Page 29 of Grace's Redemption

“Son.” I heard Papa’s voice, but couldn’t see him.

“You’d do this.” Mattie said. “Give me up to them. For what?”

Silence followed.

“I’m your fucking son.” Mattie pleaded. Tears streamed down his face, anger and hurt settled in his eyes.

I held my stomach.

Another bike turned into the complex. It was Derrick.

He skidded his bike to a stop and jumped off. He didn’t wear a helmet. His shaggy brown hair windblown.

“Pres.” Derrick pleaded. “We don’t have to do this.”

More bikes arrived.

Derrick and Mattie turned to watch two guys’ pull in and stop.

They didn’t bother getting off their bikes.

They were Vipers. The coiled snake emblem on their jacket and the evil sneer in their eyes gave them away.

Derrick drew his gun.

They all followed suit.

“Men.” Papa Scott walked into view. “Calm the fuck down.”

Papa Scoot stepped toward Mattie. He put a hand on his chest.

“You owe this, to the family,” he said.

No.

I turned and ran toward the door. I had to do something.

A low pop vibrated through the floor. Followed by a few more.

I turned back to the window and flattened my hand on the glass.

Mattie’s face distorted into a scowl that made my skin crawl. He gripped his chest, stumbled forward.

My heart raced. I clutched my own chest.

Mattie’s head dropped and his hair fell into his eyes.

He stumbled a few more inches and fell to his knees. He looked up with a question in his eyes. I read it from far away.

The question was why?

“No, no, no.” Derrick yelled as he ran to Mattie’s side.

Two other guys, the Vipers laid in clumps on the ground.

Derrick had tears in his eyes.

“Mattie.” He said and shook him.