Chapter 4
“Why?” Kimberly’s voice cracked, barely audible over the pounding in her ears. Agatha’s perfectly lined lips twisted into a sneer. “Why? Because you’re a pathetic little cockroach who doesn’t know when to die. Your mom’s been rotting for years, yet here you are, still sucking up everything that should’ve been mine.”
She stepped closer, her designer perfume suffocating in the small space. “The Jordan name, the money, the connections—all of it was supposed to be mine alone. What fucking right does trash like you have to any of it?”
Something primal snapped inside Kimberly at the mention of her mother. She lunged forward, trembling with rage. “My mother wasn’t a homewrecker,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “When she married Dad, she had no idea about your existence—either of you.” Her voice shook with years of suppressed fury. “You and your bitch mother drove her to suicide!”
Shock flashed across Agatha’s face—clearly not expecting the doormat to finally grow a spine. Her manicured hand shot up to slap Kimberly. The door swung open.
Spotting Jayden, Agatha instantly transformed. She grabbed a handful of mixed nuts from a nearby tray and shoved them into her mouth. She collapsed to the floor with theatrical precision, gasping: “Kim, why would you make me eat these? You know nuts could kill me…”
Jayden rushed to Agatha, violently shoving Kimberly out of his way. The force sent her crashing into a glass table. It shattered beneath her weight, jagged shards slicing deep into her palms. Blood immediately pooled in her cupped hands, dripping onto the expensive carpet. Jayden didn’t spare her a glance. He knelt beside Agatha, cradling her like something precious. “Baby, talk to me. What happened?”
Agatha clutched his sleeve, her eyes wide with practiced fear. “I just wanted some sister time,” she whimpered. “I don’t know what I said wrong, but she just…snapped. Started forcing these nuts on me…” She pulled at her collar. “Look at my skin, Jay. Is it bad?”
Jayden’s expression darkened as angry welts began spreading across her neck and chest. “I need to cover this up,” Agatha fretted. “The party—your investors—I can’t embarrass you looking like this.” His grip tightened. “Fuck the party. We’re going to the ER. Now.” He scooped Agatha into his arms. As he turned to leave, he shot Kimberly a look of such pure hatred it physically knocked the breath from her lungs.
After they left, Kimberly struggled to her feet, blood streaming from her shredded palms, soaking into the silk of her dress. The physical pain felt distant—secondary to the hollow emptiness spreading through her chest. She managed to flag down a server for a first aid kit, her fingers shaking so violently she could barely wrap the gauze around her hands. Drained beyond measure, she dragged herself toward the exit, desperate for fresh air.
She’d barely made it into the hallway when shadows detached from the wall. Strong hands grabbed her, dragging her into a supply closet before she could scream. Rough fingers dug into her jaw, forcing her head back as scorching liquid poured down her throat.
Blind panic flooded her system. Like Agatha, Kimberly had severe allergies—and capsaicin could trigger fatal anaphylaxis. The burning in her throat told her this was pure hot sauce extract. ‘S–stop—” she choked, thrashing against their hold. The men—she recognized Tyler and Mike among them—only laughed harder, pouring cup after cup down her throat. Her body went into violent convulsions, her bleeding hands scraping uselessly against the floor as her airways began to close.
“Agatha belongs to Jayden,” Tyler snarled, watching her struggle to breathe. “You thought you could mess with her and walk away?” Mike yanked her head back by her hair. “Everyone at school knows what a slut you are. All those guys who bullied you? Bet you fucked every single one. Did you seriously think someone like Jayden would touch your used-up body if he wasn’t getting paid?”
Another voice chimed in—Alex, Jayden’s cousin. “Drink it all, whore. Think of it as your apology to Agatha. Trust me, what we’ve got planned next is much worse.”
Kimberly’s vision tunneled, consciousness slipping as her throat swelled shut. With her last coherent thought, she gasped one name: “Jay-”
Cruel laughter echoed around her. “You think Jayden’s coming to save you?” Tyler howled. “This hot sauce was his fucking idea! He said he hopes you choke to death for touching his girl!”
“Let’s rip her clothes and take some pics for Jayden,” Mike suggested, already pulling at her dress. “Show him we handled his little problem.” They fell on her like wolves, tearing at her dress as darkness claimed her. The last sensation she registered was the flash of cameras capturing her bloodied, exposed body before blessed unconsciousness finally took her.