Page 2 of Red Retaliation

But that won’t happen anymore. Not with him. Not with anyone. Because I am free.

Careful not to drop the rings from my slippery fingers, I shove them through the slice in Roberto’s throat, poking my fingers deep into the still warm flesh to push them further into the wound. Possibly into his windpipe.

I don’t know, and I don’t care.

My job is done.

I pad across the room towards the en-suite to wash the blood, filth and scent of my husband’s skin from me. It’s a scent I’ll never have to endure again.

The knife I used to department him from this life is around somewhere, but I can’t remember what I did with it. I only remember Roberto’s rage when I moved from where he’d placed me astride him so I could strike, my movement skewing his urgent thrusts off kilter. I’d be punished for upsetting his equilibrium and panicked I’d somehow failed to hit his throat. I’d felt the knife slice, but maybe I hadn’t done it hard enough?

I need not have worried because the anger on Roberto’s face morphed into shock and then fear.

It was then that the blood began to flow. It bubbled out from thewidening chasm in his neck, the purple blood and strange hissing noise increasing every second.

I think he might have tried to speak, but he didn’t get a chance. It was over fast.Toofast. I’d have preferred him to suffer.

Perhaps I should get that shower now?

The glow of promised freedom shines within me as I make my way across the bedroom. Already the thick pile carpet feels a thousand times more luxurious than before. I hadn’t noticed just how lovely it was until now. The day that ring was slipped on my finger was the last time anything had meaning. But now the chance of a future with possibility and without self-destroying crushing pain, flutters.

That is until the shrill ring of my mobile crashes back to reality and, like I’ve only just noticed where I am, what I’ve done and what it means, I freeze.

Shit.

Spotting the telltale glow of the phone screen on my dressing table, I stumble to grab it, my legs belonging to someone else.

“Hello?” I sound normal. How is that possible when my throat is closing up and sweat breaks out over every inch of my skin? “Mum, hi... Erm... yes, we are. No, of course we haven’t forgotten! Yes, he’s... he’s here too.”

My gaze tracks back to the corpse on the bed. “Yes, I know it’s important. What was that? The purple one? Yes, okay, Mum. I’ll wear that dress. See you later.”

Ending the call, the phone slips from my fingers and drops to the floor.

The shaking, which disappeared during my awakening to newfound freedom, returns with a vengeance, and I sink to my knees. The carpet, which only moments ago felt like velvet dreams, has resumed its texture of rusty pins.

Dinner at my parents’ house - tonight at 7 p.m.

Everybody will be present, including Roberto’s family. It’s an important dinner – at least for my sister because it’s the official acceptance of her engagement to Roberto’s brother.

My eyes narrow. Like me, it was already decided Maria would marry when she came of age. That she would marry Luca Bristoni made things even worse. Not for Maria – she’s invested in the traditions our families live by and always has been. She was even jealous that I, as the eldest, won the “prize” of being betrothed to the most influential and powerful of the Bristoni sons.

However, Maria will soon see that this life is the opposite of what anyone wants.

But then maybe she won’t? Maria is the opposite of me, yet I cannot help but want to ensure she doesn’t sign up for a life sentence with a Bristoni.

But that is not something I have the power to enforce. Especially now...

Undoubtedly, Maria’s special dinner will be abandoned tonight because Roberto and I will be absent. And Roberto won’t be there because I’ve killed him.

The horror of what my actions will unleash hits me square between the eyes. What was I thinking?

Once my actions are discovered, my life will be even more unbearable. Not only that, but the Bristonis will unleash war on my family.

I am not free.

Scrambling to my feet, I reach a decision. It’s not a decision I thought I’d ever make orneedto make. It’s not one to grant me or anyone happiness, but what choice do I have?

Roberto’s death will be uncovered before long, so the only way I stand to get out of this and save my family paying the price for my actions is to make it look that I’ve succumbed to a similar fate.