XX

M o n d a y, 15/4/19

Dear Diary,

Grunting and groaning, twisting and turning, huffing and puffing.

I tried to escape the thick bonds that held my flailing body to the chair but it was no use.

I couldn't get out!

Panting, I dropped wearily against the chair-back and closed my eyes, trying to control the swelling panic that threatened to engulf me.

I had been stuck in this chair with no nourishment and no fresh oxygen for 48 hours. At first, I tried to convince myself that Sabrina wouldn't actually kill me but, as time dragged on, my resolve in this issue weakened.

Sabrina was the devil.

There was not a doubt about it: she would kill me.

Blinking back tears, I lifted my head and scanned the room for the fifty millionth time since my imprisonment. Only a few people, clad in white lab coats and masks, had flittered to and fro but, other than that, I hadn't seen a single soul. From within the large, airy space, I could hear the clanks and hums of machines resounding from outside.

What the hell was going on here? Where on earth was I? What was going to happen to me?

This train of thought had barely entered my mind when the familiar click of the door opening jolted me from my stupor. With wide, fearful eyes I watched as the tall figure of Sabrina stalked in on her bright red high-heels.

"Tell me, my dear Josephine, do you know what day it is?" she purred as she circled menacingly around me.

I shook my head. "N-no."

"Why, that's disappointing," she cackled. "You seem to have an awful lack of memory. Oh dear. Your poor father. What a distraught mess he is - even on his own wedding day."

I shot straight up in my chair ... well, as straight as I could against the ropes that held me. "The wedding!" I basically shouted. "You're still going to marry him?"

Sabrina nodded. "Of course. I couldn't possibly think of leaving your father's side...not in the wake of such a terrible tragedy."

"Tragedy...?" the word ran off my lips like cold oil. As the realisation struck me, my chest tightened and my throat turned dry. "Oh my god. You're going to kill me, aren't you?"

"Your father thought he could outsmart me," she guffawed mockingly. "He sent me the wrong files. I gave him twenty-four hours to repair his mistake. He has not. And now your body shall be delivered to his front door and serve as a reminder that you do not cross Sabrina Lahart."

I sagged back against the chair, shooting daggers at her with my eyes. "Well, if you're going to kill me at least tell me why," I uttered. "It's the least you can do."

Sabrina pursed her lips in thought. "I think that's the smartest thing you've ever said," she smirked. "Very well. I'll tell you." Turning, she rapped her knuckles against the door and a barrage of masked men entered the room. One of them placed a chair right in front of mine for Sabrina to sit on. Then, a few of the others pulled up a table and spread open a bag, lined with knives, cork-screws and pliers, across it.

Oh shit.

I am so screwed.

As the men left the room, Sabrina settled herself on the chair opposite me and smiled exaggeratedly, "I'll let you in a little secret, Josephine - I never liked you. But, deep down, I'm sure that you know that."

"Why?" I whispered with a shake of my head. "Why are you doing this?"

"It's my job," she returned sardonically. "That's why. Now, do you wanna hear the story or not?"

I shrugged and nodded.

"Very well. About a year ago, I was living in an old, dusty apartment in Russian suburbia when I was approached by a few government officials. They had been sent by a high-profile competitor in the black market who had heard about my involvement in the Russian mob."

"You're a part of the military?" I frowned, confused.

"No. I'm an assassin," she scoffed. "That may sound ludicrous to some but, for me, it was my life. It was how I ate every day. It was how I survived." Her expression darkened as she continued, "Until I was double-crossed by one of my partners and kicked out of the group. I had some very dangerous people after me. I had to escape. I had to get off the grid...fast. This high-profile man promised that he would take care of it - but only if I did something for him. He could give me money, power and protection. So, I agreed to his proposal.

"He created a fake passport for me along with a new name and identity. He sent me to Hawaii, along with a junior apprentice, to complete his mission..."

"Wait!" I exclaimed. "Tiffany...she's not your daughter?"

Sabrina laughed outright at this. "Tiffany's not even her real name, my dear. And of course she isn't related to me. I did not intend to waste my life raising kids."

"Or doing anything good with it either," I muttered under my breath.

"What did you just say?" Sabrina snapped.

"Nothing!" I shook my head vigourously. "Please...go on. What did this competitor want you to do?"

"Wipe out your father's business," she responded grimly. "Your father, Josephine, is not the man you think he is. He gambles. He makes risky decisions. He competes in the Russian black market. He has undertaken many illegal activities. He has many enemies. My employer is one of them. He and your father have a very long and bitter history. But, unlike Mr Marsden, my employer was actually smart enough to come up with a plan that would rid him of his competition forever."

"So, you were sent here to kill him?" I pressed.

"Yes," Sabrina nibbled on her lower lip. "But, when I saw you, I had second thoughts about the whole arrangement and intended to use you as leverage - first to destroy your father's business and second, to bring him to me so I could kill him. However, he is not an easy man to catch which, for you, is very unfortunate."

I spat out from between gritted teeth, "He is still my father! I don't care what he's done or what mistakes he has made! It gives you absolutely no right to do anything bad to him!"

"You're correct," she cocked her head to one side. "I don't have the right...but I want too. There's a big difference."

And, so saying, Sabrina got up and removed two of the knives from the bag on the table nearby. "Now that you've heard the story, it's time for you to die." As she began walking towards me, spinning the knives threateningly around her fingers, she queried, "Do you have any last words, my dear, dear Josephine?"

Camden.

Spencer.

Daisy.

Rick.

Dad.

I would never see any of them again.

As tears of anger poured down my cheeks, I glared defiantly into Sabrina's eyes and shook my head. "Not...for...you," I growled.

Sabrina shrugged me off carelessly as she advanced towards me. She lifted the knife and hovered it right over my heart. She stared down at her, her gaze void and empty of feeling, and whispered, "Goodbye, Josephine."

Suddenly, the door burst open and dozens of armed, uniformed police officers swarmed into the room, levelling her weapons at Sabrina.

"Drop the knife! Now!" one of them shouted.

As Sabrina made a slight move, hinting that she was about to stab me, several gunshots rang out. I stared, horrified, as Sabrina's limp and bleeding body dropped to the ground.

She was dead.

"You alright, kid?" one of the cops asked as he removed the ropes holding me down.

Not knowing how to reply, I simply ducked my head and gazed, motionless, at the floor.

What the hell had just happened?

"Jo!"

At the sound of the familiar voice, I snapped my head up just in time to see Camden racing into the room.

I stared at him and shook my head slowly. "H-how...?" I whispered. "How did you get in here? How did you know where I was?"

"It doesn't matter," he returned as he stepped forward and closed the distance between us. Bending down slightly, he cupped my cheeks in his large, calloused hands. His deep, chocolate-brown eyes searched my own and, in that moment, I knew.

I knew that he had been worried sick about me.

I didn't have time to contemplate this any further, though. Gently, Camden caressed my cheeks with his thumbs as he lowered his dark, curly head. He paused only when his lips were a mere inch or two from mine.

"I like you, Jo Marsden," he breathed softly. "Ever since the day I first laid eyes on you - I liked you."

Then, he leaned forward and kissed me.

XX