Angel With a Shotgun

T R E

Dammit, Nina, don't just stand there, come up with something. "Uh, I went to get some Advil from the pharmacy. My ribs were starting to hurt again." I rubbed my side and showed them the Advil box the doctor gave me. At least it wasn't a complete lie.

Allissa rolled her eyes, "Oh, well we could've gotten that for you, babe. You didn't have to go all by yourself."

"But I didn't want to keep lying in bed all day like a sloth."

"You're on bed rest, you're supposed to be a sloth."

It was my turn to roll my eyes. I pushed through the doorway and sat on the ugly brown sofa.

"Bitch, don't roll your eyes at us. We didn't know where you were, for all we know you could've been kidnapped!" Shay scolded.

     If only you knew. I laughed to myself.

"Well, obviously, I'm here now." I finally said.

Allissa hugged me. "I was just getting so worried about you. When did you even leave?"

"A while before y'all woke up, I guess. Anyway, it's still four in the morning. Why don't y'all quit worrying since I'm here now. I'm sure as hell tired, and I only have an hour left before I have to get ready for work."

They sighed in defeat and sat next to be on the couch while I dozed off for the remaining hour.

I quickly showered and brushed my teeth before putting on my work uniform. Then, I put my long curly hair up in a ponytail.

      I trudged out the door still feeling exhausted and in pain even after grabbing an iced caramel macchiato from Starbucks. The Advil made my ribs bearable, however it still felt like boulders hitting my side repeatedly.

Walking into the diner, I could feel eyes on me, though I didn't think too much of it. After all, I kept my handy little gun in my bag if I needed it.

I was busy refilling the cake pops in the showcase display when someone behind me cleared their throat. I jumped a little, maybe a side effect of the stunts of yesterday, but saw it was only Jason and another one of his gang members.

"Oh, it's you," I sigh in relief.

Jason winked, "Si, Bellissima."

"I have a name, you know."

"Yes, but you're gorgeous so I want to call you Bellissima."

My face started heating up in a rose flush. I hoped he wouldn't notice so I distracted him by saying, "Who's this guy?"

"'This guy' has a name, Nina. And it's Noah," the new guy said in a light hispanic accent. Well I guess they already started talking about the new girl at the compound.

Noah was bit shorter than Jason; standing at about 5'10. He sported curly caramel brown hair and sea green eyes. He was honestly beautiful. Damn, why is every guy in this gang hot as hell?

     I pushed those dirty thoughts away for the millionth time.

"Anyways-" Our conversation was cut short by someone shouting, "Everybody down!" Customers screamed and hid under the tables.

A white man in his early 20s with a blonde scruffy beard and a grey beanie pointed his gun at us. Jason and Noah snatched their guns from their pockets like pros while I fumbled for mine in my bag, obviously a newbie.

Finally finding it, I shakily raised my pretty purple gun at him.

    "Jason Barsotti, Noah Villalobos, and I take it the infamous new girl Nina Sapienza," he stated proudly.

     I widened my eyes in slight shock at the fact he knew my name.

     "Ryan Pichler..." Jason said with such distaste. "We finally meet again."

     Ryan chuckled. "Right, the last time, you killed someone close to me."

     "Yeah, who was it again? Hannah? The girl you cheated on with my sister? That's what you call close?" Jason scoffed and started pacing, his fingers tracing the black metal gun. "You know, I was really coming for you, but you obviously weren't there. The bitch was. Collateral damage, Ryan."

     "You're a dick!" Ryan shouted.

     "Meh, I've been called worse."

     Noah shifted his legs impatiently. "Y'all let's stop bickering. Ryan if you want to die, just say the word. We'll make it happen."

     "The only person I want to make suffer is Jason. Everyone else can stay out of this."

     "How would you make me, the King of La Banda, suffer?" Jason laughed evilly and looked at him like he was a clown.

     Ryan pointed the gun at me. I flinched, but I guess I was going to have to get used to shit like this.

     Noah was going to use himself as a shield, but I quickly pulled the trigger aiming at Ryan. Unfortunately, I completely missed, shattering the glass window behind him instead.

     He ran towards me, yelling and shooting his gun at the ceiling like a lunatic. Jason tackled him to the ground. They fought hard, but Jason was struggling. Noah and I ran over to help. Soon, I got a hold of Ryan's head, and started strangling him with my elbow.

     Ryan struggled to get out of my grasp, and maybe it was the adrenaline but I held on. At this point, I pointed the gun at his temple and pulled the trigger for the second time. Down went the psycho.

     "Bye, Ryan!" I smiled, "Hope you have fun with... Hannah, was it?"

     I probably looked insane as I chuckled. The rush for sure was euphoric.

     I looked at the boys who stared at me, shocked. Noah almost seemed fearful. Jason as well. Lord, to make the "King of La Banda" scared? What did I have to be?      

    That's when it hit me: I just killed someone.