“Hey…” Scott said to Jamie, sounding unsure. “You okay?”
Without a word, the other woman pulled her hand from behind her back and slammed him in the temple with a gun—hard.
Scott fell to the floor, eyes closed, body still.
Avery cried out, and Sadie tugged the girl behind her.
Jamie slammed the door shut before turning the gun on them. “I’m here for my daughter.”
“No.” Sadie didn’t even pause for a breath. No way in hell.
“Sadie, I’ve got a gun. And you’re going to hand her over right the hell now or I’ll shoot you.”
Fear tightened her chest, but she pushed it down. “I can’t do that, Jamie. I don’t know what you intend to do, but I can see you’re not well. Have you been drinking?”
“That’s none of your fucking business!” she shouted, causing Avery to jump. “She’smineand I’m taking her.”
“You’ll have to shoot me or take me with you then, because those are your only two options.”
Avery gasped. “Sadie, no!”
“It’s okay, Avery,” she whispered. It wasn’t, but she wasn’t about to admit that to the terrified girl. Jamie had clearly been drinking, but Sadie was still hoping,praying, that she was in her right mind enough to remember she wasn’t a killer.
Sadie’s muscles twitched as she prepared to dive behind the counter.
“I can’t fucking shoot you here. Someone will hear and come running,” Jamie growled.
That should have made Sadie relieved. It didn’t. “So take me with you. Maybe you’ll get lucky enough to be rid of me somewhere along the way.” Wasn’t going to happen. She’d fight tooth and nail to make sure she remained with Avery.
But at the frustrated flare in Jamie’s eyes, Sadie knew the woman was realizing it was the best option she had. “Fine. Back door. Now.”
Sadie glanced toward the back of the shop. She obviously took too long to move, because Jamie shouted, “I saidnow!”
Sadie was careful to keep her voice gentle. “Come on, Avery.”
Keeping herself positioned between Avery and the gun, Sadie stepped into the back room. She had one eye on Avery but kept looking behind her, making sure Jamie didn’t get too close. Even though she didn’t seem to want to shoot anyone in the store, she obviously had no problem hurting people.
Was Scott okay? He’d been bleeding, and he needed help. Would help find him in time? Eastern was stopping by—he shouldn’t be far off.
She was halfway to the door when Jamie spoke.
“Stop. I’ll go first. I don’t trust you as far I can throw you.”
Sadie tugged Avery behind her as Jamie passed them to unlock the door. Once it was open, Jamie remained where she was, holding the door in place. “Out. Try anything and I’ll put you on the ground like Scott.”
Sadie inched forward, keeping as much space between her and Jamie as possible as they stepped into the alley. A beat-up blue Honda sat parked by the dumpster.
The rattling of the doorknob… Jamie had tried to get in through the back.
Jamie nodded toward the car. “Get in the back.”
Sadie turned to face the woman. “Jamie, you can’t ask Avery to get in this car with you. You can barely stand, let alone drive.”
As if proving her point, Jamie swayed before rapidly blinking. “Sadie, I’m one step away from saying to hell with it and shooting you right here and now.Don’tpush me. Get. In. The. Car.”
Sadie swallowed, hating what they were about to do, but what choice did she have?
“It’s okay, Sadie.” Avery’s small voice had her looking down. “I’ll be okay.”
