Page 52 of Where We Fall

I got a chill, wondering what was going on. If Dylan were unconscious, I’d have the neighbors and the police in here, as loud and frantic as I would be.

“Dexter…” I said, placing my hand on his arm when he unbuckled his seatbelt, “I don’t like this.” Didn’t he think this was strange, too?

“I have to go inside, Blue.” He looked at me and kissed me hard before getting out.

I leaned across the driver’s seat to see him as he made his way toward the front door. I straightened with determination. “Fine. I’m going, too.”

But Ralph held me back. I saw him shake his head through the rearview mirror as he got out.

When I looked at Dylan, who’d fallen asleep on the way over, I tried to reason that it was better that Ralph go.

“Stay,” Ralph said. “I’ll make sure he’s okay.”

He got out before I could tell him anything else and as I watched him disappear into the house, I wondered what was awaiting them on the other side of that door.

The minutes crawled by and I got more and more nervous. If something were wrong with Phoebe, why wasn’t the ambulance here? Why were they still inside?

A few more minutes passed, and I wasn’t going to sit around and wait anymore.

It went against my instinct to remove Dylan from his car seat and tuck him against me as I headed toward the front door. It was cracked open, and I could hear voices but nothing being said clearly.

I walked inside, and what I saw made me pull Dylan even closer.

“Good,” Rachel said, her eyes excited. “Our guest of honor is here.” She glanced at Dexter. “I thought you’d have to call her to come in.” She turned to me again and my blood ran cold. Cupped in both her hands, now aimed at me and Dylan, was a gun. “Put Dylan in Phoebe’s room. Now.”

I tried to breathe easy knowing she wouldn’t involve my baby, but I still wanted to kick her fucking ass for even aiming the gun at him. While I headed to the room, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed nine-one-one.

I set him down beside a sleeping Phoebe. I couldn’t tell but it didn’t seem like anything was wrong with her. Just as I finished reciting the address, praying that the operator got it down, Rachel called out.

“Come on, Noa. I don’t have all day!”

Dylan stirred and I felt my nostrils flare in anger as I set the phone down with the dispatcher still speaking. If he woke up, I’d take a fucking bullet before I left him here. He relaxed back into sleep and I pressed my phone into Phoebe’s hand. If she woke up and something was wrong, I hoped she knew how to dial nine-one-one. I closed the door, not knowing if I’d ever see the children again, but not letting any tears fall.

Not in front of Rachel.

“Stand over there, next to Ralph,” Rachel ordered when she saw I was heading toward Dexter. Her hands were shaking, and I couldn’t bring myself to look in her eyes.

I didn’t want to relate to her or pity her right now. Not if we weren’t going to make it out of here alive.

“I’m happy to have everyone’s attention. For once, I feel like the most important person in the room.” She laughed nervously and aimed the gun at Dexter, her hand shaking before straightening.

“That’s not fair, Rach,” Dexter said. “You were always important. Especially to Phoebe.”

She lifted a brow at her daughter’s name. I thought it’d be enough to snap her out of it, but she shrugged and continued. “Yeah? I know what everyone called me.Mouse. A goddamn mouse!” She looked at Ralph before glaring at Dexter and righting her aim once more.

My heart stopped with every fidget.

“You don’t even know what I’ve done for you. Forus,” she said.

“You’ve got the floor. Here’s your chance to tell me.” Dexter appeared calm and it made me angry.

We were standing at gunpoint. This crazy bitch was going to kill us all and our fuckingsonwas in the next room. He wanted her to talk to us like this was a fucking confessional when it looked more like a massacre waiting to happen.

Part of me wanted to bide our time while we waited for the authorities, but I couldn’t chance it with Dylan in the house.

I moved to lunge and Dexter stretched his arm out to keep me from attacking her. He ended up right beside me and it was hard not to hold onto him.

The muzzle was instantly aimed at me and my gaze went to her eyes. “Just fucking shoot me. Because if you don’t, as soon as I have the opportunity, I won’t show you the same kindness,” I yelled.