Previous time. I ought to provide to remain, to face the music alongside along with her, however I stored remembering the chilly, distant expression on Ian’s face as he glanced down the row at me, and my braveness failed me. The reality wasn’t going to come back as any shock to him—Bella didn’t want my ethical help to face his contempt.

“All proper,” I mentioned. “For those who promise to take me. I wish to be gone earlier than the household comes again.”

“Completely.” Bella’s grip loosened, and she or he flashed me her sunny smile. “Don’t make such a fuss about it, Podge. I’ll clear the whole lot up, and also you don’t even should be there to see how a lot all of them despise you.”

She gave me a little bit push, and I climbed into the again of the automobile, transferring over as she adopted me in. The driving force now not appeared to have any compunctions, and he put the automobile in gear, crusing slowly out of the crowded parking zone because the mourners poured out into the sunshine. On the final minute, I appeared again on the crowd, solely to see Salvador at one of many entrances, attempting frantically to sign me. I turned my face away from him.

We drove in full silence, again up the lengthy, twisting street to Mariposa, and I fought again the guilt, the second ideas. I used to be operating away, like a coward, fairly than going through Ian. The look on his face as he stared at me through the funeral had chilled me to the bone, and I couldn’t carry myself to combat for what I needed anymore. I might take the escape that was provided.

Mariposa was abandoned, as I’d recognized it could be, when the city automobile pulled into the courtyard and Bella hustled me out of it. I stood, watching, as he drove again down the street to the church, and within the distance I may hear the bells. The funeral was over and everybody can be adjourning to the lodge for the elegant reception Maldonado had overseen. Nobody would return to the home for hours. Ian wouldn’t return for hours, and I’d be gone just like the coward that I used to be.

“Get within the automobile, Podge,” Bella mentioned agreeably sufficient, as I stared down into the distant village.

“I have to get my suitcase,” I murmured, my ideas on Ian. I felt betrayed by his distance, his coldness. However was I betraying him in return, with out giving him an opportunity to clarify?

“You gained’t want it. They’re hardly your kind of garments. Be a great woman and get within the automobile,” she mentioned in that charming wheedle that she’d used so effectively over the lengthy years.

I turned to look at her. “Possibly I ought to look ahead to Ian,” I started to say, after which my voice froze. “What are you doing?”

It was a big gun in her small hand, but it surely was completely regular because it was aimed toward my head.

Once more, that pretty smile. “I’m afraid I want you to do what I inform you, and to date, you’ve been annoyingly reluctant to comply with my lead. I’ve given you the whole lot—the most effective garments, a final probability to see the grandfather who by no means cared for you, to high all of it off with a fortune which you foolishly assume you’ll give away. Not so long as I’m round. And, miraculously sufficient, I used to be already you after I inherited Granda’s property. I’m Podge, and nobody’s going to ask any unlucky questions.”

I used to be looking at her in shock. “Why do you will have a gun?” It was a easy query, however I dreaded her reply.

Bella’s smile was so heat and charming within the vivid daylight that I felt like I used to be dropping my thoughts. “To make sure you do what I would like.”

“You wouldn’t shoot me,” I scoffed in disbelief.

“In fact I might. I’m not sentimental in the case of getting what I would like. My former boyfriend has been looking for me and kill me for the final three months. Once they discover your physique, they’ll assume Sierra did it. The whole lot will likely be properly tied up.”

I didn’t transfer, frozen to the spot. My excessive heels had been treacherous on the cobblestones, and I might haven’t any probability if I attempted to run for it. “You had me fake to be you, realizing somebody was attempting to kill you?”

“Don’t be obtuse, Podge. In fact, I did. You understand I’m at all times sensible. I assumed Sierra would eliminate you and I’d be free to reside out my life as you. Granda’s fortune was simply an additional benefit. Clearly, destiny is on my aspect.”

“It isn’t presupposed to be my cash,” I snapped. “He had some motive…”

“For those who’d had the sense to learn his letter you’d have recognized. You had been hardly the nice success you hoped to be—Granda acknowledged you. He left the letter for the individual he knew was Podge.”

“Kitty,” I corrected stupidly. I couldn’t stand to listen to that hateful nickname from her smiling lips. “What did it say?”

“Oh, some rubbish about dividing it equally after giving Ian half to maintain up the farm. It doesn’t matter—the place will likely be bought, farm and all.”

“And what’s going to occur to me?” I demanded, questioning if I may slip out of the heels and make a run for it.

“I’m afraid, pricey Kitty, that you simply’ll be lifeless. I didn’t wish to should do it—I’m very keen on you, in spite of everything. However I actually haven’t any different alternative—Sierra will preserve coming after me till I’m lifeless, and as soon as extra, you’re simply going to should take my place.” She took a step nearer, signaling with the gun, and her calm smile dropped. “Now get within the fucking automobile.”

“Somebody’s coming,” I mentioned, listening to the distant noise of a quick automobile on the street as much as Mariposa. “You may’t very effectively kill me with witnesses.”

“There will likely be no witnesses. Don’t you assume I’ve received this all fastidiously deliberate? I don’t make errors.” She tossed her head again, that patented Bella transfer that I’d copied so efficiently, and I needed to throw up.

“Why did you permit your gangster boyfriend within the first place if he was so harmful?” I mentioned, something to maintain her speaking till the automobile crested the hill and she or he now not dared maintain a gun on me.

“I grew bored with him. I develop bored with everybody finally, everybody however Marcus. He’s not too vivid, however he adores me, and he’d do something for me. Wouldn’t you, darling?”

To my absolute horror, Marcus stepped out of the home, nonetheless in his somber garments, an sad expression on his face. Once I’d final seen him, he’d been sitting beside Ian within the church—he should have come up the again manner from the village. “Bella,” he mentioned in a pleading voice. “I don’t assume we should always do that.”

She didn’t even take a look at him, her gun and her consideration absolutely on me. “Don’t be ridiculous. You sabotaged the brakes on the Alfa for me—you had been prepared sufficient again then.”

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