2024 750 word challenge. This one might be exactly 750 words, after the ====
Larry Gatlin: "Love is just a game that everybody plays, and when the game is over not everybody pays. Some play the game and lose, some play the game and win. The winners walk out laughing, the losers cry 'Deal again!"
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Randy didn't pay close attention to the person looking under the hood of the car parked two to the left of his. That changed when that person, a man, turned towards him pointing an AR-15 style automatic weapon at him. As Randy instinctively froze the assailant whispered loudly "ON YOUR KNEES RANDY! HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!"
Dropping his briefcase Randy complied quickly as his heart rate spiked. This wasn't a random act since this guy knew his name.
In a much quieter voice the assailant continued "Palms on the ground. Lower your head and stare at your hands."
"What do you want?" a shaken Randy uttered.
"Shut the fuck up. I'm your worst nightmare. You've done some things that my client doesn't much care for" as the barrel of the weapon pushed into Randy's neck.
"I don't understand" Randy struggled to say.
"Then I might as well kill you right now. You're no longer welcome in this state. I've been paid to hunt you down like the scum that you are. Our game starts now, but know in your heart that I don't play fair. I love a challenge so I'm giving you a head start. Get in your car and head for any border. In the morning I'm coming after you. You'll spend the rest of your short life looking over your shoulder for me. One day I'll be there but by then it will be too late for you and you'll suffer the consequences of losing the game. I doubt you're smart enough to change your identity well enough to evade me for long, but I love a challenge. Close your eyes and count slowly to one hundred."