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Victoria
The early morning sun peeked through the sheer curtains, its bright rays rippling over the rumpled sheets. Henry’s arm slung heavily across her shoulder, his palm resting on her naked breast. Insatiable man, Victoria thought, her lips quirking into a smile. The bristles of his unshaven face tickled her cheek as he nestled closer beside her. They’d spent the previous night alternating between bouts of lovemaking and short, lazy naps. Victoria closed her eyes, sighing as contentment seeped into her. That was when she knew—she was indeed madly, deeply in love with Henrique Santana.
Her eyelids twitched, fluttering open. Bright light flooded the bedroom. She must have fallen back to sleep. Victoria rolled to her side, disappointed to find Henry gone. The door slightly ajar, she heard the joyful playfulness in Henry’s voice as he talked to Frederick. Stifling a laugh, Victoria rose from the bed and padded barefoot toward the bathroom. As she turned on the shower, Victoria realized that she couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever been so happy.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Henry teased, peeking his head around the shower curtain. “About time you got up.”
Victoria giggled. “I wouldn’t have slept so long if your bed weren’t so comfortable.”
“I just realized I’m out of coffee creamer. I’m going to run down to the store and get some. Do you want anything?”
“You.”
A wicked grin crossed Henry’s lips. “You’re such a naughty girl, Ms. Hathaway.”
The bar of soap between her palms, she idly slathered the suds over her perky nipples. “Me?” Victoria said coyly.
Henry’s eyes blazed with desire. “Do you need me to wash your back?”
Victoria smoothed the soap down her torso, a trail of bubbles covering her abdomen as she neared her feminine mound. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes. Hot water careened over her shoulders, rolling in rivulets down her spine.
“Dear Lord, woman,” Henry growled.
A flirtatious smile pulled at her lips. She giggled and then jerked the shower curtain from Henry’s fingers, whipping it closed. “Show’s over,” she called from behind the curtain.
“You’re evil,” he chuckled. “I’d best get going before I change my mind and join you in the shower. Be back soon,” he called over his shoulder as he stepped into the hallway.
*****
MOMENTS LATER, VICTORIA stepped from the shower, reveling in the softness of the oversized cotton towel she’d wrapped around herself. She slicked her hair into a simple ponytail and donned her clothing quickly. This morning, it was her turn to pamper Henry, starting with her famous homemade French toast for breakfast.
Humming a happy tune, she practically skipped down the hall as she made her way to the kitchen. Strange, Victoria thought, her gaze falling to the framed picture of her and Henry lying face down on the coffee table in the living room. The photo of them dancing had been taken the night of the Newport Ladies’ Refurbishment Society Gala. Henry had purchased a copy of the photo after seeing it featured in the society section of the newspaper. Freddy probably knocked it over with this tail.
The hairs on the nape of her neck rose, a creepy foreboding washing over her as she stepped further into the living room. Convincing herself that she’d read way too many mysteries, Victoria pushed aside her anxiety and adjusted the frame into an upright position.
“Frederick?” Victoria called out, suddenly realizing the golden retriever wasn’t around. Henry must have taken the dog along for the ride, she decided when Fredrick didn’t come to her. She turned around, about to walk to the kitchen, and froze, a chill running down her spine as her eyes locked on an intruder.
“Hello, Victoria.” Kelly St. Regis leaned her scrawny body against the archway that separated the kitchen from the living room. “You look surprised to see me.”
“I am,” she answered, fighting the urge to panic.
Kelly opened her leather coat wide, her fingers barely covering a jagged rip along its zipper. “Surprise!” she exclaimed, shrugging the coat from her shoulders. It fell into a heap on the floor, but not before Victoria noticed the large greenish-brown stain smeared along its lower portion.
“How did you get in here?” Victoria said. “Did Henry let you in?”
Bones protruding through the yarn of a much too large, pink sweater dress, Kelly stepped forward. She’d lost a considerable amount of weight since Victoria had last seen her at Riccardo’s.
Kelly’s slick, red lips curled into an evil sneer. “I let myself in.”
“Well, now it’s time you let yourself out.” Victoria gestured to the apartment door and then crossed her arms over her chest, making sure to tuck her trembling fingers beneath each of her elbows.
Her gait unbalanced, Kelly sauntered around the perimeter of the room. As if on a seesaw, her weight shifted up and then down as she teetered on a broken heel. “I let the beast out. I never liked the slobbery mutt.”
“Frederick,” Victoria gasped. “How could you? Henry loves him.”
“Henrique doesn’t always use the best judgment. After all, he’s been frolicking around with you.” Kelly made her way to the center of the room, stopping to stand before the coffee table. She picked up the photo of Victoria and Henry, her finger caressing over the glass as she scrutinized it. “He never had a picture of me in his apartment,” she remarked bitterly. “That damn beast had to go—just like you do.”
Victoria’s pulse raced. Henry, please come home soon. “Breaking and entering is a crime. You need to leave before Henry finds you here,” Victoria managed to say in a controlled voice.
“He’s been waylaid,” Kelly answered casually.
A shiver shot through Victoria. “Waylaid?”
Kelly tossed her head back, her once shiny hair, now greasy, fell across her shoulders. She let out a diabolical laugh. “You really are such a simpleton, Victoria.” Her voice lowered. “Don’t you understand? You’ve taken something from me. Today is payback time.”
Shoulders squared, Victoria fisted her hands against her thighs. She inhaled deeply, digesting Kelly’s menacing words. “Is Henry all right, Kelly?” Victoria asked, unable to disguise the trepidation lacing her voice.
“Never fear. Henrique’s fine,” Kelly answered, waving her hand in dismissal. “A flat tire, that’s all.”
Blowing out a breath of relief, Victoria studied Kelly as she paced before the apartment door, prohibiting Victoria from escaping.
“Henrique loves me. He’s just infatuated with you because you’re a lusty slut who led him astray by acting all innocent. I know better. I know what a bitch you truly are.” Kelly’s mouth twisted into an ugly grimace, her agitation growing as she bolted back to the coffee table and picked up the picture frame, examining it again.
“How dare you speak to me like that,” Victoria spat. “Get the hell out of here before I call the police. You’re not wanted here.”
“Bitch!” Kelly threw the picture frame onto the floor. Miniscule shards of glass immediately embedded into the plush carpet. Next, Kelly picked up the coffee-table book Henry purchased the first day he’d come into the Literary Ladies’ Book Nook and Café. Brazenly, Kelly flipped through it.
Anger momentarily replaced Victoria’s fear as she snarled, “Take your filthy hands off that book.”
“Very well.” Roughly, Kelly ripped a page from the book. “I’ll take this with me. I might feel like reading it later,” she said, crumbling the glossy sheet and shoving it into her bra.
Victoria’s face flushed crimson. “Get the hell out of here.” She pointed to the door and ripped the nearby cell phone from its charger. Fingers trembling, she began to press 911.
Grunting, Kelly swung the coffee-table book toward Victoria, a hideous sneer curling over her lips as it hit Victoria squarely on the back of her head.
The cell phone dropped out of Victoria’s hand. Instinctively, she reached up to the smarting wound. She tapped her fingertip over the sharp pang that rocked through her, horrified by the discovery of blood sticking to her fingers. “Get. Out!”
“I’ll leave as soon as I watch you take your last breath.” Kelly made the sign of the cross. “God bless your soul, Victoria.”
Terror coursed through Victoria. She had to get away—now. Her body collided with Kelly’s as she bolted for the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Kelly’s blood-red lips curled into a vampirish grin. She lifted her foot, swinging it forward to render a nasty kick against Victoria’s shins.
Legs buckling beneath her, Victoria doubled over onto her hands and knees. “You’re out of control,” she cried, wincing as the heel of Kelly’s stiletto boot ground down onto her hand.
Victoria scrambled across the rug and grabbed the coffee-table book. Using all her strength, she hurled it at Kelly. It cracked loudly when it connected with her assailant’s cheek. Trying to regain her footing, Victoria braced her arms onto the side of the couch, crying out as her foot slid beneath her, knocking her off balance.
A high-pitched battle cry echoed throughout the room. Leaping onto Victoria’s back, Kelly tugged on Victoria’s ponytail, wrenching her neck back at an awkward angle. Stars flashed before Victoria’s eyes. The pain was excruciating as Kelly dug her fingernails into her flesh. The razor-sharp talons ripped at her skin, tearing and clawing at Victoria’s upper arms as she tumbled helplessly onto her stomach. Tears clouded her vision as Kelly’s elbow spiked between Victoria’s shoulder blades.
Henry...where are you? Help me! Victoria thought, using every ounce of her strength to flip onto her back. Reaching up, her fingers strained to secure a fistful of stringy hair and then pulled viciously.
Kelly shrieked and frantically swatted at Victoria’s face.
Somehow, she managed to secure Kelly’s head under her armpit as the lunatic bit and scratched, trying to free herself. Victoria bent her knee and propelled it into her attacker’s chin. The effort it took to deliver the blow caught Victoria off balance, causing her to tumble backward from the force.
“I am going to kill you, bitch,” Kelly seethed wild-eyed. Lunging forward, she grabbed Victoria by the neck. Unrelenting, she squeezed Victoria’s windpipe, heartlessly pulling Victoria’s neck a few inches from the carpet before striking her head back onto the ground.
Victoria’s nails dug and tore into the thin skin of Kelly’s clenched hands. Droplets of Kelly’s blood spilled into her mouth, and she spit the thick, metallic fluid from her lips. Wedging her toes under the small lip of the couch, she used the opening between it and the floor as an anchor. As hard as she could, she pushed her legs out, freeing herself from underneath Kelly’s body. Sliding her raw, bloody back over the rough carpet, hope soared within her. The unexpected movement gave her the opportunity to escape from the brutal onslaught.
Before Victoria could crawl from the floor, Kelly sprang to her feet and delivered a deadly kick to her ribcage; the loud pop resounded through the room, leaving Victoria gasping for air. As if a thousand knives stabbed into her, pain tore through her body. She tried to shield herself, curling into a fetal position. Arms wrapped around her head, she lay helpless against the savage brutality.
I’m dying, Victoria thought, her will gone and her body useless. Her life’s blood was surely draining from her body. Blood coated her throat. It hurt to breathe. Her temples pounded, and tears poured down her cheeks. What she’d do for one more night within Henry’s arms. One more touch of his lips. Eyes closed, she prayed for a quick death and then imagined Henry’s beautiful smile.
Severely beaten and battered and crumbled among shards of glass, Victoria struggled to crack her eyes open. Through burning slits, she watched as Kelly sauntered into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with her leather coat on and a matchbox in hand. Kelly knelt down beside Victoria and scrutinized her. “Oh, sweetheart, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Kelly cackled, finding her own sick amusement at Victoria’s expense. “You won’t be needing this where you’re going,” she said.
“Don’t,” Victoria mumbled, her protest strained as she struggled to breathe.
“It would be such a shame if it were lost among the ashes,” Kelly said, unclasping the diamond and emerald heart pendant from around Victoria’s neck. She struck the match, dangling the flint above her.
“Please,” Victoria whimpered.
Kelly held the small flame to the wooden leg of the coffee table. It only took a moment to ignite. “Rest in peace,” Kelly said smugly and then walked out the apartment door.