Chapter 40 Trigger
Trigger
The second that man smiles…
I know exactly what he is.
Not nervous.
Not desperate.
Confident.
That’s the dangerous kind.
I step fully into the doorway.
Weapon steady.
Body between him and the house.
“Turn around,” I say calmly.
He doesn’t.
Of course he doesn’t.
Instead, two more men step out of the truck.
Positions.
Angles.
They came prepared.
Behind me, I hear Rylie moving.
Quiet.
Fast.
Getting Aspen, Dylan, and Grandpa deeper into the house.
Good.
Exactly where they need to be.
The man tilts his head slightly.
“You’re protecting the wrong thing,” he says.
“No,” I reply.
“I’m protecting exactly the right thing.”
Buddy growls.
Low.
Loud.
Standing right at my side.
Good dog.
The man’s eyes flick down briefly.
Then back to me.
“We don’t need to make this messy.”
I almost smile.
“It already is.”
His expression shifts.
Subtle.
But I catch it.
Decision made.
He lifts his hand.
And everything explodes.