Page 41 of Dead Man's Hand

He just hoped that Tommy and James got word to Willie and the rest of the law in time. He could use all the help he could get since he had a bad feeling Keira had already found DJ and Sadie.

THEBUZZOFthe approaching snowmobiles got louder. DJ could see that Sadie was planning something. He wasn’t sure it would make any difference if he was right about who was coming. If it was Grandville’s men, they were toast. Keira would be the least of their problems. “You hear those snowmobiles approaching?” he asked his sister, and saw her self-satisfied expression. She thought like he did that they were Grandville’s men. “They’re going to take the money away from you and kill you. You’ll never see the two hundred grand. You’ll never see Alaska.”

She laughed. “I was never going to Alaska.”

“Luca will be so disappointed,” he said, wondering if Luca wasn’t on one of the snowmobiles headed this way.

“I dumped Luca. He’s history. He was just dragging me down. I should have known he’d never get me the start-up money I needed. I realized I’d have to do it myself.”

“So you went to Titus. I actually thought he was the one who’d suggested you betray me. But it had been your idea. Good to know. Let me get you that money,” he said as he moved toward the bed.

“You can’t shame me, DJ,” she said angrily. “This life is about doing what needs to be done no matter who it hurts.”

He chuckled. “It doesn’t seem to be hurting you, Keira. In fact, as smug as you’re acting, I get the feeling you’re enjoying this.”

“So what if I am?” she demanded, waving the gun in his direction as he started across the room.

It was just what Sadie had been hoping for.

SADIEMOVEDQUICKLY, deciding at the last moment not to go for the gun behind the vase. She’d already figured out that Keira was cold enough that she might shoot DJ just out of meanness rather than drop her gun. So instead, Sadie went for the woman with the gun.

Even as she launched herself at Keira, she figured the woman would be expecting it. That’s why she stayed low, hitting her in the knees, taking her down with a thud that seemed to rattle the entire cabin. Keira managed to get off one shot. Sadie heard it whiz by over her head as she landed on top of the skinny and yet feisty woman. She was already going for the gun when DJ put his boot down on Keira’s wrist before she could fire again.

Almost casually, he leaned down and took the weapon from her. Keira kicked at Sadie, grabbing for her hair like a street fighter. Sadie punched her in the face, Keira’s head flopping back and smacking the floor. She went still but didn’t pass out.

Not that Sadie trusted her. “Please get me something to tie her up with,” she said to DJ.

“Let me,” he said, handing her the gun as he reached for a dish towel and began to rip it into strips. By the time he’d tied Keira’s hands she was kicking and screaming, then pleading with him to let her go. “I’ll split the money with you,” she cried in desperation.

He shook his head, looking at her with pity. “I don’t need the money. I have plenty. I could have paid Titus off without making a dent in my savings.”

She stared at him. “Then why didn’t you?”

“Because he knew I would try to make the money in a poker game. He would have his ear to the ground making sure that at least one of his men was in the game—and that it would end badly. I wanted to beat him at his own game. Now I wish I’d paid him off and walked away. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“DJ, let me leave with the money,” she pleaded. “I need a new start and you’re probably right about Titus double-crossing me.”

“Sorry, little sis. It’s too late,” he said as he dragged her over to a chair and shoved her into it. He appeared to be listening as he tied her to the chair.

Sadie heard it, too. Silence. No sound of the snowmobiles. They both looked toward the back door.

Keira began to laugh. “What did you do to make Titus Grandville hate you so much?”

“ANYONEHUNGRYBESIDESME?”DJ asked as he stepped into the kitchen and began to bang around in the pots and pans.

Sadie stared at him and so did Keira. He’d heard the snowmobiles stop on the mountain behind the cabin. Whoever it was had probably already surrounded the cabin. Any moment they would come busting in.

“Sadie, would you mind helping me?” he asked without looking at her.

She moved to stand next to him. “DJ?”

He handed her the opened container of canned meat and a sharp knife, the size that might fit in the top of a boot. “Why don’t you cut the ham into slices,” he said, still without looking at her. She saw that he had the larger of the two cast-iron skillets on the stove, the grease he’d put in it getting hot.

She glanced behind her at Keira, who was trying to get to her feet as the back door slammed open with a crash. The man in the doorway was big and rough-looking. He was carrying an AK.

“Now isn’t this a cute little domestic scene,” he said.

“Help me, Butch, they were going to kill me,” Keira cried. “Cut me loose,” she yelled louder when he didn’t move. “I have the money. Hey, I’m talking to you.”

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