Elise lets me go and I collapse to the floor. The fire-like sensation in my chest expands to my hands next. I try to lift my arm, but I can’t. And when I look at my fingers, they’re twitching uncontrollably.
Horror infuses every part of me.
What the hell is happening?
Chapter Sixty
J
The plan is going off the rails. Fast.
Kelly is pacing up and down in front of me, growing more and more agitated.
Elise is standing like a hulking presence, ready to stomp me into the ground.
“I can’t believe this,” Kelly mumbles. “I can’t believe I trusted you.”
She’sthe one who feels betrayed?
I swallow hard.
I need to steer Kelly back on task. “I do feel sorry, Kelly. I saw what your husband did to you, and I wanted to help you. That’s why I stepped in. I didn’t know I was getting in your way.”
“You’re so stupid for someone who’s supposed to be so smart.” Kelly rolls her eyes. “Shawn never laid his hands on me.”
The entire world blinks out for a second.
I stare up at Kelly. Shadows play across her face, and moonlight glints against her manic smile. She looks so perfectly put together except for the dark black mascara dripped down her face like dried, caked-on blood.
I realize the truth in an instant. “You threw yourself down the stairs.”
Kelly looks amused by my horror.
“Why?” I croak. “Unless…” It hits me like a boulder. “This isn’t the first time Shawn’s tried to divorce you.”
“That selfish prick. He tries every few months, but he was being especially persistent. I had to show him that he’d lose more if he let me go.”
“Do you have any idea howsickthat is?” I rasp. “To lie about—you’re spitting in the face of every woman who’s ever been abused.”
“It’s not my fault. It’s Shawn’s.” Kelly rakes her hands through her hair. “That stupid pre-nup was ironclad, and he didn’t even make me the benefactor of his insurance policy. He left that for one of his bastard children.”
I swallow hard. “Y-you knew he was cheating?”
“Of course, but I didn’t care. It’s not like we were sleeping together anyway. He’s as selfish in the bedroom as he is with his pocketbook, so it was no skin off my back.” She kneels so we’re at eye level. “My plan was brilliant. Shawn finally understood what was at stake. He’d either lose his pristine reputation or he’d stay married. He came to the hospital ready to make the right choice untilyou.”
Kelly grabs my hair and yanks my face close to her. Spit flies on my cheek as she hisses, “You sent him a Jinx text, and suddenly, he had two crazy women on his back—one telling him to get divorced and the other telling him to stay married.” She smiles. “I have to give you credit, J. Shawn was more afraid of you than he was of me.”
My heart patters, and my watch is starting to scream.
Kelly giggles. “That sound means it’s working, right?” She turns to her sister. “That watch records her heart rate.”
Elise nods. “Kardimonex was originally developed as an emergency anti-arrhythmic drug, but it was recalled after unexplained cardiac arrests.”
“You’re going to die of a heart attack,” Kelly whispers to me, her eyes glittering. “And no one will suspect a thing.”
I grit my teeth and use my non-trembling hand to push myself to a sitting position. “Your crimes will come out… eventually.”
Kelly’s grin widens with amusement. Her voice is sickly-sweet. “That’s not true, J. I’m going to bury you right where I bury all my secrets. They’ll never see the light of day.”
