Page 12 (1/2)

Prologue

Natalie

“Wrong place, wrong time, sweetheart”

The words echo in my head

I’ve done this before Twice inti? Like isn’t it enough to witness this kind of violence just once in a lifetime?

Last ti in front of the freezer of the convenience store down the street fro which ice crea of the air conditioner Liking the cool inside on that too hot August day It was one of the few tio alone We didn’t live in the best neighborhood

The istered the fact they earing ski round and shut reasy shirt saw me He came at me and I would have screamed if I could find ripped me by my hair and hauled me to my feet, I follohere he led me

Another gunshot was followed by another scream and I swear I saw red splatter the walls

Blood

But when he threw istered what he meant to do, it all became surreal

Gunshots and fists and screams all seemed in the distance Like they weren’t part of e My reality caotten shop, with blood seeping from beneath the aisle divider Fear in the voices of the others trapped here with me Him with his pants undone Hi to shove him away

I reain

Remember the sound of footsteps

So

I re cocked Readied How I knehat that little click meant I’m not sure, but it’s an unmistakable sound I res as he registered cold steel on the back of his head

We looked up at the man in the dark suit at the sael His pistol shone bright in the blinking fluorescent light The angel called lanced down to wheremy eyes He pulledmy face in his belly