Page 50 of Dancing With Distraction

Panic rises in my chest, making me forget the sore head. She sent it at two in the morning, and I check my watch to see it’s now after seven.

I grab my car keys, knowing I’m likely over the drink drive limit, but there’s an overwhelming need to get to her after the way we left things. After everything, her texting me means she needed me, but I was too busy with my damn pity party for one.

Vivian walks out into the hallway from the kitchen as I step from my office. “Dmitry, you didn’t come to bed.” If this is the shit I’ve got to look forward to, I really do need an escape.

“Not now, Vivian,” I throw over my shoulder as I make my way out to the Audi. If it wasn’t for her display at the bar, Victoria would still be at my apartment. God knows what state I’ll find her in today.

Pulling up outside Victoria’s bedsit, I jump out the car and rush up the steps. I’m relieved to see the foyer door propped open, so at least I don’t need to kick it in and disturb everyone at this ungodly hour on a Sunday morning.

Pausing at her door, I take a steadying breath. Anxiety is coursing through me, and I’m nervous about the state she’s going to be in. The one time she needed me, and I let her down. Fucking idiot.

I open the door, pleased that she’s ignored me and I can get to her.

I enter, and she’s not curled up on her bed like I expected. I step inside farther and freeze when I see Victoria slumped just behind the door, covered in blood. She’s completely naked and shaking uncontrollably. Staring into space, she’s unaware I’m even in the room, and as I move closer and crouch in front of her, she still doesn’t acknowledge me.

I take her hands in mine and realise the blood is dry, which means she’s been sitting here for some time.

“My krasota,” I whisper, scanning her body, trying to find the source of this amount of blood. “Tori,” I push, “look at me. Where are you hurt?”

She slowly drags her eyes to meet mine. They’re puffy and glazed over, like she’s looking straight through me. She doesn’t say a word but slides her hand free from mine and shakily points towards the kitchen area behind me.

I glance back over my shoulder to where Marcus is slumped over on the ground with blood soaking the tiles. It’s already spread onto the living room carpet, which tells me this happened around the time she texted me and she’s been here alone with his body since.

I go to stand, but she grabs my arm, holding it tight with terror etched across her face.

“I’m not going anywhere, Tori,” I say gently. “I just need to see if he’s alive.” But I already know he isn’t.

I approach his body, carefully pulling back his head. His eyes are open and glazed over. I make no attempt to check for a pulse because it’s clear this bastard has finally met his demise.

I grab the blanket off her bed and make my way back over to Victoria, wrapping it around her shaking body and rubbing along her arms to warm her up. “Everything’s going to be okay, my krasota.” I tuck some of her hair behind her ear. “We can get this cleaned up.”

“I killed him,” she whispers, her voice croaky. “Dmitry, I killed a man.” Her breathing becomes rapid as panic sets in. “I fucking sliced his throat.” She begins to cry uncontrollably, and I pull her body close to me, embracing her.

“You’re safe now, Tori,” I shush, stroking her hair as she calms under my touch.

“He was going to kill me,” she sniffles. “I . . . he . . .”

“Come on, let’s get you in the shower.” I lift her effortlessly in my arms, walking her into the bathroom and placing her on the sink unit while I run the water to make sure it’s warm.

I lift her off the unit, removing the blanket from around her and lowering her into the shower. She sits on the floor under the spray with her knees curled up to her chest, looking so broken, it tears me apart. “I just need to make a quick call,” I tell her, but she doesn’t respond, so I step out the bathroom and close the door behind me.

I dial Leo, needing to get a clean-up crew here and quickly. While I wait for him to answer, I walk over to the front door, locking it to ensure nobody else can walk in.

“Yes, Boss,” Leo answers.

“I need a clean-up crew at Victoria’s place, now,” I order, scanning my eyes over the blood-covered kitchen. “It’s a fucking bloodbath.” I run my hands through my hair in anger. What the fuck happened between them?

“Sure thing, Boss. Full disposal?”

“Yes. And, Leo, I need a fresh suit. This one needs burning.”

I disconnect the call, knowing I can leave Leo to arrange what’s necessary. I have to get Victoria out of here.

Going back into the bathroom, I find Victoria in the exact position I left her. I strip out of my clothes and join her. Taking her hands, she startles back into the room, and I pull her to stand. We have to remove all traces of him from her, so I take the washcloth and lather it with soap. She stands in front of me completely dissociated, lost in her own thoughts and staring into space, unaware of anything happening in the room.

I hold her arm out first, running the soapy cloth over her skin to clear away the smears of blood. When I turn it over, I pause, seeing letters carved into her skin. The prick marked her. Rage burns me as I gently continue to wash her. He’s lucky he’s dead already because I would have made him fucking suffer for this bullshit, whether my father approved it or not. I give my head a shake to clear it. She needs me to take control, and I can’t do that if I let my mind think about all the ways I want to re-kill that fucker.

“He wanted to mark me.” Her lip quivers as she watches me clean the wound. “He . . . it was him or me.”

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