Page 3 of The Verdict

I spun and swung my arm, nailing him in the side of thehead with the last jewelry box. He stumbled to the side with a loud curse, and I let the box fall as I jumped down from the stool.

“Don’t fucking touch me.”

“You fucking cunt—” He lunged for me, and I threw the bag at him.Of course, he caught it, it was his payday.And then I swung again, punching him in the stomach and then his face.

“Mercury!”Jupiter yelled in our ears, hearing the whole exchange. “Venus!”

“I’ll fucking kill you, you little bitch,” he snarled and fired off the gun even though it wasn’t aimed at me—a warning shot.

He dropped the bag and came for me again. I tried to run, but he caught me by my hair and threw me against the metal shelves. They rattled next to my head, and pain seared along my back. I threw out another wild punch, but Mercury dodged it, ramming the butt of his gun into my stomach next, followed by his other meaty fist. I tried to turn, and he hit me in the side.Fuck, I was going to be black and blue for weeks.

I wheezed and doubled over, hating his low laugh that filled the room. He grabbed my shoulder to haul me upright, and I let him until I was up far enough to headbutt him in the face.

“Fuck!” he swore, releasing me to hold his broken nose, blood gushing from it.And then the psycho, while glaring at me, reset his own fucking nose and smiled again, aiming his gun at my chest.

Shit.

I moved along the shelves as he came closer again, and I swore he was getting turned on by the thought of hurting me—chasing me. But there was nowhere to run. Not in these heels. Not against a gun.

“You know I’m going to kill you, right?” he drawled, lifting the gun and pressing it straight to my forehead. “Saturn isn’t here to protect you anymore.”

My stomach lurched. The older man had been kinder. Thoughtful. He’d stepped in the first time Mercury tried to touch me.Protected me.But he was gone now.

This time, when his lips peeled apart in a grin, blood oozed from his lip down between his teeth.

“Fuck you.” I spat on his face, but he didn’t even flinch.

“Oh, if we had the time, I’d fuck you before killing you, Venus,” he taunted, and my teeth grated together for a second. “But alas, we don’t.” His voice lowered. “But maybe I’ll still fuck you after.”

Bile rose in my throat. If I didn’t think he’d enjoy it, I wouldn’t have fought the urge to vomit.The gun cocked, and I braced for it—eyes wide and a murderous smile on my face so this fucker would know I’d come back to haunt him.

And then Jupiter roared in our ears. “Enough!TheMossosare here. Get the jewels and get the fuck out—”His order was cut off by shouting.

Mercury’s lip curled, oh so tempted to blow my brains out, but at the last second, he obeyed the order and let his arm fall to his side.He had eighteen million reasons to let me go.

“You’ll pay later,” he warned low and went back to the bag I’d thrown at him. Tens of millions of dollars’ worth of jewels spilled on the floor. “Help me get these.”

Hell no.I stepped forward, pain blasting through my body. “Screw you. I’ll get the diamond.” There were hundreds of diamonds, but there was only onediamond.The pink one still sitting outside the vault.

“No, Venus—” he called after me, but I was quicker.

I darted from the vault, pocketed the gem, and made for the stairwell. Let him get the rest of the jewels. They weren’t part of the plan—they weren’t part of my plan.I reached the first level of the diamond shop where Jupiter and Neptunewere waiting, Mars outside with the getaway van. My steps slowed, but I was still hearing voices.

No more shouting. No gunfire.Where were the Mossos?

I reached the doorway, Mercury’s pounding footsteps chasing me down the stairwell.Shit.I peeked through the glass.The police should be here by now,and then I saw the standoff. Three Catalan policemen against Jupiter and Neptune. Guns raised.

My breath stuck in my chest, waiting for the scene to play out. Time was running out.Why weren’t they being arrested? Why were they talking? What was—I clapped my hand over my mouth, a cry erupting when Jupiter turned suddenly and fired on Neptune, killing him in two shots to the head.

Oh my god.

He shot Neptune.

He killed him.

Just like Saturn.

I turned and vomited on the steps—my entire body shaking.What the fuck was happening?When I looked through the glass again, Jupiter stepped forward and shook hands witha policeman I couldn’t see, and my whole world started to spin.He’d paid them off.And then he turned and looked straight at me.

---