Page 2 of Dark Obsession

I smirk. “He looks like he belongs on a reality show, one of the low-rent ones. Pass.”

Natalia laughs. “Okay, but what about your bodyguard?”

I blink, confused for a second. “What? Who?” I feign innocence though the truth is I have fantasized about the man more than once.

She rolls her eyes. “Grigori! He’s a total ten.”

“Oh, come on, Nat. Don’t tell me you’ve been drooling over him.”

She shrugs, completely unapologetic. “If a guy’s hot, he’s hot. And Grigori is hot. By the way, where is he?”

I can’t help but laugh. “You’re insane. I’m not letting you anywhere near him.”

Sasha snickers. “Elena, she’s got a point. WhereisGrigori?”

I glance around, expecting to spot him immediately, but he’s not hovering like he usually does. He’s always the closest to me. But now, he’s nowhere to be found.

I stop dancing as a strange feeling knots in my stomach, my instincts kicking in.

Then, through the sea of dancers, I see one of my guards crumple to the floor.

Shit.

And then I hear it, sharp and unmistakable.Pop.The sound cuts through the music, louder than the pounding bass. The crowd hasn’t noticed yet; they’re too lost in their world of drinks and dance, but I see the men emerging from the side entrances, moving with purpose.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

My heart hammers in my chest but my brain stays sharp. I look at Sasha and Natalia, both of them frozen in fear.

“Go!” I bark, grabbing Natalia’s arm. “Get out of here, now!”

They hesitate, eyes wide, clearly not wanting to leave me behind. “Elena—”

“I’ll be fine! Move!” I snap, my voice rougher than I’ve ever used with them. Panic is starting to ripple through the crowd as people notice something’s wrong, a nervous energy crackling in the air.

Finally, they listen and dart toward the exit, blending into the rush of people. I take a deep breath, knowing I need to follow. But where the hell is Grigori?

Suddenly, a rough hand grabs my wrist, yanking me back. A man, face half-hidden in shadows, growls something in Spanish. My pulse spikes, but before I can react, Natalia reappears and hurls her drink in his face, following it up with a sharp slap.

The man staggers, momentarily blinded, and I don’t waste a second.

Natalia stands there, wide-eyed, like she can’t believe what she just did. I grab her by the shoulders, giving her a quick shake to snap her out of it.

“Thanks but move! Now!”

She blinks, nods frantically, and then bolts, disappearing into the panicked crowd.

I scan the room again. Through the chaos, I spot two of my bodyguards still on their feet—Alexei and Viktor. Both look like they’ve been through hell, shirts torn, faces grim, but they’re standing.

“Elena!” Alexei shouts, pushing through the crowd toward me. “Get out of here! Head for the back! We’ll hold them off!”

I hesitate, my stomach twisting. But Alexei’s face is set, determined, and Viktor’s already moving to cover the path.

“Go!” Viktor growls, raising his weapon. “We’ve got this!”

Damn it. I grit my teeth, glancing back one last time. The place is total bedlam—people screaming, shoving each other out of the way, glass shattering as more shots ring out.

As I take cover behind a pillar, my mind races. This isn’t some amateur hit. This is high-profile, coordinated. Who the hell would have the stones to come for me here? And where thefuckis Grigori?

---