She watched my skin swell red with the allergic reaction, watched me clench my jaw against the searing sting and the fire spreading across my body.
Shirley smiled, satisfied. She bent down and whispered in my ear.
"Kathryn, I thought that mouth of yours was so sharp. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
"You know as well as I do that Neil only cares about me now. All I have to do is say the word, and he'll make you drink that entire basin of underwear water."
"But if you get on your knees right now and knock your forehead on the floor a few times, beg me nicely, I'll let you off with just two-thirds of it. How does that sound?"
So this was payback for last night.
But if I caved that easily, I wouldn't be Kathryn Henson.
I seized a fistful of her hair and shoved her entire head straight into the basin of dirty water and underwear.
Shirley choked instantly, arms flailing, thrashing wildly, but she couldn't lift her head no matter how hard she tried.
The bodyguard wrenched me off her. She collapsed to the side, gagging and coughing, but didn't forget to wail between heaves.
"Neil! She's jealous because you chose to kiss me that night! She did this on purpose to get back at me!"
"If you don't punish her, I'll kill myself right now!"
Neil's face turned black as iron. He backhanded me so hard I crashed to the floor.
My forehead struck the corner of the table, and a warm rush of blood ran down my face.
"Kathryn, you really don't know when to quit! You don't like me having a mistress? Fine. Then I'll make you the mistress. You can become the very thing you despise!"
"Tomorrow I'm going to the courthouse with Shirley. She's far more obedient and forgiving than you'll ever be. She's more fit to be Mrs. Sanchez!"
"You like using your hands so much? Then I'll destroy them. Someone get over here and smash her fingers, one by one. Let's see if she ever dares touch Shirley again!"
I was pinned to the floor. Two heavy boots crushed down on my arms, locking them in place.
Shirley tossed aside the towel she'd been drying her face with and flashed me a victor's smile.
George walked over with a small iron hammer, lined it up with my fingers, and raised it high.
Just as the hammer was about to come crashing down, the banquet hall doors exploded inward with a deafening boom.
Denys Mason's face emerged into view—chiseled, striking, almost otherworldly in its perfection.