Broken Dreams(64)

He shoved the gun into Sophie’s temple. She winced in pain. She was trying to stay strong, but I could see she was slipping into the darkness and wanted to give up.

“If you kill her, I will take you out, as well.” I put on my big girl panties that morning, and I was wearing them with pride. They may have been all lacey and sexy, but they made my inner “don’t fuck with me” persona come out, ready to dominate the situation.

Sophie looked at me with watery eyes. I think she was assuming that was the last moments of her life. Jacob laughed again.

“I don’t give a fuck if you kill me! Don’t you see? I have nothing! My wife is dead!”

“Jacob, I’m so sorry about your wife. Can you tell me her name?” Henry asked.

“Mandy…” His voice fizzled out.

“I am so sorry I gave your Mandy a true death, but let’s all just calm down here.”

“True death?”

“Yes. True death.” Holy shit. Déjà-motherfucking-vu.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I was hoping he wasn’t going to say anything about that vampire show. Henry would have gone nuts if he did.

“I can explain it, but let’s all calm down and work this out like adults.” Then he glanced at me. “Elaina, put down your gun.”

“No! Are you fucking kidding me? He has Sophie in a headlock with her gun shoved into her head!”

“I can see that, Captain Obvious. Just trust me, and do as you are told.” There he went again, barking orders, but I knew he was serious. His jaw was clenched. I lowered my Sig, and Henry put his in the back of his pants. “See, we lowered our weapons. Now lower yours.” I could see Jacob wasn’t going to budge anytime soon.

“He’s not complying, Henry.” I was fulfilling my new role as Captain Obvious as pleasantly as I could. Henry was stressed, but I could see that he was determined to get Sophie out of this.

“How about a deal?” Jaw meet floor, floor this is my motherfucking jaw. I looked over at Henry in shock.

“Henry! No!”

“Shut it, Elaina!”

“What kind of deal are you talking about?” Jacob seemed to be very interested. I was worried. Actually, more like scared out of my fucking mind.

“Since I was the one who killed your wife, then why don’t you take me and let Sophie go?”

“No, Henry! Are you out of your damn mind?” I was pissed. I also had an overwhelming fear that was on the verge of taking control of me.

He didn’t look at me, but he snapped at me like a pit bull. “I said shut it, Elaina!”

“So, you want to trade for the Barbie here?” Jacob jammed the gun into her temple again. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was about to lose my future husband over a blood-slurping, arm-gnawing undead. Okay, maybe that was a little insensitive. I was about to lose my future husband over what was some serious horrific bullshit!

“Yes. It was me, not her. So take me. Look, I’m putting my pack down and completely disarming myself.” He dropped his pack, and took the Sig out of the back of his pants. He held his hands up. “Okay? I’m going to head over now.” He took a step toward the counter.

Jacob was focused on Henry, never looking in my direction. I was scared that I was about to watch Henry die. He turned and looked at me.

“It’s okay, love.” I was shaking with fear. I couldn’t watch him walk to his death. I couldn’t watch him die. I would be nothing without him. My eyes filled with tears. “You’ll be fine without me.” What? No, I wouldn’t! Was he out of his fucking mind?

He looked down at my Sig quickly, then back to my eyes again, nodding ever so slightly. Then it hit me. He wanted me to shoot Jacob. Duh, Elaina! How can you be so stupid?

Everything went in slow motion. Henry was approaching the counter one step at a time. Jacob released his grip on Sophie. She jumped out of the way, and then Henry yelled, “Twelve o’clock!”

Before he finished calling out our routine, I didn’t even need to aim. I raised my Sig and pulled the trigger in one swift move. It was almost natural and it scared the hell out of me. Jacob dropped behind the counter. Sophie ran out, and grabbed Henry’s pack.

“Come on, Elaina! Let’s go!” I stood there in stunned silence with my Sig still pointed at where Jacob had been standing. I had just killed a human. I was a murderer. Holy fuck, I was going to go to jail! And to Hell! Yes, don’t forget Hell because that’s where murderers go. The devil and I would be total best fucking friends forever.

Sophie was tugging on my arm and broke me out of my rabbit hole self-pity party. Then I heard Jacob moaning in agony. I felt some relief that he was still alive. I wasn’t a murderer so maybe I wouldn’t be going to hell. Maybe.