Page 126 of My Ruthless Neighbor

“I’m sorry,” My voice breaks as I touch my forehead with hers.

In front of my eyes, her beautiful skin turns ashen. Her dark eyes which were expressive a second ago are painfully blank.

“No,” I croak as I clasp her face with both hands. Something wet coats my fingers.

I pull one hand back and my insides turn to stone when I see them covered in blood.

I look back at her face and stumble back when bruises start to appear one by one until they are all I can see.

Her white dress is soiled in blood pooling from the cuts on her forearms and collarbone.

“No, no, no!” Crippling pain spreads through my limbs and I lunge forward.

She falls lifelessly on the marble floor.

Dropping to my knees, I take her in my arms and hug her to my chest. “No, please! Please. Amy. I’m sorry!”

Her eyes become lifeless. “Amy,” I shake her as fear runs down my spine. “No!” I shout. Over and over.

My eyes snap open and I jerk up.

For a second, I am disoriented. Then reality sets in slowly. I am in my bedroom, my skin covered in sweat.

I shove a hand in my hair and pull.

It was another nightmare.

Climbing off the bed, I walk to the floor-length window. Laying a hand on it, I double over as the pain courses through me.

I reach up and rest my other hand on my heart. I let the sorrow take over as a tear slips down my face.

???

I tiptoe around Brielle’s cubicle and sneak behind her.

She is busy working on her computer. I’ve never seen her sit so still. She is that person in a group who’s always hyperactive.

Maybe she has a deadline to meet. Anyway, I am glad she didn’t feel me inching close.

“Brielle!” I shout in her ear, causing her to jump off her seat.

“Fuck! Summer!” She leans against her desk, one hand on her chest.

“Got you.” I grin and am greeted with a glare.

“You want war, Summer?” Brielle snaps. “Because we have a reputation for playing pranks on our targets. And you,” she pulls my cheek. “are my prime target.”

I smirk. “Bring it on!” I lay the disposable coffee tray on her desk. “In the meantime, drink your coffee while it's hot.”

I motion to the others to take their cups.

Mia whose cubicle is right beside Brielle’s jumps up. “You are so sweet, Summer. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I am here for another long meeting which doesn’t start for the next thirty minutes, so I thought we could hang out.”

Brielle sighs. “You make it really hard to stay mad at you.”

“I know.” I take one cup and hand it to her. She takes it with a smile.

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