Page 54 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

The man didn’t move.

“I’ll get you the rest,” Michael pleaded. “Everything. Just let her go.”

“Alright,” the man said. “Let’s see it.” He didn’t lower the gun, just shifted it, keeping Mariana close as he forced her forward.

Michael turned and led them toward the back, the man right behind him, his grip tight on her arm. They stopped in front of the main safe. He entered the code and it clicked open. Inside, stacks of cash were packed into metal drawers, thick bundles lined up in tight rows. The man just stared. “Now that’s more like it,” he said, a grin creeping onto his face behind the mask. “Guys.”

The others moved in, ordering the staff to fill more bags.

He dragged Mariana inside the vault with him. “Fill the bags!” he ordered, shoving her forward.

She froze. Her eyes flicked to his for a split second, wide, pleading.

“Move! What the hell are you staring at?” The slap cracked across her face. A cry tore out of her as her body gave out, collapsing backward.

Michael went rigid. His wife was on the floor, a gun inches from her face. His son stood a few feet away, frozen with fear. No one was looking at him. If he waited any longer, they’d pull the trigger.

He moved. Slow, careful, one step back behind the counter, his knee lowering, inch by inch.

The man kept shouting at Mariana, the gun edging closer to her face with every word.

Michael pressed the silent alarm.

“Hey!” One of the others raised his gun.

The leader turned, spotting Michael near the counter.

“He hit the alarm.”

Something in the man’s face went empty. He raised the gun and pulled the trigger. Four shots, one after the other, straight into Michael’s chest.

Bodies curled tighter on the floor as screams ripped through the room.

Mariana’s breath cut off.

Blood bloomed across her husband’s shirt, spreading too quickly, too much.

Her mouth opened, but the sound wouldn’t come.

Mano lay on the floor, his cheek pressed against the cold tile, staring.

His father wasn’t getting up.

A broken scream ripped out of Mariana as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Anybody else wanna try tricks on me?” the leader shouted.

Footsteps rushed closer. “What the fuck happened?” one of the others demanded.

“He hit the alarm, that’s what the fuck happened!” the one who saw it barked.

“We gotta hurry up.”

“You!” The leader grabbed Mariana, yanking her upright.

She barely came with him. Her body gave nothing, shaking, her screams breaking apart as he dragged her.

“Shut up and help them with the money.”