Free Eat the Ones You Love (The Thirteen Book 2) by J.L. Murray

touching her lips with her fingers, putting her hand quickly behind her back when she realized she had done it.  
    “What did you find in there?” said Trix, trying to sound bored, disconnected. But she was zoned in on Jenny.  
    “Just some books,” said Jenny weakly. “A Sex Pistols poster.” Trix almost smiled. She brought her hand to her mouth again, trying to cover herself, to keep her emotions in check. Jenny glared at Faron. She watched Trix, fighting to stay cool when she was obviously full of grief, just like Jenny. She looked into Declan’s anxious but concerned face. They were in a blank, white room that seemed to be an entryway. Rayanne was sitting on a chair in the corner, looking drawn, Benji crouched down and talking softly to her. Jenny saw that Benji made her smile.
    “Where’s Zeke?” Jenny said carefully.  
    “I’ll show you,” said Declan.
    “I’ll do it,” said Faron, stepping toward her. Declan narrowed his eyes.
    “Fuck off,” said Jenny to Faron. “You and I need to have words later.”
    Faron was playing her. He had a machine gun, yes, but he obviously didn’t want to kill her. He was trying to get her away from her friends. Why?
    Declan walked past Faron, towering over him. He was at least a foot taller and twice as wide. But Faron didn’t seem to notice. He just smiled, showing too many teeth. Some meat was stuck, next to one of his canines.  
    Faron was a shark, Jenny realized. And as she followed Declan into the lab, she saw with full certainty, so was Angel.
    Faron’s sister smiled at Jenny, ignoring Declan.
    “Hey there, Jenny,” she said, showing the same amount of teeth as Faron. Jenny stared at the gun she held pointed at Zeke’s head. It was at least as long as her arm. Her finger moved on the trigger as if she yearned to use it.
    “I think it’s time we had a little chat,” said Angel, still smiling. “Woman to woman.”

TEN

    “What the fuck are you doing?” said Jenny, looking at Zeke on the slab. “Get away from him.”
    Angel looked at Declan.
    “Get out,” she said.
    “No,” said Declan, standing in front of Jenny.  
    Angel laughed and swung the gun to point at him. Right at Declan’s head.
    “Declan,” Jenny said softly.
    “No,” he said, and Jenny knew without seeing his face that he was gritting his teeth. She almost laughed for joy at how little he had really changed. Deep down, he was the same man he had always been. She put a hand on his arm.
    “She won’t kill me, Deck,” Jenny said. “She can’t.”  
    Declan turned his head to look at her. “I’m not afraid to die,” he said.
    “I can’t lose you again,” Jenny said, so softly that she wasn’t sure if he heard her. It wasn't until he stepped back that she knew he had.  
    “Jen, don’t make me do this,” he said. “Don’t make me leave. The last time some crazy bitch with a gun tried to come between us, she shot you.”
    “But I didn’t die. I was already dead.”
    “Don’t worry, loverboy,” said Angel. “They have guns in the other room, too. There’s still time for you to die.”
    Jenny looked at Declan. “Trust me,” she said.
    Declan looked at her then.  
    “Please,” he said. Jenny understood. He was asking her to be careful. He was asking her not to die. He was begging her.
    Jenny nodded and Declan backed out of the room, breaking eye contact with Jenny only when he got to the door. He met Angel’s eyes.  
    “If you touch her, I’ll fucking destroy you,” he said.
    “Oooh,” she said in mock fear.
    Declan backed out.
    “Well, that was touching,” said Angel.
    “What the fuck do you want?” said Jenny.
    Zeke was lying on a black granite counter. He was breathing deeply, resting comfortably. He still had his shoes on and Jenny saw his foot twitch.  
    “What did my brother say to you?” Angel demanded. She was still smiling but there was an odd fragile look in her eyes. She suddenly reminded Jenny of Lucy, the girl in love with Declan