Chapter 60
A few hours earlier
“Looking for something? Or should I say, looking for someone?” I ask the waitress who just walked into the room where Elodie should be getting dressed for the wedding.
After she steps inside, I close the door, lock it, and lean against it.
She turns slowly, and I have to use every ounce of self-control to stay still.
“Uh. . .the bride. I brought her some water,” she says, setting the tray on top of the dresser.
“My sister asked you for water, Capria Mancini? Or should I call you Abby Masterson, the fake name you used to sign up for the job? Did you really think that ridiculous wig would keep you from being recognized?”
Her eyes widen, and she takes a step back while I move closer. “If you knew who I was, why did you hire me?” she says, her voice dripping arrogance.
I was the one who organized the entire staff for Elodie’s wedding, but I’ve been tracking that bitch for a long time.
“I’ll give you a piece of advice, even though I’m sure you won’t live long enough to use it: when you choose someone as the target of your cruelty, you should research the person’s family, too.
My sister is the best human being I’ve ever met.
She doesn’t believe in vengeance. Unfortunately for you, I do. ”
“What does that mean?”
“Did you really think that after indirectly causing the death of my first nephew, we—Elodie’s family—wouldn’t be watching to protect her? I let you come, miserable creature. I wanted to see how far that rotten heart of yours would go.”
Another step closer to the viper, and now I can almost smell her fear.
“When you applied for the extra waitress position, I already knew you were up to something. You couldn’t bring a gun and you wouldn’t have access to knives, because I made sure your job was only to serve drinks.
So I thought you’d try to push my sister, make her lose the baby.
” I fight the tremor in my voice so she won’t sense how the mere possibility of Elodie losing a second child makes me sick. “Poisoning never crossed my mind.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Drink the water you brought.” I point to the tray.
“What? No!”
“One more warning: whatever you put in there will probably give you a quick death, because you wouldn’t be stupid enough to let them find and prove poison in my sister’s body if she suffered for hours.
Your end, Capria, will be far more merciful than you deserve.
I’m feeling generous today. My husband and my brother.
. .when they get their hands on you, they won’t only take out their rage for today’s attempted murder of Elodie, they’ll make you pay for the death of the nephew they never met.
That could take days, Capria. Drink the water. ”
I watch her go to the dresser and pick up the glass with a trembling hand. I don’t feel pity, not even when she raises it to her lips.
I watch the movement of her throat as she swallows. Then I sit down in an armchair and wait.
After a few minutes, I see the change in her face when the poison starts to take effect.
“You’ll never cover this up. You killed me.”
“Wrong. You killed yourself. And as for covering it up, I come from a family of magicians. They specialize in making enemies disappear.”