"Barret, why are you going soft?"
"She pushed you into this."
"She was parading around with Bernard Delgado at that banquet tonight—do you have any idea how humiliating that was for you?"
"You can't let her think she can walk all over you."
Barret's expression hardened in an instant, cold as stone.
"Maggie, I've laid out my terms. Take them or leave them."
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Grandma couldn't wait.
I drew a deep breath.
"Fine. I agree."
I turned to Queenie and closed my eyes.
"I'm sorry. I was wrong before. Please forgive me."
The words tasted like ash. I reached for the cold storage case.
Queenie's lips curled into a vicious smile.
Her wrist flicked.
"Oops."
The case hit the floor.
A sharp, crystalline crack split the air.
The liquid medication splashed across the tile in a mess of glass shards and serum.
Queenie pressed a hand to her mouth and stepped back, the picture of innocence.
"Sorry, Maggie. My hand slipped."
A deafening buzz filled my skull. My entire body locked in place.
Barret didn't blame Queenie. Instead, he pulled her into his arms.
"Why are you glaring at her like that? You're scaring her!"
"It broke, so what? I'll send someone to buy more from out of town. It's not a big deal!"
The door burst open.
A doctor rushed in.
"Ms. Sullivan! The patient's condition has taken a critical turn!"
"The drug must be administered within five hours, or she won't make it through the night!"
I stared at the puddle of clear liquid on the floor.
A metallic sweetness surged up my throat.
I coughed and a mouthful of blood splattered onto the ground.
Barret stared at the blood, panic flashing through his eyes. He let go of Queenie and reached for me.
"Maggie! What's wrong?"
I grabbed the box cutter from the desk.
And drove it straight into his outstretched hand.
The blade sliced across his forearm. Blood welled up instantly.
"Don't touch me!" I screamed, my voice raw and shredded.
Barret cried out in pain, clutching his arm as he stumbled backward.
My legs gave out. I tipped backward.
A pair of strong arms caught me before I fell.
