Page 18 of Trigger Happy Ending

I slide my ski mask down over my face and reach for my gun. Soren does the same, both of our movements calm and controlled. Soren pushes ahead of me, and we move, crouching low, towards the cabin. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve done this; my heart pounds and my senses sharpen. The front door swings open, and Jackass One steps out, clomping down the short porch steps to the pathway.

Dumb fucking move. Three stairs, that’s all it takes to walk from safety into the kill zone. Cigarette in one hand, phone in the other, he’s unaware death creeps behind him. One second he’s scrolling, the next, a blade glides across his throat, slicing deep, severing sound, severing breath.

Soren.

Blood bubbles at the dead man’s lips before he drops to the pavement in a heap. His body slack as Soren drags him off the path and into the dark. Silent and methodical. Like he’s done this many times before.

“Grayson!” a shout from inside, followed by heavy footsteps. “Lighter!”

The door flies open, the handle slamming into the side of the porch wall. It takes him a second to process the blood at the bottom of the stairs.

“What the fu—”

Before he can shout a warning, I put a bullet between Jackass Two’s eyes. He drops dead on the front porch.

I know. It’s brutal. It’s cold-blooded. But remember, these motherfuckers are arms dealers. Trading guns to child soldiers in some instances. They’re stains on humanity. You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. These two had it comin’.

With both jackasses taken care of, it’s the opening we need to slip inside.

Lukas sits on the couch, bong in hand, dazed and confused at the appearance of Soren and me in his living room. I can’t imagine it’s a nice feeling. (Imagine being high as fuck and having two assassins appear out of nowhere?) Lukas reminds me of Jack Black’s character in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Right before the killer, in a fisherman’s slicker, shoves gardening shears through his chest.

Lukas fumbles for something (a weapon, maybe?) under a cushion, but he’s too slow. Soren pistol-whips him hard enough to spin him sideways. Lukas slumps to the floor. I open my mouth to tell Soren to finish him when I see movement coming from the hallway from across the living room.

Shit.

A third jackass (one we didn’t know was inside, which I decide is definitely Soren’s fault), knife in hand, comes in fast for Soren’s back.

“Behind you!” I shout, raising my pistol, finger pressed against the trigger.

But Soren doesn’t duck. Instead, he takes a chance and lunges backwards, throwing his weight into Jackass Three, slamming both of them into a glass console. I track them, trying to get a clear shot, but they don’t stop moving. They’re locked in a tangle of alpha male bullshit until Soren overpowers him. He positions himself behind Jackass Three and hooks his arm around his neck, crushing his windpipe. The man jerks and gurgles, clawing at Soren’s arm. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Jackass Three goes limp.

Soren stands, dusting shards of glass off his clothes.

Lukas, the most important jackass of all, sees an opportunity and moves. He launches himself up over the back of the lounge, murder in his eyes and gun in his hand, aiming it squarely at Soren’s chest.

I don’t think before I shoot. I pump three rounds right through Lukas’s back.

He drops to his knees, then hits the ground face-first at Soren’s feet, dead.

I move quickly, rushing down the hallway to scope out the cabin to ensure there aren’t any more surprise jackasses. When I’m satisfied it’s just Soren and me remaining, I hurry back to the living room.

I rip my mask off, the air cool on my face.

Soren’s leaning against the living room wall, mask also removed. His furious gaze finds mine. Why does he look so angry?

“You shot me.” His voice is rough, his hand clamped to his ribs. Blood seeps between his gloved fingers as he slides down the wall.

Oh.

Oh.

Whoops.

One of the bullets must’ve grazed Lukas’s body and landed straight into Soren’s ribs.

“Not on purpose!”

“You’re a psycho!”