Page 58 of Wedding Cake Carnage

“You killed her? You killed Jana?” I shake my head as I continue to make my way backward. “Because of what? The fact she overheard a conversation?”

He closes his eyes for a brief moment. “So you do know.”

I suck in a quick breath. “It’s true. You’re running some silly scam and Jana found out about it. She heard you and Steven having an argument about sales. And for that you killed her?” She also said she was through with him, and that as soon as my sister’s wedding was over she would dump him—but not before she went to the police. Sweet Jana didn’t want anything making waves for Lainey’s wedding—not even her own broken heart.

“Silly scam?” He barks out a laugh. “That silly scam is a felony offense. If anyone had gotten wind of it, I’d be sitting in a penitentiary instead of on a yacht come next week.”

We hit the edge of the woods, and I glance back to the Evergreen Manor, a speck compared to what it was.

I’m not going into the woods. I’ve played this game one too many times before. My body instantly drenches in sweat. I can feel the gun hot against my thigh, begging me to pick it up. But Pierce is strong. He can overpower me in the same way I’ve been overpowered in the past. That gun was used against me once before and I was lucky that it didn’t kill me, but I’m not feeling so lucky anymore.

A spear of light blinds me from the west, and I spot Beasty bounding over, Lea on his back spurring him on by kicking her heels into his sides. It’s always nice to see the supernatural cavalry arrive, even if it signals the end of their stay—Beasty’s at least. I have no idea how to keep my promise to him.

“So you’re leaving the country?” A laugh gets buried in my throat. “That should have been my tip-off. The killer always leaves the country.” In the movies at least.

“And you would have been wrong,” a female voice projects from my right, and I find Jackie strutting over with an enormous tote bag slung over her shoulder. “I lured Jana to the back of the convention center.” She shrugs. “What can I say? He’s my boss. He tells me what to do and I do it.”

I can’t help but scoff. “Some best friend.”

“Iwasher best friend,” she grits it through her teeth. “I stopped Pierce from putting a hit on her. And, believe me, they weren’t going to be as humane as I was able to be.”

“You could have gone to the sheriff’s department.” I shake my head in disbelief.

“And what? Had a hit out on me, too? No thanks. I lured Jana to the back, yes, but when push came to shove, I didn’t think I could pull the trigger.” She looks to Pierce. “That’s why he had Steven meet up with us just as we left the building. I guess you could say I needed a cheerleader. I pulled the gun out. I had only used it once before. I didn’t think I could do it. But I had to. Jana wasn’t safe. She wanted to go to the police. She couldn’t keep us safe.” She shudders as she slides the tote bag off her shoulder. “Anyway, things are starting to look up for me. I’ve got a new best friend.” She looks to Pierce. “And he’s pretty good in bed, too.”

So that’s the benefit she got for killing Jana—Pierce. Something tells me Jackie was just looking for an excuse, and Pierce presented the perfect setup. Jackie believed she had to do it to save her own life. I’m sure she further justified it by thinking Jana would have done the same. But Jana wouldn’t have. Not in a million years.

“Knew it.” A choking sound emits from me. “I hope you know you’re still sharing him. Monica Peeler,” I say, looking at Pierce. “She’s your side girl, right? That’s what your sister told me.”

His eyes harden dark as stones. “I knew you were snooping around. You stupid little—”

Something solid and hard whacks me on the side of the head, and I land face-first in a bed of pine needles.

I look up groggily to find Jackie hoisting that tote bag back over her shoulder.

“Let’s get out of here.” She tugs at his hand, but Pierce is immovable.

“We’re not leaving her here to snitch.”

“So what?” Jackie’s voice rides high in a panic. “We can have the plane ready in ten minutes. We were leaving anyway.”

They were leaving? Together? I bet they were about to stiff Steven with the felonious bag.

I go to move and my head feels like a bowling ball. The gun grazes against my thigh and I carefully reach down and slide it out of its holster. The memory of the blowback comes to mind, and I gird myself even though I’m nowhere near firing it.

“We’re not killing her.” Jackie yanks at his arm.

“We’re sure as hell not leaving her. I can’t risk it.”

“Exactly!” she roars in his face.

Beasty slinks up. “Avenge my sweet Jana now or so help me heaven, I will do it myself.” He belts out a ferocious roar, and it spurs me to jump to my feet.

“Lottie”—Lea calls out—“aim low for the man. He deserves a solid hit.” Her eyes burn like fire, and it adds a frightening appeal to her already, well, frightening appeal.

I lift the gun toward Pierce, and my hands shake hard.

Jackie turns my way, and her mouth opens—to warn Pierce—to scream—I don’t know which because I fire.