Page 62 of Forsaking All Others

I struggle to sit up to look at the small cabinet near my bed, but fall back straight away. I’m too weak to rise; I still feel like I have a hot brick sitting on my chest making it difficult to breath, and my gunshot wound, although not deep, hurts.

Turning my head I see a giant bouquet of red roses near my bedside cabinet and a small note.

Reaching over with great difficulty, I read his latest taunt and groan.

“Puss, Puss, Puss.

Soon.

Valentino.”

‘Bastard. At least I’m safe for the time being. There’s no way you’d try to get me when I’m in a room full of other contestants…surely.’

Tuning back into what the other two are saying now, I stare at the ceiling and wonder how long before I can get out of here, or when they’ll be sent back to the hacienda and the game, as I catch the gist of their conversation.

“She didn’t shoot me,” Valérie says quietly.

“She cut your face,” Miranda quips, “and you’ll likely scar. If you live that long.”

“That’s not why I’m here, though,” Valérie shakes her head. “Claire and Silke left me to drown. Catriona’s team saved me.”

“Dead right, Valérie,” I whisper, my lungs afire.

“You know what Claire always said,” Silke snaps, “it’s the sheep that bleats that loses its bite.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Miranda snorts.

“It means true strength comes from action; those who complain are not the ones who will protect you. All Valérie ever does is complain. We knew we couldn’t count on her.”

“It makes no difference what you think about the Frenchie,” Miranda laughs without humour, “everyone’s going to want to eliminate Annie Oakley over there. Everyone.”

“Wait,” I frown. “Are you still talking about me? Why would everyone want to kill me? I ensured the team I wanted to come last did. Everyone else I made deals with.”

“That was before the bachelor caught you in his arms and ran you to the ambulance as though his heart might break if you didn’t live,” Valérie says quietly.

“He did WHAT?”

‘Oh, merda, tell me this isn’t so. All my careful planning…’

“Yes,” Miranda sneers, “we all saw it; his expression was distraught. You’re obviously a favourite. He’s just put a huge target on you. If you even make it out of this hospital, that is.”

I close my eyes and lean back into my pillows, signalling I don’t have anything to worry about from them, although in reality, any one of them could probably kill me right now. I feel weaker than I ever have.

“I don’t know what he sees in her,” Silke snipes.

“Well, clearly not as much as he saw in Daniela. That’s why she killed her.”

I open my eyes again and turn to glare at Miranda.

“I didn’t kill Daniela.”

“You may as well have,” Miranda rolls her eyes, “her team — well, what was left of it — Daniela and Luo, came last just like you wanted, and the Viscount sucked the life out of them.”

“He did not,” I scowl.

“He did,” Valérie says quietly.

I frown and lean back again to stare at the ceiling. If this is true, then what he told me was a lie. He said he wouldn’t suck anyone to death.