Page 132 of The Cute Psycho

But I don't react.

My body is immobile, my gaze fixed on Vanya's as we lose ourselves in each other, taking comfort where there is none.

Her eyes tell me everything I need to know.

You're not alone.

We'll get through this.

Together.

I gasp for air, my eyes snapping open, my hand shooting out as I reach for something.

I'm drowning.

There's no other explanation for it, as I struggle for my breath all the while my fingers are snuffing it from someone else.

Dr. Reese's body crumbles lifeless at my feet. I barely react as I stumble out of the cabinet, my entire being in shreds, my wounds bleeding where there's no blood.

It's only when I round the building that I call Maxim, realizing he needs to clean up my mess. After that, I just wander... aimlessly walking the busy city streets, drowning in the noise, drowning in myself.

Sisi.

I need her more than I need my next breath, and yet I feel too tainted to reach out.

Walking around the city, I don't know how many hours I spend just drifting about, not really rationalizing anything that's happening around me. But even so, I cannot stop my feet from taking me to my one source of comfort.

Climbing her window, my heart plummets in my chest when I realize her room is empty. Pure desperation claws at me as I go inside the house, stealthily moving around, yet courting danger at every turn.

And then I hear her, chatting and laughing with someone—a man that is not me. I barely control myself, feeling my increasingly volatile temper rising and seeking to take over. It takes everything in me not to barge into the room, blood spilling to assuage my rage, a warning thatno onecan have her.

I hover on the staircase, a direct view into the drawing room as my eyes focus on Sisi, sitting so comfortably in the presence of another man.

She's laughing at something he said before she raises her gaze, her eyes widening as she notices me.

A few words and she's already flying toward me, tugging me by my hand and dragging me to her room.

"What are you doing here? God, Vlad, that was so reckless of you." She keeps talking while closing the door behind her and locking it.

My breathing becomes labored, a red haze covering my gaze as I grab her by the throat, pushing her into the wall, my face buried in the crook of her neck.

"Who is he?" I rasp, barely recognizing my own voice. "Who were you smiling for?"

"Vlad, calm down!" Her hands go to my shoulders, rubbing them down in tender motions. "He's just a friend. Nothing else."

"Who. Is. He?" I hiss, needing to know the name of my future victim. Because he won't get away with his life. Not after what I saw.

"He's my friend. Really, Vlad, there's nothing going on. Please." That one word has the power to tear down all my walls. One hand reaches out to touch my arm, her expression so lovely, so full of warmth.

My knees buckle and I fall, wrapping my arms around her for support. I press my head against her stomach, breathing harshly as I hold on to her for dear life.

"Sisi." An anguished sound escapes me. For the first time, I feel my old self coming back, her presence the balm I needed to heal.

"Dear God, what happened?" she whispers, taking my face between her hands and lowering herself to her knees to be on the same level as me.

"Sisi." I can't even articulate my thoughts properly as I look her inthe eyes, her expression filled with worry. "For me..." I murmur, my fingers tracing her features.

"Talk to me," she says as she places her lips on top of mine. I open up to let her in, tasting the saltiness of tears, humbled that she would cry for me.

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