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My mouth dried. Fear froze me in place.The exit! The damn exit will be unlocked.I had to run for it, but first I needed to dodge the brute standing in front of me.
I pulled my dress up to my knees and slowly gathered the material in my hands. “What’s your name?” I asked, brain scrambling to sound normal.
“Alexie.”
“Well, Alexie, you were mistaken,” I ground out. My knee collided with his crotch before I shoved past him, dashing to the exit doors.
But before I’d taken a few steps, his hand came down hard on my shoulder, spinning me around.
My skirts fell around my ankles as I pushed him back. “Get off me!” I screamed.
“You fucking little tease! You think you can playme?!”
I saw his fist rise and knew the blow was coming, but I wasn’t prepared for the stars that danced in my vision. The pain burst across my skin.
There was a roar, and then I was stumbling, released from the brute’s clutches.
A sickening crunch filled the air. There was a masculine cry of pain. Alexie.
I turned and watched a mass of darkness descend on my attacker. Painted in the red glow of the exit sign, the newcomer was monstrous. The feral smile that flashed on his face sent a shiver down my spine. Viktor. He was here. He’d come to me.
“My hand!” Alexie screamed, falling in a heap to the ground.
“Be grateful that’s all I’m breaking,” Viktor snarled. “How dare you assault a lady—one who’s under the protection of my house!”
“The bitch flirted with me—”
There was the sound of pummeled flesh. Alexie groaned.
“She did not. And this isn’t the first time you’ve been reprimanded for delivering unwanted attention to the ladies,” Viktor menaced.
He took a step back and turned to face me. Viktor was a fiend, monstrous and terrible. It took every ounce of control not to run into his arms. I was desperate for the feel of his strength wrapping me tight.I should be screaming and running.He was a criminal! A villain. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to muster disgust or loathing. I wanted Viktor’s touch more than ever.
“Are you alright?” Viktor growled.
I nodded. “Yes.”
Viktor stepped forward, his eyes searching my face. Gently, slowly, he lifted a hand. I flinched as he touched my cheek. It hurt like a bitch, but his touch was comforting. Viktor’s features hardened. “Alexie, I swear, if you weren’t related to the Pakhan’s wife, I would rip your throat out right here.”
“Oh, look at you, big bad Viktor,” Alexie sneered. “A bully, breaking bones. You’re no better than an enforcer! Just a bull in a suit.”
“When Nikolai hears how his cousin is behaving with guests of the Bratva, there’ll be more than just me to fear,” Viktor menaced. My heart fluttered at the scary tone, but not from fear. “Now get the fuck out of here.”
“Mr. Volkov is going to love that his future son-in-law brought his whore to the engagement party,” Alexie mumbled.
This man clearly had a death wish. My heart skipped in fear for him. Viktor moved with feline grace as he grabbed the man roughly around the throat. Alexie put up his hands in defense. But it was no use. Viktor lifted him effortlessly into the air, just before his fist crashed into Alexie’s body. Bathed in the red glow, Viktor was an avenging angel, sent straight from hell.
The sickening sound of flesh pummeling flesh was interspersed with groans coming from the asshole who’d asked for this ass kicking.
“Viktor,” I called out, taking a micro step closer.
The monster paused, and his head turned my way, although his eyes didn’t leave his mark.
“Let’s go,” I pleaded. “Please.” I knew enough about how this mob was structured to know that Viktor outranked the vile filth, but I doubted a murder of passion would go over well. Viktor getting into trouble on my behalf wasn’t something I could deal with right now. “Please, Tor. Take me back to Sophia.”
Dropping his prey, the beast stepped toward me. Tripping over my skirts, I rushed to him. With a gentle touch, so different to his raw display of brutal power, Viktor trailed the tip of his finger over my cheek. “We should get some ice on that,” he murmured gently.
“Okay,” I agreed.
