“Because he needs something from her. But the moment her use is met, she’ll be dead. I promise you that.”
“You don’t know that.” I shake my head. “Stefan isn’t a killer.”
Natalia laughs bitterly. “Olivia, sweetheart… Stefan has killed more people than you can count. He burned down that cabin knowing people were inside. He executed men who crossed him.”
“Those were criminals. People who?—”
“Mikayla isn’t a criminal. She’s a girl who lost her sister and wanted justice. And now, she’s paying for it.”
I feel tears prick my eyes. “I don’t believe you.”
“Then ask him. Ask Stefan to let you see Mikayla. Ask him to let you go downstairs and check on her yourself.”
I open my mouth. Close it again.
Natalia nods as if I did exactly what she expected me to do. “You can’t, can you? Because you already know he’ll say no.”
“He’s trying to protect me.”
“Or he’s trying to hide something.”
I push my salad away. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I want you to see the truth. Stefan is not the man you think he is. And I want you to help me save Mikayla before it’s too late.”
“How?”
“Go downstairs. Check on her. Make sure she’s alright. That’s all I’m asking.”
“And if she’s fine?”
“Then I’ll know you were right and I was wrong. But if she’s not...” Natalia reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Please, Olivia. I’ve been worried sick about her. I just want to know she’s okay.”
I look down at our joined hands. Hers are soft and manicured. Mine are trembling.
“I’ll try,” I whisper.
“Thank you.”
She releases my hand and pulls a card from her purse. She slides it across the table. “This is my new number. If you ever need help, call me. I’ll send someone immediately.”
I stare at the card. Just a phone number. No name.
“I should go,” I say. “The wedding planner will be here soon.”
Natalia stands. “Of course. Thank you for meeting with me, Olivia. Together, we can make this right.”
She kisses my cheek and walks away. I sit there for a long time, staring at the card in my hand.
Then I pocket it and leave.
51
OLIVIA
My hands are shaking as I pull up at the manor. The wedding planner meeting was a blur. I barely remember what Erica Renee looked like, what she said, what I may or may not have agreed to. The whole time, all I could think about was Natalia’s face. How her chignon will look when it’s soaked with blood.
Stefan is going to kill Mikayla.That’s what she said. Insisted, really. She squeezed my wrist and said it with stone-cold eyes so I would know, so I would feel it in the marrow of my bones, that Mikayla is going to die brutally if I don’t do something to stop it.
