Page 210 of Lawless God

She gives me a lopsided smile. “I just had a huge argument with Billie.” She huffs. “I love her, but she keeps trying to make me leave this place, this life. She doesn’t understand that I’m not like her. The North Shore is my home. It’s a shitty home, but I feel good here. Especially now that, you know, NSC and the Kings are not at each other’s throats too much anymore.”

She pays for her stuff, and we head out. “She hasn’t been back since things have been better. Maybe you should tell her to come.”

“She’s been traveling for her fights. But fuck, you’re right, it’s been weeks. We always argue when she hasn’t been here in a while, but this one was bad. I think when we don’t have the outlet of hitting each other, she gets really angry and upset.”

She looks away as tears sparkle in her eyes. “She told me not to talk to her until I was ready to leave ‘the criminal life.’”—she quotes with her fingers—“behind. Which is bullshit because I won’t. She hung up on me.”

Letting go of Livie’s hand, I look for my car keys in my bag.

“Do you know what it sounds like?” I ask in total honesty. “It sounds like she loves her sister and she’s worried for her.”

Emma looks down at her plastic bag and nods. “Yeah, I think so. It would be stupid to stop talking just because we’re both so stubborn.”

“Uh-huh.”

Livie pulls at my sleeve, and I feel her impatience. I squat next to her, open her popsicle, and give it to her. “Here you go, sweetie.”

I just bought us a few minutes.

“Are you doing anything tonight? You should come over. We’ll distract you better than beer and ice cream.”

She bursts into a laugh. “You just want me to make my spinach and ricotta stuffed chicken, don’t you?”

“Emma, it’s so good. I can’t get enough of it.”

A car driving into the lot at full speed cuts off our laughter. Instinctively, I move my body in front of Livie, putting her between me and my car.

“What the fuck, asshole!” Emma screams.

But I know something is wrong when their tires screech to a halt right in front of us.

“Get in the car,” I say as I drop the popsicles and open the door in a split second.

I pick up Livie, ready to take her with me on my lap to not waste any time, but I’m already too late. Two men jump out of the back, balaclavas covering their faces, and they point guns at us.

“I’ve got my kid. I’ve got my kid!” I bark, turning my back to them and putting a hand on her head. “Don’t hurt her!”

But they’re not here to kill us. I know that because we’re still breathing as they walk toward us. They could have just shot and got back in the car.

A hand flies to my hair, dragging me back. “You’re coming with us,” the male voice orders, bringing his gun to my head.

“Wait! Wait…let me put her down. I’ll come, just don’t hurt my daughter.”

He doesn’t give a shit. He pulls me harder, and I’m forced to drop Livie in a clumsy way, mumbling, “Go to Emma,” as she falls out of my arms. “Go to Emma, sweetie,” I try to say in a reassuring voice.

It’s hard to keep a calm tone. He’s hurting me, pulling me so harshly that I stumble backward. Livie doesn’t move, but Emma is taking her hand, pulling her away.

We’re already at the car, and the one holding me is dragging me inside. The other turns around to get in, and Emma uses that moment to pull out her gun.

In a split second, the man holding me aims…and he shoots.

The bullet lands right in her head, and she falls backward to the ground.

“Emma!” My scream burns through my throat, piercing my ears. “No, no, no!”

He lowers his gun toward Livie, and I freeze. “Please, no. Please, please, please. She’s just a baby…”

Tears stream down my face, my entire body shaking. He holds for a second that seems an eternity, then finally puts his gun away.

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