Page 157 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

My breath catches. “You’re…”

She shrugs. “Princess of the fucking underworld, I guess. Had to switch up the look, of course.” She gestures vaguely at her face. “New hair, new wardrobe. Made myself unrecognizable to stay close. You wouldn’t believe what a little mascara and Pilates can do.”

Natalia’s pacing sharpens.

I can’t think of her as Nati anymore. Nati was a friend. This woman, Natalia, is a monster.

Her voice turns low, guttural. “He fucked me and forgot me. Like I was disposable. Like I meant nothing.”

Her eyes lock on mine, venom flashing. “And then he falls in love withyou?”

I stay still, trying to breathe evenly. “Natalia, you need help—”

“Shut up!” she shrieks, her whole body vibrating. “He ruined me. So now, I ruin you.”

She’s panting, wild-eyed, trembling. Her lips curl, and her voice drops to a guttural rasp.

“Everyone keeps saying I need help. Like I’m crazy.”

She laughs then, raw and manic.

“I’m not fucking crazy. I’m the only one who ever saw him for what he really was. And he threw me away.”

She reaches into her purse with a jerky movement and pulls out a knife.

My heart nearly stops.

“Okay,” I whisper, palms up, backing toward the door. “You don’t want to do this.”

Her smile is gone now. Her eyes are fire and madness. “You don’t get to have him!”

And then, she lunges.

I dodge just in time, her blade slicing air where my ribs were a second ago.

She crashes into the end table behind me, knocking over a lamp.

I sprint for the door, but she’s faster than I expect, fueled by rage and madness.

She grabs the back of my shirt and yanks hard.

I stumble, barely catching myself before I hit the ground.

The knife flashes again.

I grab the nearest thing, her smoothie cup, and throw it at her face. It hits her shoulder and splatters across her shirt. It slows her down just enough.

I twist free, scrambling behind the couch, heart slamming in my chest.

“You think he’ll save you? He’s not coming. No one is.”

My breath is shallow, my limbs shaking. But I force myself to stand tall, to keep moving.

Because I’m not going down without a fight.

I quickly make my way around the couch in one step, and I duck as she lunges again, using her momentum to shove her sideways.

She stumbles, crashes into the floor, and I make a break for the door a second time.

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