Page 79 of Cruel Honor

“Easier said than done.”

The door opens, and Tatiana enters. She locks it behind her, and the sound is loud in the quiet bathroom.

“Great,” Katya mutters. “You know, I just wanted to do something fun with my best friend today, and you just had to ruin it, didn’t you?”

Tatiana makes an ugly face. “I didn’t ruin anything. Dimitri ruined everything when he took my virginity from me. Now, he needs to pay.” She sets her sights on me. “I’m going to take you from him one once and for all.”

Before I can even react, she runs right over to me and shoves me against the counter. The hard stone slams into my back, making me gasp. Tatiana slaps me across the face.

Katya grabs Tatiana and shoves her away. “Just stop! You’ve done enough. You’re literally crazy, Tatiana.Crazy.”

“I am not crazy,” she growls before shoving Katya so hard that Katya falls back against the stall door. She starts punching Katya in the face. I’ve never seen a woman resort to physical violence before. It’s a scary sight.

And I know I can’t let Tatiana continue to hurt Katya.

So, I grab Tatiana around the waist and shove her away. Her heel slips out from under her, and she falls onto the ground. Her head smacks onto the hard tile floor. The crunch is sickening.

Both Katya and I freeze.

Tatiana gasps as blood seeps from the back of her head, staining the white floor.

“Shit,” Katya mutters.

My body finally can move and I start to rush toward Tatiana when Katya grabs my arm, stopping me. “We have to help her. She’s dying!”

“I know.” Katya gives me a hard look. “But if she’s dead, then that’s one less problem we have to worry about.”

I stare at my best friend in shock. At this moment, I barely recognize her. It’s then I realize she was born into the Bratva. Katya is used to dark things.

But how can she be ok with letting Tatiana die? How can I be ok with it?

“But Abram won’t be happy,” I say.

“No, he won’t be. But at least this way, Dimitri won’t have to marry this harpy. She’ll be gone. Maybe Abram will be filled with so much grief he’ll lower his guard, and then Dimitri can strike. Letting Tatiana die is the best option. It will help keep you safe, Evie. That’s all I care about.”

“You sound like your brother.”

“I take it that’s not a compliment.”

“No,” I whisper.

Tatiana gasps and then goes silent. Her eyes glaze over. The blood coming from her head forms a red pool around her. There’s no mistaking what just happened.

I might not have intentionally killed Tatiana, but I am responsible.

“What are we going to do?” I whisper. “She’s dead. We’re going toget arrested. Oh my god.” I bend over, panic working its way through my body.

“I know what to do. We call my brother. He’ll help us.” She quickly calls him. “Dimitri?” She pauses, listening to him speak. “Uh-huh. Would you stop scolding me for leaving for five seconds and let me talk? Evie and I … are sort of in an emergency, and we need you to come to this restaurant.” She rattles off the address. “What sort of emergency you ask?” Her eyes slide down to Tatiana’s dead body on the ground. “I can’t say really over the phone. Evie and I are ok.”

Physically, we are, but mentally? I think I’m having a breakdown.

“You just need to get over here fast. We’re in the restroom. Don’t bring a lot of attention to yourself. Oh and … you’re going to need your cleanup crew.” She pauses again. “Why you ask? Uh … it’s better if you see it with your own eyes. So, just get here.” She hangs up. “Dimitri is on his way. Everything will be ok.”

But as I stare down at Tatiana’s lifeless eyes, I know everything will most decidedlynotbe ok.

Chapter

Twelve

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