Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Sage
The sight is familiar from the balcony where I stand overlooking the pool. Alexei and Isla sit at the table together with Freddie and Anton, shaded by an umbrella. Even though what they're discussing is clearly serious, they still smile and laugh, talking like old friends.
I take a bite of my apple, and then check my glucose levels, administering the right dose without looking even while I stare daggers down at them.
Just as I'm taking the last bite of my apple, Alexei's eyes snap up to mine mid smile from something that Freddie has said. His eyes lock onto me and he gives me an evil smirk. Like he's trying to tell me he knew I was there the whole time.
Just the sight of him makes my blood boil and my jaw tight.
I throw the apple core back onto the tray and head inside to the kitchen, stopping to grab two bottles of wine before I come out to join them by the pool.
They're still laughing happily amongst themselves when I make it out there. Grasping the bottles with one hand, I strut over there as inconspicuously as I can. The conversation gets coherent as I approach, and none of it is about Chet or anything to do with Chet which just pisses me off more.
What's the point of being forced into close quarters with them every day if no one is going to focus on the goal?
What's the point of them hosting him, socializing him, and treating him like an old friend just to keep us separated if there's no end in sight?
Not allowed to kill him. Not going to do anything useful about Chet.
I don't know why I bother involving anyone else. I have to do everything myself.
"Sage, are you going to sit?" my uncle asks, startling me. Oh I was invited this time was I? Thanks for letting me know at the last fucking minute.
"No," I say, plastering a false smile on my lips. "Just came to top you up."
I pop the bottles with my teeth and pour them equally amongst the existing glasses until everything is empty and I can walk away with the evidence. The bottles will go straight in the big bins outside. Lesson from last time.
I help myself to a comfy spot on one of the pool loungers and rest my head as I watch them through my sunglasses. Look at them. Sipping the wine without a care in the world.
Alexei barely touches his. I try to ignore it but my heart is skipping beats and I am dying with anxiety just waiting for him to touch his fucking glass.
The others even empty theirs before Alexei can even touch his.
My belly rumbles and I frown. Weird. I clutch my stomach as it continues to gurgle at me.
I focus on Alexei, becoming more grumpy and frustrated with every second that he remains the only person at the table to not touch their fucking glass!
My stomach rumbles again, twisting like the contents are about to spill out of me. I cover my mouth with my hand.
I just ate…
Out of nowhere it feels like I'm about to throw up and faint all at once. My forehead is sweating and my skin has paled. When did that happen?
I'm trying hard to keep my breakfast in my belly, but Alexei's hand reaching for his glass has me completely captivated.
Just as his fingers touch the glass, Alexei looks at me with a smirk.
He lifts the glass to take a sip and my breathing stops.
I feel like I'm dying, trying not to fall out of my chair, and I can't look away.
He watches me with satisfaction as he swirls the glass between his fingers, letting the liquid slosh over the edge. When he lifts it to his lips my heart does stop.
Drink it. Drink it. Drink it!
His eyes flick down to the glass with a frown at the same time that my stomach curls and realization washes over me as well.
We have both tried to poison each other.
The only difference is, I've taken whatever it is he's given me.
Alexei sighs deeply, excusing himself without taking a sip. His chair scrapes when he stands, startling the others. He comes storming over to me, still holding the glass but dumping the contents in a planter box on his way. I stand up on shaky legs in anticipation of confronting him.
Weird though because I'm so dizzy that there's four of him standing before me.
"Poison? Really?"
"You can fucking talk," I say, my voice croaking and wincing as I try to stay upright.
"As if I would ever touch anything you served me," Alexei grunts.
"Can't blame me for thinking you're stupid enough to try it," I say, gritting my teeth.
"So you did try it?" he huffs. "You are so fucking-"
"It only would've taken one little sip," I say, struggling on my feet, sweating harder by the second. "And this would be done but of course-"
"What's that?" he says, folding his arms and acting like he can't hear me. "You seem faint. Were you stupid enough to take things that were left out unattended?"
"You're such a fucking cu-" I can't tell if I stop speaking because he cuts me off or because of the flash before my eyes as I struggle to stay conscious.
"At least what I gave you isn't going to kill you! You fucking idiot," he says. "Your family is right there watching us. You were going to give me something that would kill me in one drop?" His arms flail wildly.
"I am dying," I say, as sweats beads and my vision goes blurry. Against my better judgment I grasp his bicep to help me stay upright. He scoffs at the contact, but doesn't swat me away.
"You're so dramatic. It's a small overdose of your medication. You might vomit but you'll be fine."
"You're too pussy to try to kill me?"
"You're not supposed to be doing this," he argues back, his face going hot as he holds his temper in so my uncle can't hear us. "You're impossible."
"Every time you're here I'll keep fucking trying it, mark my-," I say. I want to say mark my words, but I throw up in my mouth a little bit.
"I thought you were dying?" he says, getting up in my face. "Apparently you won't be around long enough to try again."
"I'll pass out any second now! Can't you see how much I'm sweating!"
His nostrils flare and I can tell he's looking for an outlet for his anger. Unsure where to place it when he knows he shouldn't be engaging with me.
Just as I think I've won, he looks to the sky and takes a deep breath. He looks back at me with frustration and satisfaction, his teeth bared when he says, "Let me help you cool off."
Wildly, like he has completely lost control of himself, his arm flings out and he pushes me backwards into the pool with a flying splash. Sending me clothes and all into the icy water.
I can barely react to what has happened, growling and gasping as I break the surface.
"Well you're not hot and sweaty anymore," he says, folding his arms as his calm returns.
Fucker.
I push myself out of the pool, growling and screaming something feral as I wrap my arms around his legs and pull him forward into the pool with me. His face is nothing but shock as he falls forward, joining me in the icy water.
He breaks the surface slowly, eyes locking onto mine with malice and murder. "This is an expensive fucking suit."
I reach out a hand to slap him and he grabs my wrist. "You are a living God damn nightmare," he grunts.
By this time, everyone else is rushing towards the pools edge to check on us.
"You've got about ten minutes to either vomit or fix your dose or you will fucking die," he says, still holding onto my wrists. "Or I can hold you here so you can't do either."
Anton, Freddie and Isla reach the side of the pool and look down on us with mixed expressions of disgust and shock.
Alexei pushes me away from him.
"What the fuck was that, Alexei?" Isla says, panic in her tone.
"Nothing. Misunderstanding," he says, as he wades towards the pool steps.
Freddie helps me out of the pool and wraps a towel around me. He puts his warm arm around my shoulder as my uncle coddles me too. But all I can do is glare at Alexei, even as he stares at me with pure hatred.
"Are you okay, anima mia?" Anton asks.
"Fine," I growl. "Go back to what you were doing. I'm going to shower."
And fix my medication before I fucking die, apparently.
"Are you sure?" I hear Anton call behind me as I slink away with my feet slapping against the pavement and wet puddle forming in my wake.
"Oh I'm fucking perfect," I say under my breath, stopping to vomit in the garden before heading inside.