Disclaimer: See Part 1
Feedback: Email TT

Realigning Destiny
By TT

Sometimes chance intervenes in our lives and causes destiny to jump the tracks. When this happens, fate steps in and realigns destiny’s course to bring us to where we need to be. But, as with the course of true love, the road of realignment doesn’t always run smooth.

Part 50 - Under Pressure

When placed under enough pressure, eventually things will collapse or change.

When placed under pressure, humans don't always react in expected ways.

Though enough pressure in the right places can wear down or destroy any person, that same pressure, applied in a different way or to a different place can yield surprising results.

After four years of living on the run, of bearing the weight of her loved ones' safety, when presented with her worst nightmare, created by the tangible applicator of that pressure, Stephanie did not crumble. She did not waver. She did not fail.

As she lifted her gun and fired, she knew in every atom of her being that her shot had been true.

Seconds later, that knowledge was confirmed by the blossoming of a red hole centered at the top of DiMarco's nose, situated just between his eyes.

Before that confirmation had time to appear, however, a second shot had been fired from her gun.

This one also proved true.

Mere seconds after the red dot on DiMarco's forehead appeared and before his body could begin to slump, the second bullet entered his chest and pierced his heart.

Another kill shot.

As soon as she registered the hits, Stephanie broke into a run.

In her adrenaline-filled world, the distance took an eternity to cover.

In reality, it took only as long as it took DiMarco's corpse to collapse onto the ground.

“Charlie!” she shouted, wrapping him in her arms and holding him tightly to her chest.

“Mama!” the boy replied, reverting to a name he hadn't used since his first year with Stephanie.

Words of assurance continued to pass between mother and son uninterrupted, even as another SUV pulled into the yard, fishtailing as it came to a stop.

The door burst open and Ranger exited the vehicle.

Relief such as he had known only once before when he had opened a cupboard and Stephanie had fallen out, swept through him, leaving him to fight the urge to fall to his knees.

Resisting that call, that urge, he moved forward, offering only the briefest of glances to the fallen body before embracing the mother and son.

He quickly released them and ushered them inside.

Tank, fighting an emotional release of his own at the sight, moved to ensure DiMarco was really dead.

Though this day was far from finished, the action was done. There were only legalities left.

The threat to Stephanie was gone forever.

Pulling out his phone, Tank made a quick call to Trenton. “Lula. Baby. I've got news...”

To TT's 100_Propmts Table
To TT's Story Index
Email TT