Users by Andrea M. Alexander Read Free Book Online

in ours. A man with shaggy brown hair and a beard stood beside the driver’s door holding a Browning shotgun. He looked vaguely familiar. A younger guy who looked similar except without the beard, came up alongside him, also holding a shotgun. This place was like a weapons convention.
    “What do you want, Granger?” Kim stayed behind the fence line with Iggy and Wesley on either side, but she kept the barrel of her weapon aimed at the ground.
    The man said, “How come you can’t never invite us in like you used to? You ain’t never civil anymore. We used to be friends.”
    “Yeah, well, that was a long time ago. We’re eating dinner, so tell me what you want.”
    The younger man smiled at Iggy and said ‘hello.’ This caused Wesley to turn in his direction.
    “Hey, Austin,” Iggy replied on an exhale, her gaze softening before turning back to the older man, who was probably his father.
    “I wanted to see about buying some gas off ya,” Granger said.
    Iggy asked, “Why don’t you buy it in town like everyone else?”
    “Why don’t you shut up and let the grown-ups talk?”
    “Why don’t you fuck off,” she snapped.
    Granger grabbed his crotch and said, “I can teach you a thing or two about fuckin’ off, little girl.”
    Kim raised and cocked her weapon. Wesley stepped forward, took a low aim, and said, “And I can hurt you so bad that you’ll never be able to fuck again.”
    Granger spit on the ground and scowled at Iggy. “That’s a woman for ya. Gotta hide behind her freak watchdog.”
    Cody leaned toward me and whispered, “Shit, man. This is serious.”
    I moved up, edging around people until I was standing just behind Iggy, who was taking shallow breaths and staring.
    “Get the fuck out of here, Granger,” Kim shouted.
    “I’m willing to offer ya twenty-five bucks a gallon. Town’s a little dry right now.”
    “No deal.”
    “No deal, huh? Because I insulted your daughter? She ain’t got no respect for her elders. You need to put personal feelings aside so you can do business.”
    “You’re not an elder, Granger. You’re an asshole,” Kim told him. “And you ain’t got the sense God gave a rock if you think I’m gonna do business with you.”
    “Thirty a gallon,” he offered.
    “What part of ‘fuck off’ do you not understand?”
    Granger stopped chewing on whatever was in his mouth and spit again. “You don’t wanna make the mistake refusing to do business with me.”
    “I’ll give you to the count of three before we shoot.”
    Granger shook his head. “You stupid, fucking cu—” Suddenly he froze and clutched his chest. His eyes went wide and he grunted before falling to his knees, dropping his gun. Austin grabbed hold of him and asked what was wrong.
    Cody said, “He’s having a heart attack.”
    I strained to see. “Maybe he’s choking.”
    Kim lowered her weapon and turned to Iggy. So quietly that I almost didn’t hear, she said, “Iggy, stop.”
    Granger collapsed onto his back and clutched at his chest.
    Kim grabbed her stepdaughter’s arm and said more forcefully, “Iggy. Stop it.”
    Iggy blinked several times and focused on Kim, clapping a hand over her mouth. Wesley laid a hand on her shoulder, but Iggy turned away and jogged toward the house. Granger sucked in a deep breath and rolled over, his son helping him to his feet. Once he was standing, he massaged his chest and said, “You bunch of freaks!” But he got into his truck and started the engine.
    Kim closed the gate. Wesley ran to the house. Cody and I stood there for a few minutes exchanging looks of confusion.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Cael
    More people sat at the breakfast table this morning, all them bleary-eyed and bent over mugs of coffee. Cody was still sleeping, and I didn’t know where Iggy or her parents were. I filled a mug with coffee, declined Jamie’s breakfast offer, and stepped out onto the veranda.
    It was cool outside, and I was glad I’d worn a sweatshirt.