He nodded, folding her into his arms. His mouth brushed her ear. “I hope I never forget how you looked today, but I know I’ll never forget the words you just said. Jess … just … never enough stars …”
Chapter Thirty
Knight
Irene added a surgical mask to her GI Jane attire. The stench of infected flesh mixed with fecal matter must not have been her aroma of choice.
“Are you excited to see your twin? I’m going to reel him in and toss him in the cesspool with you two.”
“He won’t come,” Knox said.
“Oh, he’ll come.”
“Only to take your life. If you see him at the door, I suggest you say your last prayer.”
Jillian tried to decipher Knox’s motive, if he had one. Irene captured both of them. There was no reason to believe she couldn’t get Jackson too.
“Are you suggesting he’s smarter than the two of you?”
“Yes.” Knox didn’t hesitate.
“Do you concur?”
Jillian looked at Irene and then at Knox. She didn’t want to join the discussion. “Depends on the day.”
Irene grunted, a sly grin curled her lips. “Well, he’s not smarter than I am.”
“He is.”
“Listen, Mickey, shut your hole or I’ll do it for you.”
“Don’t you fucking call me that.”
There was never a bag of popcorn around when Jillian needed one. The Irene and Mickey show captivated her.
“You cheated on me—twice. I’ll call you whatever I want to call you.”
“I didn’t cheat on you.”
“You fucked Sunny and her daughter.” Irene glared at Jillian.
“I did not.”
That got Jillian’s attention.
“I didn’t fuck Sunny while we were married or while she was married, and Jessica …”
She waited. He called her Jessica. Why?
“It was training. Period.”
Knox looked at Irene as if Jillian wasn’t in the room. Jillian dared him—needed him—to say that to her while looking her in the eyes.
“I saw the security footage. I have the security footage. Did you really think Grant would send his precious little girl to someplace that didn’t have eyes? Of course mine are the only true eyes that have seen it. Jackson will come. He will watch it. He will kill you. I will kill him and …” She cocked her head at Jillian. “I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with you and your Dr. Jones. I’m sure it will be mind-blowing.”
Jillian stared at Irene and her psychotic-bitch grin that reached her eyes. She couldn’t see her mouth, but she knew it was there. Irene’s eyes narrowed a fraction. Her brows drew together in a grimace as Jillian sucked in her bottom lip, sinking her teeth into it until blood dripped down her chin.
“You’re a sick head case.”
Jillian’s tongue swiped along her lip. “Don’t forget it, bitch.”
Irene pivoted in her boots and stomped up the stairs.
“You taste that?”
Jillian looked up at Knox, her face stone, her heart numb, her emotions gone. She nodded once.
“What do you taste, sweetheart?”
“Power.”
“I sure as fuck hope so … it’s the only thing that’s going to save you. It’s coming … she’s going to bring you to your knees with Jackson and Luke as her weapons of choice. Kill or be killed. Do you understand?”
Another nod.
*
Jones
With Lake safe on a plane back to San Francisco, Luke decided to visit Dodge and Lilith. He also decided to bring coffee and pastries.
The older man at the door gave him a once-over before saying anything. “Is this a special Sunday delivery? Have we been enrolled in the Breakfast of the Month Club?”
“I’m a friend of Jillian Knight.”
“Oh, well, why didn’t ya just say so.” He held open the door. “Come on in.”
Breakfast proved to be unnecessary. Jillian Knight was the secret password.
“I’m Dodge and the corpse over there is my wife, Lilith. You’ll have to get in her face if you want her to hear ya.”
He took the drink holder and bakery bag from Luke.
Lilith smiled and waved Luke over. “I can hear fine out of one ear. Have a seat.”
“Thank you.” Luke sat on the sofa next to her rocking chair.
“Did I hear you correctly? You know Jillian.”
“Yes.”
“Am I supposed to share this with you two?” Dodge asked over a mouthful of Danish, a to-go cup in his other hand.
“What’s your name, young man?” Lilith ignored her husband.
“Luke.”
All remaining color drained from her already pasty-white face. “Downstairs, Dodge. Now.”
“‘Please.’ Have you ever thought of asking instead of ordering me around?”
“Go!”
Dodge grumbled a few expletives that included “old bat” and “bossy cow” as he grabbed the bag and headed toward the stairs.
“Dr. Jones,” she said.
He squinted, with an easy nod. “How—”
“She told me everything. Not on purpose at first. Dodge led her to believe that I’m deaf. I let her think it because I wanted to hear the most romantic love story I’d ever heard … and I could tell she needed to share it, relive it. I think I love you too, but don’t tell old grumpy. Or do.” She winked.