idea of this stranger—her sister—pushing her way into Natasha’s life, and wanting to end it just as quickly, yet taking over everything in her wake. Natasha had left her entire estate to her sister, not to me. Including a house I’d bought her in the Hamptons as a wedding gift. A cottage in Bermuda, before, of course, I’d got wind of the fact that she had married me for my money, and in love with Ricardo all along. Yes, I’d been a fool. And a generous one at that.
“What the hell do you want me to say, Kristin? That I’m okay with pulling the fucking plug? Because I’m not, can’t you get that?”
She held my gaze for a second, a tear sliding down her cheek. “You think this is easy for me? She’s my little sister. And I love her. But Daniel, it is what it is. I can’t change fate.”
I was beginning to regret that I’d insisted Natasha come to the very same hospital where Kristin worked, after her accident in the park. It seemed like an innocuous fall, when a bicycle in Central Park careened into Natasha as we were crossing the road. She even got up and laughed about it. Her leg was bruised, but she seemed fine. It was only later that evening she began to complain of a splitting headache, and I called Kristin. She was top in her field—it seemed the obvious thing to do. But I should have picked a doctor outside the family, someone more impartial. Because Kristin was invested in following Natasha’s wishes, to a tee. The will I never even knew existed was now being thrust in my face.
“Daniel, this was what she wanted. This is what she wants.”
Now.
THE SCENE STRETCHES before me like a never-ending yawn, my mind frantic but my body unable to respond. I wonder now if Natasha’s death could have been avoided. I wonder now if Kristin accelerated—no, caused Natasha’s condition. I wonder now what drug Kristin administered to Natasha. Maybe what she did to me she did to her. Because all I know is that I was fine an hour ago, but now I’m paralyzed.
This woman is a shark and I am her prey.
2
Janie.
MY MIND WAS spinning. I could hardly breathe. Standing inside Daniel’s hotel, where I’d been living so happily for the last few days, I tried to evaluate what was happening. My mouth was a gaping hole as I painfully swallowed the concierge’s words: “Her first name is Kristin. I believe her name, before she married, was Jürgen.”
“Daniel’s wife?” I asked again, as I leaned against Ethan’s front desk to support my Jell-O legs.
His eyes softened. “Look, I’m sorry. But . . . I’ll bet you’re not the first.”
“What? You’re saying I’m Daniel’s bit of fluff on the side?”
“I didn’t mean it like that. Listen, Mr. Glass is a very wealthy man. As I say, I’ve only been working here four months so I wouldn’t know his extra-marital habits, but . . . look, this is Vegas after all.” His tone had changed from reverential and respectful to we’re-in-it-together, you-and-I, isn’t-it-terrible-to-be-treated-like-dirt-by-the-rich-and-famous?
“You know nothing about him,” I snapped. “I’ve known Daniel for years. I’ve worked with him. I can’t believe this is happening!”
“Have you got another place to stay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, my head in my hands as I put all my weight against the desk to stop myself falling.
Ethan came out from behind his desk, wheeling my suitcase behind him. A reminder that I had been chucked out of Daniel’s hotel! He took me by the crook of the arm. “Take a seat. Gather yourself. I know some cheap places to stay if you haven’t got anywhere else to go. I’m sorry, my hands are tied. I simply cannot sneak you in here or I’d lose my job.”
I felt like some sort of cheap floozy. The other woman. I let Ethan lead me to the lobby sofa. My legs were wobbling and I took baby steps in fear of collapsing to the floor.
“I’ll get you some water. Just . . . relax, okay?”
Tears welled in my eyes, but I didn’t even have the energy to cry. Doubt peppered my mind. Could it be true? Just because Natasha Jürgen had a lover when she and Daniel were married didn’t mean that Daniel wasn’t hopelessly in love with her. I had lapped up every word he’d said in the plane, on our way to Vegas. Believed him when he told me it was me