Page 80 of His Wicked Revenge

“Where are you going?” Fear laces her voice, causing me to stop.

“To grab a trash bag,” I inform her. “I’m going to throw the dress out while you get cleaned up.”

“Don’t leave.” The plea is quiet compared to the stream of water.

I’ve never seen her like this before. She did act odd when she was released from solitary, but this is different. Without saying anything, I slip out of my boxers and join her.

We stare at each other momentarily before she steps fully under the water. Blood falls from her body, swirling down the drain. Stepping backward, she scrubs her hands together to clean herself of the blood. Once they are somewhat clean, she scrubs at her face.

The water at her feet is red, and it’s never-ending. No matter how hard she scrubs, it’s like the blood never gets clean from her skin.

Leaving her momentarily, I open a drawer on the vanity and pull out a washcloth. Back in the shower, I grab the body wash and apply a generous amount.

“Turn around,” I command nicely.

She obeys, looking from the cloth and then back to my face. “You’re going to wash me?”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes,” she whispers.

I start with her face, gently rubbing the cloth over her forehead, making my way down to her cheeks. As I wipe the blood away, the makeup she applied for the night comes off with it. Those freckles I love so much shine against her skin.

“Why are you smiling?” Her question takes me out of my thoughts.

“Your freckles.” I swipe the cloth over the area where they are more prominent. “I missed seeing them.”

Veronica stares at me while I continue to wipe her down. I move to her chest, taking my time getting the red off her. Bringing my arm around her, I rinse out the washcloth and begin wiping down her other arm.

“Looks like I’ll have to burn this too,” I state, getting the last of the red off her hands. Kneeling before her, I start wiping at her thighs. “Ready to tell me why you showed up on my doorstep covered in blood?”

A sigh leaves her, and when I glance up, her head has fallen back to where she looks at the ceiling. “Did you know your sister's friend, Sylvia, planned the bachelorette party at a nightclub?”

“I did not. Seems like a stupid place to take a pregnant woman.”

“That’s what I said! Chloe left as soon as we got there. Myles picked her up,” she says to calm my nerves about something happening to my sister. “This guy on the dance floor got handsy with me while I was headed for the bathroom. I told him no, but when he didn’t take no for an answer, I introduced his balls to my knee.”

“Appropriate thing to do to a sleazeball.” I laugh a little at how she delivered the line. “Still doesn’t explain why you were dripping in blood.”

“I decided to walk home, seeing as I was on an adrenaline high.”

“From?” I switch legs, cleaning off her right one.

“I might have smashed Sylvia’s face into the bathroom mirror.”

I pause the circles I was making on her skin to peer up at her. “You what?”

“She’s a bitch! Made the whole day about herself when it should have been about Chloe. She was also mad that I am the Maid of Honor. Did you know that? You probably didn’t because if you did, you would have talked Chloe out of it and⁠—”

I’ve never seen Veronica ramble. It’s cute.

“Veronica, slow down,” I cut her off.

“Right.” Her body relaxes, but only a bit. “Anyways, I felt bad for your sister. Today was supposed to be about her, but Sylvia ruined it. So, I threatened her.”

“But this isn’t her blood?”

“No. It’s not.” She takes a deep breath before going on. “Like I said, I was walking home from the adrenaline high. Then, I realized that a guy from the club was following me. He was going to hurt me, Leo. I did what I had to do.”