Page 40 of Nobody's Girl

The night she and Zacca had fucked for everyone to see. The way her tits and her belly were pressed hard against the glass had taken Grant’s breath away. He wanted her, he needed to have her. He would have her – by force if necessary.

It fueled his fantasies now as he fucked the girl he’d picked up in the club. He took her to a motel which rented rooms by the hour – saw the disappointment when she saw it. She soon got over it when he started to kiss her. He managed to conjure up Sofia’s face as he thrust hard into the girl, ignoring her small cry of pain. Sofia was all her could see and as he came, he groaned her name over and over. He collapsed on the girl, who shoved him away.

“My name isn’t Sofia.” She got up, pulling her dress over her naked body and grabbing her purse and coat. After she slammed the door, Grant lay on his back, imagining he could hear her crying. He grinned. Be grateful you’re not Sofia, whore, because instead of finding a taxi home right now, you’d be bleeding to death, with my knife in your belly.

He went to sleep dreaming of Sofia, breathing her last in his arms.

Chapter Eighteen

“Married?” Clemence stared at Adria with distress and horror. No. It couldn’t be true. Ivo and Sofia were married?

“They didn’t want anyone to know until afterward,” Adria said gently. She took Clemence’s hand. “I know this must a shock, dear, but you must know by now – Ivo has moved on.”

Clemence felt a stone lodge in her throat and she looked away from Adria’s gaze. “I’m happy for him. For them.”

“Clemence, I know what you must be feeling. I know you told Sofia about my cancer against Ivo’s wishes. I’m going to pretend that wasn’t deliberate.”

Clemence flushed. “I can’t help myself. She’s so beautiful and kind and…he never looked at me the way he looks at her, Adria. It hurts. Especially when I’m carrying his child. I’m sorry.”

She dashed away the hot tears that were spilling down her cheeks. “I miss him. But the strange thing is, I actually like Sofia a lot. I can see they are perfect for each other. That just makes the pain worse.”

Adria hugged her tightly. “Darling, we are all family now. You still have your friend, you still have Ivo in your life. But it’s time to move on.”

When Clemence was alone, she sat at the window of her apartment in the Marias, and people-watched. Adria was right. She felt bad for putting Sofia in an awkward position, for setting her up to cause trouble. It was beneath her. Clemence hoped she could salvage that friendship, when Ivo and Sofia returned from their honeymoon.

God. Honeymoon. Ivo was married. For the last time, Clemence allowed herself to mourn, weeping until she was exhausted and fell asleep.

When she woke, she decided that today would be the day she finally moved on.

Tamara waited until Penn Black left the apartment building before she went inside. She waited until he was driven away in a cab and there were no more than a few people on the street, then she slipped into the building, avoiding the cameras and quickly moving to the staircase. There was too much chance of her being spotted in the elevator’s. Penn lived on the top floor of the ten-story block – that much she had gleaned from him during one of their post-sex talks.

And it was sex – or even love-making now. No more Dom/Sub for them – it was now the beginnings of a full-blown relationship and Tamara could only see one obstacle to their being together. Penn’s girlfriend. The answer, to Tamara, was simple.

She knocked at the door and waited. Soon enough, a gorgeous young dark-haired woman opened the door and smiled at her. “Can I help you?”

“Hey there, I’m so sorry to bother you, but my friend lives downstairs and I can’t get her to open the door. I know she’s home, but she’s elderly and I’m concerned.”

“You mean Mrs. Kasovitch?”

Tamara nodded. “I know I shouldn’t panic but…”

“No, it’s okay. Actually, you came to the right door. I look after her cat when she’s away so I have a spare key.”

Tamara smiled. Bingo. “I hate to ask because I can see you’re pregnant and the elevator seems to be out of order.”

“Again? Dang it.” The woman grabbed a bunch of keys. “Damn thing is never working. Okay, it’s no problem. This little one needs some exercise anyway.” She wrapped a sweater around her shoulders. “Let’s go see Milly, check on her.”

It was so easy then. Tamara followed her to the stairs, then as the woman started to descend, one almighty shove. The pregnant woman didn’t have time to scream as she was propelled down the flight of concrete steps. Tamara watched dispassionately as the woman tumbled, her head connecting with the concrete and blood spurted as her head split open. After the woman landed, in an impossibly mangled heap, Tamara waited, listening for any moans, any signs of life. After a moment, she slowly descended. The pregnant woman’s eyes were open and staring, blood trickled from her mouth. No breath sounds. Tamara could see brain material on the concrete. From between the woman’s legs, blood began to flood out. She was miscarrying, her child disconnecting from its dead mother. Tamara felt nothing but satisfaction.

She carefully side-stepped the dead woman and ran quickly and quietly down the rest of the stairs. Problem solved. It had taken less than five minutes and Tamara was satisfied. It had been just like the first time she had killed someone. Taken their legs out from under them, and like that time, she had gotten away with it.