"Someone's in a hurry!" I laughed at Mike who was shuffling quickly to the van.

"I want to get a goods night sleep before we go to New York tomorrow," he said.

We were driving to New York since the city wasn't too far from Jersey.
And then after we played in the city, we were off to Chicago via airplane. I could tell Mike was nervous about driving long distance. I didn't blame him.

"Dibs on same seats!" Tony bounced into the van we rented, followed by Jaime.

"Looks like you're stuck with me, bear," I winked, turning around to take her hand.

But she wasn't there.

"Claire?" I called out into the darkness, but she wasn't behind us.

I heard a shriek, and I instinctively jumped to my bag.

"Vic, what are you doing?" Mike asked, alarmed. I didn't answer. I dug through my bag for something particular... Something I packed specifically for this reason, specifically in case this happened... It was Jersey, after all, and this was his "territory".

"Vic, the fuck? Is that my gun?" Mike asked even more alarmed than before.

I pushed him aside when I heard another cry.

I sprinted to the sounds, and then I saw her. Struggling. And then I saw him kiss her forehead... The scar he had put on her... And then she cried out again, and he was squeezing her head, a gun digging into her stomach...

I didn't think. I just cocked the gun. And then I pulled the trigger.

He slumped to the ground. She didn't scream again, she just looked forward at me. She didn't look scared... Only surprised... Shocked...

I froze.

She tilted her head to the side.

"Vic?"

Even at the softness of her voice, I couldn't move. And my hands were still pointing in her direction, clutching the gun, unable to move even though I was unintentionally aiming at the girl I loved.

Notes

Another teaser chapter before I settle down with the rest of the story ;)