A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 1)

Galverson started laughing. It sounded genuine, like I was a comedian for his personal pleasure. He pointed his finger at me. “You’re funny.” He glanced to the side. “You didn’t tell me she was a joker.”

Jace still didn’t say a word. His entire face was a mask now. I was trying to read him, to see if there was any of the old Jace still there, but a cold stranger stared back at me.

“You’re like a robot.” The words slipped out of me before I could catch myself.

Galverson swung back to me. A speculative gleam formed in his eyes, and his finger moved to stroke his chin. He pointed to Jace, but said to me, “You care for him.”

My hand moved from Tray’s arm, and I flattened it against his back. I said, “No. I don’t.” I waited a brief moment. “But I used to, before I realized how much of a monster he is.” My eyes held Jace’s. His was void of expression. He was so empty. I told him, “You’re standing next to the man that killed your brother. What happened to you?”

A flicker of emotion appeared in his eyes, but it was gone in an instant. I wasn’t sure if I had seen it. It happened so fast. Galverson was watching him too. He asked, “Is that true?” Then he started laughing again. “You’ve always been a monster to me. That’s a good one.” He was shaking his head, but his phone beeped and he took it from where it was clipped to his pants. Reading the screen, he grunted and pointed at us. “The boat’s coming. Go on. Kill them. It’s time to go.”

Jace raised his gun.

“Wait!” I cried out, my heart racing. I was grasping for straws. “There’s DEA here. If you kill us, they’ll know. There’s proof we’re here.”

Galverson whipped his head to Jace.

The two shared a look, but Jace motioned to the edge of the tunnel with his gun. “Come on. Line up.”

Oh god.

We didn’t move so Jace started for us. “I’m not kidding. Move, Taryn. Your boyfriend too.”

Tray let go of me, but he didn’t move. He started to tap the side of my hip, then moved his shoulders a tiny bit, jostling the gun in my hand. As he did, he tapped again quicker. He was giving me a message. Then his shoulder moved forward, as if motioning at Jace. He went back to jostling the gun with his shirt and tapped even harder this time.

He wanted me to shoot Jace. I patted him on the back, confirming I understood and then he stopped. Jace moved closer. Then we heard Galverson behind him, saying, “Yeah. We’re in the tunnel. Complete evacuation. Have the trucks cover us.” He paused, then hissed out, “DEA is here. Send all the guards.”

They weren’t going down without a fight. I was watching Jace, still trying to search if the guy who brought me soda and ice cream was still in there. His eyes narrowed, like he knew what I was doing and if possible, he became even harder. “Move, Taryn. Now!”

I jerked at the hatred in his tone.

“Come on, man,” Tray started. He held his hand up.

I calculated the distance. He couldn’t lunge for him. Jace would shoot him. It was up to me.

Then Galverson cried out, “Let’s go. Kill them. We’re on a time table.”

“Get the fuck over there.” Jace snarled, gesturing to the tunnel’s edge again.

Slowly, we began backing up. We needed as much time as we could get. As Tray shuffled me backwards, his hand moved back to my hip so he was still holding me. I started to look for the best angle to shoot from. I wanted Jace and Galverson lined up. I wasn’t wasting time. I was aiming for the chest. I could do it.

Jace’s voice came back to me as I remembered, ”Don’t think. Pull the trigger.”

I had asked, “And afterwards?”

“It’s you or them. When they fall, watch their chest. Don’t look in their eyes. Once they stop breathing, turn around and go. You’re the one walking away. That’s what you have to tell yourself.”

I was going to walk away. When we got to the edge, I tapped Tray on the arm. I was ready. It was time to do this.

Time slowed.

Galverson bellowed out again, “Kill him. Christ, what’s the hold-up? You didn’t hesitate to kill his dad. Find your balls again, Lanser.”

Tray drew in a sharp breath. “My dad?”

I bit down on my lip.

Jace didn’t react. He didn’t show any remorse. He only raised his hands again and took aim. Hearing shouts from back in the tunnel, he wavered and glanced back. Galverson was on his phone, but he flung his hand in the air and snarled. Then Tray lunged for Jace at that moment.