Page 5 of Crimson Fury

“Threat? It’s a promise, you bastard! You think Lydia could ruin you? I can-”

“You bitch!” he growls out, and then there’s a horrified gasping sound.

“Victor, what-?” Her words are cut short. “Vic-!” the woman chokes out. There’s more noise. The sound of scuffling. And then some sort of a struggle. Victor seems to be grunting and growling under his breath, but the sounds coming from the woman are infinitely more horrifying.

And I’m stuck here. Frozen. There’s nothing I can do to help her. I have no doubt I’ll be next on the list if I step out of my hiding place.

Oh, God!

Oh, my God!

Barely a couple of minutes later, the sounds subside. Then a thump. There’s a moment in which I imagine Victor is composing himself, and then the sound of the door opening.

“Get in here,” he says brusquely. I hold my breath as I sneak a terrified glimpse past a crack in the drapes to see into the room.

A body lies sprawled out on the floor, hair splayed around a face that’s wide-eyed, staring lifelessly up at the ceiling.

Jesus!

Oh, sweet Jesus!

I clamp a hand over my mouth as I recognize Maya Tait, a socialite whose been linked to Cartwright on several society pages over the years. His mistress, according to the rumor mill. And he’s killed her. Goddamnit, he’s just killed her!

Squeezing my eyes shut, I bite down on my lips to muffle any sound I might make as I hear him speaking to someone who’s joined him in the room.

“Get rid of it,” he says crisply to someone. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the burly guards from outside the door, but I’m too terrified to check.

There’s a pause, and then, “Sure thing, Boss. What should we do with—?”

“Figure it out, you fool!” Cartwright snaps back. “Just make it tidy. And be sure there’s nothing that can tie her to this place, you hear me?”

“But what if someone sees?” another voice interrupts. The other guard. The pair were built like tanks. Brutal and terrifying.

“If someone sees, they die,” Victor says. “And then you’ll be next. No mistakes. Got it?”

“Got it,” the guy says.

Footsteps move quickly across the room, and then the door opens and closes. A lifetime ticks by before I realize I’m alone again. Well, not entirely alone. I’m locked in here with a corpse. A mix of nausea and claustrophobia threatens but I fight it off. I need to act fast before they discover me and the stolen diamond.

Pull it together, Scarlett!

Trying to steady my nerves, I slip the diamond into my pocket and scan the room. My original escape plan should still hold firm. There’s a door across the room – the one Victor and Maya had come through – and it should lead to a service hallway. It was going to be my avenue of escape in my original plan; it should still be safe to go down there. Either way, I have to get the hell out of here before they return.

I dart across the room, praying that the goons don’t come back while I’m exposed. Relief floods me as the service door opens easily…a second before I hear voices from outside. I slip out and shut the door behind me, gasping for air as I press my back against the wall and catch my breath.

“Scarlett! Over here!” Carl hisses, from a shadowed alcove nearby.

My ride.

Thank fuck!

“Stay close,” Carl warns as we navigate the labyrinth of hallways. We stick to the shadows, using our agile movements to evade detection. I can imagine the guards’ footsteps behind us, getting closer every second. My shoulder blades twitch.

Almost there!

I know my way out, but I need Carl to get me to the getaway car.

“Quick, up the stairs!” I urge Carl, taking them two at a time. My legs burn with exertion, but I refuse to slow down. We need to put as much distance between us and the guards as possible.

---