Page 46 of The Naughty One
Magda sighed, her usually youthful face seemingolder.
“When you were in the hospital last year,” Magda said, “I sat with you, and in my head, I was making up ways I could kill Dacre Mortimer. Some pretty hardcorethings.”
Romy half-smiled. “You and me both,Mom.”
Magda nodded, hesitated, then fixed Romy with a steady look. “Could you? Could you do it? Killhim?”
Romy, grim-faced nodded. “I wouldn’t evenhesitate.”
Magda nodded. “Good. God, Romy, I hate that I couldn’t protect you then and can’t protect younow.”
“What are you talking about? You gave me and Arti and Junebug the best childhood ever. Ever, Mom. The love in this house, that was all down to you. That we’ve all followed out dreams, that’s all because of you. You are my superhero,Mom.”
Magda was openly crying now and Romy wrapped her arms around her mother. “Mom, we will get throughthis.”
Magda nodded. She looked at Romy. “Darling, there’s something I have to tellyou.”
Romy, trying to lighten the mood, smiled at her. “Did Stuart knock you up?” She regretted the joke immediately when she saw her mother wince. “God, Mom, what isit?”
“Darling, come sit down. This isn’t going to beeasy.”
Later that night,Blue came home to find Romy sitting in the dark. He knew at once that something had happened and he sat down beside her. “What isit?”
Romy looked at him and the sorrow in her eyes was bottomless and searing. “Octavia was my sister. The police told Artemis and Dad that she matched Mom’s DNA. Mom told me that twenty years ago she donated her eggs after she’d had Juno. She knew she was done, so she and Dad had eggs fertilized and donated. That’s why Tavia looked just like me. Weweresisters.”
“God, no.” Blue felt the shock reverberating through his body. Romy looked at him, eerilycalm.
“This ends now, Blue. No more. If it kills me, Dacre Mortimer is goingdown.”
Blue looked at his wife unhappily. “This won’t end well,Romy.”
“I know, baby, but we will prevail. We will beready.”
Romy had no idea how soon she would have to put her theory intopractice.
Chapter23
Beau wasn’t happy,but eventually he agreed to Romy’s request that her protection at the hospital be removed. “At least the visible protection,” Blue amended, with a glance at his wife. “Romy’s determined to draw himout.”
“He knows I’m in Seattle; he knows I work here.” Romy looked at Blue. “Blue’s arranged for a journalist to interview me about the murders. I’m going to goad him in the press so that he has no option but to come afterme.”
Beau exchanged a look with Blue and Romy sighed. “Fellas, it’s up to me. I’m the one he wants, and I won’t let anyone dictate mylife.”
Later, she was working in the resident’s lounge when Warren, the friendly orderly, knocked on the door. “Hey, Dr. Sasse, can I run something pastyou?”
Romy smiled at him. “Go forit.”
Warren came in and sat down. “Staff’s been talking. About what’s going on with you and this jerk ex ofyours.”
Romy felt a little awkward. “People aretalking.”
“Yeah … sorry if that’s inappropriate, but we look after our own aroundhere.”
Romy smiled at him. “That’s sweet, but I think we got ithandled.”
“I’m just saying … I’m around. You ever feel threatened, I got yourback.”
Romy was moved. “Warren, you’re the best, but I think I got this. I can be prettybadass.”
