Do Or Die

"Don't you believe you are allowing the acquisition of self-blame go too far?" Viktor sighed roughly, reaching into his pants pockets to remove his smartphone. He entered the code to gain access. He then sent the private information he had used to bargain with Xin for his help earlier.

Xin's phone in his pocket made a corresponding sound, indicating it had received Viktor's text. Viktor then placed his phone back into his pocket.

"Hmmph," Xin bent his head. With a sideways glance he mused, "'First remove the log from your own eye.'" Xin looked away, his eyes distant. "She killed my brother and father, this I cannot let stand. You've brought this on yourself. You've willfully made a date with the hangman, and you opted to bring your own noose." He paused, turning towards the entrance. "Do not drag me into the same pit as you."

Xin walked off, leaving Viktor observing the view before him. He stood outside, pondering the day's events. It was the wretched, piercing scream that jarred his awareness, causing him to sprint to his wife's side. Viktor barged into the room to find his wife screaming at her reflection in a compact case. Her personal assistant Elyzabel was jumping up and down in her six-inch heels in excitement, pointing excitedly at Audrianna with a look of shock and dismay on her face.

"Look at you! Look at you!"

Audrianna was caressing her bald scalp, close to tears. Viktor walked up to her in the bed, grabbed both her shoulders and silenced her with a deep, long, searing kiss. Audrianna's distress-filled cry died as she was sucked in deeper and deeper into the maelstrom of passion that caused her insides to melt. She reached out, intending to hug him closer to her body, when he drew back, releasing her from the devastating kiss.

"Now that I have your attention," he whispered against her ear. The small breath tickled her skin, and she shivered. "Where would you like to go for a small trip? Paris, Milan, the mansion off the bay in South Carolina?" Viktor slowly pulled away.

He kept his eyes trained on hers and the meaning there conveyed an image of intense yearning that Audrianna could not mistake. "You decide." He bowed his head. Bringing her open palm against his mouth he flicked the tip of his tongue there. His eyes remained on hers. He gave Elyzabel a look of warning before exiting the room, leaving Audrianna with a besotted expression on her face.

Audrianna balled both hands up to her chest and grinned. "I love my man." She clapped her hands a few times gleefully and then reached for the smart phone on the side table, which Elyzabel had handed her before the big commotion about her hair.