Page 7 of Dancing With Delusion

I make my way back over to the bar where my father remains. The atmosphere is cold as people eye us both, shifting uncomfortably, probably anticipating my next move. I flick my hand, summoning the barman’s attention.

“Whiskey,” I order without removing my eyes from my father.

“Get it off your chest, Dmitry. I’ve seen that look a thousand times, often staring back at me in the mirror,” he muses. He’s referring to my dark glare, the one I clearly inherited from him. My jaw clenches as I try to keep my anger in check. “Like father, like son,” he mutters.

The barman hands me the whiskey, and I swirl the ice around the glass, trying to gather my next words. “Victoria and I are happening, and you will never threaten her life again.” I take a sip of my drink, allowing the burn to relax me. “She’s mine, and I don’t care if you’re my fucking father . . . I will end you.” I say the words clearly and calmly, but inside, I’m raging. Nothing would thrill me more than finishing this prick. There’s never been any love lost between us, and our relationship has always been more like a business transaction.

He scoffs at my threat, patting me on the back more forcefully than required. “A brief period in London and you think you’re running the fucking mafia.” He glares at me, but he doesn’t intimidate me as I hold his steely stare. “She isn’t for this world, and her complete disregard for the way things work, along with her temper, will get her killed. If it’s not me, someone else will take her out. She doesn’t know her place.” He takes a sip of his own drink before adding, “Now, Vivian, she knows her place, understands this life, and would not embarrass us like that.”

I drain my glass, slamming it on the bar. “Well, be warned, you touch a single hair on her head, and I will take you out.” I grin, showing no weakness as I arch my brow. “And I’ll enjoy every fucking minute of it. As for Vivian, she was a means to an end which I’ve now taken care of. Her presence is no longer required, neither in my business nor in my bed, so fucking drop it.” I march off with fury running through every fibre of my body, and the only way to squash this inner rage would be to spill blood, but I can’t even do that.

I see Vivian eyeing me from the corner of the room. Maybe twisting the proverbial knife will have to suffice. She glances up through her long lashes as I approach, and her eyes are full of unshed tears. “Let’s go,” I indicate to her as I leave the room. She follows behind me like I’ve trained her to do, but it doesn’t satisfy me as much as it once did. A woman who complies. I sigh heavily, knowing it’ll never be enough after having Victoria challenge me at every turn.

“Dmitry,” she whispers as she falls in step beside me.

“I don’t want to hear it, Vivian,” I spit angrily, the torment on her face just fuelling the fire.

Nik is waiting by the Audi, ready to take us home. He nods in greeting as he opens the back door for Vivian to get in. I climb in the front passenger seat, not wanting to be too close to her and give her the wrong idea. Nik climbs in beside me and side-eyes me. “Where to, Boss?” he questions.

“We need to drop Vivian back at the Hilton then take me back to the manor.” My response is stoic as I ball my fists, and once again, my mind goes back to her. How could Victoria behave like this? Maybe my father is right. Maybe she isn’t cut out for this world, but there is no way I can let her go now. But her irrational behaviour has to stop before she puts a clear target on her back and maybe even mine.

I run my hands over my tired face, the pressure of dealing with this constant chaos finally catching up with me. One thing that is clear right now is that I need to change tactics with Victoria.

I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t realise Nik has pulled up outside the hotel and is exiting the car and opening the door for Vivian to slide out. I get out and round the car. She places her manicured hands on my chest and leans up to kiss me on the cheek. I still, my jaw twitching. I know exactly what she’s doing, but her world is about to come crashing right down.

“Don’t,” I growl in warning, and she lowers her head, walking away from me.

I take a couple strides to catch up with her, and she glances at me with surprise on her face. I follow her up to her hotel room, not missing the look of jubilation on her face as we step inside the room. She believes I’m here for a rendezvous.

I smile at her menacingly, and her look falters. “Your father,” I pause for effect as her brows pinch together and a puzzled expression replaces the jubilation, “is dead.” I say the words bluntly because how else do I tell her? And now it’s done, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

The colour drains from her face as she processes my words. And then she takes me by surprise and releases a blood curdling scream that echoes around the room.

She takes a step forward, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. “You did it, didn’t you?” Tears stream down her face as she punches her fists into my chest. “I know you did it,” she cries.

Grabbing her wrists to stop her onslaught, I growl with frustration. “I did, and I would do it again given the opportunity. Maybe I should have done it sooner.”

She falls to her knees, covering her face with her hands and sobbing heavily, occasionally gasping for breath as sobs shake her body.

I thought I would gain some satisfaction from breaking her, but right now, I don’t feel at all satisfied. And all I can think about is returning home to Victoria.

Kneeling to Vivian’s level, I lift her chin so she’s looking at me. “This is for the best, Vivian. You can be free of him and take control of some of his businesses.”

She sniffles and swipes at her tear-stained face. I take her hand and rise to my feet, pulling her with me. The pain is still clearly evident on her face. “I’ll support you with the businesses, Vivian, but right now, I need to go and deal with Victoria. We’ll talk some more, I promise.”

The drive to the manor is silent. Nik eyes me curiously the entire journey. We pull up at the gates, and he turns the engine off and twists to look at me.

“What are you going to do, Boss?” he asks, and I frown at his intrusive question. He suddenly looks unsure. “No offence meant, sir, but I don’t think Victoria is cut out for this life. Her behaviour this evening proves it. She’s not only going to be the death of herself, but she’s going to bring us all down with her.”

I know deep down he’s right, but I can’t have him questioning my authority. It makes me look weak, like I don’t have my shit together. “Have I ever given you any reason to question me, Nikolai?” I snap, and he visibly swallows, choosing his next words wisely.

“No, Boss, but I also don’t want to see your downfall.”

“What I choose to do next is exactly that, my choice. I would hate for your questioning of my authority to end badly for you, Nikolai.”

He nods a silent acknowledgement of the threat I’m making, then he starts the engine and drives up to the house. I get out and rush up the steps, stopping at the door. I’m unsure of what version of Victoria will be awaiting my arrival, so I take a steady breath.

I open the door, loosening my tie, and as soon as I enter, I see Victoria standing in the entrance hall. Her expression is still one filled with rage. There goes any hope I had that she’d calmed down.

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