Judgment Day (Available in paperback & eBook-SAMPLE)

Chapter 5

PG-13 rating due to slight violence.

I'm sorry, but this will be a short chapter. I hope you all will enjoy it anyway. As always, thank you all for your support. It means so much to me. I will have another chapter for you this weekend. :)

(Michael)

I shifted slightly, ignoring the gravel digging into my belly. My focus was on the bowling alley across the street. I was staring down the scope of my rifle, waiting for my target to emerge and show himself.

Taking a quick peek at my watch, I saw it was ten minutes till eleven. The bowling alley would be closing at eleven. I wouldn't have to wait much longer. I returned my attention to the building.

A few minutes before closing time, people began to trickle out. I scanned their faces, looking for my target. To my dismay I didn't see him. Forcing myself to remain calm, I continued to wait.

Just when I was beginning to think he changed his mind about bowling tonight he emerged from the building. My finger settled more fully on the trigger, as I got him in my sights. When I felt confident I could make the shot I took a deep breath, held it, and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit him between the eyes. He went down like a sack of potatoes.

I went to work disassembling my rifle and putting it back in its bag, moving quickly and quietly. Once I was done, I stayed low and ran across the graveled roof. Slipping my arm through the straps of the gun bag, I climbed down the metal ladder affixed to the side of the building.

Reaching the last rung on the ladder, I let go and dropped to the ground. Adrenaline coursing through my veins, I stuck to the shadows and hurried to my car, which I parked on a residential street two blocks over.

When I reached the car I unlocked the trunk and deposited the gun bag inside. I removed the black ski mask and gloves I wore and tossed them in on top the bag. Closing the trunk lid, I moved to the driver's side.

At that moment, the sound of sirens shattered the silence. It was my cue to get the hell out of here. I slid behind the wheel, put on my seatbelt, and started the car. Shifting into drive, I drove away.

Light spilling out of the family room into the foyer caught my attention, as I let myself into the house. Leaving my bag by the door, I went to investigate and found Julia curled up on the couch, engrossed in a book.

I stood in the doorway and studied her. She was wearing a pair of black sweatpants, a gray sweatshirt that was two sizes too big for her, and those goofy bunny slippers.

"Stop checking me out, Riker," she said, without taking her eyes off the book. "I know I'm the most beautiful woman you have ever seen, but seriously you're creeping me out."

I chuckled. "Sorry about that. What are you doing up so late?"

Julia laid the book on her lap and looked at me. "I had a dream and couldn't go back to sleep."

I joined her on the couch, making sure to put some space between us. "What did you dream?"

"My father was chasing after me with a gun. He kept telling me to stop running, that he promised it would only hurt for a second." She snorted. "Even in my dreams he's trying to kill me."

"Your brother told me your father always treated you cruelly and saw you as a burden." I cleared my throat. "Do you know why?"

Julia closed the book and set it on the end table next to her. "I'm not his biological child. I was adopted. A year after Blake was born my mother had to have a complete hysterectomy, which meant no more children. She desperately wanted a girl. How she convinced Father to adopt when the Bennett bloodline means so much to him, I have no idea."

"He made your life a living nightmare, didn't he?" I inquired.

She swallowed visibly, her eyes taking on a haunted look. "I was verbally and physically abused throughout my whole childhood."

Anger rose within me. "Didn't your mother do anything to try and stop it?"

"She did and more than once her efforts earned her a bruise or a bloody nose or lip. Blake did his best to protect me, but there's only so much a boy can do."

"Ramsey mentioned that your mother was dead," I muttered. "Did your father have anything to do with her death?"

"No," Julia replied. "She died from a brain aneurysm two days after my twentieth birthday."

"I bet your father didn't shed one tear when she died."

"He didn't," she said, running a hand through her hair. "He was too busy kicking me out of the house. I was more than fine with leaving. After I finished college, I bought my own place. It was a relief to be out from under his control."

"And yet you can't shake him," I commented. "He's still making your life hell."

Julia sighed heavily. "That he is."

"I understand the reason your father wants you dead is because you refuse to marry a friend of his." I rested my head against the couch cushion and stared at the ceiling. "Why are you refusing to marry him?"

"I have my reasons," she mumbled.

I smirked. "In other words, mind my own damn business."

"Exactly," she said quietly. "I've opened up enough-more than I normally would. I don't know why, but I find you're easy to talk to."

"Maybe it's my charm and good looks," I said.

"Maybe that's it," she uttered dryly. "What about your family, Michael? Are they as dysfunctional as mine are?"

"Parents are dead, no siblings." I turned my head and glanced at her. "Ramsey is the only family I have."

"How did your parents die?" she asked.

"You don't want to know Bennett." I sighed. "It will give you nightmares. Let's talk about something else."

"Like what?"

"Keith Coulter." I scratched my whiskered jaw. "He has a problem with me, doesn't he?"

"What makes you think that?"

"When he learned who I was he couldn't get out of here fast enough," I responded.

"He's not comfortable with me living here." She grimaced. "He's heard things about you-things that has him worried about my safety."

"You're safe here, Julia," I stated. "I won't hurt you."

"Let's say for the sake of the conversation my father wanted to hire you to kill me." Julia cocked her head a little. "Would you?"

Her question had my body stiffening up. I breathed in deeply and forced myself to relax. "I have one rule that I won't bend or break no matter what. I don't harm women and children. Your father could offer me all his fortune in exchange for your life and I would tell him no. Now we won't talk about my job ever again."

"Why won't we talk-?"

"Never again, Julia," I interrupted, harshly. "My job is off limits for discussion. I won't talk about it with you. The less you know the better off you are-the safer you are." I got up from the couch. "I'm turning in. You should go back to bed and try and get some sleep."

I didn't wait for her response. Leaving the family room, I retrieved my bag from near the door and headed upstairs.