Page 112 of Jep

“And it’s really only about money?”

“Very good money. If that makes you feel any better. It’s nothing personal.”

“I thought you were a decent man.”

“I am. If you ask my friends, they will tell you I’m a really good guy.”

“That’s because they don’t know you murder innocent people.”

Pearce groaned. “Here we go. I’m not interested in listening to your rant on morality. So if you’ve asked all your questions… Jade, if you please. For the greater good. I’ve got things to do.”

“There has to be another way,” Jade begged.

“They said you were prepared to kill if necessary.”

“Not my own sister.”

“Jade, if you do this, they’ll know you’re serious. They’ll know you are fully committed. Otherwise, it’s clear you have not sacrificed everything.”

“Like you can talk,” Em said. “You’ve given up nothing. All you do is take.”

“We all have our place. Jade, pretend she’s someone else if you have to, but do it.”

Jade closed her eyes in pain as she aimed. “For the greater good,” she said before swinging the gun toward Pearce and firing.

But Pearce had better reflexes and fired too. Only Jade fell.

“Jade!” Everything in Emery tugged her toward her sister, but in the clarity of the moment, she caught sight of Pearce’s shoulder dropping where Jade’s bullet had hit him. With her momentum already starting forward, she shifted it and jumpedtoward him. After pushing his arm into the air, she struggled to reach for the gun, and another round went into the ceiling.

He swore and twisted his arm around, dislodging her grasp before he threw her against the wall, driving the breath from her lungs. She dropped to the floor and looked up at him.

“I liked you, Em.” He had the gun pointed at her, holding it with two hands. “I really did. You were one of the pure souls in this place. That’s why I preferred you to be a witness in all of this instead of a casualty. So I want you to know, I take no pleasure in this.”

Em closed her eyes and folded into herself.Jesus.

Chapter 25

Jep’s head spun,his eyes fluttering against his double vision as he attempted to insert his key into the lock on his cuffs.

“They made me do it,” Gardener said. Watching him.

“Made you do what?” He squinted to make sense of the small hole when the key missed it again. “Hit me on the head? I don’t remember anyone ordering you to do that.”

“It wasn’t my fault. If I didn’t do what they said, they would have killed me.”

“Yeah, well, you can save that for the courts.”

“You’ve got to let me out of here. You’ll never hear from me again. I swear.”

“I think I’d rather have you locked up.” The cuffs released, and his shoulders sagged from the exertion. He took slow breaths as he leaned back against the bookcase to give his head time to clear.

“I’m surprised to see you sitting there so calmly,” she said.

“I’m dizzy. That’s a heavy statue.”

Gardener chewed on the inside of her cheek. “You’re not the least bit worried about Emery?”

“Em’s a big girl, and Pearce is doing what he’s supposed to. It’s what any of us would do.”

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