Page 73 of Now Until Forever
Laptop Guy said, “Just call the Mother and ask her what to do.”
“Give me the gun,” Faith cried out. “I’ll kill her.”
Sarah spun to her. “And then you’ll kill yourself?”
Eliana bit her lip, and before Faith could answer that, she said, “How can you risk it, Faith? She could kill you.” She stared Sarah down, trying to keep the focus on her rather than on Faith’s attempt to get out of this situation.
“You’re going to get us both killed!” Faith screamed. “She’s going to kill us all!”
Eliana shot the other woman a look and saw the crazed expression in Faith’s eyes. She was past freaked out, barreling right into out of her mind with fear.
“I know it seems bad, Faith. I know, trust me.” She’d felt the same way with Tony losing control, and those people trying to get in the vault, and seeing one get vaporized. “But we can’t give in to fear”—Eliana raised her voice—“or to people trying to terrorize us.”
She looked at Sarah. “Your DNA will be all over this crime scene. Even now you’re leaving your cells in places you have no idea exist. There’s no way you won’t be identified, even if you stage the scene perfectly.”
“Shut up!” Faith screamed.
“What do you think the Mother is going to do when you have a whole police department coming after you for the truth about what happened to me? Not to mention private contractors and private investigators.” Eliana watched Sarah’s expression, trying to gauge if she was getting through to her. “She isn’t going to protect you. You’re expendable to her.”
Sarah’s throat worked, but she said nothing.
“Who will it be?” Eliana pressed. “Who will she send to kill you?”
Faith whimpered, still sitting in her chair thankfully. Eliana had this whole situation on a knife’s edge.
“You know,” Sarah began, “when I said it was time to figure out what you’re made of, I didn’t think it would be this.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“Don’t get me wrong.” Sarah shrugged. “I wasn’t looking forward to fighting you. That wouldn’t have lasted long anyway. Three against one.” She motioned to the two men, one still unconscious on the floor. “But I figured you’d try brute force first.”
Eliana lifted her chin. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I guess I get to be surprised.” Sarah smiled, but there was no amusement in her eyes. Nothing but her own sick satisfaction. “And your friend Luci understands what happens to traitors.”
“Don’t you dare hurt Luci. Just let her go.”
Sarah lifted her chin. “She isn’t a captive. She’s a Sister.”
Eliana’s stomach clenched. “Why does the Mother want me dead? Why send you and go to all this trouble? She’s putting you at risk of being charged with a double homicide. That’s lifein prison. I’d like to know why I have to die, why—” Her breath caught in her throat. She swallowed and tried not to give in to the panic clawing at the surface.
“I guess you’re the leverage she wants off the table.”
Faith whimpered again, and Laptop Guy hammered the keys for a few seconds.
“Someone wants me alive, so she’s going to have me killed to get rid of me?” Eliana had no idea what that meant, or what she was supposed to do with it. “Explain to me what this is, huh? Who has leverage against the Mother, and what are they bargaining over?”
Sarah shrugged. “You’ll be dead. What do you care?”
“This ismy life.” Eliana stood up, wanting to be on her feet to face her death. “I get to know who is trying to control if I live or die.”
Sarah sneered at her. “You don’t have time for that.” She lifted the gun and pointed it at Faith. “Say goodbye.”
“No!” Eliana ran at Sarah with her hands still tied behind her back. Nothing much she could do except use her body weight to stop Faith from being killed. She slammed into the other woman, and they both hit the edge of the counter.
Sarah cried out.
And the gun went off.
