PIPER
I lunge to my feet so suddenly that Ashley and Gram collapse in on each other. As they right themselves, I move down the steps, throwing myself as a barrier between Timofey and the only family I have left.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"You're both here?" Ashley balks. "That would've been nice to know, Pipe. What is happening? Is this some kind of wild west stand-off?"
Timofey pats his hip where I know he has a weapon concealed. "Am I supposed to say, 'This town ain't big enough for the both of us?'"
Ashley laughs a bit behind me, but it's only because she doesn't understand the very real threat behind the joke. She's right. I should have told them the moment I walked through the gates that Timofey was in the city. I should have told them they were in danger and forced them into a car.
"Timofey." I inject as much meaning into his name as I can.
He's looking down at me, a silhouette in the morning sun.
