Page 15 of When Sinners Dare

I tear my arm from her grasp, but her nails rip into my skin as I do. “You’re an evil witch; you know that.”

“And you’re worthless unless you do as you’re told.” She lunges towards me, but I move to the left.

“I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked, made every sacrifice, but that’s never enough!”

We start to circle one another.

“You don’t know the meaning of sacrifice,” she seethes.

“I offered to marry into the Ortega family. That was me.” My anger builds, keeping pace with the pain and hurt that’s been festering.

“You’d never have done what Abel did.” She shakes her head at me, still choosing to take their side over mine.

“And look how well that turned out for you. Lexi now rules in your place. And you don’t get to control me anymore!” I yell, desperate to vent years of my anger and frustrations. “I’m not your pawn anymore.”

“Yes, you are. And if I have to kill every man you show an interest in to prove that to you, then so be it. I will.”

Her words ignite something painful in my chest, like a sense of preservation being awoken. I rush at her and grab her shoulders. “No. You won’t ever get away with it!”

Her bony fingers dig into my arms, holding me as tightly as I’m holding her. Her eyes darken as she whispers, “I already have.”

“Urgh!” I shove her with all of my might, sending her off balance.

I breathe deeply to catch my breath, ready to defend myself, but instead, I watch as she falls backwards, stumbling and tilting off-balance until her head catches on the corner of the marble-topped island.

The sound of her skull hitting the solid object reverberates in the kitchen before she slams down against the floor, her head cracking loudly once again.

I wait for the scream. I wait for the howl, but neither comes.

Silence prevails.

“Mother?” My voice is tentative as I look at her sprawled body. As I inch towards her, I notice the growing black cloud from underneath her head.

Blood.

Oh fuck.

Panic rides up inside of me, and the sting of tears threatens as I look on and wait for her to move. “Mom?” I try again, my voice shaking, but I know she won’t answer.

My head begins to shake, and the vision of her body morphs in front of me as tears blur my eyes. “No, no, no.”

Dropping to my knees, I shake her leg, but she still doesn’t respond. I stand back up and turn around, looking for … something. My phone. I pull it from my pocket and, with shaking hands, open it up and call Dante.

“More boy trouble?” His voice is teasing.

“Dante, I killed her.” I blurt the words and then slam my free hand over my mouth in shock.

“What are you talking about?”

The seconds tick on, but I can’t move, frozen by what I’ve just done and admitting the fact to Dante.

“Bella?”

“Mother.” My voice scrapes my throat. “I killed her. I came here after speaking to Abel, and I was so cross, so angry that she could even think about killing Antony.” My feet start pacing the length of the kitchen, back and forth. “Abel promised me it wasn’t him, but she did threaten us at the dinner-”

“Bella! Stop. Slow down,” he snaps over the line. I stop and wait. “What did you say about Mother? Is she okay?” he asks slowly.

“No. She’s bleeding out on the kitchen floor. She isn’t answering her name. I didn’t mean it, Dante. I swear. We were fighting, that’s all. But not the usual fight we get into. This was bad, really bad, and she said some unforgivable things, and I couldn’t take it, not now, not after everything that happened with Abel and Lexi. And if Lexi can stand up to her, why the hell can’t I, so I-”

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