Page 133 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

“When my friend was pregnant with her kid, it helped for her to smell a bar of soap.” Shock is written all over her features, and I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know, and no, I haven’t said anything to Santiago.” I glance at Briseis. “How mad do you think he’s going to be with you?”

“Very. Which will result in angry make-up sex, so there is a silver lining.”

He was mean to me earlier, but I do feel bad once the guy finds out about all this. “Well, as long as you stay positive.”

Angry make-up sex.

I wonder how that one feels. Is it even better than regular sex? Although better sex might just kill me with pleasure, because I can’t imagine getting off more than I already do with Remi.

“I’ll handle my brother,” Jimena assures us. “No one will be hurt. I have a plan.”

“You do?” we both ask in unison, and she nods.

“And it’s perfect. This way everyone will be happy and no one will be mad.”

We share a look with Briseis, not quite sure what to make of this.

“What will make you happy?”

She seems taken aback by my question and then grabs the bottle of water, flipping it open. “It doesn’t matter. Our two families won’t fight and end century-long friendships over my stupidity.” She swallows hard. “Did you know that even our grandparents used to be best friends? I’m the only girl ever born in either of the dynasties, and I managed to screw both of them royally.” So much self-loathing reeks out of her, and I’m not sure what to say.

“Jimena—”

She interrupts whatever Briseis wants to say next. “No. I knew he would never commit, and I still chose him above anyone else. La culpa is mia.”

The fault is mine.

Briseis sighs in resignation and then shifts her attention to me. “Your friend stopped by.” My brows furrow, and she elaborates. “Isla. She tried to sneak inside, but security caught her, so Octavius is dealing with her right now.”

“What?” I think I’m going to have a permanent headache from all the drama erupting around me. Isla tried to reach me via phone multiple times, but her calls went straight to voice mails. “Where is she?”

“She was outside by the door.”

I head straight in the direction Jimena is pointing, and in record time reach the main door, only to halt my movements when I see Isla backed into a corner with a furious Octavius looming over her.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he hisses and slams his fist unto the wall above her head, and she just blinks, staring at him.

“I needed to talk to you. There is something—”

“I don’t give a fuck what it is. What part of ‘not interested in you’ do you not understand?” She flinches at his harshly spoken words and crosses her arms as if wanting to protect herself from his anger. “No man likes desperate women, Isla.”

Okaaay.

Isla is not my favorite person, all things considered, but this is over the line.

“Hey!” I call, and they look at me. “You’re here!” I decide to improvise and walk toward them. “Glad you got here okay.” I squeeze between Octavius and her, hugging her close, but not before noticing relief washing over her. “What took you so long?”

A raspy breath escapes her. “There was traffic on the road, and I forgot my invite.”

Octavius darts his gaze between us, clearly expecting an explanation, so I give it to him. “She wanted to see me, so we agreed to meet here.”

“Here,” he repeats, and I nod. “At this party? Who gave you the authority to invite anyone?”

In this moment, I’m really glad I married Remi, and even Santiago seems like a nice guy compared to Octavius. Why Isla is obsessed with him, I’ll never know. “Remi.” I raise my chin high. “Or is that a crime now?”

A smile curves his features, mean in its nature, announcing to me he doesn’t believe a word I say, and then I gasp when he wraps his hand around Isla’s throat, pressing her harder to the wall. “Do not wander around the mansion. Stay inside with the girls.” Only then do I realize Briseis and Jimena have joined us. “If anything happens to her here, your husband will pay the price,” he throws my way, giving one more light squeeze to her throat, and then pushes back, going to the party room and leaving us all speechless.

“I’m really confused about all this,” I finally mutter while Isla rubs her hand up and down her neck. “Am I the only one?”

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