He Picked the Wrong Side

I wanted to burn holes through her with my stare.

No more playing nice. "She's Derrick's mom," I snapped. "If anything happens to her, Derrick's gonna make you pay when he shows up!"

Rosalie laughed—sharp and mean. "Wow. You'll really say anything. I heard you. You said she was your mother-in-law. So how'd she magically turn into Derrick's mom?"

She sneered. "You wrecked my day. I'll make sure you remember this—next time you go out, bring your eyes."

Georgina shook in my arms, barely breathing. Her heart condition was spiraling.

She needed her fast-acting meds. Now. Or she'd die.

My eyes burned as I screamed, "Help! Please—someone help us! She's dying!"

The pool deck stretched out, silent and empty. No one came.

Even Dmitry started to panic. "Rosalie, what if—"

She cut him off, ice-cold. "Relax. Old people are tougher than you think. She's faking it. My husband's on his way. Let them stay a few more minutes. If something was gonna happen, it already would've."

She was wrong.

Miss the rescue window by even a minute, and Georgina would die.

Despair crushed my chest.

Right then, the hotel manager rushed over. I screamed until my throat burned, "Help! She's having a heart attack! Get her out—now! Call an ambulance!"

He'd seen Georgina years ago but didn't recognize her anymore. One look at her state made him panic. He'd come over to suck up to Rosalie after hearing the commotion, not expecting things to turn deadly.

He hesitated—offend Rosalie, or risk a death on his shift and lose his job.

Finally, he turned on a polite smile. "Ms. Tucker, maybe let them out of the pool first? If something really happens, this pool won't be usable anymore."

Rosalie flicked him a look, all arrogance. "Fine. Since you're asking, I'll let them out."

The manager waved Dmitry over, and he dragged Georgina and me out of the pool.

She lay there, completely still. I didn't even stop to breathe—just sprinted to the locker room, grabbed my bag, and ran back.

Hands shaking, I dumped out her fast-acting heart pills and moved to get them into her mouth—

Rosalie kicked the bottle. Pills and all, straight into the pool.

I snapped my head up, shaking with rage. She curled her lip. "Drop the act. I already let you out. Now get lost. If you ever see me again, walk the other way. I'm being nice, letting you off this time."

Rage blew through me. I lunged and slapped Rosalie hard. "If anything happens to Georgina, I'll make you—and Derrick—pay."

She screamed, stunned I'd dared. "You're insane! I shouldn't have gone soft. I should've let you two bitches drown!"

I tried to go for her again, but Dmitry and the manager grabbed my shoulders. Rosalie went wild, slapping me over and over. More than I could count.

The sting snapped me back to reality. If I wasted another second, Georgina would die.

I tore free and yanked out my phone, dialing Derrick. "Derrick, Mom's having a heart attack. We're at the Solenne Hotel pool in Rivera. Get the closest medical team here now. If you're late, she'll die."

He sounded annoyed. "Your mom's had heart issues forever. Doesn't she know how to manage it? I'm in a meeting. Call an ambulance yourself."

Then he hung up.

I was shaking with rage. He'd heard "Mom" and thought I meant mine. Did he seriously not know whose mother had a heart condition?

The next second, Rosalie spun toward the entrance, lighting up. "Derrick—you're finally here!"