Page 70 of 2nd Strike
”I have no idea what you're talking about, Lily. Why don't we go next door and meet Jon? He's excited to finally know his real mother."
She steps inside, aiming at my chest. “Agent Sinclair asked me to come and see her. She said the two of you were going over the original files and found discrepancies. She started asking about Amelia Norris and how much I paid her to babysit."
"I have no idea what that's about," I lie. I hear the quiet creak of the front door opening and know JJ is back, but there's no way to warn him without alerting Lily. “Would you like me to call Taylor and have her explain it to us?"
Lily chuckles under her breath, not seeming to have heard the noise I’m so used to. "I'm sure Susie is filling in the blanks for everyone. My whole life, everything I've worked so hard for, is going down the tubes. There's no reason for me to live. I'll be crucified in the public eye. All my fans—they're going to abandon me."
“Why did you do it?"
“Publicity, what else? The only problem is, I was supposed to get Ethan back. Susie ran off with him and left that other boy behind. Amelia wanted me to take him, but how could I? He wasn't my son. And then, look at you, Miss Federal Agent. You brought him to me anyway and I had to pretend hewasmine."
"Charlie?” JJ calls. "Who are you talking to?"
“Go back to Meg’s,” I yell, but of course, he doesn't.
"What the…?” He's standing a few feet behind me in the living room doorway. His face goes from surprise to calm reassurance. “Hi, Lily. Put the gun down. You don't want to do this."
He thinks she’s going to shoot me. Maybe she is, but she also plans to shoot herself. “He’s right. It doesn’t have to end like this. Whatever you’ve done, there are still two young men next door that want you in their lives. They need you.”
She gives me a sad smirk. "I only planned to take you with me, but I guess I'll have to kill him too."
Before I can react, she turns on JJ.
Bam.
By the time the bullet hits him, I've jumped her. Taking her to the ground, I wrestle with her gun hand to keep it from pointing at me. She grunts, it goes off again, and a bullet punches into the ceiling.
Plaster rains down on us as we roll over and over. I land an elbow to her ribs, a knee into her groin. She slaps at me, pulls my hair. Screams obscenities.
Lily fights like a girl.
Still, she has raw fury driving her. I’ve ruined her plans and she’s not one to go down without hurting me back.
JJ. It’s all I think, his name a chant in my head.
Raw fury isn’t only Lily’s territory. It courses through my body like wildfire. I overpower her and slam her hand on the floor multiple times, knocking the gun loose. Once more, she fights back, teeth gritted, but I’m in a blind rage.
I punch her in the face—once, twice, three times. She stops moving, blood pouring from her nose, and my knuckles.
She's unconscious, and my chest heaves. I throw myself off her and run to JJ. He's lying on his back, bright red blood spreading across his shirt.
Falling to my knees, I stifle a sob. His eyes flutter open and he tries to look at me.
“You’re okay," I tell him. I press my hand over the wound, as if I can stop him from bleeding out by sheer will. "I'm going to save you."
He tries to lift his hand, fingers hovering in the air as he reaches for me. I need to call 911, but all I can do is grasp his fingers and pull them to my chest.
"Charlie," he huffs.
“I need to grab my phone and call an ambulance, but you're going to be fine.”
I hear the front door open and close. “Charlie?” Meg calls.
“Call 911!” I scream. “JJ’s shot. Phone’s on the table.”
She runs in, swearing as she takes in me, JJ, and a still unconscious Lily. She doesn’t ask questions—bless her—and disappears into the dining room.
JJ’s lips move, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. I lean down, Meg’s voice filtering in as she gives the operator the address and tells her a man’s been shot.
