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Marie stayed low to the ground and hugged the cat tight. Her heart raced, and for the first time since leaving Nora behind, she was glad she’d entrusted her new friends with her baby’s safety.
Bill stood in front of the wide-open door that led to the back deck. Dried blood stained his white tank top and a yellow pallor glistened under his stubbled jaw. Mud streaked through his tawny hair. A gun rested in his hand, dangling at his side as if he didn’t think he’d actually have to use it—as though she wouldn’t dare fight back.
She rose to her feet and tensed her muscles. She was tired of being bossed around. A brief idea flashed of throwing the fat cat at his face and running, but she couldn’t bring herself to endanger the innocent pet. Without taking her eyes off Bill, she placed the cat on the floor then faced him with a narrowed gaze.
The cat arched her back and hissed, backing into her legs.
Bill jerked his body forward with his hands in the air. “Hiissss.”
A deep growl vibrated from the cat’s throat then she ran into the other room.
Bill laughed. “Stupid cat.” He took a step forward and glanced around the room. “How’d you worm your way into this setup? Spread your legs for him, too? I’d just love to say hello. I owe him a little payback before we leave.”
The last thing she wanted to do was leave with Bill, but she couldn’t let him hurt Lewis. Not after everything he’d done for her. She needed to get Bill out of the house quickly. She’d figure out how to get away from him once they had put some distance between him and Lewis. “You don’t want to mess with him. His grandson’s working the case of the woman you killed last night.”
Bill sneered. “You don’t think I know that? I don’t go anywhere without doing my homework, and I know all about the crazy old man who lives here.”
Marie lifted her chin. “Then you know he’s not a threat. But his grandson is, and he’ll be back any minute.”
Bill took another step forward. “All the reason to hurry.”
Bile slid up her throat, but she couldn’t let him see her fear. He fed off of it, and she needed to be strong. For herself, and for Lewis. “I’ll go where you want. Just leave him out of this.”
Eyeing her up and down, Bill latched on to her bicep and yanked her to him. “I’ll do whatever I want. Grab Nora while I take care of the old man.”
“No, what you’re going to do is leave her alone. Now.” Lewis stood in the doorway with his shotgun aimed at Bill. “If you move, I’ll shoot you again.”
Laughing, Bill pulled her in front of him like a shield and pressed his gun to the tender flesh of her side. “I don’t think so. I’ve got a man out front waiting for us, and if you try anything stupid, I’ll make sure my bullet does a lot more damage to her than yours did to me.”
Lewis tilted his head to the side. “If you know anything about me, you’d know no one would pull into my driveway without alerting me.”
Bill snorted and twisted the barrel of the gun against her shirt, the hard edge biting into her skin. She leaned away from the gun, and her elbow connected with Bill’s side.
He hissed out a breath and lowered his mouth to her ear. “Stop. Moving.”
His breath landed like hot, muggy air against her cheek, and she fought the urge to swipe it from her face.
Marie locked gazes with Lewis for a beat. Lewis tilted his chin toward Bill’s side—the same spot she’d brushed against. She dropped her gaze to the gun Bill had pressed against her. Bill had the weapon trained above her left hip, which meant he was holding the gun with his nondominant hand. His right hand must be injured or too weak to use.
Closing her eyes, Marie weighed her options. Lewis would never let Bill take her, and Bill wouldn’t allow Lewis to live if he could hand over evidence of Bill’s getaway car. She needed to get away from Bill and keep Lewis safe. She opened her eyes, blew a breath through barely parted lips, and jammed her elbow into Bill’s injured side.
“Sonofa…” Bill released his grip. He doubled over and swung his left arm through the air to cradle his injury. Bill’s gun erupted.
The deafening sound beat against her ear drum, and Marie fell to the floor.
“I’ll make you pay.” Bill straightened, but his shoulders dropped forward.
Fear sank its fangs in her throat. Marie glanced at the doorway.
Lewis lay on the floor, his gun by his side.
Marie scurried to her feet and lunged for the weapon. She turned, squeezing the barrel of the gun between her hands and locked her sight on Bill.
Blood soaked through his shirt and coated his fingers. The gun remained in his left hand and aimed at her head, but his arm hung at an odd angle.
Her body shook, making the gun in her hands bob up and down. Every fiber of her being screamed to shoot him, to make him pay for the sins he’d committed. Her breath came out in spasms, and she couldn’t stop her stupid toe from tap, tap, tapping against the tile.
A slow smile slid onto Bill’s narrow mouth. “You don’t got it in you to kill me. Besides, I’ll finish off the old man if you make any move at all.”
