whole thing, but Norah provided the important details. You see, she was a bank teller, so she knew exactly how much cash they kept on hand, and how long it would take for the cops to get there once the alarm was tripped.”
Norah studies me with tears in her eyes. I wait for her to shake her head or object to the tale in some way, but the guilt written all over her face tells me Brody’s story is true.
“The job went off beautifully,” Brody continues. The blowhard clearly enjoys listening to himself talk. “Besides the one glaring, unfortunate hitch. Why don’t you finish the story, Nor.”
He nudges her, sending tears streaming down her cheeks. She closes her eyes. “He wasn’t supposed to be there.”
“No.” Brody sighs. “He wasn’t supposed to be there. But sweet little Norah forgot her lunch, so dear old dad thought he’d do her a solid and drop it off at work. Too bad he had to walk in at exactly the wrong moment.”
“I’m sorry, Silas.” Norah’s practically sobbing now. “I didn’t want to lie, but I was scared—”
“Dad just had to play the hero,” Brody cuts her off. “I’m sure seeing his daughter the way you’re seeing her now set off a spark in him he could not extinguish. But I couldn’t let him come to her rescue. It would’ve upset the whole plan.”
Rage churns in my gut, but as shocked as I am by this new information, none of my ire is for Norah. Yes, she made terrible choices. Yes, she lied. But I can’t blame her for what this monster made her do. She may have opened the window of opportunity for Brody to creep in through, but he’s the one who pulled the trigger.
I stare daggers into the eyes of Jack’s killer.
“Everything was perfect,” Brody says, running the gun barrel down Norah’s cheek. “We were in the clear. But then my sweet, obedient Norah went and got stupid. That’s the only reason I can think of for why she’d threaten to turn me in.”
He wedges the gun barrel between her lips. My muscles cramp from holding myself back from ripping his fucking head off. He’s right. I know exactly how Jack must’ve felt, walking into that bank.
Brody grins. “You have the same look on your face as dear old dad.” He whispers loudly to Norah, “I think this one’s in love with you, babe.”
As much as I hate giving the bastard credit for anything, he’s right again. I do love her. I love her more than life itself. But also know that if I do something rash, and he shoots me, there won’t be anyone left to stop him from killing Norah.
Brody chuckles, a harsh, scratchy sound that makes my blood curdle. “Wake up, man. You don’t actually think she gives two shits about you. You’re just a means to an end. A loose end.” He touches the barrel, slick with Norah’s saliva, to her temple. “I’m sorry it has to end like this, Nor. I mean that.”
I expect her eyes to fill with terror, but all I find is renewed determination. She meets my gaze, a look of urgency creeping across her features, as her hand slinks out from behind her back.
The paring knife glints in her fist. This time, my smart girl came prepared.
All she needs is a distraction.
“You know as soon as you shoot her, I’m gonna wrestle that gun from you and pump your scrawny ass so full of bullets, you’ll be more lead than meat.”
His sneer twists into a snarl. “That’s assuming you’re fast enough, old man.”
“Maybe I’m not.” I stare him down. “But is that a chance you’re willing to take?”
I can see the wheels turning behind his ugly mug as he weighs the threat in front of him. Clearly, I’m the one he should be wary of. Not Norah. Not his obedient little doll.
He swings the gun in the direction of my face. At that same moment, Norah plunges the knife into Brody’s stomach.
The gun goes off.
Ringing fills my ears, but it only takes half a second to realize I’m not shot.
And in that instant, I charge.
I slam into Brody, taking him down and forcing the knife deeper into his gut. He howls.
“Norah, run!” I shout. She heads for the bedroom, probably to call 911.
I grab Brody’s wrist and try to slam the Glock out of his hand. Something hard makes contact with the side of my head—a hunk of firewood. My temple throbs.
“Mother...fucker,” he