Like a snake striking prey, he grabbed the curtain and yanked it back. “You’re dead—” he began to threaten and cut off when he saw nothing but an empty shower. He whirled around, seething. “What the—”#p#分页标题#e#
He didn’t get a chance to finish his question. I struck just as fast. I leaned back and brought my hand up, pressing the hot metal into his cheek. Zane cried out in pain. I shoved my hand forward, pushing against him. The smell of burning flesh choked me. When I pulled my hand back, bits of burned flesh stuck to the curling iron and peeled off his face.
Zane’s hands flew to the burn. He fell to his knees, screaming. Jackson struck next, kicking Zane in between his shoulder blades.
“My face!” Zane cried. Jackson kicked him again. He grabbed the gun and tossed it to me. “Look at what she did to my face!”
Jackson wrestled him to the ground. He pulled Zane’s arms back and shoved him face first onto the floor. “Do it Addie. Now!”
I raised the gun. My arms shook. I moved the barrel so that it was pointed at Zane’s head. Jackson leaned back, moving out of the line of fire. Zane’s malevolent blue eyes flashed to mine. His glare was full of nothing but wickedness. Even though he was staring down the barrel of a gun, there was no pleading, no regrets. There was just hate.
I looked right into those malicious eyes and pulled the trigger. And nothing happened. Shit. I didn’t know how to use the gun. I turned it to the side, frantically looking for the safety. Zane struggled against Jackson.
“Cock it,” Jackson called out.
Before I had a chance to even contemplate how to do that, Rochelle hurled her body through the air. She landed on top of me, knocking me over. The gun flew from my hands and skidded under a cot.
“You bitch!” she screamed and moved over me.
I bent my legs up, instinctively protecting my abdomen. Rochelle’s hands gripped my shoulders as she wrestled me to the ground. Her acrylic nails dug into my skin.
“Addie!” Jackson called out, looking up from Zane.
Zane used the distraction to his advantage. He brought his foot up, whacking Jackson, who fell forward. Jackson recovered quickly, fueled by rage. He ducked out of the way, narrowly missing Zane’s fist. Jackson pushed himself up onto his feet, spun and kicked Zane in the stomach.
I blindly extended my right hand, slapping at the ground as I desperately searched for a weapon. My fingers brushed the cold, flexible plastic of the curling iron cord. I didn’t want to hurt Rochelle. I didn’t even blame her for what she was doing.
But I had no choice.
I yanked the cord and gripped the handle of the curling iron, which was sticky from hairspray. I brought my arm up and struck Rochelle on the back of the head, hoping her hair would buffer most of the heat. She screamed and let go of my shoulder, raising her hand to strike me across the face. I twisted around, breaking out of her grasp and crawled forward on my elbows.
Rochelle caught my ankle. She dragged me back, knocking me off balance. My hands slipped out from under me and my chin smacked the floor, forcing my teeth down on my lip. I instantly tasted blood. I pushed myself forward, thrashing my legs. My heel clipped Rochelle in the face, and she fell back, her hands flying to her nose.
Hands grabbed at my arm. I jerked away before realizing it was Jackson. He pulled me to my feet. Zane staggered up from where he was slumped on the floor. I took a step back, looking for the gun. Jackson tugged my hand forward. If I went back for it, Zane could tackle me to the ground. There was no time.
We raced around the card table. Jackson skidded to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, wanting me to go up first. I grasped the railing and took the stairs two at a time. I felt like my legs couldn’t move fast enough, and the tops of my thighs burned from desperate excursion. I flung myself onto the landing. Jackson was right behind me. He slammed the door and shot the deadbolt into place.#p#分页标题#e#
Chest heaving, I looked into his eyes for a second before running into the mudroom. I squinted in the dark, running my hand up and down the wall in search of the light.
“Come on, come on,” I mumbled, my entire body alive with adrenaline. The light flicked on, and I raced over to the door. Hanging on the wall next to it was a key hook. I snatched the keys to the Blazer and raced back into the kitchen. Jackson stood in the breakfast nook, holding a chair above his head.
“What the hell is going on?” Lily asked. She was standing in the middle of the kitchen, looking terrified.
“We’re getting out of here,” I said and stood a few feet from Jackson. He turned his head and closed his eyes. “Come with us.”