Free All Fall Down by Erica Spindler Page A

beer. Wiling away the time until my sister got home.” Ashley sauntered into the room, munching on the nuts. “Do I need an invitation to pay a visit to my middle sister?”
    â€œOf course not.” Mia smiled weakly. “You scared me, that’s all.”
    â€œMy car’s parked in front of the your house. Didn’t you see it?”
    â€œNo. I must have been daydr—”
    â€œOh my God, Mia. Is that a gun?”
    Mia looked down at the revolver she had clutched in her hand, her expression blank. A moment later, she returned her gaze to her sister’s, cheeks pink. “Yes.”
    â€œWhat are you doing with it?”
    â€œNothing.” Looking uncomfortable, Mia turned and stuck the weapon back into the decorative box in the center of the big glass and brass coffee table, then shut the lid with a snap.
    â€œNothing?” Ashley crossed the room, stopping to stand before her sister. She searched her gaze. It hurt to see her sister’s bruises, the yellow and blue that no amount of makeup could hide. “Why do you need a gun, Mia? Planning on getting rid of your husband the old-fashioned way?”
    â€œDon’t be stupid.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s stupid.” Ashley set her beer on the table, then reached around Mia. She opened the box. Inside rested a pearl-handled, snub-nosed revolver. Without even touching it she could tell it was the real thing, not a toy. “If the bastard were my husband, I’d be tempted. Though I doubt I’d shoot him. Too easy to get caught.”
    Mia made a sound of exasperation. “Stop it. The last thing I would even think about is killing my husband.”
    â€œThat’s where you and I differ, love. If my husbandhad done that to my face, he’d be history. And in short order.” Ashley reached for the gun, then stopped. “Is it loaded?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    She lifted the gun out of the box, weighing it in her hand. It wasn’t nearly as heavy as she had thought it would be. Not nearly as cold. In fact, she rather liked the way it snuggled into her palm. She gripped it in both hands and held it out, police-style. “Stop, motherfucker! Or I’ll blow your brains out!”
    Mia started to laugh, though her expression was horrified. “Ash, you’re too much.”
    She laughed, too. “I could get used to carrying one of these. What a rush.” She handed the gun back to her sister and for the second time, Mia set the weapon back in its box. “Do you think that’s the way Melanie feels every morning when she straps that baby on? All macho and stuff?”
    â€œKnowing Mel? Probably.”
    Ashley reached for her beer and took a sip. It was already warmer than she liked. “So, what’s with the gun? Seems like a dangerous thing to have hanging around if you’re not planning to whack somebody with it. Loaded or not.”
    Mia’s smile faded. “Boyd’s been…out a lot at night, and I just thought…for my own protection…”
    Her words trailed off. Ashley sobered. “You don’t have to pretend with me. Melanie told me everything. About your suspicions. What Boyd did to you.”
    Mia brought a hand to her bruised face, wincing, though whether in pain or at the memory, Ashleywasn’t sure. “It was awful, Ash. The way Boyd…I was afraid. I still am.”
    Ashley shook her head. “You don’t need a gun, Mia. Just leave him.”
    â€œI can’t.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid of what he might do. He said if I ever tried, he’d…that he’d hurt me.”
    Ashley drew her eyebrows together, growing more concerned by the moment. More unsettled. Her brother-in-law had always seemed like an arrogant little prick to her, but he’d never seemed violent. But then, their father had been a pillar of the community.
    â€œBeing afraid all the time, you can’t