Taking Aim

By Jeanette Grey

Teacher Julie Chao never wanted to be an activist. But after a shooting at her school, she can't stay silent any longer. When a mysterious, gorgeous stranger offers advice on getting her message out, she takes it. But the man is clearly hiding something. They may have chemistry, but how can she trust him, once she finds out who he really is?

Note: This story previously appeared in the Rogue Passion anthology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grey Pen Publishing
• Release date: Jul 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393927440

Book preview

Taking Aim

Taking Aim

Jeanette Grey

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Author's Note / Epilogue

Thank You

Excerpt from Take What You Want

Also by Jeanette Grey

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Introduction

This story originally appeared in the Rogue Passion anthology, published in 2018. This collection of romance novellas focused on finding and celebrating love while fighting to resist the anti-democratic forces of oppression and inequality. While there were many problems I wanted to address, I chose to write specifically about the issue of gun violence and the need for people from both parties to take action on it—now.

Things have only gotten worse in the United States since then, on many fronts, but I like to believe that there’s still hope.

That good-intentioned people can come together, find common ground, and win the fight for the soul of this country.

And that’s really what this story is all about.

Chapter 1

2018

---

As the sun glints off the approaching town cars, I grip my sign so hard the edges of the poster board bite into my palm. Sweat forms at my temples and drips down the back of my neck—and not just on account of the oppressive mid-July heat.

My pulse pounds as the cars slow to a stop. This is it—what I've been waiting for. I'm not going to throw away this chance.

Three weeks now I've been standing here in front of this government office building, holding this sign, sweating and silent, and every moment of it has sucked. But it's better than what I have waiting for me at home.

Teachers only get a couple of months off for the summer. I thought I'd spend mine reading books and catching up on sleep. But I can't concentrate. I can't lose myself in stories the way I used to.

I can't sleep.

Not without hearing the screams.

The gunshots.

Gritting my teeth against the wave of memory, I stand up straighter as the first car pulls up to the curb. Men and women in neat suits spill out, but I don't have eyes for any of them. They're just staffers. The driver of the second car gets out and goes around to open the back door, and I zero in on an unmistakable head of silver hair.

This is it.

I start forward, my heart in my throat, my mouth dry, but my voice—my rage—refuses to stay inside. Assemblyman Ryker. Sir!

The man's gaze darts my way, and I swallow hard.

But instead of stopping the way I always imagined he would, he looks away. Clenching his jaw, he fast-walks toward the entrance of the building, and the spark of anger in my gut catches and flares.

Assemblyman Ryker, I shout again, following after. My name is Julie Chao. I'm your constituent. Just a moment of your time—

One of the burlier guys in suits steps into my path. Any inquiries for the assemblyman can be directed to his office.

I look up at the guy with a glare. "This is his office."

In writing. Or you can call and leave a message.

I've left messages. I've sent letters, emails, tweets.

I've stood here, holding this sign for three weeks, and now this man is going to hear me.

Craning my neck and standing on my toes, I shout past the guy trying to keep me back, all my focus on my state representative, who works for me.

Ninety-six Americans are killed by guns every day. America's gun homicide rate is more than twenty-five times that of any other high income country, I recite. Two thirds of Americans support stricter background checks, closing the gun show loophole, and a ban on assault rifles, and yet you refuse to take action.

Assemblyman Ryker is getting farther and farther away from me now. Sudden desperation claws at my chest.

My heart rises into my throat. Angry tears form in my eyes. "Seven teenagers and teachers wounded at a graduation not ten minutes from your office, and you've said nothing. Nothing." The gunshots ring out again in my memory. The vision of Winnie clutching her arm, blood spattering her clothes. She's an honors student. A child. And I can't look away. I can't stay silent.

How can he?

Congress refuses to act. The president tweets nonsense and ignores the tragedies happening around him. Our state has the will to make its own laws, but this man—my representative, the majority leader of the state assembly—he won't even let the vote come to the floor.

I shove past the staffer who's standing between me and the man who could actually bring about change.

What do you have to say for yourself? My voice goes raspy and choked. "What do you have to say?"

A big arm blocks my way. Ma'am. You need to control yourself.

I snap. Control myself? People are dying and you don't care. Nobody cares.

And I can't stand it anymore. All these people are complicit in murder and the terrorizing of an entire generation. The assemblyman, his staff, everyone who voted for him. They might as well be pulling the trigger, every time they refuse to do anything.

Ma'am. He grasps me by the shoulder, and I shrug out of the hold instinctively.

Don't touch me.

Go home, ma'am. He drops his hand, but he looms over me. Or we will call the police.

Let them try. This is public property.

And we will have you removed from it if you attempt to assault the assemblyman again.

"Assault?" I want to laugh, but I'm afraid I'm going to cry.

All the violence in the world, and a tiny half-Asian woman trying to ask her democratically elected official a question is where they think the police need to get involved?

His expression remains grim. You've been warned.

With that, he casts a glance over his shoulder.

And just like