AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No,” I snapped, my whole vision flashing black. Restaurants were full of people, and even if I booked the entire place, there’d be staff, waiters, chefs, sommeliers, owners…“No,Vasya. It’s not safe.”
I wrapped my fingers around her wrist, making sure I was gentle and didn’t hurt her in my panic, and guided her back inside.
“Damien, my phone and gun are outside,” she sighed.
She moved back towards the glass doors, but I lurched onto the balcony and grabbed them before she could go back outside. When I blinked, she was slumped over a dirty bed, a slice across her stomach so I could see her guts, her eyes empty and sightless.
A shaky, ruthless breath escaped before I could smooth its edges.
“Okay,” she murmured. “It’s okay, I’ll stay inside. Damien.Look at me.”
I swung my gaze towards her, handing over her gun and phone, but I couldn’t see my wife in front of me. I could only see blood and gore and empty eyes.
“Here,” she breathed, putting her phone in my trembling hand and moving it up to my ear. I flinched at the loud ringing, the sound as sudden as a scream. My head slammed with more pain, the ache rising, rising, until my whole body thumped with it.
“Vasya, what’s up?” Jonathan’s deep, rumbly voice answered on the fourth ring. I jerked in surprise.
“Damien,” I corrected, frowning at Vasilisa when she leaned up to kiss my cheek—more bearded than groomed stubble these days. She backed up a step, presumably giving me space to talk, and panic scythed my chest at the distance, even if it was only five inches. I had to blink away the bloody images I saw next.
“Damien?” Jonathan demanded, his stress palpable. “What’s wrong with Vasilisa?”
“She gave me the phone. It was already dialling you.”
“Saint? What’s going on? Why do you sound so… off?”
“I’m out of breath, I’m fine.” I shook my head at Vasilisa when she gestured for me to talk to him. “Okay, I’m not fine. I’m a fucking mess—where are you going?Vasya?”
She threw a calming smile over her shoulder that had no effect. My head pounded louder. Blood spilled behind my eyelids. “Just to brush my hair and get dressed. Jonathan’s probably on his way around already.”
“I’ll come with you,” I offered, the sight of her concerned and beautiful in white silk pyjamas overlaid with the sight of her half naked and bloody and dead.
I sucked in a sharp breath and realised I’d been staring at that nightmare for seconds. Long enough for Vasilisa to have reached our bedroom.
What if she was getting dressed because she was going out? What if she got into the lift, the way she kept coaxing me into doing, and rode it all the way down to the exit? Artur found her in a fucking supermarket. Finch could find heranywhere.He had eyes on this building, there was no doubt of that. He’d know when she left. He’d follow her. Hurt her, rape her, kill her.
“Damien,” Jonathan barked. “Talk to me.”
“She’s dead. In my head, she’s fucking dead and I can’t stop seeing it—”
I shook, only able to breathe when I reached our bedroom door and could see her. I blinked and she was bleeding, then blinked and she was dead. I blinked again and she was pulling on a smoky grey dress. I loved her so much it hurt.
Panic spread its sharp ice through my whole body when she disappeared into the bathroom, and it was unbearable, knowing she was leaving, knowing she’d be in danger. I stumbled intothe bedroom, my wet hair leaving dark trails on the carpet as I crossed it.
Jonathan said something but his words blurred, their sense lost. Vasya spoke softly but her eyes were empty and dull, her face covered in blood.
“I can’t let them hurt you, too,” I whispered. “I can’t, Vasya, I can’t lose you, too. Please, please—”
My hands shaking, I dropped her phone and grabbed the bathroom door, swinging it shut and manhandling a chair into place under the lock.
I shook fiercely, my teeth chattering, but she was safe. No one could get to her.
“Please forgive me,” I gasped, my head swimming.
I slid to the floor beside the door and dropped my head in my hands, fingers tearing out hair and blackness crowding into my vision.
CHAPTER 20
VASILISA
