Satin Princess(21)

I’ve seen them in a nightmare. Or at least, what I thought was a nightmare.

“You were in my room last night.”

She nods. “I watched you for almost an hour last night, and I still don’t see what he sees in you.”

My whole body goes cold. Realization sets in. It’s impossible. And yet…

“Marina?”

She smiles in obvious relief. It’s as if she’s been waiting a long time to hear someone use her real name.

“Hello, Jessa,” she says. “It’s nice to meet properly.”

I turn to the side and dry heave right onto the grass. But before anything can come out, I feel pain at the back of my head.

Before I know it, I’m being pulled upright, forcing my head towards the sky. Marina is standing over me with a fistful of my hair in her hand.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she says calmly. “You’re not throwing up my special little remedy. Not until it’s worked its magic.”

She is frighteningly beautiful. I can see that now. Her terrible blue eyes are vibrant. I can even picture the true color of her natural blonde hair peeking out from beneath the boring brown dye.

“Everyone thinks he killed you.”

She nods. “That’s what they were meant to think. I needed time.”

“Time for what?”

“To plot,” she says simply. “To plan. Of course, you came into the picture and threw a spanner into the works. So I had to readjust.”

“You sent me that video,” I gasp. “You sent me that picture.”

“I needed to break your faith in Anton.”

“He thinks you’re dead.”

“Everyone does. You’re the only person—apart from my men, of course—who knows I’m alive.”

“Your father…?”

A look of regret passes across her face. “I didn’t plan for that. I never expected Anton to be so ruthless.”

“He’s a don.”

Her eyes snap to my face. “I know what he is,” she growls. “I know him better than you ever will.”

She’s still gripping my hair tightly, but I’m in so much pain that I hardly notice. I’m more concerned with keeping her talking.

“What were you hoping to achieve?” I ask.

“Isn’t it obvious?” she asks. “Revenge.”

“For what? Because Anton wanted to divorce you?”

Her eyes narrow, her blue eyes flaring.

“He would never have divorced me,” she says. “That was just a threat made in anger. He would never have left me.”

“And you call me the gullible one.”

Her hand moves so fast that I only realize she’s struck me when the pain sears across my left cheek.

She squeezes my face in one hand and brings it forcibly to hers. “Like I said, I know him better than you ever will. That was how we were. Passionate and fiery. We fought hard and we fucked harder. Did he ever tell you that?”

I flinch, but say nothing.

She laughs. “No, why would he? That wouldn’t have helped to get you into his bed. Because that’s all he really wanted from you, Jessa. He wanted to fuck you. He would have forgotten you soon enough.”

“He asked me to move in with him.”

I should keep my mouth shut, but anger is overruling my sense of self-preservation.

“Because you’re carrying his baby,” Marina snarls. “Do you think he would have made the offer if your womb was empty?”

I shake my head. “He has… feelings for me.”

Marina throws back her head and laughs. “You poor, deluded little lamb. You’re not interesting enough to hold his attention. Trust me.”

My vision blurs again. But this time, the white spots turn dark. Marina takes on a shapeless form and I feel my consciousness start to slip.

No. If I pass out now, she’ll kill me. She’ll kill my baby.

I try to keep my grip on reality. I force my eyes open. But even then, I can’t see anything clearly. There’s only foggy shapes and searing light and a lot of fear.

“You’re a novelty, Jessa,” Marina continues. “You’re a pretty little distraction. He’s had women like you before and they’ve never lasted.”

I slump to the side. I can’t hold up the weight of my own head anymore.

“Don’t fight it,” she says in her calming tone. “There’s no point.”

No, no, no, no, no…

I hear the screech of a ringtone, loud and demanding.

“What is it?” Marina snaps, answering her phone. “What?” She sounds furious, but even in my hazy state, I recognize that she sounds scared, too. “How long?”

I close my eyes, feeling the fight leave my body. Marina drops me to the ground and stomps away. Her footsteps fade out, and then there’s only silence.

I lie there for a long time. Minutes? Hours? I can’t be sure. The whole time, I’m willing my eyelids open, begging and pleading with my body to cooperate. It’s an epic fight, but I manage to get them parted. Just a crack.

Just enough to see a face hanging over me.

Marina’s?

No.

Another face. Familiar. Comforting. Beautiful.

I must be dead. That’s the only reason I can think of for why I’m seeing Anton.