Page 174 of Symphony for Lies

“Let’s go. Just the two of us. I won’t run.”

It was a game. But I was playing along for the moment.

Rita hesitated, scrutinizing my face, my body, and my reactions. She started chewing on her lower lip, then she cracked her knuckles.

A slow, deliberate sound.

“Maybe I should just end this right here.” Tension coiled in every muscle of my body. Why the sudden change of heart?

“I said I’d—”

“I don’t like your reaction. I expected more… fear. More desperation.”

The gun pressed harder into my ribs.

My breathing remained steady.

No fear. Only anticipation.

She was right in front of me. I could end the chaos.No waiting for Spencer. No relying on anyone else.

Just me and her.

“Fine. Let’s go.” She nudged me forward.

“Freeze!”Stacy’s voice rang through the hallway like a gunshot.

There was a sharp inhale. A single panicked movement. And Rita tensed up for just a second, but that was all I needed.

I lunged, grabbing her wrist and shoving the gun upward.

A vicious curse ripped from her lips. Her knee slammed into my thigh, and her elbow struck my ribs, causing pain to detonate in my already injured body, but I didn’t let go.

I had endured worse.

Her grip weakened, and the gun slipped. Taking the chance, I twisted her wrist sharply, making her shriek.

In the struggle, she fired a shot.

The bullet buried in the ceiling above us.

Screams erupted down the hall, but I didn’t flinch. Didn’t let it rattle me.

With a sharp kick, I sent the gun skidding across the floor. Grabbing Rita’s arms, I wrenched them behind her back.

“Stacy!”

She reacted instantly, holding the fake gun up. The same one Amelia used while she rescued me.

But Rita didn’t know that.

“Move a damn muscle, and I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.”

Rita thrashed and tried to bite me, but Stacy was faster. Her fist smashed into the bitch’s jaw with a sharp, satisfying crack.

“You fucking bitch!”

Rita choked on a pained gasp.

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