Nina didn’t argue. She didn’t have the strength. All she wanted was to get out of there as fast as possible. And then—find a hitman and shoot Frank along with his sharp-tongued mistress. Even if the police came for her afterward and locked her up. Only then, she thought, would she feel even a shred of satisfaction.
Jasper got in beside her, gave the driver her address, and the car pulled away.
He didn’t look at her. She didn’t look at him.
Everything inside her was stretched tight. Neither of them knew who should break the silence. Nina’s heart was still racing after the scene in the garden. And what infuriated her most was that she wasn’t angry at Jasper, the source of her original pain, but at Frank and Vivian.
That realization alone made her furious.
“Don’t worry,” Jasper said evenly, as if he sensed her state.“I’ll make sure this doesn’t go anywhere. It’s not in either of our interests.”
He sounded cold. Businesslike. As if they were negotiating terms.
And that lit a fuse inside her.
She turned sharply toward him.
“But it's already gone somewhere, Jasper!”
He stayed silent, looking at her. His eyes held nothing but resolve and steel.
“Then,” he said with emphasis,“we’ll have to change the rules.”
***
Nina woke up late.
Bright daylight streamed in from outside, but the room itself was dim, the curtains drawn tight, the air stale and heavy.
She’d barely slept, tossing and turning, replaying the garden scene over and over.It felt like a jagged wound had settled inside her body, making it hard to breathe.
Her phone lay on the nightstand. The screen was lit.
Seven missed calls from Jasper.
Her heart immediately sped up. Nina bolted upright and rubbed her neck. Her fingers trembled as she hit call back.
He answered instantly. No greeting.
“Are you home?”
“Yes…” She frowned.“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll send a car for you. We need to meet. Urgently.”
Nina sprang out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor.
“Jasper… what’s happening?”
“Just promise me you won’t answer any calls,” he said.“None. Not even from unknown numbers.”
“You’re scaring me,” her voice tightened.“You’re really scaring me.”
Silence fell between them. Too long.
“This isn’t a phone conversation,” he said at last.“I’ll explain everything when we meet.”
He hung up.
