More Blue, more Blue, more Blue!
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Owen didn't feel the ground beneath his feet, nor did his brain catch up as he came out on the road. Everything pumped, hurt, spun. What kept him and Claire up at night was happening! Yet his surprise appearance stalled the silver car. Owen ran at it, grabbing the driver's door open. The man had pulled his sidearm, but Owen rammed the slide into his nose, claiming it for himself. Safety's off, but the mag's not fully loaded. Delacourt's coming up behind-
"Step away." a dark-haired woman ordered from the back, her own weapon sighted on his head.
"Don't!" Maisie was out the passenger side, eyes wide... and fierce. Seeing her reminded Owen to breathe. He glanced at the woman. "I'm not letting you do this."
"We're setting things right here, Mr. Grady." the woman's voice was like ice. The truck braked behind them, dropping Owen's stomach. The truck that held not only Beta, but three other obstacles. Even so, he didn't lower his gun. I have maybe three minutes.
"Maisie," Owen stared across the hood. "Run."
"You do and he's dead." Delacourt was out of the truck, shotgun at the ready. Tense silence hit their stand-off, minds working. The driver hadn't moved, but Owen knew his leverage was next to nothing. Two minutes...
"This is about me, right?" Maisie's voice rang out, gaze pinning the woman. "You said you'd take me somewhere safe, so... take me there."
Owen's lungs tightened. "Maisie-"
"What else am I supposed to do?" she glared at him. But beneath the glare was a trembling lip. "I can't... I can't stay here."
What was she even saying? Owen's mind fought for options where he knew there were none. He had run in without any weapons, no getaway car- getaway to where, the cabin? They know... everything.
But if any of this was their right, it would've been with lawyers and law enforcement busting down their door, instead of one car hiding in the bushes. Owen held himself on the cold ground as Maisie disappeared back into the car. His muscles lost their adrenaline in the same instant and the driver took his gun back. The woman lowered hers, leaving Delacourt to cover him. She stared a moment longer, convicted. "You had no business taking their property in the first place."
She's not- Owen didn't bother arguing. He backed up, breath and heart stalling as the door closed... and the car drove away. Through the glass, Maisie already seemed miles away. And you're just letting it happen!
"Don't worry, Grady." Delacourt, his barrel startling Owen's neck. "The more pay, the better care they take of their cargo."
Owen pressed his heels in, ignoring the instinct of a hand around the man's throat. He let Delacourt read the growing hate in his eyes. "I'll see you again."
That slimy smile came back. "Hardly."
A wild shriek stopped his threat, defying Owen's countdown. Delacourt spun to see Blue rip through the truck window. Blood already ran down the windshield, swaying with the weight of the raptor shredding his associates. He turned his gun to shoot, giving Owen the room to hit him from behind. They spun into the snow, hands grappling for the shotgun. Owen registered wheels squalching and knew the truck was headed their way. Unfortunately, Delacourt was just as smart.
The barrel split Owen's chin, stunning him to the side of the road. He grabbed Delacourt's overcoat, but he shed it like a snakeskin. The truck skidded, trying to throw Blue as it passed. She fought for traction on the metal, but her grip failed. She was flung off as Delacourt jumped into the bed. Owen scrambled to his knees. "Blue!"
She only had eyes for the truck, leaving him as she raced after it. Owen spit blood out, following suite; only in the other direction, back over the bridge. Toward Claire, toward the cabin... toward getting their girl back!
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Just saying, might've made Delacourt's Malta scene (while awesome) more impactful. You root for the hero all the more when you root just as hard for the villain's death.
