Page 66 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)
Christian
“Looks like the whole gang is here!” His Australian accent is thick, his head turning to take us all in. A malicious smile creeps across his face.
I look at my friends as they watch in sheer terror. The barrel of cold steel presses so hard against my skull, it forces my head sideways from the pressure.
“Are you really that stupid? You think I wouldn’t recognize you?”
He’s smug, arrogant, and not at all intimidated by the four of us. Fuck, why would he be when he’s the one holding the gun.
“Tony, how’s the season going? That kicking leg of yours must be worth a lot to you?
” He nods his head to Walsh, like best friends chatting on any given day, and that catches us all by surprise.
How the fuck does he know his first name?
It took me six months to learn it freshman year, and that’s only because I saw it on one of his prescriptions.
It sends a shiver down my spine and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Exactly how long has he been here? Waiting and watching all of us.
“Quick question, if I was to blow out your ankle with one shot of my gun, how would that affect you?”
Randy’s back stiffens and Justin’s eyes dart to him. “How much would it cost you if that right arm got smashed with a bullet, maybe at the wrist or elbow?”
“You’re fucking dead!” Randy grinds out with a sharp point of his finger. There is a gun pointed at his best friend’s head, and he is pissed!
“It’s your friends who are dead IF YOU DON’T BACK THE FUCK DOWN!” He emphasizes each word painfully slow.
The gun presses harder into my head as I turn to face Justin. His face is red in anger; a vein bulges across his brow as he grips Shelby’s wrist like a vise, and I pray he doesn’t snap the bone.
More tears fall from her eyes as the barrel of the gun pushes hard against my skin, her bottom lip trembling in fear.
In my peripheral, I watch Seth and Randy take a few steps back, but it gives them better access to Justin.
Walsh follows a few feet behind me…all the boys taking slow, deliberate steps, like chess pieces protecting their Queen. My Queen.
My throat constricts as I stare back at him. All I know is I can’t let him leave with her. I raise my palms slightly at my sides as he watches me, a slow smile coming across his face.
He takes the gun away from me, resting it back at his side.
“How long have you been here exactly?”
He shrugs one shoulder, completely casual, like we are old friends catching up. “Baby, put the handle back.” He gestures to Shelby.
Baby !? His words make my body heighten in anger, but I don’t show it.
“Long enough, but not too long.” He smiles down at her as she screws the cap back on the car and closes the lid.
“When I saw her on Halloween, the day I arrived here I couldn’t wait to touch her again.
Scream had always been her favorite horror movie, and when I saw her in that black wig, I needed her back. ”
He smiles down at her and presses a kiss to her temple.
She ignores his touch, concentrating on me as she wipes the tears from her face.
“Had to have her body against mine,” he continues, dragging a knuckle down her cheek and wiping at some of her tears.
“I thought when she went camping, I’d finally get my opportunity.
No cameras, no police, just me and her, talking in peace without outside interference, but… ” he shrugs, “it wasn’t meant to be.”
Shelby’s hand covers her face, the realization crashing over her, she’d been right. He was here all along.
“God, she looked so gorgeous asleep in that tent, it took me back to when we went camping, just me and my girl.”
I tilt my jaw forward, tearing my gaze from Shelby to meet his stare head-on.
“Your girl?” I question.
This makes his smirk fall from his face and his back straighten. “Yeah. All mine!”
Shelby shakes her head ever so gently as strands of blonde hair stick to her wet cheeks. “You don’t know her; not like I do. We have history that you couldn’t begin to understand.”
“Yeah, I probably couldn’t since she has never once mentioned you.”
“You’re lying,” he challenges, irritated at my accusation.
I watch his jaw tic. Hearing that he means nothing to her is pissing him off.
I hear Walsh’s feet shift from side to side behind me.
My boys have my back .
“Am I?” I retort. “We stayed up so many nights talking after making love, and she never mentioned an ex-boyfriend before…she actually told me I was her first,” I deadpan “You must have meant nothing to her.”
His face becomes an instant shade of crimson as he pulls the gun from his hip. He jabs it into Shelby’s side; the action has both my arms coming out in defense.
“Wow!” I say as sheer panic radiates through me. I stare angrily at him as Shelby moves in vain to get away from the gun. “You must really love her if you can point a gun at her?” I snarl.
Walsh moves closer to my back as I watch Randy and Seth move in behind Justin. His eyes are fixed on me, and I don’t look anywhere but at him. Keep staring at me, fucker .
“I do love her…never doubt that, you fucking arrogant jock. You know nothing!” he yells, then spits at my feet.
I stretch my arms wide. “Then stop being a coward and point the gun over here!” My voice cuts through the air—I’ll say anything to get that gun away from her ribcage.
“You’re weak. You’re nothing but a coward,” I seethe.
“You say you love her, but yet you point a gun at her? Look at her.” I jab my finger toward her trembling frame. “She is terrified.”
His lip twitches, rage tightening his face. His eyes sharpen—no longer human, just hate—as the gun swings in my direction. Shelby wraps her arms tightly around her chest, panic flickering across her face as she stares at the scene in front of her. “No… no, please,” she whimpers beside him.
“Shut your fucking mouth!” he hisses at me. “You have no idea what you are talking about.” His face is pained, his eyes are burning with fury, the gun trembling erratically in his grip. “She’s mine, all mine…”
WHOOSH!
I was so focused on Justin and keeping his attention on me, I didn’t even see Seth coming til the last second. As the gunshot echoes around us, I watch all my friends fall to the ground.