Page 60 of Broken

She had his attention so she began to laugh. Ifher hands were not tied behind her back, she’d have attempted to cover hermouth, or done something to help the charade along, but all she could do waslaugh and move her body.

Predator didn’t seem to like this as he movedcloser to her, and within seconds the gun was pointed to her head. The smilestayed on her lips.

“You’re not laughing now, are you, bitch?”

“You’re so fucking stupid,” Petal said.

Something clicked at the side of her head, and shedidn’t know if it was the safety coming off, him loading it, or what.

“I’m stupid. I’m not the one with the gun pointedat my head.”

She had to stall as long as possible. Long enoughfor Kim to get away or Warden and his men to come and save them.

“Tell me, where do you get your information?”Petal asked.

Predator frowned.

She was either going to make an enemy of Kim, or afriend in this next moment.

“What does that have to do with it?”

“You think Warden will come looking for this …bitch?” She had to change the wording because calling Kim an old crow did notsit well with her. It put the fear right into her. She was terrified.

Petal tilted her head to the side as she saw thebriefest doubt enter Predator’s mind. The gun was pressed tighter to hertemple.

“Do you think you can fool me?”

“I don’t know, I’ve been fooling Kim for some timenow. I mean, come on, Warden and Kim have been married for, like, forever. Hewanted some fresh meat, and well, let’s just say, he and I were the real deal.”

She was going to vomit. Staring at Predator, shewaited, hoping it would sink in.

“Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?” he asked.

Was it bad that she wanted to tell him she hopedhe was? He let her go and turned back to aim the gun at Kim.

“If you want to hurt Warden, you stupid fuck, thenyou’ve got to kill me. Warden is looking for ways to divorce her ass. He’s beenfucking me. If you want to hurt him, I’m the one you need to kill.”

Predator looked at her, and she saw he doubtedhimself. This was good, better than good. It made her the target. Rosalie wouldbe upset, but at least she wouldn’t be losing another mother. Kim was needed.Petal wasn’t.

“Petal, shut the fuck up,” Kim said.

“I’m the one Warden is fucking. I’m the one he’sspending his nights with. It’s me.”

Predator came toward her, gun pointed directly ather head. “Do you think I’m dumb? Why would you tell me that if you want to bethe one to die?”

“Because then we both get what we want, don’t we?Warden will finally learn his lesson from waiting, and you get to take out thewoman who’s fucking Warden, who he is really in love with.”

“I have no idea what you’re doing, but Petal,stop.”

Petal glared and looked around Predator. “I don’thave to take orders from you anymore.” She tried to give Kim a,Shut up, I’mhandling it, look, but she wasn’t quite sure it was working.

Fear rushed through her. Her heart raced, butwhatever happened today, she was going to save Kim. Kim had to live for theclub, for Rosalie, for her parents.

She was grabbed and dragged to kneel directly infront of Kim. They were eye to eye.

“Well, how about we kill you both?” Predatorasked. “That way, Warden can come and see both of the bodies.”

Petal was trying to make him kill her, to give Kimmore time to survive. She took a deep breath as the other man got intoposition, and they were both about to face certain death. Petal didn’t cry. Shedidn’t know if it was fear or just plain stupidity, but she didn’t cry. Neitherdid Kim. Blood seeped from the other woman’s mouth from where she’d beenslapped.

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