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If I could just disarm him.
But with Rosie out in the open, I can’t risk it. Not with the gun aimed toward her.
I move to put some distance between us, but it catches David’s attention.
“Don’t move,” he snaps.
“Auntie Jade, don’t leave me, please,” Rosie sobs.
“Shut up,” David yells, turning and glaring at us.
I hear the gunshot before it’s even registered in my mind that David adjusted his aim. I shove Rosie to the floor as the window behind us shatters.
“Next time, I won’t miss.” David goes back to typing on his phone.
Well, everyonedefinitelyknows where we are now.
And I need to get us out of here.
A panicky feeling starts to expand through my chest, but I ignore it. I have to stay strong. For her.
Rosie tries to keep quiet as tears continue streaming down her face. I wipe them away, kissing her forehead. Once we’re out of here, I’m buying her as much ice cream as she wants.
“Honey,” I whisper. “You see that bookshelf over there?”
Sniffling, she nods.
“When I tell you to, I need you to run as fast as you can and hide behind it. Okay?”
“I’m scared, Auntie Jade.”
“I know. But I’m going to keep us safe. I promise.”
It’s probably stupid, promising that I’ll protect her when I’m not sure if I can. But I need her calm enough to follow my instructions.
As I squeeze Rosie’s shoulder, I move into a better position. For my plan to work, I’ll need to be quick.Reallyquick.
Thankfully, David’s attention is still on his phone. The idiot doesn’t even register that I’m a threat to him. It’s better that way, I suppose.
“Now,” I whisper, giving her a little push. Then I spring up and lunge for David, knocking his gun upward just as he fires.
“Boss? Everything okay?” I hear Grant say through the door.
“I should’ve killed you months ago,” David growls, but then he grunts as I knee him in the balls, tearing the gun from his hands.
David may be taller and stronger than I am, but it pushed me to train harder when we were teens. I’m faster, and goddammit, I’m smarter. He hasn’t bested me in years in hand-to-hand combat.
This time isn’t the exception. He swings his fist at my face, but I dodge easily, spinning and kicking at his knees. He falls to the floor with a cry. With the butt of the gun, I hit him over the head. It’s not hard enough to knock him out, but it leaves him dazed.
Rosie. Make sure she’s okay.
I turn, looking toward the shelf, but my legs are swept out from under my feet before I can find her. As I crash to the floor, a body lands on top of me, pinning me down.
“Get off,” I screech, trying to twist around. But Grant slams his elbow down on my upper back. The blow knocks the air from my lungs.
“Boss, what should I do with her?”
“Keep her like that,” David snaps, scrambling to his feet. He snatches his gun from where I dropped it. Then he grabs Rosie from behind the shelf, dragging her into view.
