The Champions were outside waiting for her. If she could keep Lily talking until they came in looking for her, then there might be a way out of this mess. If not…? Can’t think about that right now, Shelby.
“I’m sorry, Lily. You’re right about me,” she said, feeling her heart pound hard in her chest. “I was a horrible friend to Sam. I failed her. You should’ve been the one. You might’ve saved her.”
“You think you can fool me with your sweet talk? You can’t. And you’re wrong. It wouldn’t have been ‘might.’ Samantha would still be here if it weren’t for you. But you’re going to pay. I’ve made sure of that.”
Lily’s eyes darted around the room, showing Shelby how insane she really was.
I need more time. Keep her talking.
“You’re right. I’m so sorry.”
“If Mom hadn’t gotten so nosy, you would’ve been going to prison for the rest of your miserable life.”
Realization flooded into Shelby. Lily was behind everything. “You? You’re the one who killed Lucille and Trixie.”
“The one and only. When you told Mom and me about your date in Elko, I knew what I had to do. It was easy, too. I found your nana’s gun. Sam had told me about the pistol and where you stashed it. Mom was busy trying to kiss up to Carlotta, the bitch who stole her restaurant, for a job, so I had time to drive to Elko and take care of a couple of skanks.”
Norma leaned forward slightly, groaned, and fell back to the bed. “Lily, please, baby. Listen to me. This isn’t you. You need help. Shelby is our friend.”
“Stop it, Mom. Selby isn’t our friend. You got a bullet in your gut because of her. Why do you care more about her than your own daughter?”
“I love you, Lily.”
“Then why did you go snooping in my suitcase? You should’ve trusted me, Mom.”
“Honey, I wasn’t snooping. I wanted to see if you needed any clothes washed.”
“And you found the jeans with those two cunts’ blood on it. Your meddling made me have to change my plans.” Lily sighed and rolled her eyes. “So, I had to shoot you, Mom. Either you’re with me or against me.”
Lily was completely demented.
“I’m on your side, honey. Always.” Norma coughed.
Shelby gasped when she saw the blood that came out the dear woman’s mouth. There wasn’t much time left. Norma needed a doctor and there happened to be one right outside.
Surely it’s already been five minutes since I came in here. Please, guys. Save me. “Lily, you have every right to be angry. I’m the one you should be angry with, not your mother. It’s not too late to fix this,” Shelby said. “We’ve got to get your mom to a doctor.”
“There you go again, Selby. You think you’re in charge here, but you’re not. I am. I’ll fix everything. One bullet and you’ll be history, just like Sam.” Lily smiled.
Shelby closed her eyes, unable to face the horror right in front of her. Instead of a gunshot, she heard footsteps coming down the hallway. She opened her eyes and saw Lily had heard them, too.
“She’s got a gun,” she screamed.
“Good-bye, Selby,” Lily said with a frown, aiming the gun at her head.
One of her guys—which one she wasn’t sure—ran in and shoved Shelby to the ground, using his body to create a shield.
From the floor she saw Brandon and Justin tackle Lily before she could fire on them. Alex must’ve been the one on top of her.
Then she heard a gunshot.
Chapter Eighteen
Everything was so very still.
Shelby finally caught her breath. “Alex, are you okay?”
He’d knocked her to the floor, saving her from Lily’s bullet.