“I’ll let you go when I’m good and ready. And there’s no way I’m sending you out to that cop.” Billy’s mouth twisted on the last word. “I know exactly what he is to you. You two have been fucking for weeks. Don’t look so shocked. I know all your dirty little secrets.”
His words made her skin crawl, her blood turned to ice. Had he really been spying on them?
“I’m sure you’re a hot little number in the sack. I can see why he’d keep you around, though he’s only using you. He wants Ginger so he can get to me. He doesn’t really want you.” Billy squeezed Ginger’s shoulder. “The second he gets what he wants, he’ll dump you.”
Anger filled Janelle, replacing the fear. He only said that to upset her and it worked. He’d pushed all her buttons.
And hit exactly upon her fears.
“You’re a lying sack of shit,” she declared boldly.
Billy scowled, his eyes narrowed. They were such an unusual color, the gold shade reminding Janelle of a tiger, but Billy’s eyes were cold. Menacing. “Watch it, bitch. Say one more word to piss me off and I won’t be held responsible for what I do to you.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’re used to it, since you haven’t been held responsible for anything you’ve ever done.” Janelle swallowed, saw the ire flaring in his eyes. She should shut up, but the man infuriated her.
He wasn’t worth the dirt on the bottom of her shoe. And this criminal was in love with her sister. He didn’t look like he ever wanted to let Ginger go, and that was scary. Beyond scary.
“Janelle, be quiet,” Ginger said, her voice low, her eyes full of sorrow. “Don’t make him angry. You won’t like him when he’s angry.”
That sounded like a line straight out of a movie. But she knew her sister was right. The guy meant business. He was a murderer. He wou
ldn’t have any problem “taking care” of her if she didn’t shut up.
“He has nothing to lose now, Ginger. Did he tell you the DEA is after him? They’ve built a strong case.” Janelle curled her lips when she noticed Billy’s pissed off glare. “He’ll end up in prison for a long time when they catch him.”
“Yeah, well so will Ginger, they’ve got almost as much on her as they do me,” he said, immediately looking contrite when he heard Ginger’s horrified gasp. “It’s okay, baby. As long as you stick with me, we’ll be all right.”
“Is it true?” Ginger stared at Janelle, her eyes huge, wild. “The DEA? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Janelle pressed her lips together. “I can help you with all of this. Trust me.”
“You can’t trust her. When has she ever been there for you, huh? She doesn’t care about you, baby. Not like I do,” Billy crooned low in Ginger’s ear.
“Don’t believe him,” Janelle whispered, her voice a low hiss. “Please, Ginger.”
Ginger looked between the both of them, gave a loud sniff. “I don’t know who to believe.”
Oh, God. Janelle glanced out the window. Please, Nate, hurry. I need you.
“Hey, there’s a bunch of cops outside.” The waitress stood up straight, peering out the front windows. “What the hell is going on?”
Busting through the double doors, the cook scurried out of the kitchen, a worried expression on his narrow rat-like face. “Hell, I bet we’re getting busted!”
Janelle wanted to scream in frustration. The restaurant was full of criminal activity too?
Billy exhaled sharply and Janelle wouldn’t have been surprised if fire accompanied it, he appeared that enraged. “Now your detective boyfriend has called out his buddies. He leaves me no choice.”
Reaching into the dark brown suede jacket he wore, he withdrew a handgun, aiming it right at Ginger’s forehead, the muzzle pressed against her skin. A loud gasp sounded and Janelle realized it came from her.
“Don’t hurt her,” she said, her words tumbling over each other. Her heart beat wildly and the scared look in Ginger’s eyes spurred her on. “Please, Billy. You love her. You don’t really want to hurt her, do you?”
“If I can’t have her, no one can.” His lips had thinned into a grim line and he nudged the gun against Ginger’s temple. She whimpered and he stared down at her with sorrow-filled eyes. “Sorry, sweetheart. You should’ve never left me. None of this would’ve happened if you’d stuck by my side.”
Tears blackened by mascara streaked down Ginger’s cheeks and she hiccupped. “Don’t do it, Billy. I won’t tell anyone anything, I promise. Please don’t kill me.”
Ah God, this is not happening. Janelle sat frozen in the booth, feeling like she was in a movie or a nightmare. Things like this didn’t happen in real life.
“I promise. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Your lawyer will get you out of jail like he always does and we’ll be together again. Forever. Doesn’t that sound nice?” Ginger nodded slightly and Janelle noticed he moved the gun away from Ginger’s head a fraction of an inch.