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‘This isn’t about imaginary threats or tying up loose ends.’ She used the momentary shock her intervention had caused and moved closer to Jesse, remembering how Alex had deflected Tom’s earlier attempt to shoot him. ‘You’re jealous.’
Incredulity passed over Jesse’s face. ‘Settle down, sweetheart, not everyone wants to get into your pants.’
‘Not of me, you idiot,’ she pushed past the excruciating ache between her temples. ‘Alex. You’ll never be him. No matter how hard you try. So, you want to be the one to boast about killing him.’
‘The guy’s a fucking traitor. A bullet is what he deserves. Plus, he killed Ray and Paulie. Someone’s got to even the score.’
‘Paulie?’ The name was new to her.
‘Didn’t you ask his name before you spread your legs, sweetheart?’ Jesse sniggered.
‘What are you talking about?’
Jesse gave an irritated grunt. ‘In the fucking laundromat back in town. Found Paulie with his belt unbuckled and his face kicked in. Obviously, your boyfriend doesn’t like it when you give it away to anyone else.’
She felt the air shift to her right. She didn’t need to see Alex to imagine the look on his face. They’d never had a chance to talk about what happened to her while he was striking a deal with The Devils. This was not how she’d wanted him to find out. Her heart lurched. He would think the worst, that Paulie had succeeded in raping her before she could fight back.
‘Alex, he didn’t touch me. He never got the chance.’
The floor disappeared from beneath her feet. The force of Jesse’s shoulder charge sent her flying backwards. She landed awkwardly on her side, almost face to face with Tom, sliding further on the congealing blood.
Her brain was being bounced against her skull, the nausea took over and a mucus-filled liquid spewed from her mouth. She pulled herself to her knees, dry retching as her body reacted to movement again. She could hear the raised voices, fists on flesh, but she couldn’t get to her feet.
He’s going to kill him.
She couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t let Alex lose himself again. Not because of her. And she refused to lose Alex to Jesse’s jealousy. Not now. Not after everything they’d been through.
She dragged the back of her hand across her mouth, turning her head away from Tom’s judgmental, lifeless eyes. She was running out of time.
She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to summon the strength she needed to stand up. She opened them and saw Tom’s gun. It was only a meter from her. One hand in front of the other, her knees following suit. It felt like an age as she willed herself towards the weapon. Finally, her fingers pulled the gun into her palm. Pushing herself up onto her knees, she saw punches were flying between Jesse and Alex. They were both bruised and bleeding, and Alex was getting the better of his successor. While Brodie and the other guy stood by, watching impassively.
‘Enough!’ screamed Jesse through blood and spit. He raised his gun.
For the second time that night, the blast of the gun ripped through the air. The noise was more than Sarah could handle as she collapsed to the floor, trying to keep hold of the gun she’d just fired at The Devil’s newest enforcer.
Someone was screaming obscenities.Sarah’s head pounded mercilessly against her skull. She tried to stay very still, hoping the need to vomit would pass.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
She rolled onto her side and used the bed to support her weight as she pulled herself onto her knees. She could hear Alex speaking, but couldn’t process the words. Jesse was sprawled on the floor, his hands clutching his gut, trying to contain the thick flow of blood.
‘You bitch! I’ll rip your fuckin’ head from your neck.’ He changed his focus. ‘What the fuck are you two waiting for? Kill them!’ Brodie hadn’t moved, his good hand tucked into his front pocket, looking from the floor to Jesse and Alex, to Sarah and back. The third guy still leant against the door.
‘I said, shoot ém!’
Adrenaline surged through her body, an electric current giving her one more burst of energy. She heaved herself off the floor, staggering around Tom’s body as the room lurched in the opposite direction.
‘No.’ She stumbled forward. All eyes turned to her. She somehow found her center of gravity, drawing herself up. She raised the gun in her hand at Jesse.
‘What are you doing, Sarah?’ Alex muttered.
‘I’m finishing this.’ She looked at the two men behind Jesse. ‘This ends here.’
The third man pushed himself off the door. ‘I’m off the clock.’ He holstered his gun, opened the door and walked out. The door closed meekly behind him.
One threat eliminated.
‘Fuckin’ hired gun, I knew we should have used our own. Fuckin’ Zep. Thinks he knows everything.’ Jesse kept screaming. ‘Brodie, take this fuckin’ bitch out.’
