Page 165 of Toxic Salvation
“Tikhon didn’t.” She looks down at the body beside her. “He was still alive when he came in here. He was trying to—to—to?—”
“It’s okay.” I fold her into my arms as she hiccups and shudders and falls the fuck to pieces. “Just breathe. You don’t have to say anything. I’m taking you home.”
I pull back to meet her gaze. She nods once, and I take that as permission. As gently as I can, I lift her into my arms and carry her out of the room. I position myself so she can’t see Nikolai’s body in the hallway.
Dr. Mann and her security team have gathered outside the examination room. They’re all staring at the carnage across her pristine white floors. When Dr. Mann sees me, her face goes white.
“I have no idea how this happened,” she mumbles. “No unauthorized personnel are supposed to be allowed in this building.”
“There are clearly holes in your system, Doctor.”
Her hands are shaking. “I’ll have them fixed immediately.”
“Fix them or don’t. It doesn’t matter to me now. Vesper will not be coming back here.” I turn to Osip. “Deal with the bodies.”
Aleksei is standing by the entrance doors when I approach. He’s pacing back and forth, his arms rigid at his sides. When he sees me, he snaps to attention. “Boss?—”
“Is Filipp still with Annabelle?” I cut in.
“Yes.”
“Does she know what happened?”
“No, sir. She just thinks the appointment is running late.”
“Good. Keep it that way. I’ll have Pavel talk to her in a moment. Until then, you say nothing to her. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We will talk later. For now, let Filipp know that both of you are off security detail. Effective immediately.”
His head drops. “Understood, sir.”
I walk past him without another word and place Vesper in the passenger seat of my SUV. I don’t wait for anyone else—I just get behind the wheel and drive.
Vesper sits in complete silence, staring at the windshield. Her hiccups and sobs are mostly gone, though from time to time, one ripples through her like an aftershock. Her hands rest in her lap, still covered in dried blood.
I don’t try to talk to her. I don’t even touch her. I just drive until we’re home.
After I park in the drive and kill the engine, I walk around to her side and lift her into my arms again. She sighs against my chest but doesn’t resist. I can hear Waylen and Luka playing in the garden, but I don’t alert them to our presence as I slip upstairs.
I take Vesper straight to the master bathroom. I place her on the counter and start removing her clothes. She sits there, unresponsive but watchful. At least her breathing has returned to normal. She’s showing some faint signs of life.
I wipe the blood off her first. Each time the towel comes away red, but reveals only unbroken skin beneath, I feel a little more relief.
He didn’t hurt her in any way that matters.
Not physically, at least. The damage Ihor did to her mind is yet to be determined.
Once she’s naked and clean, I place her in the bathtub. The warm water is still filling from the faucet. The gentle trickle catches her attention. She lifts her hand and runs her fingers through the stream like she’s never seen falling water before.
I sit on the edge of the tub and comb my fingers through her hair. The blonde strands are soft and clean now.
“Kovan?”
Her voice nearly undoes me. So timid and afraid. “What do you need?”
“I need you to hold me.”
