MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Departure
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The airport was chaos.
Percy was running through the terminal, his voice loud, his arms full of bags. Honey was behind him, her face calm, her eyes sharp. She was counting. She was watching. She was keeping him alive.
Aries and Ella walked together, their hands intertwined, their steps slow. They were the calm in the storm. They were the quiet in the noise.
Lyra and Alex walked behind them. Lyra's face was blank. Her eyes were scanning. She was watching. She was protecting. She was always protecting. Alex's hand was in hers. He was grounding her. He was keeping her here.
Care and Cole walked with Jay and Keifer. Care's hand was in Cole's. Jay's hand was in Keifer's. They were sisters. They were family. They were home.
Rakki and Ci N were laughing at something. Mica and Calix were arguing about something. Grace and Denzel were carrying bags. Freya and Erdix were watching the doors. Kuya Angelo and Ion were talking quietly. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
The family was together. The family was leaving. The family was going to India.
Percy stopped in the middle of the terminal. His arms were spread wide. His voice was loud. "INDIA! WE'RE GOING TO INDIA!"
Honey grabbed his arm. "We're going to miss the plane."
He grinned. "We're not going to miss the plane. I planned everything. I have a schedule. I have a—"
She pulled him toward the gate. "You have a husband who needs to sit down."
He laughed. She laughed. They ran.
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The security checkpoint was crowded.
The family moved through in waves. Percy first, then Honey. Aries and Ella. Lyra and Alex. Care and Cole. Rakki and Ci N. Mica and Calix. Freya and Erdix. Grace and Denzel. Kuya Angelo and Ion. Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel.
Jay and Keifer were last. She was eight months pregnant, but her stomach was barely showing. The twins were small. The twins were healthy. The twins were quiet. Keifer's hand was on her back. His face was calm. His eyes were scanning.
"You're watching," Jay said.
He looked at her. "I'm always watching."
She smiled. "I know."
They moved through the checkpoint. The guards were polite. The line was long. The sun was bright through the windows. The planes were waiting.
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The terminal was quiet when they reached the gate.
The family was scattered across the chairs. Percy was talking to a flight attendant about elephants. Honey was beside him, her hand on his arm, her face soft. Aries and Ella were by the window, their heads together, their voices low. Lyra and Alex were in the corner, Lyra's face turned toward the glass, Alex's hand in hers.
Care and Cole sat behind them. Care's head was on Cole's shoulder. His arm was around her. Rakki and Ci N were arguing about movies. Mica and Calix were arguing about seats. Grace and Denzel were sleeping. Freya and Erdix were watching. Kuya Angelo and Ion were reading. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
Jay sat by the window. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her stomach was flat. The twins were hidden. The sun was bright. The planes were waiting.
"We're going to India," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hand. "We're going to India."
She leaned against him. "I never thought I would go to India."
He pulled her close. "I never thought I would have a family."
She looked at him. "You have a family."
He smiled. "I have a family."
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The shot came from the terminal entrance.
Jay heard it before she saw it. The crack of glass. The whistle of air. The sound of something moving too fast, too close. The window beside them shattered. Glass flew. People screamed.
Keifer was in front of her. His body was between her and the glass. His arms were around her. His face was white.
"Jay," he said. "Are you okay?"
She looked at him. Her face was calm. Her hands were steady. "I'm okay."
The men were at the entrance. Five. Ten. Fifteen. Their faces were covered. Their guns were raised. Their eyes were empty. They were moving toward the gate. They were moving toward the family.
Percy was on the ground. Honey was beside him. Her gun was drawn. Her face was calm. Aries was in front of Ella. Lyra was in front of Alex. Her knife was in her hand. Her face was blank. Care was with Cole. Rakki was with Ci N. Mica was with Calix. Freya was with Erdix. Grace was with Denzel. Kuya Angelo was with Ion. Tita Gemma was with Tita Rachel.
Jay stood up. Her hands were empty. Her face was calm. The twins were quiet. The men were coming.
"Jay," Keifer said. "Stay behind me."
She looked at him. Her eyes were steady. "No."
She walked toward the men.
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The first man raised his gun. His eyes were on Jay. His finger was on the trigger.
She moved. She was faster than him. Her knife was in his throat before he could fire. He fell. His gun clattered on the floor. His blood was red on her hands.
The second man raised his gun. She was faster. Her knife was in his chest before he could aim. He fell.
The third man ran. She caught him. Her knife was in his back. He fell.
The fourth man fired. The bullet missed. She was already moving. Her knife was in his neck. He fell.
The fifth man ran. She didn't let him. Her knife was in his throat. He fell.
The sixth man fell. The seventh man fell. The eighth man fell. She moved through them like water. Like smoke. Like the woman who had been trained to kill. Like the woman who had been trained to protect. Like the woman who was carrying twins. Like the woman who would never let anyone hurt her family.
She stopped. The men were on the floor. The guns were silent. The blood was on her hands. The twins were quiet.
She turned. Keifer was behind her. His face was white. His hands were shaking. The family was behind him. Percy was holding Honey. Aries was holding Ella. Lyra was holding Alex. Care was holding Cole. Rakki was holding Ci N. Mica was holding Calix. Freya was holding Erdix. Grace was holding Denzel. Kuya Angelo was holding Ion. Tita Gemma was holding Tita Rachel.
Jay walked to Keifer. Her hands were red. Her face was calm. The twins were safe.
"You're bleeding," Keifer said.
She looked at her hands. The blood was not hers. "It's not mine."
He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. "You saved us."
She held him. Her hands were shaking. "I saved us."
---
The police came. The questions were asked. The answers were given. The family was cleared. The flight was delayed. The planes were waiting.
Percy stood at the window. His face was pale. His hands were empty. Honey was beside him. Her hand was in his.
"She killed them," Percy said. "She killed all of them."
Honey looked at Jay. At the woman who was sitting with Keifer, her hands clean, her face calm, her stomach flat. "She protected us."
Percy's face was wet. "She's my sister."
Honey pulled him close. "She's your sister."
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Lyra was in the corner. Her hands were in her pockets. Her face was blank. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"She moved like me," Lyra said.
Alex looked at her. "She moved like you."
She was quiet for a moment. "She was faster."
He pulled her close. "She was protecting her family."
She leaned against him. "She was protecting her twins."
He kissed her hair. "She was protecting all of us."
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Care was with Cole. Her hands were in his. Her face was pale.
"She killed them," Care said. "She killed all of them."
Cole pulled her close. "She saved us."
Care held him. "She's my sister."
He kissed her hair. "She's your sister."
---
Jay sat by the window. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her stomach was flat. The twins were hidden. The sun was bright. The planes were waiting.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She looked at him. "I'm always thinking."
He kissed her hand. "What are you thinking about?"
She looked at the window. At the planes. At the sky. "I'm thinking about the twins. About India. About the weddings. About—"
He pulled her close. "About the men."
She leaned against him. "About the men."
He held her. "They're gone."
She touched her stomach. "We're safe."
He kissed her hair. "We're safe."
---
The flight was called. The family moved. Percy was quiet. Honey was beside him. Aries and Ella walked together. Lyra and Alex walked behind them. Care and Cole walked with Jay and Keifer. Rakki and Ci N were silent. Mica and Calix were silent. Freya and Erdix were watching. Grace and Denzel were watching. Kuya Angelo and Ion were watching. Tita Gemma was watching. Tita Rachel was watching.
They walked to the plane. The steps were long. The door was open. The sky was blue.
Jay stopped at the top of the steps. She looked back at the terminal. At the glass that was shattered. At the floor that was clean. At the place where she had killed. Where she had protected. Where she had saved.
Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back. "Jay."
She turned. Her face was calm. Her eyes were steady. "I'm ready."
He smiled. "Let's go to India."
She walked through the door. The plane was bright. The seats were soft. The family was waiting. Percy was in the front, already talking to a flight attendant about elephants. Honey was beside him. Aries and Ella were by the window. Lyra and Alex were in the middle. Care and Cole were behind them. Rakki and Ci N were arguing about movies. Mica and Calix were arguing about seats. Grace and Denzel were sleeping. Freya and Erdix were watching. Kuya Angelo and Ion were reading. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
Jay sat by the window. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her stomach was flat. The twins were hidden. The plane was moving. The sky was blue. The clouds were white. India was waiting.
"We're going to India," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hand. "We're going to India."
She leaned against him. "We're going home."
He pulled her close. "We're going home."
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END OF CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN