Read Online Vengeance (SSU Trilogy Book 1) by Vanessa Kier - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Vanessa Kier
Tags: Fiction, romantic thriller
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knowing gazes of the male policemen and the doctor. “Thanks, but I’ll manage okay on my own.”
He nodded, eyes full of understanding. “Okay. While you shower, I’ll find you some sweats to change into. Yell or thump on the door if you start feeling woozy. Then you can lie down while I get your things from Tonelli.”
She nodded and headed into the bathroom. Once the door was closed and the lock engaged, she felt a slight lowering of her shoulders. Then the trembling started.
Knowing she was heading into more than just routine adrenaline letdown, and too exhausted to fight it, she quickly turned on the hot water in the bathtub, stripped out of her clothes, and submerged herself before her legs gave way.
Then, for the first time in two years, she fell completely apart.
Chapter 5
Monday, Night
Moscow, Russia
Four hours later, Jenna stuffed her trembling hands into the pockets of her baggy pants. She hesitated at the base of the path to the bar, eyeing the door like it was the gateway to hell.
When Niko had led her out of the restroom, her only thought had been to get back to the hotel and into a steaming bath. She’d never wanted to see this place again.
She’d soaked for an hour, tears coursing down her face and sobs wracking her body. When she’d finally calmed down, she’d taken a shower and scrubbed her skin until it was tender. But it felt like her attacker was still with her, a phantom whose fingers continued to crawl across her skin.
Not only that, her mind was now stuck in a loop—bouncing back and forth between this afternoon’s near-rape and the rape two years ago. Watching her mother being raped. Hearing Isabel’s screams and Kai’s laughter.
Her breathing started to come in shallow pants and she dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to stave off the impending panic attack.
No. She wouldn’t remember. She had to stay strong. She closed her eyes, forcing the memories away. Searching for her place of calm, where nothing could hurt her and emotion was forbidden.
Her breathing evened out and she relaxed her fingers.
Someone bumped into her shoulder and her eyes flew open, stomach clenching as she braced for an attack.
But it was just a young couple heading to the bar. They shot her annoyed glances as they passed and spoke harshly to her in Russian.
Jenna followed them, her heart rate increasing with each step, until she thought the speed of it must be visible even through her layers of clothes. So much for fighting off panic.
Relax.You’re dressed as a boy. No one will recognize you. No one’s going to hit on you. Lock the fear away. Besides, tonight she had her weapons on her body, not in her purse. A knife was strapped to her ankle and a pistol rested in a custom-made holster under her left arm. Mark had raised an elegantly manicured eyebrow when she’d presented him with her weapons for clearance through customs, but she had to give him credit, after she’d pointed out that she might need to save his life if something went wrong he’d given in without protest.
Her tongue touched the cyanide cap on her back tooth. And if necessary, she had a way out no one knew about.
Still, even though she was armed, her stomach threatened to throw up the soup Niko had coaxed her to eat for dinner. Maybe she should just go back to the hotel.
No.
Kai could not be allowed to go unpunished, no matter what it cost her.
Determination and anger propelled her up to the door just as a large group was ushered through. A different doorman was on duty this evening, yet Jenna knew her eyes were unique enough to be remembered. So she tugged her newsboy’s hat lower, ignoring the pain as it scraped against the swollen cuts on her forehead from where she’d hit the faucet. Slouching in her worn army jacket, she hoped the doorman would only see a punk boy, if he noticed her at all.
She skirted around the laughing, jostling people and made it inside without challenge.
It was much more crowded
He nodded, eyes full of understanding. “Okay. While you shower, I’ll find you some sweats to change into. Yell or thump on the door if you start feeling woozy. Then you can lie down while I get your things from Tonelli.”
She nodded and headed into the bathroom. Once the door was closed and the lock engaged, she felt a slight lowering of her shoulders. Then the trembling started.
Knowing she was heading into more than just routine adrenaline letdown, and too exhausted to fight it, she quickly turned on the hot water in the bathtub, stripped out of her clothes, and submerged herself before her legs gave way.
Then, for the first time in two years, she fell completely apart.
Chapter 5
Monday, Night
Moscow, Russia
Four hours later, Jenna stuffed her trembling hands into the pockets of her baggy pants. She hesitated at the base of the path to the bar, eyeing the door like it was the gateway to hell.
When Niko had led her out of the restroom, her only thought had been to get back to the hotel and into a steaming bath. She’d never wanted to see this place again.
She’d soaked for an hour, tears coursing down her face and sobs wracking her body. When she’d finally calmed down, she’d taken a shower and scrubbed her skin until it was tender. But it felt like her attacker was still with her, a phantom whose fingers continued to crawl across her skin.
Not only that, her mind was now stuck in a loop—bouncing back and forth between this afternoon’s near-rape and the rape two years ago. Watching her mother being raped. Hearing Isabel’s screams and Kai’s laughter.
Her breathing started to come in shallow pants and she dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to stave off the impending panic attack.
No. She wouldn’t remember. She had to stay strong. She closed her eyes, forcing the memories away. Searching for her place of calm, where nothing could hurt her and emotion was forbidden.
Her breathing evened out and she relaxed her fingers.
Someone bumped into her shoulder and her eyes flew open, stomach clenching as she braced for an attack.
But it was just a young couple heading to the bar. They shot her annoyed glances as they passed and spoke harshly to her in Russian.
Jenna followed them, her heart rate increasing with each step, until she thought the speed of it must be visible even through her layers of clothes. So much for fighting off panic.
Relax.You’re dressed as a boy. No one will recognize you. No one’s going to hit on you. Lock the fear away. Besides, tonight she had her weapons on her body, not in her purse. A knife was strapped to her ankle and a pistol rested in a custom-made holster under her left arm. Mark had raised an elegantly manicured eyebrow when she’d presented him with her weapons for clearance through customs, but she had to give him credit, after she’d pointed out that she might need to save his life if something went wrong he’d given in without protest.
Her tongue touched the cyanide cap on her back tooth. And if necessary, she had a way out no one knew about.
Still, even though she was armed, her stomach threatened to throw up the soup Niko had coaxed her to eat for dinner. Maybe she should just go back to the hotel.
No.
Kai could not be allowed to go unpunished, no matter what it cost her.
Determination and anger propelled her up to the door just as a large group was ushered through. A different doorman was on duty this evening, yet Jenna knew her eyes were unique enough to be remembered. So she tugged her newsboy’s hat lower, ignoring the pain as it scraped against the swollen cuts on her forehead from where she’d hit the faucet. Slouching in her worn army jacket, she hoped the doorman would only see a punk boy, if he noticed her at all.
She skirted around the laughing, jostling people and made it inside without challenge.
It was much more crowded
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