“You won’t be alone,” Cam said. “My crew will back any play we can. All we want is Ronan Healy, all the rest are for you.”
“So generous,” Anna said. “Just like a man to give us the scraps.”
Mila and Sasha both laughed.
“He’s for real though,” Sasha said. “His Don approved it. Heard him say so myself.”
“Then where are the guns?” Mila asked, frowning at Cam’s empty hands.
“No guns yet,” he said. “We need to plan first. Meet more girls. Get the word out.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “So it’s bullshit then,” she said, taking a step away. “I knew it. Sasha, you’re too trusting, girl. I love you, but you’re a crazy bitch. I can’t do this tonight, I’ve got to work.” She began to drift toward the trees.
Mila sighed and shrugged. “Sorry,” she said. “But it does seem too good to be true.”
“Wait,” I said, stepping toward them. Cam’s mouth opened and his eyebrows shot up. I ignored him and held out a hand toward the departing girls. “This isn’t a joke.”
“She’s right,” Sasha said. “I know you two think it’s all fake and lies, but when have I ever lied to either of you?”
Anna hesitated and looked at Mila, who shrugged. “All right, that’s true,” Anna said and looked at me. “These mob guys aren’t lying then?” she asked. “What, do you work for them or something?”
“No,” I said. “I stole from the Healy family and I hate them as much as you do. Well, maybe not as much, but it doesn’t matter. Cam’s not lying about the guns or the money. This all real.”
Anna wrapped her arms around herself and tilted her head, studying me. “All right, girl. You’re the one piece of this that doesn’t make sense to me, so I’ll believe you for not.”
“If she’s down, then I’m down,” Mila said, shrugging.
“Thank you,” Cam said. “And believe me, this is real.”
“We’ve got to get more girls,” Sasha said. “You two need to spread the word. Let everyone know that we finally have a way out.”
“I’ll try,” Anna said. “But you know how it is. They’re always listening.”
“You’ve got to do it,” Sasha said, moving toward the girls—
But the sound of screaming tires broke off whatever she was about to say.
Cars came flying around the corner. Cam reacted before I even understood what was happening. He grabbed my arm and yanked me back toward the car, shoving me hard and running. “Go!” he yelled, and I started sprinting—
But he didn’t come with me. I reached the fence and looked back as he returned for the other girls. I couldn’t believe it—I didn’t think he’d bother, but he grabbed Anna’s hand and yanked her. They ran with Sasha in tow. Mila followed, loping along awkwardly, as two cars pulled up, slamming on their brakes.
Gunfire broke across the night like crashing planes and thunder. I screamed, throwing myself over the little fence, and down onto the sidewalk next to the car. Cam shouted something and practically threw Anna at me, then Sasha dove down and rolled under the fence.
Cam dropped to his knee and fired his gun back. Mila screamed as bullets tore into her body, in her chest, her throat, then her head, snapping it back. Blood splattered on the grass and she slumped to the ground. Anna screamed, Sasha yelled, and I grabbed both of them to keep them from running back for their dead friend.
More gunshots ripped into the car, splintering the side of it, and Cam rolled over to us. A bright red mark ripped down his right arm from where a bullet grazed him. He kept shooting and one of the cars took off.
“Get inside!” he yelled, and I got the back door open. Sasha slipped in first, then Anna, then me. Cam slammed the door, then climbed into the front as the lead car began to drift, someone slumped forward on the horn. Cam must’ve killed him.
The engine flared to life. Cam was leaning down so far he couldn’t see over the wheel as he slammed on the gas. The car leapt forward, tires screaming, and more gunshots followed. He careened into the lead car, which was dead, then Cam cursed and got us going again. He bounced up onto the curve, swiped the side of a gnarled, dying tree, then got it under control again. The car sped off, leaving the Healy attackers behind.
He sat up once we put some distance between us and the killers.
“Fuck,” he said, punching the wheel. “How the fuck did that happen?” he roared.
Sasha sat up and stared at Anna. “They saw,” she said. “You stupid girl. You let them see.”
“I didn’t,” Anna said, eyes wild. “I swear I didn’t. They must’ve read my texts. I didn’t know they knew about my phone.”
Sasha groaned and leaned back against the seat. “Mila,” she said, voice choked.