What Hurts the Most

Chapter 15

When she comes to, Reyhan realizes she's tied to a chair. She looks to her left and sees that Cavidan is tied to a chair next to her. The woman is scowling up at the person responsible for this whole thing.

"Cemre," Reyhan gasps, shocked to see the woman. "I thought you had been arrested."

"Surprise! You thought wrong," Cemre grins. "You don't think I'll let you take what's mine that easily, do you?"

"What's going on here?" Reyhan struggles against her ropes, but finds she's tied pretty securely. But she keeps trying to wiggle free anyway. "Why are you here? Why are you doing this?"

"You're not too bright, are you?" Cemre taunts her. "I already told you. I'm here for what's mine. I'm here for Emir."

"Cemre, I'm not the one keeping you from Emir," Reyhan tries to reason with her. "Emir loves me. He doesn't love you. And no matter what you do, no matter how much you try to split us apart, we end up back together. Together and stronger."

Reyhan feels a small victory when the ropes holding her begin to give a little. If she keeps working on them, she may be able to get herself free. She just has to keep talking to Cemre. Keep her occupied.

"We know the tricks you've pulled in the past to separate us," Reyhan continues. "That lady you paid to pretend to be Emir's lover? We found out all about that. How do you expect Emir to forgive you for making him look like a cheater?"

"It was for his own good," Cemre says. "It got you away from him and showed him how little faith you had in him. If you hadn't come back, Emir was on his way to loving me."

"No, Cemre. He wasn't. He still loved me. He always has. And he always will."

"That's where you're wrong. This time, there's no way Emir will keep loving you."

That smile again. The one that makes Reyhan's blood curdle. Cemre has something planned and Reyhan knows she won't like it.

"What do you mean by this time?" Reyhan works even harder at loosening the ropes. She has to get away and she has to get away now.

"He forgave you for leaving him. He forgave you for divorcing him. But do you think he will forgive you for taking away the most important person in his life?"

Cemre directs her calculating gaze at Cavidan now.

"Do you think he'll forgive you for killing his mother?"

"Kill?" Cavidan squeaks. "This was not the plan, Cemre!"

Cemre just shrugs.

"Actually, it was. I just didn't tell you this part of it."

"You two are in this together," Reyhan realizes, turning to stare at Cavidan. "You let her into this house, you made sure we were alone, and then you lured me in here."

"Well now," Cemre laughs. "I guess you're not as dumb as you look. She may be even smarter than you, Cavidan teyze."

"Never," Cavidan scoffs. "Now set me free, Kızım. You got who you came for. I don't want any part in this plan any longer. Take her. Kill her. Do whatever. Just do it away from here."

Cemre turns her back on them and starts digging in a bag she left on the table next to Hikmet's bed. She looks at the man and giggles, pressing her fingers to her lips.

"Shhh! Don't ruin the surprise, Hikmet amca." She lets out a belly laugh when she notices his eyes widen in shock. "No worries, Hikmet amca. You're no threat to me. You're not in any danger."

She turns around and lifts the filled syringe so that Reyhan and Cavidan can see the deadly contents.

"If it's any consolation, Cavidan teyze, you won't even feel it happen," Cemre explains. "This drug will enter your system and slowly start to shut everything down. You'll be paralyzed. You won't be able to see anything. Hear anything. Move anything. And eventually, even your breathing will stop. It'll be like you died in your sleep."