Page 89 of Danger Close

“Agreed.” I finally huffed, shaking her hand.

“I’ll deliver my part of the bargain in the next few minutes.” She gave me a little one-shoulder shrug, and a brief finger wave, before she sashayed away. “Pleasure doing business with you, Joaquin Guerro.”

In a sickening moment, I realized exactly why I hated this. Why I hatedher.

It was a disturbing, horrific feeling that I’d had only once before, when I’d struck a deal with a devil that led me down a path that altered the rest of my life.

Sonia Norkus was a smaller, Asian version of Jericho Vasiliev. As if I neededtwoof those in my life.

“The pleasure is definitely all yours.”

Chapter 40

Stabbed In the Back

Teri

I sat silent and still, watching the events before me as though it were happening on a screen, or like a drama happening behind a store window.

I was on the outside, looking in. There was comfort in that. In observing my daughter, holding hands with a husband who, despite my reservations, adored her.

Each time she ran to speak to someone, a broad smile on her sweet lips, her husband clung to her hand, getting dragged along.

Young love. It was why people came to weddings,non?

To believe in love, and the hope that it can bring. To live in the illusion of it, even for just a moment. Weddings are the last time we get to truly believe in fairytales. That Happy Endings might exist.

“What are you thinking about?” I felt him cut into my thoughts like the sun burning off a malicious fog.

He placed his palm on the back of my neck and with gentle fingers, began to massage the muscles I did not know ached at the spot right above where my spine curved from my shoulders.

I moaned into his hand, shutting my eyes. “I’m thinking of nothing, now.”

“Whatwereyou thinking about?” he whispered.

“I was thinking…” I opened my eyes when his hands slowed their work, letting me come back from the momentary heaven he brought me to. “That I wish things had ended in the days after she was born.”

I watched as Trinity laughed when her groom twirled her under his arm, her long skirts floating about her as they gracelessly danced to a less-than-romantic tune.

“If I had been hit by a bus, or expired in some other way, I could have gone out with a happy ending. Married, in love, elated at the prospect of starting a family.” I missed the joy I had when we were pregnant. Me with a large belly, looking down at nothing but hope. “I would not have lived this tragedy.”

I watched Trinity and wondered if I had passed on my unluckiness, my curse, to her. Would she be joyful for the rest of her days?

I wanted nothing but ordinary things for her: A family, with all its ups and downs. A home. A long, boring existence with as little drama and stress as possible.

But as my daughter jumped up and down, squealing, with Daria Savchenko, holding hands, as her husband wiped his face, loudly declaring, “I regret introducing them”, I realized that she was far too volatile and daring to ever be boring.

I hadtriedto push her that way, but she had a restless soul.

It took several, long minutes before I realized that Cobra’s hand had completely stilled.

I turned to look at him, and flinched. His eyes were the most aggrieved I’d ever seen. I cupped his cheek. “What’s wrong, my love?”

“Life’s not over.” His voice broke with heaviness. “We still have a chance, Princess.”

I smiled. At least, I tried to. I said something that I did not believe, but hoped would give him comfort. “Yes, you’re right.”

He chuffed, shaking his head. “Don’t lie to me, Teri.”