Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
My sister doesn’t seem to notice me or my near-unconscious state as she pulls back. Tears cling to her eyes as she smiles wide even as her voice shakes. “It’s really you.”
“How have you been, Kara?”
“Don’t give me that!” She hits her shoulder. “How could you make us believe you’d died? Don’t you know how much you mean to me?”
Little by little, emotions slip into Sasha’s gaze. An acute sense of guilt turns her eyes a deep shade of yellow that wars with the brown.
This isn’t me. This is Karina.
She did nothing to her, but Sasha hurt her and others by faking her death. My wife is slowly but surely realizing her mistake.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t do it on purpose, and I really thought you’d find out the body wasn’t me.”
“Just don’t do it again, okay?” Karina hugs her once more, and while Sasha tries to remain unaffected, her shoulders droop.
Now, I know it’s inappropriate, but I still want to throw my sister against the wall so that I can take her place.
On the other hand, Karina might be one of the methods I’ll use to keep Sasha here.
You get a pass, Kara. For now.
“Kara?” Kristina appears up the stairs. She’s actually been getting along with my sister, especially after Karina learned she’d be an aunt soon.
Sasha turns into stone as she stares up at Kristina, who’s slowly taking the stairs down.
Huh.
I was about to collapse a minute ago, but I think I’ll stick around and watch this show unfold in real time.
Sasha pretends she doesn’t want me, but the look in her eyes says she wants to strangle Kristina to death.
My wife can lie all she wants, but I’ll bring her back.
12
SASHA
My body tenses.
The back of my throat feels dry and sandpaper-like.
Everything heightens.
My nostrils flood with Karina’s lavender perfume and the metallic stench of blood.
My ears fill with a shrill sound, as if I’m standing in the aftermath of a bomb.
It dawns on me then.
This is my fight-or-flight response.
I should go for the latter, but why are my fingers twitching to reach for my gun and put a bullet in her head?
It’s not her you should shoot, it’s the stupid asshole you couldn’t kill.
It’s not her fault that he chose her over you.
Both of those are legitimate arguments, but does my bleeding heart listen? Absolutely not.
In fact, I find myself illogically comparing myself to her. Where she’s wearing an elegant dark red dress and has her hair styled to perfection, I’m in a stupid combat uniform, and my hair is held so tight, my scalp hurts.
Where she’s wearing natural-looking makeup and soft pink lipstick, I’m makeup-free, and my lips are chapped and dry.
We might both be women, but we’re in different leagues.
I bet she can’t shoot a gun to save her life, though. So there’s that.
Kristina watches me peculiarly as she reaches the bottom of the stairs. She must be wondering why Kirill’s guard is now a woman.
Or maybe she’s heard about me. Did she feel any of the fire that’s been eating me from the inside out when she saw that ring on his finger?
Though that unfeeling asshole Kirill could’ve gotten identical rings, and the one he’s wearing could have her name engraved within.
Karina pulls away from me, and I don’t know if it’s because Kristina called her name or because she felt me tense against her.
Is it wrong that I feel a bit vindictive that Kristina is on a diminutive form level with Karina? I thought she didn’t make friends easily and I was her only one. But like her damn brother, she didn’t seem to have any trouble quickly replacing me.
Karina grabs her by the arm and grins at me. “Sasha, this is my new sister-in-law, Kris!”
My stomach falls, and I try to swallow, but it’s blocked by the ball stuck in my throat. I side-eye the fucking liar Kirill, who’s casually leaning against a pillar, ankles crossed and a knowing smirk painting his lips.
Only wife, my ass.
I can’t believe the level he was willing to drop to just to get what he wanted.
“Also, also!” Karina pats Kristina’s stomach. “She’s carrying my baby niece.”
A blush covers Kristina’s cheeks. “We still don’t know the gender, Kara.”
“Don’t care. I only accept baby girls. I already started shopping for pink.”
Did…I hear that correctly?
Is Kristina pregnant? Already?
Nausea explodes at the back of my throat, and I physically shudder.
I think I’m going to throw up.
“Oh, Kirill.” Kristina walks up to him. “You look pale, and your bandage is all soaked with blood. Shouldn’t you see the doctor?”
She places her hand on his arm, and I think I’m losing the battle, because I’m already reaching for my gun.
Stop touching him.
Or I’m really going to kill him now.
I’ll make your damn child fatherless before it’s born.
“Don’t worry about him.” Karina scoffs. “He’s like a cat with nine lives who refuses to die already.”