Page 33 of Sail Me to Ruin
“As we spoke about prior, Jade, if anyone has an actual motive, it’s you. You were detained because you were the last person to see Rafael alive, and you were with the other guy on night one as well. I told you I didn’t want to do this because I didn’t want to hurt Elodie. Your friendship was more important than worrying about clearing my name, but now, I see you’re doing this because of your jealousy. This vendetta has to stop.”
The moment Elodie registers what has just been said, the hurt flashes across her face.
I pray it’s enough to slow Jade down, but instead, she doubles down.
“I told you, there is nothing to be jealous of! Who cares if I fucked them both; she wasn’t going to anyways! I have the looks and the money. What more could they have wanted?” The moment the words come out, the room stills to silence.
I watch my pretty little Storm break into a million pieces, and the person who is supposed to have her back looks shocked. Not upset, shocked.
Fucking bitch.
Wiping her own tears, Elodie turns her attention away from me.
“This isn’t about him, is it? This is about us and me having something of my own for once.”
As if Elodie slapped her, Jade rages on. “Don’t even, Elodie. I don’t give a shit about what pogo stick you ride and you know it. But let’s be honest with each other, babe, what do I really have to be jealous of? It’s just you. But this isn’t even about us. This is about psycho killer over here!” Jade points in my direction. “I’m telling you—I know he did it! HE KILLED THEM!” At this point, she’s shouting and this is only going to get messier.
“I am not a killer. I have no reason, and based on the timeframe that you swear I had to kill them both, they were with you! There is no way it wasn’t you! Elodie is ten times the woman you could ever be and I’m sure they both saw that about her! NOT YOU!” I raise my voice to drive the point home.
“He’s crazy, Elodie. Let’s go before he hurts us.” She takes Elodie's hand but Elodie backs away from her.
“No, Jade. You are. This is too much, look at what he’s saying. I couldn’t find you at all today. The few hours I wasn’t with Blaise, his brother was. You’ve broken my trust. I am worthy of jealousy, but you’re right, I wasn’t going to fuck them. They were just warm bodies. I don’t need to fill a hole inside me with men. I’m okay without that, thanks. So, please leave. I will come get my stuff from the room later with someone on board.”
By the time Elodie finishes that sentence, Jade lunges at her, slamming her into the wall behind them. The thud of Elodie’s body sends me into panic but I’m unsure how to intervene without hurting one of them.
They grapple with each other. Elodie pushing and Jade pulling right before it turns into something more dangerous. Jade becomes more feral in her movements, ripping at Elodie’s hair and punching her torso.
Their screams mingle and one begs for it to stop while the other screams with fury.
I try to pull Jade off Elodie and she takes a small chunk of hair in her grasp. Thrashing in my arms, she knocks me into the table behind me, causing me to release her. She’s quickly back on Elodie who has moved over to the sliding glass doors of the balcony. Elodie’s nose is bleeding and it looks like a small dribble of blood is coming from her hairline but I can’t be sure without closer inspection.
I stand to make my way across the room when I hear the distinct thud. Both girls fall to the floor and I rush over to pull Elodie away. She scrambles back into my embrace, and Jade doesn’t move. Her eyes are closed peacefully and a small trickle of blood spills from her nose onto the tile.
She’s fucking dead anyways.
Before I can soothe her, Elodie is up and over to Jade’s side, shaking her shoulders.
“Jade, no please, Jade, wake up. Babe, I’m so sorry. Wake up, please,” she pleads over and over as her tears freely flow and mix with the blood coating her.
Placing my hand on Elodie’s shoulder, I kneel down and check Jade’s pulse.
“Baby, I’m so sorry. She’s gone.” I shake my head, confirming her worst fears.
My words cause her to sob and panic.
She isn’t going to jail. I won’t let her.
I just got her and I want to keep her.
I would lose her and everything I want to build.
I won’t let it happen. They can’t have her.
My thoughts race as I stand, leaving Elodie sobbing on the floor. Opening the balcony door, I find that the floors below me and to the sides have all gone dark.
It’s risky, but this has to work. It’s our only hope.
Closing the balcony door, I get on my knees in front of Elodie.
