Page 14 of Falling for the Delta
Chapter 4
“You wantme to pick up a sandwich for you today?” Holly asked Stella before she headed out the door. It was the day before Valentine’s Day and things between her and Dash, and between Stella and Magic, had never been better. It was hard to believe that a month ago they’d been ogling the men from afar and now they were…ogling them from much closer proximities.
“No, I’m good. Magic is coming over and bringing us something. We’re gonna go out to the tables between here and the PX and have a picnic.”
“You know what he’s got planned for tomorrow?” Holly asked.
“No clue, and it’s driving me crazy,” Stella admitted.
“Yeah, I keep trying to get Dash to give me a hint and he’s been extremely secretive about it all.”
“Guess that comes from being a Delta, huh?” Stella asked.
“I guess so. All right, I’m headed out. I’ll be back in about forty-five minutes or so.”
“Sounds good. Dash meeting you at the PX?” Stella asked.
“Of course,” Holly said with a smile and a wave.
She walked the three blocks to the post exchange…and for some reason today, she felt as if there was a weird vibe in the air. Holly had no idea why, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something felt…off.
She hated being paranoid but still felt herself walking a little faster. As a result, she arrived at the PX before Dash. She entered the building and headed for the small kiosk that sold the subs she was addicted to.
The building that held the PX was set up sort of like a mall. A large open space was at the front, with a clothing shop for the soldiers on base, a flag shop, a store that sold powder nutritional supplements and other health food, and had several kiosks in the middle of the space that were rented by various small businesses. Large windows lined the outer wall, facing the parking lot, letting in lots of light.
A separate food court was in a building next to the PX, but Holly had always preferred the less crowded sub shop in the PX building partly because it wasn’t quite as busy here as in the food court.
“Hey!” said Annabel, the employee who worked most weekdays at the sub kiosk, as Holly approached.
“Hi.”
“You want your usual?” Annabel asked.
“Yes, please. And since I’m here, I might as well order Dash’s too.”
“Extra jalapeños, right?” Annabel asked.
Holly wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know why he loves those things so much, but yes.”
“You got it.”
As Annabel made their sandwiches, Holly stared out the front windows. As she unconsciously searched for Dash, something caught her eye. It was a man. He was wearing camouflage, which wasn’t surprising, since they were on an Army base—but it took a second for the object in his hands to register in Holly’s consciousness.
It was an automatic rifle.
A moment after that registered in her brain, Holly heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots.
“Holy shit,” she muttered.
“What was that?” Annabel asked, turning toward the window.
As she watched, the man turned and headed toward the PX. Holly was moving before she even thought about it.
“Go!” she yelled, running around the small kiosk and grabbing Annabel’s arm. “There’s a guy out there with a gun! Shooting!”
Just as she said the last word, another volley of gunshots sounded, closer now.
People around them started to panic. Someone screamed.
