Come Closer

2.

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"Just give him the money Jacob, so I can get my cigs." I state with an exasperated expression.

This is the third robbery in two months, but the first time it's ever happened with me present.

"I don't have any money in the register, I just started my shift-"

"Liar!" The robber shouts again.

   "No, I swear to you!"

   But Jacob is, in fact, lying. This guy has a gun and Jacob decides to be stubborn with his attempt at holding down the family business. I commend him, but there is a time and place. There won't be a Purple Heart or "congratulations" balloons for losing his life over a few hundred bucks. He could at least throw the man a bone, toss him a couple of twenties and feign being 'broke'.

   Honestly, all this yelling is giving me headache.

I approach the counter and place my bottle down before pulling a few bills from my pocket.

"As a matter of fact, you can empty your pockets, too!" The man yells as he points the gun just inches away from my face.

I deadpan him. Staring just past the barrel of the pistol and right into his eyes, I place two twenty dollar bills onto the counter before grabbing my items and attempting to step around the robber.

"Did you not hear me?! I said empty your fucking pockets!" He repeats angrily.

"No." I respond dryly.

I'm not afraid of death. It's all I've been wanting for a long time. So, I'm definitely not afraid of a man who is willing to grant me just that. I note how unsteady the weapon is and confirmed that he isn't willing to actual pull the trigger.

"You think I won't kill you?!" He shouts.

"Either do it or get the fuck out of my way!" I respond with the same animosity.

   He just stares at me with nervous twitches of the trigger finger. His breathing is all that can be heard as we initiate a stare down. After a long 10 seconds, I scoff.

   "Pussy." I growl with a snarl of my upper lip.

"Ah!" We all turn when we hear a scream and a bottle shatter against the floor.

It's the wine girl. She has just stepped out of the aisle and the shock of the situation has made her drop her bottle to cover her mouth. I see the barrel of the gun is pointed at her and I take a swift step to place myself between her and the culprit.

If anyone's going to die today, it's got to at least be someone who wants to.

Suddenly, I catch sight of Jacob who makes a break for the shotgun I know is behind the counter. This movement makes the robber shoot in his direction immediately and I take the opportunity to tackle the man to the ground. He continues firing off rounds as we wrestle on the ground. I am doing everything to keep the barrel facing away from me. I suddenly feel searing pain cut through my upper right arm but I continue to fight against the man.

When I feel a hard shove hit against my shoulders, I fall backwards and onto my ass.

"Come on, nigga, the police are coming!" I look up to see another masked assailant grab onto the first one to help him off of the floor.

The first guy stands up quickly and aims the gun at me. I don't even flinch when he fires it, yet nothing happens. When only the click was heard after the trigger squeeze, the man growls in anger before fleeing with his accomplice. The police sirens are faint but growing closer by the second, I'm not sure I want to stick around for the part where they question witnesses.