Page 164 of His Darkest Obsession

I immediately turn and spit everything in my mouth out onto the floor of the SUV.

I spit again and again, desperate to get every last trace out of my mouth, my tongue scraping against my teeth until there's nothing left but the bitter aftertaste.

My mouth has gone completely dry. Lola and Grisha watch me, their faces twisting with amusement.

And then they start laughing at my panic, and at what they almost did to me.

"Your ring, bitch," Lola demands, extending her palm toward me.

I clutch my left hand to my chest. "Please?—"

"That doesn't belong to you." Her voice hardens. "Not anymore."

With trembling fingers, I slide the gold band off my finger.

I stare at it for one final moment before dropping it into Lola's waiting hand.

This ring that has come to represent everything from our twisted beginning, to the real love that we stumbled into, and the glimmer of a hope for a future.

Gone.

Just like that.

She examines it with cold satisfaction before slipping it onto her finger, gives them a wiggle, and holds it up against the light.

The SUV slows to a stop, and I realize we're at the Harlem 125th Street train station. People hurry past outside, oblivious to what's happening just feet away from them.

"We're done here," Lola says flatly. "It’s time for you to leave."

"Where should I go?" My voice sounds raspy and small.

Lola's eyes narrow. "I don't care where you go,shlyukha. All that matters is that you leave andnevercome back." She turnsto Grisha, who’s already stepping out onto the sidewalk. "Make sure she gets on a train."

The door beside me suddenly swings open. Grisha's hand clamps around my arm, and yanks me roughly onto the sidewalk.

"Wait!" I call back to Lola. "My sister! You promise she won't be harmed?"

Lola’s lips curl into a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "I don’t recall promising you a damn thing."