Page 2 of Be Very Quiet

“Be very quiet.”

Hot breath washed over her ear, and she shuddered in disgust. She almost did as the man instructed, but the will to live kicked in. Like hell would she stay silent. If she did, she would die. Simple as that. She bit the man’s hand and screamed for all she was worth when he yelped in pain.

“Bitch!”

The man backhanded her before wrenching her into the bedroom. Shock from the hit brought more tears to her eyes, but she still glimpsed Erin and moaned. The Mortician grabbed a gun from his bag and dragged her to the door. She was too dazed to resist.

“Police. Come out slowly with your hands up.”

Relief swamped Liliana that the authorities were here. She must’ve inadvertently hit the call button before the man had tackled her.

When a cop in a blue uniform appeared around the corner, The Mortician squeezed the trigger, sending a barrage of bullets raining down the hall. The onslaught forced the cop to jump out of the way.

“You bitch! You ruined everything,” The Mortician hissed in her ear. “Now’s not the time, but I will return for you. I will take my time and enjoy your sexy body until you beg me to kill you. Of that, you can count on, sweet thing.”

Liliana let out a shocked gasp when he brutally shoved her, and she stumbled forward. She barely had time to throw out her arms and brace herself before she hit the ground face-first. A gun sounded, and her side erupted in burning pain.

She hardly registered the sound of breaking glass before someone rushed past her. She couldn’t lift her head to watch because her entire torso was on fire.

“Hey, I’ve got you. You’re safe now. You’re going to be okay.”

The voice calmed her, as did the gentle touch. Liliana closed her eyes and concentrated on not passing out. When she felt her T-shirt being lifted, she screamed and shot upright.

“It’s okay,” the voice soothed. “I need to check the wound. Just lie back and breathe.”

Easier said than done when it felt as if he’d jabbed her with a hot poker. “Is it bad?”

“Nah, it’s a flesh wound. The bullet cut a groove in your skin, so you’ll probably need stitches. Does this hurt?”

A gentle hand caressed her cheek. She’d forgotten about the hit after being shot, but now it throbbed with her heartbeat. “A little.”

“It’s starting to swell. We need to get ice on it.”

Liliana closed her eyes again. Two days ago, she’d been dancing on the football field, celebrating a hard-fought victory and partying with the fans. Now she was lying on the floor, bleeding from a gunshot wound. A tortured sound came from her throat, and she began to sob.

“Relax, you’re going to be okay.”

“Erin,” she managed.

“Do you want me to call her?”

“In there.” Liliana pointed to the open door.

“I’ll be right back.”

The man got up, and she had the irrational urge to grab him. She didn’t want him to leave her. She felt safe with him around. The Mortician wouldn’t get past him.

“Don’t go,” she gasped, but it was too late. How could she feel bereft when she didn’t even know him?

He returned, and she let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. He gently placed something against her cheek, and she hissed.

“Frozen peas,” he explained as he grasped her hand. His touch reassured her.

“Is she . . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence, though she already knew the answer.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Was she your sister?”

“Roommate.” God, how could Erin be dead? She was the sweetest person Liliana had ever met. She’d give the shirt off her back to anyone who needed it.

---