“Missed that, did you?”
“It’s the first and last mark you’ll ever leave on me.”
“Since you told me about your sex life, I think it’s only fair that I tell you about mine,” I say, tightening my grip on the dagger.
I have no intention of killing Marina. As crazy as she might be, I’m not about to cross that line, no matter the circumstances. But I need to hurt her badly enough that she backs off. And the only way I’ll do that is if she’s distracted.
“Anton is passionate,” I continue. “You were right about that. He bites and licks and sucks. He drives me wild. But no matter how vigorous the sex gets, he’s never left scars on me. Because he doesn’t want to hurt me.”
Suddenly, Marina arches up off the floor and jumps to her feet in one quick motion. Then she slides a knife out of her boot and points it at me.
“You still want to tell me about the sex you’re having with my husband?” she growls possessively.
I take one step back. But I know something now, something Anton taught me about myself: I’ll never back down.
“He kisses me softly, gently,” I continue. “He really does make love to me. Because when you love someone, that’s easy to do.”
“Stop talking now,” she warns.
I’m getting to her. I can see that it’s working. But I’m also getting a little nervous that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. This woman has killed countless people. But me? I’m shaking just holding a dagger that I know can make people bleed.
I’m so deeply enmeshed in my own internal turmoil that I’m taken aback when she lunges at me, her eyes wide and her nostrils flared.
She screams, I scream, and I swipe my arm through the air as I tumble backwards.
She manages to avoid my knife and kicks me in the knee. I crumble to the floor instantly. Pain shoots through my leg, but I keep the dagger in my grasp.
If she gets her hands on it, I’m done for.
I swipe at her again, and she backs away. Her own penknife is no match for the gorgeous weapon I’ve got. But she’s more skilled than I am. The weapon doesn’t matter if she outmaneuvers me.
As she tries to come at me another way, I crawl backwards, putting as much distance between us as possible. And as luck would have it, I crawl right into my phone.
I manage to unlock it subtly with my thumb, but there’s no way I can take my eyes off the murderous bitch in front of me.
“Don’t run away, sweetheart,” she says, her voice lilting almost like she’s singing.
I crawl back some more, but this time, I take my phone with me. When I get close enough to the bed, I grab one of the fallen pillows and hurl it at her.
It hits her in the face, and I use that moment of distraction to get to my feet and vault over the bed. My knee complains, but I ignore the sting.
My only priority is getting out of this room as soon as possible.
But before I can make it to the door, Marina jumps in front of me with her knife raised. “You’re not going anywhere, Jessa.”
“Marina, please. I’m pregnant…”
“I know. That’s exactly why you have to die.”
I bite back a sob. “Don’t do this.”
“Don’t beg,” she says. “I’ll like you a lot better if you die gracefully.”
She’s about to take another stab at me when the door bursts open and Yulian rushes into the room.
His eyes are wide and slightly panicked. “Marina! Stop.”
Marina looks pissed off now. “Why the fuck are you here?”