Page 94 of Anchored to the Storm

I handed him the weapon duffle. “Sorry about punching you.”

His jaw ticked. “I can take a hit.”

My sore knuckles seconded that fact.

Finn attempted a chin lift that resembled more of a highly insecure wobble.

That earned him glares of scrutiny and silent double-dares.

Fucking with these men felt like a death wish come true. That’s probably why Finn surrendered. “You win, but can we at least know if your friend who got hurt is okay? I feel like this is all my fault.”

Any sympathy offered? Not with this crew.

“Sure the fuck is your fault,” said the stranger who spoke as if knowing us for years. “But we ain’t got time to school you, morons.” He thumbed behind him. “We gotta perverted, soon-to-be-dead man in the vehicle and all.”

“Listen up.” Another man handed Finn fifty bucks. “For now, act normal. Go to McDonald’s, clean them out of cheeseburgers, then get your asses home.”

I wanted to say, “I’m not sure buying cheeseburgers is going to fix all this,” but decided to keep my mouth shut.

Ethan tried, “But we want a jab at the pastor, too.”

“Home!” another, equally terrifying man roared.

The three of us leaped inside the Jeep. Ethan said, “Sorry if it smells in here. I think I just shit myself.”

“How do they know we go to McDonald’s all the time?” Trying to get the hell out of there, Finn stalled the Jeep. “Fuck!” He grimaced at the men, all of whom were rolling their eyes at his blunder.

With the Jeep now squealing its tires, he said, “Johnny being who he is now makes a whole lot more sense. I think they’re his people.”

Ethan was holding the dashboard in front of him. “Something is wrong with Sarah. A gun was pointed at her, but she only cares for the little girl. After what she’s been through with her dad?”

I might have an answer for that.

From the back seat, I said, “Now, don’t think I’m crazy, but…” By the time I was done explaining how correct Ethan was, and all I had experienced and seen that evening, our cheeseburgers were devoured, and we were back on the road and almost home.

Ethan and Finn were floored at what I shared.

Finn peered over his shoulder at me. “So, that guy who got shot was Johnny? Is he okay?”

I nodded. “I think so. Maybe he was wearing a bulletproof vest?”

“Johnny saved Sarah?” Ethan stared out the front windshield.

“It’s either that or I’m certified nuts.” I exhaled heavily. What a night. “I need Harmony’s hot chocolate.”

Finn pulled into our driveway. “Finally,” he griped as he opened his door. “Our one chance to be badasses, and we’re running home to Mom.”

When Harmony opened the front door, we did just that, literally running to her.

Under the glow of outside lighting, she handled us slamming into her as we begged for forgiveness. We had broken promises and house rules.

And tried to kill someone.

She held us. “My boys. You can do no wrong in my eyes. And I already have hot chocolate on the stove.”

I hope our whimpers sounded somewhat dignified as she guided us inside, but I’m pretty sure we sounded and appeared as pathetic as we felt.

In the kitchen were Dale, Sebastian, Sarah, Kristen, and the little girl eating ice cream. Already bathed and wearing one of Sarah’s pajamas that drowned her, she was sitting on the island’s countertop, being smiled at as if she were a zoo’s favorite attraction.