The Brit by Jordan Silver

taken place. We’d made love before coming downstairs, and she’d responded in her usual fiery way, giving as good as she got. There was no lingering fear, no worry as I’d expected. She was excited to be going on with planning our wedding it seemed, and that was the only thing on her mind. She was also more relaxed once she realized that no one was stupid enough to hold her responsible for the shit that had gone down.
    “I love you baby, I’ll see you later.” With one last kiss and a pass of my lips across her forehead I left the house. My body went into fight mode as soon as I climbed behind the wheel. My mind was already formatting my next plan of action. In order for me to pull this off I’m going to have to use cunning. I wasn’t worried about being found out, no. I was more worried about making whatever I came up with work. I no longer had the burning urge to end Natalie. Now I wanted her to live a long and miserable life. My only worry was what it would do to my brother’s life. Would he feel obligated to her, or will he be able to move on with his life?

I stayed at the office long enough to be seen, before slipping out again. I had a few runs to make in some rather unsavory places, but it was the only way to get my hands on what I needed on such short notice. It wasn’t easy finding the source, but you’d be amazed at what doors money can unlock.
    Now I am sitting outside the posh facility, where the rich and aimless went whenever they’d been caught being naughty boys and girls. And wanted to give the world the impression that they gave a damn, and were willing to change their ways.
    My plan was simple really; cause my delightful, soon to be ex sister in law to self-destruct. That way my hands would be clean, relatively anyway. And I would be rid of her once and for all. I also wanted to free my brother of her, so my mission was twofold and will take longer than I would like , but it was for the best.
    There was no harm in anyone knowing that I was here really; it was just a precaution in case things didn’t work out the way I wanted. So for that reason there could be no record of me being here. I signed in under an assumed name and as with most places, as long as you looked the part you were in.
    I found the room I was looking for and watched from the door as she primped in the little handheld mirror. I saw no remorse for the harm she’d caused. She didn’t even seem too broken up about her friend lying broken in a hospital bed.
    Her eyes widened at the sight of me before her face twisted with venom. I had no need for anything she had to say so I moved as quickly as I could to do what I came for. If the reports were correct, this should work admirably.
    I pulled the envelope carefully from my pocket being sure not to inhale as I shifted the contents out onto the flap directly in front of her. “What…?” That was as far as she got before I blew the contents in her face causing her to fling herself back against the pillows.
    In small dosages it would wear off soon, but I was guaranteed that this particular strain had lifelong effects. My first order of business was to move over to the phone and punch in a number.
    She sat there with a bemused expression on her face , eyes glassy. Looking much like the porcelain doll she’s always dreamed of being. I placed the phone to ear and my lips close to the other. I heard my brother’s voice vaguely through the earpiece as I spoke softly and slowly to her.
    I felt no qualms as I coaxed her to ask for a divorce, as I fed her line for line what to say. I had no guilt when I spewed bile in her ear, which she repeated. How she was tired of being part of a family that was so weak as to let someone as inferior as Joanna become a part of it.
    She went on and on as I fed her line after line, reminding myself that this was for the best. That my brother might hurt for a little while but in the end he’d move on. I hung up the phone and with one last look at her,