Page 123 of A Violet Obsession

Because it isn’t the police.

It’s Joey and Keith.

44

LILY

The gun is in Joey’s hand.

I had mine half out of my pocket, my fingers curled around the grip, but he was faster. He was always faster.

My stomach rolls violently as I stare down the flat black barrel while my weapon is dead weight in my pocket. There’s no way I can reach it that won’t result in my bleeding out on Dawn’s tile floor.

Six years. Joey looks older. Meaner. Keith’s eyes blaze with hatred when he looks at me.

“Everybody sit down.” Joey waves the gun in a lazy little circle. “We’re gonna have ourselves a conversation.”

“Are you here about the amethyst necklace Lily stole?” Trevor blurts.

Dawn groans.

Joey’s face lights up. “Oh?“ He looks at me, a delighted grin spreading across his face. “Maybe you were worth something after all.”

“Joey—” I start, but he points the gun at me again.

“Shut up. He’s talking about the one on the news isn’t he? From that place you work?” He’s beaming now. “They said the rock hasn’t been recovered. And here you still are.” He tilts his head, reading me. “See, if you’d sold it, you’d be long gone. Beach somewhere with a fruity drink. But you’re standing in your boss’s kitchen, which tells me you can’t move it.“

He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “Need a fence, huh, Lily? Shoulda paid more attention growing up instead of running your mouth.”

“Whatever they’re paying you, I’ll double it. Right now. Tonight.” Dawn’s voice is brisk and businesslike, trying to think her way out of the situation. That won’t help her with these two.

“Nobody’s paying us,” Keith steps out from behind Joey, and the years haven’t been any kinder to him. “We didn’t come for money. We came for her.“

“Six years.” Joey’s voice drops. “You know how long that is on the inside? I had a lot of time. A lot of time to think about you, Lily. About all the different ways it could go when I got out.”

“Pete died in there.” Keith’s jaw works. “My brother was eaten up with cancer. You know what kind of treatment you get for cancer in prison?” His voice climbs. “The kind that lets you die slowly, in a cell, with nobody there. He went in walking and he came home in a box.” He points at me. “You did that.”

“I told the truth about what you forced me into. You fucked up the robbery not me.” I keep my voice flat, even though my heart is trying to climb out through my mouth.

“Lily,“ Dawn hisses.

Joey lifts the gun an inch, sighting down the barrel at my face. “Here’s how this goes. You tell me where the necklace is, and if you don’t?” He swings the barrel lazily off me, to point at Trevor, and then over to Dawn, and back. “I put one in each of your happy little family here. I’ll save you for last, so you get to watch. Then you, Keith and I are going to have a little fun before I blow your face off.”

Some reckless, furious thing in me opens its mouth before the careful part can stop it. “Historically that hasn’t worked so great for you. How’s the leg?”

The gun comes across my face before I see him move.

Copper floods in my mouth, and I’m on the floor, my hands and knees striking the hard tile.

“Lily!”

Trevor. I see his shoes moving. He’s up. This man who has never thrown a punch in his life, swinging at Joey like something out of a movie.

For a second, it’s almost noble.

Joey pivots and drives a fist straight into his mouth, and Trevor falls to the ground with a thud.

Dawn screams, and Keith lunges, getting an arm around her.