Page 184 of Perfect Liar
“You’ve got my back, so I’m good. If you thought it would be so dangerous, you should have let me carry your pistol.”
Jess narrowed her eyes at me, reminding me how strict she was about carrying firearms without a license, and I didn’t have one.
“Do you remember what Will looks like?” I asked.
“He’s kind of hard to forget. Don’t worry, I won’t shoot him. But if someone else turns up and threatens you, I’ll put a bullet in their head.”
“Now you sound like Will.”
“Well, this is serious shit, Ells. I won’t risk having someone take you away from me. It’s bad enough there’s been an ocean between us.”
I stumbled over a warped plank and righted myself.
“Now you really sound like him.”
“Well then, I like Thor already.”
As we reached the slip where Neptune rested, I dragged my fingertips over her green hull. I’d heard all the stories around town about the fate of these retired boats and how their old souls got lost at sea. Those fairy tales probably created the spark that became my emotional connection to Neptune.
“You’re still beautiful despite the fading paint,” I whispered.
The breeze picked up, and Jess’s flaming red hair billowed behind her. She jerked out her revolver and wrapped her hands around the grip.
“Shh…Ells, listen…did you hear that?”
But I didn’t hear anything, not at first. Then the subtle cadence of boots hitting asphalt came from behind us.
We spun around.
Adrenaline rushed my blood, making my body tense up.
Grating metal screeched as someone opened a rusty warehouse door. Light poured out of the building, and shadows darted around us.
Five. Four. Breathe. Three?—
Jess shouted at me.
“It’s too late to go back. Stay there and keep your back against that boat.”
A shadow creeped across the lot and headed in our direction.
More heat running through my blood, my pulse rushing through my ears.
Jess aimed her gun at the shadow.
“Freeze, asshole! Hands over your head.”
“I’m unarmed,” a male voice called out.
She raised her gun higher.
“You fucking liar. Stop walking and get on your knees now!”
The shadow man dropped and put his hands over his head.
“Okay, that’s good. I’m going to approach you. If you move a muscle, you’re dead.”
Jess then lowered her voice.