Rage ignited inside me, causing that electrical charge I’d felt minutes ago to careen down my arms and legs and encompass my entire body. It felt like a million goose bumps popping out of nowhere. Suddenly, an image of Rianne stabbing herself flashed before me.
As if I willed it so, she turned the blade inward, her hands shaking. “What’s happening? I can’t stop myself.”
Harriet sucked in air. “First your banshee scream. Now mind control.”
Her giddiness angered me, increasing my need to see Rianne bleed out.
18
LAYLA
These two women clearly shopped at a different mall—one that catered to crazy people who needed to be in straitjackets. But I could somewhat understand Harriet’s reasons for what she was trying to do, although I didn’t agree. On the other hand, Rianne was pathetic, letting her ego cloud her judgment.
“Layla, she’s your sister. Snap out of it.” My grandmother shook me. “Layla.” Her voice hitched.
The blade was barely a half inch from Rianne’s throat when someone behind me screeched, sounding like nails on a chalkboard.
I blinked, breaking the trance I’d been in, and the dagger clanged to the floor.
Rianne lunged at me, but my grandmother slid between us. “There will come a time and place where you and Layla can air out your differences.” Harriet tugged Rianne away from me.
As far as I was concerned, Rianne was dead to me. We could never repair our relationship or trust each other again.
Carly rushed up to me, her brown eyes as big as golf balls. “What’s going on? Layla, you shouldn’t be out of bed.”
“I shouldn’t be here at all,” I spat venom at my cousin-in-law. “Tell me what’s in that IV bag.”
Rianne laughed derisively.
Carly went over to the IV, hunching her shoulders to stare at the bag for a mere second, then she stomped over to Rianne. “What the fuck have you done? Rianne, please tell me you didn’t inject Layla with that IV liquid.”
Terror rolled through me, and my worst nightmare took shape.
Rianne shoved Carly. “Get out of my face. And it’s Layla’s time. I thought I would go first, but I want to be in my right mind to witness it whenshechanges.”
Fuck me and the floor I was standing on. Talk about being an ice sculpture. I couldn’t feel my limbs. I wasn’t sure I could even speak. What did this mean? Would I turn into someone like Noah? Holy fuck. I would become a deformed monster. Maintaining the ability to breathe was a challenge.
My grandmother scolded Rianne, but I only heard mumbling. I was in panic mode, holding my stomach, sweat sliding down my back. My breathing became labored.
“Carly.” Her name came out as a whisper. “What will happen to me and the baby?” Oh God. The babies.
My grandmother’s voice catapulted to shouting at Rianne.
I was a second away from hyperventilating.
Rianne puffed out her chest, glowered at me, and marched out like a stubborn child who hadn’t gotten her way. But that was her MO. She would always pout and stomp anytime Mom or Dad scolded her.
“Harriet, you were supposed to keep Rianne in check. From here on out, neither of you is permitted in this lab. If you disobey, I’ll have both of you imprisoned in the dungeon.”
The worddungeonseemed to clear the haze.
“You don’t have that authority,” Harriet said. “Only Adam does.”
Carly rounded on my grandmother. “How blinded are you? Adam Emery is only tolerating you because of your money. But don’t think for second we can’t find another investor.” Her take-no-shit attitude made her seem taller than her five-foot height.
Harriet huffed, considering me. “Will Layla be okay?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not the cure you’re looking for, Granny, so take that phony caring attitude and shove it up your ass.”
