Grant sits up, still not saying a word, and I can only describe his expression as exasperated anddone.
He might not be the one instigating right now, but he still isn’t getting any credit. He had nineteen years to treat Callum better, countless chances to talk Regina down, and he didn’t. These two are operating as one fucked-up unit.
I return my attention to Regina, who’s scowling at me.
“You think you’ve won, haven’t you?” she spits out. “I’m pressing charges for kidnapping my son.”
She’s fucking delusional, and in the interest of my own safety, I don’t respond. There’s no telling what she’d do. There’s two of them, one of me, and still no sign of the police.
Regina flails an arm at me. “Hello? I’m talking to you, f?—”
Ouch. Well, getting called that was bound to happen someday, I guess. I just got lucky avoiding it so far.
“What, are you too much of a pussy to shoot, or what?”
Is she being for real right now?
I don't say anything, at least until Callum is far enough away. He hangs back, standing on the steps leading up to the ballpark, watching us.
“I can’t shoot something that isn’t loaded!” I yell, loud enough for Callum to hear. He deserves to know that the gunhis own mother pointed at himwasn’t lethal.
I release the empty magazine and slide it out, pocketing it and gripping the gun by the barrel. I simply shrug back at Regina, not knowing what else to do.
It’s like she’s frozen, save for the subtle twitch in her right eye. Grant’s face has hardened into something unreadable.
The tension in the air doesn’t dissipate.
“It’s over,” I say. “You pulled a gun on a college campus around hundreds of students and security cameras. You’ve lost it.”
If I need to, I’ll run from them, but it’s better to keep them in one place to avoid a frantic campus-wide search.
Regina glowers at me. “He's our son. We can do what we see fit.”
“He'stwenty,” I grit out. “He ran away from you for areason.”
“Oh, so itwasyou who corrupted him.” She waves her hands, gesticulating at nobody in particular. “You’re going to rot in hell for what you are.”
If I do, I’ll see her there.
I don't respond, and her face twists up even more as she turns to Callum. “How much are you getting to take it up the ass like a poof? Is it worth it? Is it worth giving up salvation?” Regina scoffs and takes a step toward him. “I need to fucking talk to him?—”
“Don’t come here!” Callum yells. “Leave me alone.”
She turns her attention to me, some kind of unplaceable rage behind her eyes. “Look what you’ve done. You turned our own son against us.”
“I only know Callum because heran away from you,” I retort. “He left because of you, Regina. Nobody flees at midnight without a word for no reason.”
Her face reddens, and she turns to her husband. “Grant, do something!”
“Like what?” Grant says. “What do you want me to do?”
“Something! Fix this.”
How they plan on doing so is beyond me, and I sure don’t want to find out.
Thankfully, I don’t have to, because a sharp voice rings out behind me, making me jump.
“Drop your weapon!”
