Blood Between Us
1251 Words
Night
Marina’s shaking fingers clutched the sides of her dress as her restless feet carried her back and forth. She had always feared this day would come—the day someone would dare mess with her over something she had achieved and buried years ago.
“s**t,” she cursed, drawing in a shaky breath as her eyes swept the dark, quiet beach where the person behind the note had asked to meet her.
“Calm down, Marina… calm down…” she consoled herself, nodding quietly as she forced composure, though her gaze continued to search the shadows.
Her eyes finally landed on a girl dressed in a black hoodie and cap, her face carefully hidden behind a nose mask, strutting toward her with purpose.
Marina swallowed hard.
“You’re already here…” Laura scoffed, running her eyes over Marina. Greed lit her gaze as it lingered on the expensive jewelry adorning Marina’s body.
“Get to the point… what secret?” Marina snapped impatiently.
Laura rolled her eyes and looked away, Ava’s mother’s warning—never tell Marina this was only about her husband’s affair—echoing in her mind. She would let Marina believe she knew something bigger, something darker. Enough to make her pay in fear.
“I asked a f*****g question,” Marina growled, breathless, her fingers clawing through her hair.
Laura scoffed. Disgust twisted her face as she watched Marina shake. The woman was right, she thought. These people were worth more money. She only knew about the affair, yet Marina looked like she was on the verge of losing her mind—as though she feared something far worse.
“Look…” Marina sneered, struggling to stay calm. “Say something before I—”
“Oh please, save it,” Laura cut in. “You disgusting rich folks always have something to hide… something unthinkable you’d hate to see dragged into the open.”
Marina’s fists tightened at her sides, a dry chuckle slipping from her lips.
“So if you don’t want your reputation ruined, you’d better pay to keep the truth buried.”
“What truth?” Marina asked, her heart racing as she prayed it wasn’t what she feared.
Laura scoffed.
“Nice try, ma’am.”
Marina shook her head and looked away, a flicker of doubt easing her fear for a moment. Maybe she knew nothing. Maybe she was bluffing.
She sighed and stepped forward, ready to leave—until Laura blurted out the final card Ava’s mother had instructed her to use, the moment she saw hesitation.
“Remember Samantha?”
Marina turned sharply, blood draining from her face as a slow smile stretched across Laura’s lips.
“What did you say?” Marina choked, lunging forward and gripping Laura by the collar.
Laura laughed, yanking herself free. “Now you’re interested, huh?”
“What… what did you say?” Marina demanded again, her heart slamming violently against her ribs as icy fear crept down her spine.
“You heard me, ma’am. And I suggest you don’t try anything stupid. Do as I say, and we’ll return to our lives with no problems. Do otherwise, and you’ll wake up to your biggest secret on everyone’s lips.”
Marina lowered her gaze, terror giving way to confusion as her thoughts spiraled. She had erased Samantha and her mother that day. Who could have spoken? Who was this girl?
“How much do you know?” Marina asked quietly, lifting her eyes.
Laura rolled hers in response.
“What you know… who else knows?” Marina pressed.
“Just me,” Laura scoffed. “Rest assured.”
Marina nodded slowly, breathing deep as her fingers tangled in her hair. The cool night breeze did nothing to ease the heat rising beneath her skin.
“So what do you say, Mrs. Moretti?” Laura taunted. “I sell Samantha’s story to the press for good money—or you pay me more, and I take it to my grave.”
Marina stared at her, confusion still clawing inside her. Why was this girl a staff member? Was she planted? Or just greedy?
“You have five minutes,” Laura added. “Choose.”
Marina bit down hard on her trembling lip, drawing blood.
Laura pulled out her phone and glanced at it. “Your time starts now.”
“Name your price,” Marina cut in.
Laura’s eyes lit up.
Marina scoffed bitterly.
“Well, if you insist…” Laura sneered, raising two fingers.
Marina frowned.
“Two million dollars.”
Rage surged through Marina, though she masked it with a forced smile.
“You married into a family rich enough to run a country,” Laura continued. “Two million means nothing to you.”
Marina nodded stiffly.
“Deal.”
Laura gasped, excitement flooding her face.
“Deal?”
“You can have the money tonight,” Marina said, then leaned closer. “But swear to me—no one else knows.”
“You have nothing to worry about, ma’am,” Laura assured eagerly.
Marina exhaled.
“So when do I get it?”
“Tonight.”
Laura nearly squealed.
“How about you wait here,” Marina added softly. “I’ll go get it. I’ll be right back.”
Laura nodded eagerly as Marina patted her shoulder and walked away.
“Yes!” Laura whispered, dancing in place.
Ava’s mother emerged quietly from the shadows where she had been watching, pulling out her phone.
It’s going as expected, she texted Selene.
She slipped away again, eyes lingering on Laura spinning with joy.
An evil smile curved Marina’s lips as she approached the guard stationed outside her suite.
“Ma’am,” he greeted with a bow.
“Can I ask you a favor?” Marina said sweetly.
He hesitated, then nodded.
“I’d like to take a walk alone by the beach. It’s dangerous out there…”
He nodded again.
“So I’ll need your gun—for protection.”
Confusion flickered across his face.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Marina said calmly, snatching the gun before he could protest. “Thank you.”
She turned and walked away quickly.
“That b***h,” Marina spat, gripping the gun as she hurried back to the beach.
Laura spotted her and stilled.
“Did you bring it?” she asked eagerly.
“What do you think, b***h?” Marina snarled, lifting the gun.
Laura’s eyes widened in terror.
“What—what are you doing?” she cried, stumbling backward.
“You think you get to mess with me?” Marina laughed bitterly.
“Please… please…” Laura begged.
“Why don’t you people ever learn?” Marina hissed. “Don’t. f*****g. Mess. With. Me.”
Laura sobbed and crumbled to her knees, regret flooding her face.
“First that loser Samantha and her stupid mother,” Marina continued coldly. “Then that poor, smelly woman who dared stand up to me. And now you.”
“Please… I know nothing—”
The gunshot cut her off.
Laura collapsed instantly, blood pooling beneath her as Marina stared, frozen.
She lowered the gun, gulping hard.
She had just murdered someone.
“s**t,” she whispered, shaking violently.
She kicked the body—no movement.
“She’s dead…”
Panic overtook her and she spun around to run, only to freeze when she found Damien standing behind her, staring at the gun still warm in her hands.
- Writer
