Page 65 of Identify

A gunshot cracks through the air.

But it’s not mine.

The dirt in front of David spits up, blanketing him in dust. Mack tackles him to the ground, covering him. Reed flattens to his stomach, returning fire in the same general direction the gunshot came from. Three more shots sprinkle around the area where Mack and David lay.

“Where the fuck is it coming from, Reed?” Mack yells. “Can you cover?”

“No.” Reed runs to a nearby street scanning the area around the house and across the street.

“It’s that crazy bitch, I know it,” David yells from beneath Mack. “Get me the fuck out of here!”

I’m quite sure David means me. I’m disappointed that I didn’t fire the warning shots. Which is clearly what they were or else the guy is a shit shot. But with that gun—a .300 Win Mag by the sound of it—I don’t think that is the case. Regardless, I’m still tickled that David thinks it is me.

I turn and run back through the houses to my car.

“Your gun is loud,” Quinn says as she gets out of the driver’s seat and returns to the passenger side.

“That wasn’t my gun,” I say as I stash the rifle back in the trunk and tuck the Ruger under my seat.

“Who’s was it?”

“Someone else who doesn’t like your ex-boyfriend. And I have a feeling it’s a lengthy list,” I tell her as I pull away from the curb and we disappear into the night.

* * *

I’m not surprised to get a call from Mack a few hours later.

“What,” I answer, not in the mood for a lecture from Mack right now.

“Why you gotta shoot at my guy, beautiful?”

“Wasn’t me.”

“Bullshit.”

“You and I both know I don’t miss.”

He’s silent for a moment as that sinks in.

“Well, fuck me. Someone was either scaring him ortryingto kill him.”

“I was there, though.”

“Daria! What in the ever-loving fuck is wrong with you? Are you trying to get caught?”

“No, I was planning to scare him a little bit, fire a warning shot. Like what the guy did tonight.”

“One of those bullets grazed me, beautiful. I think the shooter tried to hit him and just didn’t have the skills.”

“And you wonder how my family has made so much money as hired guns.”

He laughs at that, making my insides warm.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yeah. Just a little scratch. Why, you wanna come over and take care of me? Kiss my boo-boo?”

“Good night, Mack.”