Page 39 of Starving Butterfly
“Kill her. I don’t give a fuck about her.” Shaw hissed.
Tears streamed down Melody’s face as hurt and panic settled within her features. “Shaw,” she cried. Dustin’s finger closed around the trigger in slow motion; time ticked by as I watched realization flash across her face. The trigger safety sat next to the trigger, as my moment and the gunshot would send her to the grave.
“Wait,” Shaw yelled.
Dustin’s finger withdrew, and Melody sobbed out.
“Well brother, you got us into this situation how do you want to play this?” Dustin asked.
“Move away from the door, and we’ll trade, him for the girl,” he urged.
Laughter bubbled up my throat, “Kill me, save yourself the hassle.” Shaw smacked my head with the gun. Blood ran into my eyes as I stared at Dustin.
“Now, I can’t do that Addams, I made a promise to someone we both care about. Letting you die is not on the agenda,” Dustin hollered back.
His words grabbed my attention, and for the first time in a while, I didn’t want to die. Summer. Did Summer send Dustin to rescue me? My mind stumbled on why he was here, but it didn’t matter. He was here after all. He had already saved my life once.
“Enough chatter let’s do this back away slow slowly.” Shaw ordered.
Dustin stepped to the left of the door. Shaw and I stepped right; they looked at each other as we walked in a circle. Shaw and I moved closer to the door.
“Last chance, little brother let him go or she dies,” Dustin warned as we were feet from the door.
“How do I know you won’t just shoot me when I release him?” Shaw asked
“Dad taught us better than that. All I care about is him living,” Dustin replied.
Shaw chuckled darkly, “Dad never gave a shit about us if he had he wouldn’t have died.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should’ve looked for you.”
“You were my brother I trusted you,” I felt wetness hit my collarbone and turned my head to see Shaw crying.
“I failed you, but it doesn’t have to end this way. Let him go.”
“Please,” Melody sobbed.
“Last chance, I’ll kill her you know that I will.”
“Shaw, please.” Melody cried louder.
“On the count of three,” Shaw shoved me forward, and I wobbled on shaky legs. “One,” he confirmed.
I walked toward Dustin. Melody walked towards me. “Two,” Dustin continued.
Tension coiled in the air as Melody and I passed each other, both looking worse for wear.
“Three.” They said in unison, guns raised, as Melody and I ducked for cover.
I slid to the side as a gun narrowly missed my frame. Another gunshot hit the window of the roof door, and I looked up just in time to see a wounded Melody being dragged backwards into the building.
Dustin was on me in an instant, punching me across the face and then hugging me tight. I chattered as the adrenaline left my system.
“What were you thinking Addams?” he hissed, pulling me into a sitting position.
“I wasn’t,” I shrugged, and he looked me over.
“You’re bleeding,” I said, my eyes catching sight of the blood oozing from his biceps onto the black t-shirt.
