| Chapter 31 Gary pulled into the drive and up to the house. "Wonder who's car that is?" he said as he got out and walked in. He looked around, no one was in sight. "Anne?" he yelled. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick, Tara, A.J., Leighanne and Brian were halfway up the stairs when they heard Gary. "Shit," A.J. said. "Shit is right, what are we gonna do?" Nick asked. Tara looked at Brian, "Does he have any weapons?" "I don't know, I never saw any. But there are others here too," Brian said. "I know, I can feel them," Tara said. Brian cringed and grabbed the back of his head. "Brian, what's wrong?" Nick asked. "I don't know, but it hurts like hell," Brian answered. Tara moved to the front and faced everyone. "OK, let me go first. No matter what happens, get out of the house, all of you. Don't wait on me," she said. "I'm not leaving you here," Nick and Brian said at the same time. "Guys don't argue with me just do it!" Tara said, "OK, ready?" They all nodded their heads, and Tara led the rest of the way upstairs. When she got to the top of the stairs she peeked around the corner, clear. She led them through the kitchen and into the hall. Gary turned the corner down the hall and met her, "What do we have here?" "How could you do this?!" Leighanne yelled at him. A.J. grabbed her and held her back. "Now guys!" Tara yelled as she rushed Gary. She knocked him off balance and back into the living room. Brian and Nick ran past them, and A.J. grabbed Leighanne and pulled her past and out of the house. "Oh, you're gonna pay for this," Gary said as he got up and faced Tara. "Not as much as you are," she said. Gary rushed her knocking her down. She used his momentum to flip him over her. Tara got back up on her feet, just as Gary was on his knees. She ran up to him and kicked him in the face with a side kick. He fell back down, and Tara took the opportunity to kick him in the ribs. As she did Gary grabbed her foot and held it sweeping his leg under the leg she was standing on, knocking her to the ground. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone made it out of the house just as Kevin, Howie and Kira were pulling up the drive. Leighanne was freaking out, and A.J. was trying to calm her down. Kevin ran up to Brian and gave him a hug, "You look like hell." Brian smiled, "I feel like it too." "Call the police, Tara is still in there with that asshole," Nick said. Howie pulled out his cell. Kira walked over to help A.J. with Leighanne. "Shouldn't we go help her?" Kevin asked. "Trust me, we're better off out here," Nick said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gary crawled on top of Tara and began punching her in the face and head. Tara caught one of his hands and held it away from her, she looked over and spotted a figurine on the bottom of a shelf. She reached for it with her other hand, got it, and smashed it on the side of Gary's face. He rolled off her and she got back up, looking for something in the room to use as a weapon. There wasn't anything. Tara ran past Gary and back into the kitchen, she found the broom and unscrewed the handle off it. Gary ran in just as she got it loose. "Oh what are you gonna do with that?" he asked sarcastically. "This," Tara said as she swept it under his feet knocking him to the ground. She then brought it down on his chest, knocking the wind out of him. He reached up and grabbed the end of it, holding it. Tara pulled on her end, but Gary wasn't letting go. He got to his feet and yanked the handle out of her hands. Tara looked around for something else to use. Gary walked toward her, backing her to the wall. "Looks like you have no where else to go," Gary said. Tara stared at him, waiting for his next move. Gary took the handle in both hands and swung at her. Tara tried to block it with her arm, but wasn't fast enough. The handle came down on the side of her head, dropping her to the floor. Gary stood over her for a minute, "Now back to hubby," he said leaving the room. Gary stopped in the living room and opened a drawer in one of the end tables. He pulled out a 9mm and popped the clip in. Then headed to the front door. Tara came to seconds after Gary left the room. She jumped up and ran out the patio door in the kitchen. She ran around the side of the house to the front. She could see Brian, Nick, and Kevin standing in a huddle talking. She looked over and saw Gary standing in the front door aiming a gun at Brian. She was running with all she had. Nick was between her and Brian, "Nick down!" she yelled. Nick looked over to see her running full force towards him, he dropped down, and she jumped over him, grabbing Brian just as the gun went off. They both fell to the ground. Everyone was in shock. Gary calmly walked over and ushered the others away from Tara and Brian, holding them there with the threat of also being shot. Brian opened his eyes, he was laying on his side facing Tara. She was looking at him with tears in her eyes, and she was having trouble breathing. "Tara, are you OK?" Brian asked. She said nothing but he could tell by her eyes she wasn't. Brian sat up and put his hand on her back, when he looked at it, it was covered in blood. "Oh God Tara, why'd you do that?" he asked as the tears filled his eyes. "Because..I..love..you," she said gasping for air. Brian gently rolled her on her back and brushed the hair away from her face. "Tara, hang on," he said cringing from his own pain. Tara shook her head, "I..don't..think..I ..can." "Tara, please, you have to. I love you. Please don't leave me here alone, I can't be here without you," Brian said tears streaming down his face. Tara looked past Brian, "Behind..you," she said. Brian knew Gary was standing there, "I don't care anymore, all I care about is you," he said wiping the tears from her eyes. "Brian,..I..love..you, I..always..have," Tara said, then she closed her eyes. "Tara? Tara don't do this, please," Brian begged. Gary was enjoying this little scene. The shock on everyone's faces when they heard Tara and Brian confessing their undying love for each other, it was priceless. Nick looked like he was gonna pass out, and Leighanne was beyond furious. Gary cleared his throat, and Brian looked up at him. "What are you waiting for?" Brian asked staring at him. "Nothing," Gary said aiming the gun at him and pulling the trigger. Nothing happened, the gun was jammed. The police pulled up and got out, pulling their weapons and telling Gary to drop the gun. Brian got up and stood in front of Gary, blocking the police's line of fire. Gary stared into Brian's eyes, and it sent a chill down his spine. "I thought you were gonna kill me," Brian said, "So do it already. You've taken everything I love away from me, so finish the job!" Just then Brian grabbed his head and stumbled. Gary turned the gun around and brought the handle down hard on the back of Brian's head, knocking him to the ground unconscious. As soon as Brian fell the police shot Gary in the leg, dropping him to the ground, then swarmed him, taking the gun away and placing him in custody. Nick ran over to Tara, she was still breathing barely. Kevin ran to Brian, turning him over on his back. He was bleeding from his nose. "Call an ambulance!" Kevin yelled. "Call two!" Nick said tears streaming down his face. Chapter 32 |