Page 37 of Rune
“I was going to invite you out to dinner,” she admitted, and her voice was sounding less shaky. “Then, well..”
“We’re going to celebrate. Maybe not right this second, but soon. This is the best news.”
“Is it, though?”
“Of course it is. Why would you question it?”
“I’d have to move.”
“So? You’ve always wanted to go to California. That was always your dream.”
“But—”
“Don’t you dare say you feel bad leaving me. We both know I want this for you more than you want this for yourself.”
“We’ve never lived apart.”
“No. But maybe this is a sign from the universe that this is the time.”
There were footsteps on the stairs, making both of us jump. The gun slipped out of my sweaty hands and dropped to the ground by my legs.
I frantically wiped my palms on my clothes before reaching for it again.
“It’s me,” Rune called through the door. “They’re gone. You can open up.”
I scrambled to the door, unlocking it, then sliding backward.
“Oh, God,” Sofia gasped. “Chip!”
“Chip’s fine,” Rune said, holding up a hand at Sofia. “Saw him on the porch.”
“I should go check on him,” Sofia said, rising on shaky legs toward the door.
“Wait, sweetie,” Rune said, grabbing her shoulder. “Get shoes first. And leave the dog up here. There’s glass everywhere.”
“Okay,” Sofia agreed, giving Rune a shaky smile, then moving across the hall to grab her shoes.
It wasn’t until we heard her careful footsteps heading downstairs that Rune turned and made a beeline for my closet.
“What are you doing?”
“Hiding my gun,” he admitted as he shoved my sweaters around on the shelf. He reached down, removing each of the holsters and setting them inside as well.
“Why?”
“If Chip didn’t do it himself, I’m sure one of the neighbors already called the cops. They’re gonna be here any minute.”
“What… what am I supposed to tell them?”
“Exactly what happened. You were upstairs when the shots rang out. You saw nothing.”
“Are you leaving?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because your neighbor saw me. It’d be suspicious if I left. And you and me, we have some unfinished business.”
