Page 75 of Bad Duke

“I tried to give Rodger a son.” She snuffles back tears and when I hear another painful moan come from Olivia, I know I have to speed this up.

“You don’t need to worry about that with me, we can have a child. We can raise this one. But you have to give our baby a chance.”

“Our baby.” She smiles as if she likes how that sounds.

“Yes, ours. So, you need to let me help her.”

“No hospitals.” She narrows her eyes at me in warning.

“Marina, I don’t know how to do this. I’m scared. I need you to help me.” I reach out and take her hand in mine. “Just like you always do.” I watch her face soften and know that I’m getting somewhere.

“It’s too dangerous, too many people. She can deliver here.” I look back over my shoulder and when I see the panic in Olivia’s eyes I want so badly to comfort her, but if I’m going to fix this, I have to keep Marina engaged.

“Ok, but you need to uncuff her, she can’t run anywhere, look how much pain she’s in.”

Marina nods her head and removes the key to the cuffs from her pocket, and I sag my shoulders with relief when she drops them into my hand. It’s a relief that’s short-lived when she points the gun back at Olivia.

“I’m shooting her the second that baby comes out. We’re not taking any risks,” she warns and when Olivia lets out a loud, gut-wrenching scream I don’t know if it's from pain or fear.

I quickly uncuff her ankles and wrists, and her hands move straight to cradle her stomach.

“How long have you had the pains? How close together are they?” I ask, trying to keep any concern out of my voice so Marina continues to buy my story.

“Since I came back round from the drugs. And I don’t know.” She bursts into tears and the helplessness I feel has me tensing my fists to stop me launching them at Marina’s face.

“We need towels or something.” I look up at her.

“No, I’m not leaving her alone with you. We both know how she can twist your head.” I look back at Olivia, focusing on her pain-filled eyes and hoping she gets the message that I’m trying to give her, in my head.

“Marina, are you crazy? I’m in love with you.” I stand up and go to her, feeling my hand shake as I lift it to her face. “I always have been.” She rubs her cheek against it and closes her eyes and when her lips move towards mine, I allow them to touch as I grab the hand that's holding the gun and slam it into the wall as hard as I can. A shot goes off, crumbling the plaster from the ceiling and Olivia screams as I fight to prise the gun from her hands. Her other hand claws at my face, drawing blood as I smash her hand into the wall a second time and manage to get the gun free.

“Alex, what are you doing?” She slumps to the floor when I point the gun at her.

“Can you move?” I ask Olivia, who nods her head as I offer her my free hand to help her off the bed.

“Alex.” Marina bursts into tears.

“I trusted you.” I let her see how disappointed I am and her sadness turns to spite in an instant.

“You wouldn’t be half the man you are today if it wasn’t for me,” she tells me.

“Maybe you're right.” I kneel down so I’m close to her. “But I don’t want to be that man, anymore. I want to be the man she deserves.” I gesture my head towards my wife before I push the gun against Marina's head.

“Look away, Olivia,” I warn her because I don’t want her to see what happens next.

“Alex, no!” I look over my shoulder at her, in confusion, when she begs me not to.

“Liv, I can’t let her live, not after what she did.”

Olivia nods like she understands as she shuffles closer. Her back hunches over as she strokes the side of her stomach and squints like she’s in pain.

“I know. But I need you to let me do it.” My eyes widen when I realise all my wife's sweet innocence has vanished.

I stand up and hand her the gun watching how Marina stares at us both, like we’re the crazy ones.

“You won’t do it, you can’t do it. You’re—” Without any hesitation, Olivia pulls the trigger. She doesn’t scream as Marina’s brains splat against the wall behind her, she just drops the gun and turns her body so I can hold her.

“I got you, now,” I promise her, holding her so tight I must crush them both. “You're safe, you're both okay.” I can feel her heart beating against mine and I close my eyes and absorb it for a few seconds.

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