Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
More shots boomed in the front.
“Is there a back entrance?” Taking out my gun, I hurried to the stage, checking my back every few steps. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
“Are you a cop?” the blonde asked.
“No. Is there a back entrance.”
“Why does she have a gun?” one of them asked.
Another boom hit.
“Fuck. We’ve got to get out of here.” I jumped on the stage and pointed the gun at the front door, unsure of who would be coming inside. “Where’s the back entrance?”
“What the fuck is going on?” one of them shrieked.
Outside, something crashed into something else—metal to metal and glass shattering against concrete. Men screamed. Women howled.
“We’ve got to get out of here now! There’s a guy out there trying to kill everyone.” I shook a little, but not my gun hand. I just hoped whoever walked into this place was the one to get shot, because I didn’t think I would wait to check their face. I was done with the walking around in fear bullshit.
Troy’s death had hardened me.
Benny had cut out the only gentleness left in me.
Chase had remade me back to whole, but the woman I became wore heels and kept a gun by her side. She loved harder and would murder anyone who stood in the way of her heart.
The dancers barreled me with questions, but like true survivors they kept it moving—grabbing their bags and trucking it towards the back.
How did you know I was here, Benny? You followed us? Or did you know I would be here?
In the back, shadows filled the space. If not for the red and white exit sign, we probably would’ve had no ability to see where we were going.
“Who turned off the lights?” someone said.
I followed behind them, worried that I would end up shooting one of them in the dark.
“How do we know the motherfucker won’t be right in the back?” One of the chicks yanked off her heels and pushed ahead of me.
“Fuck. You’re right.” I stopped.
I think because I had the gun they paused with me and waited for my direction.
Did you know I would be here, Benny? Only Vivian and I knew. I just told the driver. Security thought we had got lost at the club. And the manager knew.
Gun shots boomed from the back.
“Oh, hell no.” The only white dancer ran past us and headed back to the stage. “Their asses are in the back, too.”
“Let’s go to the locker room.” The blonde turned to the right and everyone rushed after her.
Pounding came from the back. “Ms. Montgomery! Are you okay?”
The door is locked back there, too.
Remaining in the hallway’s shadows, I let the girls run ahead of me and dipped into the shadows at the end of the hallway. Energy prickled my skin. Not the good kind. Or maybe it was that sick adrenaline rush that coursed through the worn and wary soldier’s veins, when they were faced with yet, another battle.
Then shouts sounded from the front of the club. “Ms. Montgomery!?”
“The doors are locked in the back and the front!” another man yelled from outside.
Benny locked them out. He knew I would be here. How did he know? He’s probably inside. How did he get inside? How the fuck did you know about this idea?
“Ms. Montgomery!?” Something slammed into the door. The guards were probably trying to break in. Logic told me to stay quiet. If Benny had planned this, then I needed to act in a way that he wouldn’t predict.
You expect me to yell out to them. Let everyone know where I’m at? I run to the front or the back, and you get me?
I tightened the grip on my gun and kept it in the air in front of me. Edging away, I kept my back pressed to the wall and scanned the area. The girls chatter came out of the locker room. They mumbled their fears and wondered what would be happening next. They all talked about texting their boyfriends and another had dialed the police.
Booms continued at the front and back doors.
No sound came from inside.
With each loud noise, I took a step to the side, moved one hand from the gun, and touched the shadowed hall, hoping for a door.
Boom.
I found a door handle, possibly to a closet.
Bang.
I turned the knob and opened the door.
Slam.
I got into the small dark space without taking the time to look inside.
Crash.
I got to the side and closed the door behind me.
Boom.
In that moment, I realized someone else stood in that closet right next to me.
I’m not alone.
“Hello, Jasmine.” Benny slammed into me and knocked the gun out of my hand. It fell to the floor.
“Congratulations on your engagement.” He held me against the closet’s wall.
Chapter 31
Jasmine
I punched at Benny and then tried to bite his hand as it came close to my mouth.