I Can't Own You? (BOOK 1)

54 (NEW)

PLAY SONG

At Dolly's, a home I've visited too many times to count, our group ventures a backyard party. Trees hold white lights; a floored dance area hangs with lights too, low hanging ones that string from a porch and to a roof of a gazebo. The backyard is full of tables and chairs and the whole damn block is here. On the buffet tables, bread, mozzarella sticks, ranch, wings, pizza cubes, BBQ potato chips and beers wait to be devoured.

I search for Dolly, scanning over the big crowd for a tiny redheaded lady. "Who are you looking for?" Sam comes from behind so smoothly that I jump.

"Dolly...I bet she's in the house cooking."

"You're parents just went in." I start walking towards a clearing in the crowd, my destination set on a white four square house. Sam blocks my path. "We need to talk." He outstretches a hand.

A cool wind licks my cheeks. "Do we?"

"Yes."

"I fixed the girlfriend situation, okay."

He takes my hand in his. "I don't think you did." I huff, having no choice but to be handled by him as he leads us away from the dance floor, nearing the gazebo. Inside the circular, lit up structure we go. "I know you're mad he didn't tell you about Waynoka. It's fucked up." Sam explains. "It's not her fault, Nakamo didn't tell you."

"I know." I take his free hand in mine, resting my head on the middle of his chest. "I'll apologize before we leave." I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

Sam sways to the music, moving me side to side with him in a slow dance. "Good...keep bettering yourself, you came a long way. I don't know if you realized." He twirls me around like a ballerina then spins me back in against his chest. "ChrissyPoo."

"I knew it!" I cringe at him saying the nickname.

I stare up at him, my eyes sparkling and cursed for him. His green eyes go heavy with surreal affection...full of the unmeasured value of love. We dance on, taking the night as our own, moving as one under a starry sky. Stepping, clasping our hands into a cozy interlock. The muscles of his arms work to spin me again; the strength of his smile weighs on my heart.

He kisses my forehead, slowly, sweetly, letting out a pleased sigh. His fingers caress my chubby cheeks, smoothing over them gently.

HACKERS

Lillian keeps checking the radar screen. I know she's tired. We all are. None of us have had sleep since 5am, it's now 10pm. I l observe the rest of my crew, wondering if I made a mistake. If my action has caused this restlessness in us. John fights off sleep, his eyes red and heavy. The two twins pace the room sluggishly, like zombies. My eyes are about to give out, but I slap at my lids. "Nothing," Lillian reports, not blinking, her voice low.

"Why haven't we got a response?" John roughly runs his big hand over the entirety of his face.

"Maybe business is keeping the guy from checking his email."

Lilian jumps up from the chair. "GUYS!!!!" She screams and points at the screen.

Headlights beam into the office, blazing through the windows around us. A frantic beeping emits from the radar, the sound pounding from computer speakers. The radar shows a red dot that stops in front of our place. I try to yell to Wilson and Wiley to get down but we're all frozen by the headlights.

Bullets crash the glass of windows and zip the walls, popping. An automatic weapon fires into the room. I duck, only to feel hot metal ripple my backside. I wail out, feeling my skin split and lose elasticity. I drop to the floor in pain. John suffers a head shot, his brains scatter over the wall, red, lumpy, and dripping. The twins bodies are pumped with lead, through their chests, bullets riddle. The brothers jerk like rag dolls, being blown back by the impact of the gun.

Blood splats the floor, flopping and slashing over it like paint. John and the twins thud to the floor. Wilson shrieks, coughing up blood, gurgling and wheezing. "NO. NO. NO. NOO!!!" My voice breaks into a gutless shout. An otherworldly cry. Where is Lillian? Blood trails down my back like multiple rivers. Is she hit? Is she dead?

I scoot on the floor, keeping my head low.

Before my mouth can call out for her. The bullet spray increases...and darkness falls.