Page 168 of The Incredible Ordinary

The urge to punch him is almost irresistible by now. My fingers curl into a fist in anticipation.

“I wouldn’t.” Dallas jams the gun more firmly against Rory’s temple. I’m fairly sure I’d be pissing myself, but Rory doesn’t make a sound. He just closes his eyes for a second before he aims his gaze at his feet and keeps it there. I will him to look at me so I can get at least a hint that he’s somewhat okay. He doesn’t.

Jordan is slowly inching his way toward the stairs again, though. Our gazes collide, and he looks at me, brow hitching the tiniest bit before he very deliberately looks to the side for a second, then back at me.

“Well?” I say loudly. I’m mostly out of options, but right now all I really need to do is be annoying enough to keep Dallas’s attention on me. I can do that. “I can’t say I was holding my breath before, but you don’t really seem to have a plan.”

Dallas’s jaw tightens for a moment.

He scoffs and shakes his head.

“Money, Corbin, if it’s not clear yet. I want money.”

“Oh, in that case, let me get my checkbook.”

He sends me a disgusted look. “Do you ever just shut the fuck up?”

“When asked nicely. But you don’t need to bother. See, I don’t particularly like you.”

“I don’t care for you much either,” he snarls.

“I’m crushed.”

“Fuck you,” he spits.

“There’s not enough money in the world.”

He takes a couple of quick steps toward me, and Rory lets out a whimper when the gun slams into his temple.

“Money!” Dallas snaps. “Let’s get this over with. You wanna walk out of here in one piece? Better pay up. I’d say a milliondollars for every year I’ve raised the boy for you seems fair, so, fourteen million?”

I let out a short, incredulous laugh. “That all?”

His upper lip pulls into a sneer. “We’ll round it up to a nice, even fifteen million. It’s a tax on you, just because I find you that fucking annoying.”

“And how do you suggest I get that money to you? Venmo?”

“It’ll be morning soon enough. All you have to do is walk into a bank and have them transfer the money to a nice offshore account I set up just for this purpose.”

“And in your tiny, pea sized brain, I imagine that’s how you think these things work? That I just have fifteen million dollars sitting in a bank account somewhere?”

“Don’t even try. I’ve seen plenty of estimates of your net worth. Frankly, I’m being extremely considerate by not asking you for more money. It’s not like you can’t afford to pay me a fair amount. I’ve earned it, taking care of the brat for you.”

“Yeah, you’re benevolent as fuck. I don’t have fifteen million in cash just lying around somewhere, you absolute fucking shit-for-brains moron.”

He drags Rory after him and points the gun at my face again. It’s a moment of relief. Better me than them.

“I’d start figuring it out, then,” Dallas says. He pushes Rory away, holds the gun against my temple and slams his knee into my stomach so suddenly I have no time to react. I double over and try to breathe.

“Not so chatty anymore?” Dallas asks. He aims the gun at Rory again. “Come on. Let’s get moving. I don’t have the whole fucking day!”

I can’t leave them here. I can’t stay either. I wince as I stand up straight.

“Fine. You’ll come with me to the bank and let them go,” I say.

I don’t have a plan. Mostly I’m just throwing things at the wall and hoping something, anything, will stick.

“Fuck off. What do you take me for? An idiot?”