“It’s not just for us,” Sasha said. “It’s for all the other girls that aren’t fighting. And for all the girls that they’d bring in to replace us if we just ran away. I think we all know that some other poor girl from back home will just take our place. I don’t want that.”
I took a deep breath and let it out. I was so anxious, but hearing her talk like that took some of the edge away. I didn’t want to lose her and didn’t want to see any of the girls get hurt—but if she was ready, and everyone accepted what might happen, then I couldn’t stop them.
I’d have to accept it.
“You’re braver than I ever was,” I said. “The only reason I came here off the street is because I stupidly tried to steal from Ronan.”
“Stupid, brave, no difference,” Sasha said and that big smile was back. “I’m only crazy, really. You haven’t seen the half of it.”
“Crazy as hell,” Vera said suddenly and threw a clump of grass at Sasha. “Craziest bitch I know.”
“Except me,” Lara complained. “I’m way crazier.”
“You’re all crazy,” I said and couldn’t help but feel an incredible admiration for these girls, all of them abused and broken, all of them angry and preparing to kill, and maybe get killed.
I loved them and was terrified for them.
“All right, everyone,” Cam said, walking away from Don Valentino. He held his hands up in the air. “I need everyone to listen up for a second.”
“Big boss man needs a word,” Sasha called out. “So shut the fuck up.”
He nodded at her and waited for the girls to stop talking. All eyes were trained on him, and Cam stared back at them like an older brother addressing his sisters. I felt a sudden surge of pride that nearly overwhelmed my fear. Cam did this, Cam brought all these girls together, and maybe he was doing it to save my life and to do his own job, but he could’ve found some other way to get at Ronan. Instead, he gave these girls a chance.
“Tomorrow night is the big night,” he said, looking at each face one after the other. “Most of you know the plan, but for those of you that don’t, it’s simple. We’ve broken each house up and armed as many girls inside as possible. At five minutes after midnight, you’re all going to get out your guns in your individual house and kill every single motherfucker you see. Kill all the Healy men, kill all their clients, and then you hunker down and wait, because the family’s going to send more after you. Hunker down, hide, and when more Healy men show up thinking they’ll blast a bunch of dumb whores out of the water, you show them what you are.”
“Fuck, yeah,” Sasha said, standing up. “You hear that, girls? All at the same time, we’re gonna fuck the Healys up. If any single one of you backs out and doesn’t go through with this, you’re screwing everyone else. We’ve gotta do it all together, right at the same time, hit them so hard they don’t know what’s happening.”
“Hell, yeah,” Vera said, grinning savagely, and Anna started cheering. The girls joined in, clapping and laughing and shouting wildly, blowing off some steam, and Cam grinned at them and walked away.
I stood and joined him while the girls broke up into smaller groups and headed toward the front of the house. Don Valentino spoke softly with some of them, probably encouraging them to be strong.
Cam slipped his hand into mine. “You still feeling nervous?” he asked.
“Still nervous,” I confirmed. “But I talked to Sasha and I think I’m okay.”
“They’re ready,” he said. “And this is going to work.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, looking up into his face.
“I’m positive.” We walked past the trees and down into the forest that ringed around the Valentino compound. Paths cut through the shady underbrush and we paused near a wide clearing beside a big, old tree with a gnarled, curbed trunk and drooping branches. He leaned up against it and pulled me toward him, hands on my hips.
I put my palms on his chest and felt his heart beating fast. He looked down into my eyes and I tilted my chin toward him, lips parted.
“What happens after?” I asked. “And I don’t mean for them.”
“You tell me,” he said softly. “You’re the one that wants to run back onto the streets.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want that anymore.”
“No? What changed your mind.”
I hit him softly, smiling. “Don’t be a dick about this.”
“I’m not playing,” he said. “What changed your mind?”
“You did,” I said. “All this changed my mind.” I chewed on my lip. “Listen, Cam—”
“Wait,” he said, touching my cheek. “I want to say something first. I need you to know something before we keep going.”