“She needs help.” Jane hadn’t forgotten that his friends had been soaking the house in gasoline. Williams didn’t expect any of them to live through tonight. “You could have done all this and gotten away with it. But you got greedy.”
“How did I get greedy? Trust me, I’ll get away with this. You’ve been so clueless. For years, I’ve been giving them information. No one ever knew.”
“Haversham did.”
“He did not.”
“Why do you think he transferred here? He’s building a case against you.”
Williams blinked. “You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?” She increased pressure over Sullivan’s belly until Sullivan subtly angled the pressure toward her hip. Jane masked the shift, hoping that meant Sullivan wasn’t gutshot. “You shot her, Williams. You’re clearly going to kill me too. I have no leverage. But at least I’ll go out knowing you’re going down.”
“Shut up.” He pulled out his phone, trying to keep an eye on her while dialing at the same time.
She didn’t try to take him down. She’d need to get closer. Jane knew she could take him, but she couldn’t risk him shooting Sullivan again.
“Hey.” Sullivan tugged at her hand.
“What? Does it hurt?”
“Duh. I got shot. It hurts.” She coughed, and a trickle of blood seeped from her mouth.
Jane froze. “Did the bullet hit your lungs?” Typically, a gutshot would have internal bleeding Sullivan might cough up. But no bleeding from the mouth unless Sullivan vomited.
Sullivan whispered, “No. I hit my face when I landed and bit my lip.”
“Good.” Jane sighed with relief.
“That’s not—better.” Sullivan’s breathing hitched. “But do you think…”
Williams was whisper-yelling into his phone. Walking away from them yet keeping them in sight.
“Think what?” Jane asked, praying Raine would show up soon. What if her cousin had gotten hurt dealing with the Mazzucas?
“…you could call me Jenn?”
Jane blinked. “Huh?”
“You never call either of us by our first names,” Williams said as he returned, appearing shaken.
“Oh. Sorry. Old habit I picked up from my Marine Corps days. The only people I ever call by their first names are my family.”
“You’re weird.” Sullivan closed her eyes.
Jane swore. “Sullivan! Jenn. Open your eyes.”
She gripped Jane’s hand though her body sagged. Jane could only hope Sullivan wasn’t as injured as she let on.
“Oh my God. She’s… She’sdead.”
Williams blinked. “She’s not dead.”
“What do you care? You’re going to kill us soon enough.” Jane tried to will a tear, but unlike Raine, she’d never been able to fake emotions on command, and especially not tears.
Crying was for wimps. Plus, Sullivan’s grip remained tight.Thank goodness.
Now to use that to her advantage.
