A Bond Never Broken

Chapter 25

August 8th, 2015

Store in Fairview, Michigan

9:30 p.m.

Derrick and I thanked the grocer and headed out to my truck. We piled out into the parking lot, hands full of grocery bags. Since this was a small town and kind of late at night, there was no one on the streets. The one and only street lamp illuminated some of the parking lot but not much. We tossed the bags into the bed of my truck. I put one foot on my tire.

"Hey, Derrick," I said.

"Yah?" He looked back at me.

"Thanks for doing this with me. We got a lot of groceries here and I don't think I could have handled them all by myself."

He nodded his head. "No problem."

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This was it. The moment everything we've been working for has finally come. It was now or never. No, I told myself I can't let this happen to Luke. I wasn't that kind of person. I loved him and his family. I loved Brooke... Thinking about Brooke made me realize even more that I couldn't do this. 

"Luke," I yelled. "Turn the fuck around!" 

Luke turned around as he saw the fear and sincerity in my eyes. There was my boss, gun and crow bar in hand. 

"You bastard!" He yelled.

That's when I heard it, the gun shot. Milliseconds later, I felt it. Right above my stomach. The bullet punctured me, causing waves of gruesome pain that i'd never felt before. i collapsed to the ground, placing my hand over the wound, feeling blood seep out and around my hand. I knew then with certainty that I would die here in this parking lot. But I'd die knowing that I tried to help Luke.

::::

I ran after hearing the gunshot. My heart beat rapidly as I ran, trying to get away. I was more frightened then I'd ever been before. This was it. They were here to kill me. Derrick first then me. I ran through the trees and shrubbery behind the building. I stopped realizing we'd come to a brick wall. My mind was racing. Where do I go? I could hear the sound of sticks cracking and leaves being crunched under foot. Every second they got louder. And louder. And louder. I spun to the right and sprinted, only to run into another wall. I couldn't go back. No, not now. He was on my tail and could easily catch me. 

I started to let the tears fall, burning my face from the scratches I'd received from running through here. This was the end. This was how I was going to die. Right here right now.

"I've got you now." The man bellowed.

I felt a sharp clunk to my head, then it all went black. My last thoughts were of the boys and Caroline.