Every part of me told me not to. The rational part of my brain screamed that this was wrong, that I shouldn't trust him, shouldn't touch him.
But my hand was already moving drawn by something beyond logic.
Vladimir's outstretched hand lingered between us, his dark eyes watching me with something unreadable—something that made my pulse quicken. I hesitated, my fingers hovering just above his, my breath unsteady.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, I placed my hand in his.
A slow, knowing smile tugged at his lips as his fingers closed around mine, firm but gentle. Without a word, he guided me back onto the dance floor. The crowd swayed around us, bodies moving to the deep, rhythmic bass of the music, neon lights casting flickering patterns across the polished floor. But the moment Vladimir pulled me into his arms, everything else disappeared.
His hand slid to the small of my back, his fingers barely pressing into my skin, but the touch sent a spark through me. He was warm—too warm. As if his very presence could burn.
The music pulsed, slow and sultry, a melody that demanded closeness.
I found myself pressed against him, my cheek brushing his chest. He smelled like something dark and intoxicating—leather, spice, and the faintest trace of smoke. His heartbeat thrummed beneath my fingertips, steady and strong. And then, without needing to speak, he began to move.
It was effortless, the way he guided me. His body swayed in perfect sync with mine, leading with precision, his grip tightening just slightly whenever I hesitated. I had danced before, but never like this. Never with someone who made it feel like every step, every movement, was a language of its own.
A slow spin, the whisper of his breath against my ear.
A soft dip, his arm steadying me like I weighed nothing at all.
His grip was firm, confident, his touch featherlight yet commanding. He was in control, and I—against all logic—let him have it.
Vladimir's fingers flexed slightly at my waist, pulling me closer. "Relax," he murmured, his voice smooth as velvet.
Relax? How could I?
Heat coiled in my stomach, my heart hammering so wildly I was sure he could feel it.
He turned me effortlessly, his lips brushing close to my ear as he whispered, "You're so beautiful."
The words sent a shiver through me, a thrill that I couldn't fight.
I felt as if I were unraveling, dissolving into him. My breath hitched as my fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his shirt, grounding myself. The room around us was nothing but blurred lights and distant movement.
It was just him.
Just us.
The song built to a slow, aching crescendo.
Then—suddenly—the music cut out.
The shift was jarring. I hadn't realized how lost I had been until reality snapped back into focus. Vladimir's hands fell away, his warmth disappearing in an instant. I inhaled sharply, disoriented, the world around me sharp and too loud.
I turned to find Julian and Sophia pushing through the crowd, their faces tight with concern.
"Kaira, are you okay?" Julian asked, his hand hovering near my arm as if debating whether to touch me.
I blinked, still dazed. My pulse was erratic, my thoughts tangled. "Yeah. I'm fine," I managed, though my voice felt distant.
Vladimir watched me, his expression unreadable. Amused? CuriousVladimir's outstretched hand lingered between us, his dark eyes watching me with something unreadable—something that made my pulse quicken. I hesitated, my fingers hovering just above his, my breath unsteady.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, I placed my hand in his.
A slow, knowing smile tugged at his lips as his fingers closed around mine, firm but gentle. Without a word, he guided me back onto the dance floor. The crowd swayed around us, bodies moving to the deep, rhythmic bass of the music, neon lights casting flickering patterns across the polished floor. But the moment Vladimir pulled me into his arms, everything else disappeared.
His hand slid to the small of my back, his fingers barely pressing into my skin, but the touch sent a spark through me. He was warm—too warm. As if his very presence could burn.
The music pulsed, slow and sultry, a melody that demanded closeness.
I found myself pressed against him, my cheek brushing his chest. He smelled like something dark and intoxicating—leather, spice, and the faintest trace of smoke. His heartbeat thrummed beneath my fingertips, steady and strong. And then, without needing to speak, he began to move.
It was effortless, the way he guided me. His body swayed in perfect sync with mine, leading with precision, his grip tightening just slightly whenever I hesitated. I had danced before, but never like this. Never with someone who made it feel like every step, every movement, was a language of its own.
A slow spin, the whisper of his breath against my ear.
A soft dip, his arm steadying me like I weighed nothing at all.
His grip was firm, confident, his touch featherlight yet commanding. He was in control, and I—against all logic—let him have it.
Vladimir's fingers flexed slightly at my waist, pulling me closer. "Relax," he murmured, his voice smooth as velvet.
Relax? How could I?
Heat coiled in my stomach, my heart hammering so wildly I was sure he could feel it.
He turned me effortlessly, his lips brushing close to my ear as he whispered, "You're so beautiful."
The words sent a shiver through me, a thrill that I couldn't fight.
I felt as if I were unraveling, dissolving into him. My breath hitched as my fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his shirt, grounding myself. The room around us was nothing but blurred lights and distant movement.
It was just him.
Just us.
The song built to a slow, aching crescendo.
Then—suddenly—the music cut out.
The shift was jarring. I hadn't realized how lost I had been until reality snapped back into focus. Vladimir's hands fell away, his warmth disappearing in an instant. I inhaled sharply, disoriented, the world around me sharp and too loud.
I turned to find Julian and Sophia pushing through the crowd, their faces tight with concern.
"Kaira, are you okay?" Julian asked, his hand hovering near my arm as if debating whether to touch me.
I blinked, still dazed. My pulse was erratic, my thoughts tangled. "Yeah. I'm fine," I managed, though my voice felt distant.
Vladimir watched me, his expression unreadable. Amused? Curious.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing.
Vladimir's gaze lingered on me for a fraction of a second longer, his expression unreadable, before he turned away. Just like that, the moment was over, leaving a strange, aching void in its place.
"Kaira," Sophia pressed, her hand tightening around my wrist. "You're sure you're okay?"
I nodded quickly, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "Yeah, just… a little lightheaded."
It wasn't a lie. My heart was still racing, my skin still tingling where Vladimir had touched me. I needed a drink. Or air. Maybe both.
Sophia exhaled in relief. "Good. Because we are not done having fun tonight."
She tugged me toward the bar, Julian following close behind. My steps felt unsteady, my body still adjusting to the absence of Vladimir's warmth.
As we neared the bar, I could still feel eyes on me. I glanced back, half-expecting to see Vladimir watching me. But he wasn't there. He had disappeared into the crowd, vanishing as effortlessly as he had appeared.
A strange disappointment settled in my stomach.
Julian ordered drinks, and as the bartender slid a cool glass into my hands, I forced myself to shake off the lingering haze of the dance.
The club pulsed around us, bodies swaying beneath shifting neon lights. The energy was intoxicating, the air thick with the scent of perfume, sweat, and something electric—something that made my skin prickle as if a storm were about to break.
I took a sip of my drink, letting the ice-cold liquid soothe my throat.
"One more dance before we go?" Sophia grinned, already pulling me toward the floor.
I hesitated for only a moment before nodding. Maybe movement would help clear my mind. Maybe if I lost myself in the music again, I could erase the strange, lingering tension that refused to leave my body.
We wove through the crowd, the bass thrumming beneath my feet like a heartbeat. The music was faster now, a sharp contrast to the slow, intimate rhythm I had shared with Vladimir. But that was good. I needed distance from whatever that had been.
Sophia laughed as we moved, twirling beneath the shifting lights. Julian rolled his eyes but joined in, his easygoing grin putting me at ease. For a moment, it was fun again. The tension in my chest loosened, and I let myself fall into the beat, into the warmth of friendship and flashing lights.
Then—
A sharp, deafening crack split the air.
The music cut off.
A breath of silence.
Then—chaos.
Screams erupted around us, sharp and panicked. Someone shoved into my back, nearly knocking me forward. Glass shattered somewhere nearby.
For a heartbeat, my mind refused to process what had just happened.
Then I heard it.
Another gunshot.
Closer this time.