On the inside, I laugh as Anna insults him over and over, his egotistical self-love for himself being placed into a meat grinder, mixed and finely chopped until there’s nothing left but tiny morsels of crumbs.
The instant he says he will kill her first, I am pulled back to reality, paying attention to the brave woman, who is burying her fear inside of her. Her entire body trembles from the notion of his slaying words. It doesn’t make her shut up though. She eggs him on more.
“That’s where you’re wrong, you pussy ass. You will be the first one to die. Then your lost little puppies following your orders will die. You’re a stupid man by following this piece of shit around.” Her gaze drifts to our driver. I follow her gaze. Struck dumb as fuck when I finally recognize who he is. Jesus. He’s been working the night shift since the first day I met Deidre. Fucking idiot. Junior will dispose of him. Stupid fucking greedy people who have no reason even to live. They have no idea how precious life is. Who gives a fuck if he dies? I sure the hell don’t.
“You don’t have a lot of room to talk right now, little lady. I’m the one behind this wheel. While you’re the one trying to piss me off by running your mouth. You don’t see my hands tied up. Keep talking all you want, I’m finding you quite entertaining.” He cranks the wheel, which takes us down the road to my land. I catch his eyes in the rearview mirror. He may not be able to see me, but I hope like hell he can feel me. I’m sending the fucker a warning. Letting him know that these plans they may have calculated out will not go as easily as they think they will.
“I’m not afraid to die. Are you, Junior?” Anna doesn’t even wait for his reply. She twists the screw on the grinder into his back even more. “I think you are. I think you’re probably even shitting yourself right now. Stinking up your self-righteous little ass even more.” I may not be saying a word right now, but I have my reasons for it. I want this fucker to think he’s broken me. The minute I have the opportunity to strike at him, I’m taking it.
“Stop the vehicle,” Junior demands. His voice is thick with reassurance. Big mistake, Junior. I know every part of this land. Open this back door, I’m begging you to.
“I don’t need this cunt anymore. Kill her. Then tell Matthew to back his vehicle up. I’m going to run over her dead body back and forth until she is pummeled into the motherfucking ground.”
“Oh, no.” I block out Anna’s frantic words, her trembling body, and her ragged gasp for breath as I wait for them to exit. We have no time to waste. One door slams, then the other.
“Listen to me. Get the phone out now.” It takes her more time than I like for her to get her shit together. When she does, she darts out of her corner and takes the phone out of my pants, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
“Wh… what are you going to do?” she stutters.
“I have no goddamn clue. Whatever I do, you take that phone and you run, Anna. You don’t stop running no matter what you hear back here. Do you understand me?”
“But what about all of you? My mom…” She’s starting to break.
“Goddamn it, Anna, fucking run. Hide. Then pray the phone’s battery isn’t dead, hit a damn button, and tell whoever you talk to we’re two miles east of Cheery Wood Lodge.” There’s no more time to say anything else. The doors swing open, the lights from the other vehicle damn near blinding me.
I strike, making my move the instant whatever the hell his name is reaches for Anna. I lift a booted foot, connecting right with the middle of his throat. He stumbles backwards, coughing, out of breath as he wheezes for air.
“Run, Anna,” I scream as I jump out of the vehicle, staggering as I try to land on my feet. I have no clue what the fuck I’m doing or if she’s even taken off. I do know Junior seems a bit stunned, then those icy orbs of his locate me and his gun aims in my direction. “Not fast enough, fucker.” I swipe his feet right from underneath him. He falls to the ground. I get one good kick into the side of his face before a gun is shoved against my temple by none other than Matthew.
“You’re going to die slowly for that. Goddamn it.” Junior stands up, the side of his face plastered with pieces of gravel.
“Fuck you,” I spit at him again. This gets me a bitch slap to the face, my head flinging to the side.
That’s when I see Beth and Grace in the other vehicle. There is no sign of Deidre or my son.
“You fuckers. Where is my son?” My eyes never leave Beth’s for one minute. She’s pointing to the back of the van, screaming. “She’s back here! She’s back here!” God, sweet-tart, hold on, hang on, baby. Feel me. My heart is beating inside of your chest. Those are the words I’m trying to convey to her through my mind.