A double-shot latte with soy milk.
That was Diya’s order, had been for years except for when she wanted something more decadent and decided to go for a mochaccino.
Shumi didn’t know Violet’s usual order and didn’t really care.
Taking a sip of her own spicy chai latte—it wasn’t real chai, but it would do—she watched as Diya laughed at something Violet had said. Shumi’s stomach clenched at the light in her best friend’s face, at how she chattered so brightly to Violet.
Diya was pulling away from her again.
She’d thought it was over after Kalindra decided to move to Wellington before things got bad enough that Shumi had to act, but now Violet was here and they were constantly texting and calling, and Shumi knew that wasn’t good for Diya’s fragile mind and heart.
Her best friend needed Shumi to watch out for her, and for that, Shumi needed to be the closest person in her life.
It had been bad enough when Risha had lived with the Prasads, herroom right next to Diya’s. The only thing that had kept Shumi from acting was the knowledge that Risha was a temporary guest, one who’d be gone soon enough.
But Violet…Violet lived in Rotorua, was talking about becoming Diya’s partner. They’d be working together day in and day out.
Her chai latte spilled onto the saucer as she put the double-walled glass down too hard.
No, she couldn’t let this happen, had to act.
Chapter 75
Diya’s sister-in-law stood in the hallway, smoke curling up around her calves as it rose toward the ceiling.
“What?” I shook my head to clear it. “Shumi, there’s a fire! We have to get out!”
“I know.” Pure calm. “I was pulling Diya out. Now you’ve gone and spoiled it.”
I stared at her, my sluggish brain trying to make sense of what she was saying. “Go open the door!” It was still some distance away, this spacious vacation home suddenly too big. “I’ll bring Diya.”
“You’re meant to beasleep,” Shumi insisted. “I put in a double dose to be sure.”
My brain started to catch up with her words, with the way she was just standing there, but it was already too late. Because Shumi had a knife in her hand, a massive thing that she held firmly by the handle. “I had to go to the kitchen to get this,” she said, before coming toward me with the knife raised high. “It’s not how I wanted it.”
Having slid my hands under Diya’s shoulders to drag her to the door, I couldn’t evade Shumi’s first blow. It went right through that vulnerable space beside my shoulder blade, a screaming line of fire inside and out.
“Shumi! Stop!” I shoved her off with that pained cry, but she dug in the knife and twisted.
“You’remeant to be sleeping,” she gritted out, right before I threw back my fist.
It made hard, direct contact with her face, and she tumbled backward, taking the knife with her.
Something splintered, broke.
I couldn’t smell blood, the acrid scent of smoke and fire blotting out all else. Not hearing Shumi move, I hoped I’d knocked her out. I couldn’t go over and check—given the gray soup of smoke, I might never find my way back to Diya. I could barely make out the route to the front door as it was.
Coughing, I pulled Diya up again despite the agony in my shoulder, and began to move.
The knife punched into my back again, and this time, it hit something bad. Something that made the taste of blood fill my mouth and threatened to take the air from my lungs.
“It’s meant to be us!” Shumi screamed. “Me and Diya! It’s always been meant to be us!I’mthe one who looks after her!”
Barely able to hear her through the crackle of the flames I could now see roaring to life in the living room, I shoved back with my whole body.
It drove the knife in even deeper, but it also took her to the floor. Twisting, I went to punch her, just get this over with, but, free of whatever drug she’d used to incapacitate me, she was faster, slid away and kicked at my face.
My head snapped back.
