has to be Malerie and the dog must recognize her. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. No growls, no barking, no lunging, but I don't want to risk her getting a chunk taken out of her ass.
The figure disappears behind the wide trunk of a tree.
Remembering how Billy had used a command earlier, I take a leap of common-sense faith. "Heel."
Tom ceases to lead and stays by my side.
I line myself up with the side of a tree as she had. The dog is so dark in color and low to the ground that he easily blends in with the brush surrounding every tree in the woods. Tom cocks his head like he's hearing movement. His ears perk and I feel the pressure of a metal blade press into my Adam's apple simultaneously.
"Good boy," Malerie says.
"I try to be." I don't move anything more than my lips. It's official. Psycho chick got the drop on me. She stands on her tiptoes but is tall enough to have a good angle with the knife.
"I meant the dog. You're a barrel of laughs," she says without a bit of humor in her voice. "Drop the gun."
"Gun? Mal—"
Billy's voice sounds over the handheld. "Ace, someone's here—" Billy stops talking.
"Drop it slowly," she says. "And don't think about moving more. I don't want to accidentally slice your throat."
"Fuck.” I moan the word through stiff lips. Arguing doesn't seem the way to go. I drop the walkie-talkie without responding to Billy. "He'll expect me to answer. He's worried out of his mind about you."
"Is he?"
I hesitate for a second. "If he's not, he's a helluva good actor."
"Had me fooled, too," she states. "I want to know who sent you. You must be cashing in on a big payoff to get rid of me."
"You're not thinking straight because of the meds or something, 'cause I don't know what you are talking about." I try to turn my head to look at her. A fine trickle of blood escapes the cut from the sharp blade and runs down my neck. "Don't do anything rash. I'm not here to hurt you. I swear." An owl hoots in the distance. I hope Billy doesn't come anywhere near the area if Malerie is ready to unleash a load of paranoid right now.
She’s going to accidently kill me.
"You will do exactly as I say and tell me everything I need to know," Malerie says between gritted teeth. "I want to…" Malerie's words are cut short by the Doberman's low growl.
She moves instantaneously as the dog springs into action, pulling me by the leash. Tom lunges at something behind Malerie. The knife nicks into my collarbone as I'm yanked to the side. The woods are filled with the impact of something hitting the tree inches from where Malerie stood. I see a splintered gouge where a bullet mushroomed into the wood of the oak tree.
A kitchen steak knife glints in the moonlight. She runs.
"Malerie—" I manage to blurt out, irritated that she's determined to get herself killed.
I run after her, no dog or Malerie in sight. Lumbering through the foliage, I stop and hear my breaths coming out in short, labored hisses. I really need more cardio at the gym.
I've lost my flashlight and there's no time to search for it.
I see her half-hidden in the brush. My hands are empty now that she's made me drop my walkie and lose my flashlight. Not that those things would protect me against some lunatic with a gun. I run over to her and crouch at her side.
"Look at me the wrong way and I swear I'll stab you." Her words are a low whisper.
"That's what my last girlfriend said." I sit on my haunches, looking around. "Listen, whoever missed you won't miss again. I don't know where that devil dog of yours is, but I hope he eats the guy with the gun."
Malerie studies my face with new interest. A look of horror passes over her face. "God, are you okay?"
The moonlight filters through the trees, and I'm able to see my shirt. The wound is seeping blood and the darkness makes it appear a black, rich color against the white of my T-shirt.
"I'll live," I whisper. "We might as well be wearing bull's-eye targets on us if we don't move. Are you
The figure disappears behind the wide trunk of a tree.
Remembering how Billy had used a command earlier, I take a leap of common-sense faith. "Heel."
Tom ceases to lead and stays by my side.
I line myself up with the side of a tree as she had. The dog is so dark in color and low to the ground that he easily blends in with the brush surrounding every tree in the woods. Tom cocks his head like he's hearing movement. His ears perk and I feel the pressure of a metal blade press into my Adam's apple simultaneously.
"Good boy," Malerie says.
"I try to be." I don't move anything more than my lips. It's official. Psycho chick got the drop on me. She stands on her tiptoes but is tall enough to have a good angle with the knife.
"I meant the dog. You're a barrel of laughs," she says without a bit of humor in her voice. "Drop the gun."
"Gun? Mal—"
Billy's voice sounds over the handheld. "Ace, someone's here—" Billy stops talking.
"Drop it slowly," she says. "And don't think about moving more. I don't want to accidentally slice your throat."
"Fuck.” I moan the word through stiff lips. Arguing doesn't seem the way to go. I drop the walkie-talkie without responding to Billy. "He'll expect me to answer. He's worried out of his mind about you."
"Is he?"
I hesitate for a second. "If he's not, he's a helluva good actor."
"Had me fooled, too," she states. "I want to know who sent you. You must be cashing in on a big payoff to get rid of me."
"You're not thinking straight because of the meds or something, 'cause I don't know what you are talking about." I try to turn my head to look at her. A fine trickle of blood escapes the cut from the sharp blade and runs down my neck. "Don't do anything rash. I'm not here to hurt you. I swear." An owl hoots in the distance. I hope Billy doesn't come anywhere near the area if Malerie is ready to unleash a load of paranoid right now.
She’s going to accidently kill me.
"You will do exactly as I say and tell me everything I need to know," Malerie says between gritted teeth. "I want to…" Malerie's words are cut short by the Doberman's low growl.
She moves instantaneously as the dog springs into action, pulling me by the leash. Tom lunges at something behind Malerie. The knife nicks into my collarbone as I'm yanked to the side. The woods are filled with the impact of something hitting the tree inches from where Malerie stood. I see a splintered gouge where a bullet mushroomed into the wood of the oak tree.
A kitchen steak knife glints in the moonlight. She runs.
"Malerie—" I manage to blurt out, irritated that she's determined to get herself killed.
I run after her, no dog or Malerie in sight. Lumbering through the foliage, I stop and hear my breaths coming out in short, labored hisses. I really need more cardio at the gym.
I've lost my flashlight and there's no time to search for it.
I see her half-hidden in the brush. My hands are empty now that she's made me drop my walkie and lose my flashlight. Not that those things would protect me against some lunatic with a gun. I run over to her and crouch at her side.
"Look at me the wrong way and I swear I'll stab you." Her words are a low whisper.
"That's what my last girlfriend said." I sit on my haunches, looking around. "Listen, whoever missed you won't miss again. I don't know where that devil dog of yours is, but I hope he eats the guy with the gun."
Malerie studies my face with new interest. A look of horror passes over her face. "God, are you okay?"
The moonlight filters through the trees, and I'm able to see my shirt. The wound is seeping blood and the darkness makes it appear a black, rich color against the white of my T-shirt.
"I'll live," I whisper. "We might as well be wearing bull's-eye targets on us if we don't move. Are you
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