Page 129 of The Moment That Changed Everything

“No!”

“Yup. You’re nothing to him now,” Nina said.

Jolena’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah, Nina,” Birdie said. “Maybe we should—”

“He told me you were useless in bed,” Nina said. “Said he felt sorry for you, actually.”

“Maybe you should—”

Jolena screeched. “He loves me! We are going to travel the world and live in luxury.”

“You rich?” Nina asked in a tone that was like her everyday one and not panicked because a crazed woman was pointing a gun at her.

“Sawyer is rich, and he wants to share it with me!”

“Do you need some kind of medication, Jolena?” Birdie asked her. She hated the woman for what she’d done to Sawyer. Could only imagine how much finding her in bed with someone else… two someone elses, had hurt him. “A drink maybe?”

“Shut up, you!” The gun swung back her way again.

“Brace yourself, Birdie!”

She grabbed her head and went into the tuck position as Nina swerved the car.

“No!” Jolena screamed as the car skidded, then started spinning in circles. They hit something hard, and she was flung across the seat and banged her head on the window. Glass shattered and then they were still.

Pushing herself off the floor, Birdie looked in the front. Nina wasn’t moving. She reached through the seats and touched her neck. Thank God she was breathing.

A moan told her Jolena was conscious. Birdie scrambled across the car and out the other door. She then dragged open Nina’s. This side of the car was undamaged.

“I’ll kill you,” Jolena whispered. Blood was pouring out of a wound on her head, and she was looking around for her gun.

Birdie didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Nina and pulled her out. Her friend moaned as she got her free.

“Wake up, Nina!” She could be hurting. Could be bleeding internally, but they had to get away. Had to escape before Jolena found her gun.

“Birdie?”

“Move your feet, Nina. Can you walk?”

“My ankle hurts.”

“Lean on me.”

“I’m going to kill you!” The sound of gunfire followed this scream.

“Run, Nina!”

Birdie’s heart pounded, and fear clutched at her throat as she fought to breathe. She had to do this for Nina. Holding her friend, she urged her to run. They had to find a place to hide.

“The river is up ahead. We need to get down to the bank. Trees,” Birdie said. “Stay low.”

“Ouch!” Nina said.

They made it to the ridge that dropped to the lake. Trees lined the water, and they had to reach them so they could hide.

Another shot rang out. Jolene was coming. They threw themselves to the ground.

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