feeling the same way about Celia, Christopher,” Meggie said with as much equanimity as possible, wondering how such a lovely day had descended tothis.
Christopher pinned Johnnie with a gaze filled with burning hatred. For a moment, Meggie thought he’d shoot Johnnie in the head and she held her breath.
Another growl escaped Christopher before he snatched his gun away from Celia’s head.
