She Needed My Blood, But I Needed Revenge

I crouched inside the oversized gift box, barely able to contain my excitement. Any second now, Gabriel would walk in and I'd leap out - the ultimate birthday surprise. My fingers trembled around the pregnancy test in my pocket. That little plus sign was going to make this the best day of his life.

Then I heard her voice.

"You're not seriously keeping Amanda around now that I'm back, are you?"

My breath caught. That silky, poisonous tone could only belong to one person.

Nadia.

I didn't know she'd returned. Didn't know she'd been gone. My pulse hammered so loud I worried they'd hear it through the wrapping paper.

"Don't be ridiculous," Gabriel chuckled, his voice dripping with intimacy. "Amanda was just... convenient."

Convenient.

The word carved through me like a knife. My nails dug into the cardboard lining as the pregnancy test's sharp corner bit into my palm.

"Convenient?" Nadia's musical laugh made my skin crawl. "God, it's always been us, hasn't it? You only kept her around because she worshipped you."

"Exactly." His casual cruelty stole the air from my lungs. "She was just keeping your seat warm, babe."

The bedroom door clicked shut. Muffled sounds followed - laughter, then worse. My stomach twisted.

I exploded from the box like it was on fire, snatching my purse without bothering with shoes. The elevator ride passed in a haze of hyperventilation. Outside, summer air slapped my tear-streaked face as I stumbled down the sidewalk.

All those years. All those lies. Nadia's sudden "friendship" in college - just reconnaissance. Gabriel's affection - pure theater.

My phone vibrated. Gabriel's name flashed on the screen.

"What?" I rasped.

"Amanda." His voice was razor-sharp. "What's your blood type?"