Chapter 41

I am grateful for this drive. I'm halfway there, and the sea is always to the left of me. If anything happens, I can always find my way back.

Grabbing the phone, I see it's one in the morning. I wondered why Freddie sounded so annoyed when he picked up the phone. It's a seven-hour difference. He must've still been sleeping.

As I follow the GPS, I remember I'm going into this with only one weapon. The gun that is tucked into my pants. How am I going to fight Max and his goons with only a handful of bullets?

I pull the escalade over onto a grassy field.

LeAnn was highly trained. She wouldn't drive a vehicle without having a way to protect herself, especially on a suicide mission.

I jump out of the vehicle and begin searching through it. I open the glove compartment and check under the seats. I check everywhere. I then open the trunk door.

I am disappointed to find...nothing.

The truck is empty!

LeAnn wouldn't have weapons exposed anyway. Ryder wouldn't even have his weapons lying around for someone to find. Maybe there's a secret compartment in here?

Then I think of something! This is a rental.

Of course, it's not going to have any special compartments or a palm scanner!

There is, however, the storage door underneath, where the spare tire is stored. I pull it up!

There are two black duffle bags where the spare should've been. I unzip them both.

Yes!

One bag has a bunch of guns and ammunition. The other has knives, grenades, and a suit jacket.

I remove the jacket and find a gun holster that can hold four guns and what looks like knives.

Suddenly a sense of dread washes over me. What am I thinking?

I'm not an assassin! If anything, I'll get myself killed.

I lean against the truck. Tears start to pool in my eyes.

"This was crazy, Sam! So crazy!" I tell myself as I rake my hair.

Hopelessness, despair, it's all I have right now. Nothing else! I'm just some rich girl from California who has never even been in a fight. Let alone an argument. What do I know, I think to myself as I turn back and look at the bags.

No! Ryder, Mom, and Dad need me!

I have to put away sweet, innocent Samantha Hallowell! I have to do what needs to be done! I have to stop Max and hopefully save everyone I love.

Staring at the bags, I begin to wonder what type of advice would Ryder give me at this very moment.

I look to the left of me. The calm sea, highlighted by the moon above it. A perfect night. To the right of me sat a couple of feet of grass and a bunch of trees; beyond that are fields of grass. No houses or cars for miles, and the street lights heavily lit it.

Target practice!

I pull out the first gun I see from the duffle bag. There's actually a bunch of these same ones. It looks like the gun I used to practice on the scarecrow months ago. I try to recall the name.

Nine millimeter?

I grab it and walk closer to the group of trees. There's one that is farther back than the others. I aim for that one!

"Okay," I say, exhaling. "Open your legs slightly, inhale, squeeze the trigger lightly, exhale."

Aiming for the tree, I close one eye. The second I pull the trigger, I get scared and shut my other eye—a loud bang echoing around me.

As soon as I open my eyes again, I see that I clipped the tree that's furthest to the left.

I look around to make sure no one sees me shooting at the tree. I'm sure I must look crazy. Nevertheless, I am a bit happy.

I managed to hit something. It's not the intended target, but something is better than nothing.

Then I remember LeAnn had shown me a silencer earlier. It was before that monster came in and killed her.

I run back to the truck and look for a gun with a silencer attached to it. I have to dig, but I find one.

The gun itself is bigger than the nine millimeter. It's black but also has a cylinder extension in the front.

I remove the safety and try again. "You can do this, Sam. Your life depends on it. Open your legs a little, inhale, aim, shoot!"

Staring at the tree, I imagine it's Max.

The way he made it seem like he loved me! How he lied! How he had LeAnn killed! How he kidnapped my parents and set their boat on fire! Ryder...

I aim the gun and hold my breath as I walk towards my target. I press the trigger lightly. I hit the side of the middle tree and continue to empty the clip into that tree!

Yes!

The excitement makes me screams out loud! I run back to the truck and grab three knives.

LeAnn was holding them a certain way when she threw them at The Man.

I need to do that!

Standing a few feet from the trees, I throw it! The knife bounces off the tree and hits the ground. I groan as I pick it up and walk back to my spot.

LeAnn held the tip of the knife between her thumb and pointer finger. She also had one foot in front of her as she threw it.

I close my eyes and exhale.

I open my eyes. Again, I am aiming for the middle tree.

I throw it with all my might, just as LeAnn did it!

I stab the tree! It isn't deep enough, it stays attached for a couple of seconds, and then it falls to the ground.

Yes! I know it isn't a kill shot, but it will be enough to injure anyone coming at me slightly.

I retrieve the knife, shut the trunk, and get back inside the truck. "I'm coming, guys!"

Right as I pull off, a blue sedan skids to a halt in front of me! My heart jumps into my throat as the driver side door opens.

No, I think to myself! The man found me!