Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
LILAH
No. No. No.
I stare at Charlie and wait for someone to laugh.
Axel.
Jude
Someone, anyone. It’s like a bad movie, except nobody is laughing, and Charlie looks absolutely crestfallen. Edward’s older, more distinguished with his gray hair, but his black suit is pristine just like the very real looking gun he has at his right side.
There are no cops.
Only us.
And only one of us is armed and just minutes ago she was pointing the gun at all of us.
This is hell. A sick game. A joke. Because how are we going to get out of this? My best friend has been lying to me for years. Has she been using me too? Do I even want to know? I need to get out of this situation first.
The girl I’ve been sharing a dorm with is Jude’s half-sister. I wonder if all those times she was just begging for us to get close so she could get close to him. Was any of her advice even real?
Charlie's hand shakes around the gun. "You always were a jackass, at least according to her."
I finally find my voice. “Charlie, it’s going to be okay.” I reach for her.
“Don’t.” The single word cracks through the parking lot like a whip. I finally find my voice.
"Don't say my name like you know me."
"I do know you."
"No."
Charlie shakes her head. "You know the girl who helped you study. The girl who listened to you cry. The girl who made sure you got home safe. The girl who pretended she wasn't dying every time someone mentioned family." She points the gun at me. "You do not get to say you know me."
The sound of a car door slamming echoes through the lot.
Then another.
Then another.
Axel mutters one word. "Shit."
I don't have to turn around to know we’re surrounded now. And that it’s not by good guys with cheerful intentions. He wants the list and the only way out of this alive…is to hand it over.
Jude’s father's voice cuts through the night. His eyes drift toward Charlie. “Are you really gonna fucking shoot your father?”
"I should." She says through clenched teeth.
"You won't, you’re built more like your mother. Easy prey, weak, you aren’t a killer." He sneers. “You don’t have it in your blood to be anything more than average at best, which is fine, forgettable but fine. Now hand over the gun.”
The bastard doesn’t know when to stop talking. He thinks he’s disarming her further, but he doesn’t know Charlie; he’s enraging her. This tactic only works on people who have something to lose, who are full of fear. But I can see the truth on her face. She has no regrets, no fear. Everything has led her to this moment.
His eyes flick toward Jude. "You're too much like your brother."
I feel sick.
Charlie laughs, but there's nothing funny in it. "I'm nothing like him."
"No?" Jude’s father takes one step forward.
"I got rid of you because your mother was inconvenient. I got rid of him because he was inconvenient. That is, until I needed him for a one small purpose.” He shrugs. “I truly fail to see the difference.”
I grip Jude’s arm. "What is he talking about?"
Charlie wipes angrily at her tears. "I'm talking about the fact that I'm done being everyone's secret."
She points the gun at Axel. "The list."
Axel doesn't move.
"The list, Axel!" she screams. “Give it to me now!”
"It won’t fix anything. Can’t you just trust me, Charlie? Trust that I would never hurt you, that this can’t hurt you or fix you."
"You owe me." It’s like she can’t even hear him.
"I know," he says.
"I have been chasing this thing for years!" Her voice cracks. "I need that list!"
Axel's hand tightens around the drive. "Charlie..."
She screams. "Don't you dare!"
In one motion, Axel lifts the drive toward his mouth. "I'll swallow it."
My father swears.
Charlie goes pale.
"I'm on it!" she yells. "I've been on it from the beginning!" The gun swings wildly between all of us. "I need that list!"
I shake my head.
"Oh, for God's sake," Jude’s mutters.
And then...
Sirens.
One.
Then another.
Blue and red lights flood the parking lot.
Everyone freezes.
Charlie's gun lowers.
Jude’s father looks around. "What the hell?"
Axel smiles. It’s big. Smug. It’s perfect. "Please." He brushes imaginary dust from his coat. “Like I wouldn’t have a fucking epic backup plan.”
He nods toward the approaching police cars. "It seems someone was very interested in keeping their name off the Dean's List..." His eyes settle on Jude’s father. "...and very interested in telling the police about all your business dealings." He turns toward Jude. "I may have fumbled the books a little."
I blink. "The books?"
Axel shrugs. "Accounting isn't really my thing."
He looks back at Jude’s father. "Have fun in prison."
Edward actually laughs. "You think this is enough?"
Axel's grin grows. "I know a very important dean who's currently singing like a damn canary."
He winks. "The pictures helped."