Page 98 of Lilly

"Yes, I know," I say, keeping my eyes on Dean. "I need you to go to that hotel. Right now. Get in your car and go."

"Why? What's going on?"

"A freelancer has been hired to go after your mother. He could be there right now."

"Holy shit!" I hear him running. "Jade!" He's out of breath as he yells. "Jade, I have to go. I'll explain later."

"Do you have your gun?" I ask as I hear his car starting.

"No. I'll go get it." I hear more noise as he runs back inside.

"It won't be today," Dean says, still shaking. "I...I told him later this week."

"They don't fucking wait." I narrow my eyes at him. "They get their payment when it's done. They want their goddamn money. They don't fucking wait."

"Dad, I got the gun," Garret says. "I'm in the car. I'll try calling her again on my way. I'll call you when I get there."

"I doubt your phone will work. The service there is spotty. Just get to the hotel and find your mother and go to a safe area. Then stay there until I arrive."

"How long before you're there? Where are you calling from?"

"Santa Monica. But I'll be leaving soon. I have to go. Be careful."

"I will."

"And Garret?"

"Yeah?"

"If that man is there...if you see him and you know it's him...kill him."

"What? Dad, I've never—"

"Do it!" I yell. I take a breath before my anger overtakes me and I pull the trigger on Dean. Seeing him sitting there, knowing what he's done...it's taking all my self-control not to shoot him right now.

"I've taught you," I say to Garret. "You know what to do."

"Yeah, got it," he says. I hear the fear and reluctance in his voice but there isn't a choice here. Once a freelancer is given an assignment, he doesn't stop until it's done. So this man, whoever he is, has to die.

I set my phone down and focus on Dean again. "Do you have any fucking idea what you've done? There is a man out there trying to kill my wife. And Lilly is with her. They could BOTH be killed!"

Dean nods repeatedly. "I know. And I'm so sorry. I...I didn't want this. I swear I didn't. I didn't know they did these things. I knew they forged documents. Rigged elections. But killing people? I didn't know until it was too late. And he said if I didn't do this, he'd hurt Reed."

"Who told you to do this? Phillip?"

"Yes. He said Rachel betrayed them. That she told their secrets."

"It's a lie!"

"I didn't know. I—"

"He offered you money." I hold the gun up to Dean's chest. "A great deal of money. So much money you couldn't refuse the job."

"I DID refuse. But then he threatened Reed and I couldn't let him harm my son." He swallows. "Why did he want to kill Rachel? I don't understand."

"Phillip is my brother-in-law. Or he was until my divorce. This is all a personal vendetta against me. My ex-wife put him up to it. I don't have time to discuss this. Hurry up and tell me exactly what you told the freelancer."

He does, and as he's talking I get my phone out and call Rachel, once again getting her voicemail. The same for Lilly's phone, and Garret's.

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