Bloodlust (John Wick) *COMPLETED*

Chapter Eight

LYDIA

The ball was in full swing when we arrived, fashionably late of course because no one ever turned up to a party on time. John had been a little fidgety the whole car ride, merely grunting when I asked him if everything was okay. Only when the valet took the car keys off him, and we started walking into the ballroom did the master assassin confess he was a little on edge because this was our proper first job together.

I drag him towards the bar and all but force a glass of champagne into his hand, despite his protests about drinking on the job. One glass each wasn't going to kill us; the insane amount of Russian mafia lurking around the room probably would be the cause of our actual deaths.

'John, deep breaths, you've done this before,' I say with mild amusement in my voice as I sip champagne.

He shakes his head, 'solo work is a lot easier than teamwork Lydia. There are more variables to consider as you have at least one more person to look out for.'

I finish the glass and place it back on the bar behind me, 'the great John Wick getting cold feet. Viggo and his henchmen are shaking in their boots.'

John glares at me over his glass, 'real mature Lydia. How can you keep such a calm head?'

I shrug my shoulders, 'I guess I haven't been out of the game as long as you have John. I see it like this; the sooner Viggo dies, I can get vengeance for my father and move on with my life.'

John puts his empty glass down next to mine and offers me his hand, 'I guess I'll follow your lead tonight Lydia. Shall we dance?'

I feel my cheeks blush but thank whoever's idea it was to keep the lighting low in the ballroom. Accepting John's hand, we make our way onto the surprisingly near-empty dance floor which I would never admit to John after stating I was calm a few minutes ago that everything about this current situation screamed 'danger'.

The music changes to something rather slow and more couples seem to join us. John pulls me against his chest, placing an arm around my waist which I wasn't about to complain about and since I had no dance experience I let him take the lead.

He leans in close to whisper in my ear, 'how many guards do you see?'

We spin and twirl in time with the music, and I scan the surrounded floor area and upper level, 'more than twenty, the majority on the upper level,' I reply.

John nods and dips me down, 'weapons?' he asks.

'Two knives in my hair and one on my thigh, you?' I ask back at him.

He lifts me back up and pulls me as close as he can against his chest, bowing his head, so our eyes meet. In any other situation, I would have expected him to kiss me with how intense we were getting, but I knew John, and something wasn't adding up for him.

'Two guns,' he replies smoothly, 'but I don't think Viggo is here.'

I furrow my eyebrows, and before I can ask him how he knows that behind us, someone clears their throat.

'Excuse me Mr Wick and lady friend, Mr Viggo sends his regards, and I'm going to have to ask you to come with us,' a man with a heavy Russian accent states boldly.

I was insulted that he showed John respect when all I got was a lady friend. Was this guard dumb? No way in hell Viggo hadn't told his men John wouldn't be the only assassin in attendance tonight. I was going to kick his ass the second I got the chance to.

JOHN

Of course, they put Lydia and me in separate rooms, Viggo wasn't stupid enough to put two trained assassins together in the same room with his men. I wasn't worried about Lydia because I knew she could handle herself, but that didn't stop a niggling voice in the back of my head telling me that she might not be okay since Viggo didn't hire weak men. The guards hadn't gone easy on me, beating me black and blue after stripping me of my guns but I refused to answer any of their questions. I spit blood out of my mouth and lean back in my chair and restraints, looking for my opportunity to escape.

'Mr Wick—'

The door behind the Russian flies open, one dead guard falling into the room cutting off his ramble. Lydia steps around the body, looking a lot less bruised and bloody but still a little roughed up, 'did you miss me, John?'

Three men run at Lydia, but she removes the knives from her hair and skilfully takes each one of them out. I was in awe watching as she ducked, dodged and fought back in a dress and heels of all things.

'Think you can help me out here?' I joke.

She smiles and runs up to me, making quick work of the ropes with her knife, 'Viggo hired idiots. They took my thigh weapon and didn't think to question my hair accessories.'

I pick up my guns off a nearby table and load them up, 'you can tell Viggo that when we next see him.'

Lydia and I carefully approach the door, knowing full well more guards would be on their way. When we enter the hallway several guards run around the corner towards us but fighting back to back and being able to sense the other person's next move we dispatch the guards in mere seconds.

Lydia looks up at me and grins, 'and you were worried that we hadn't worked together in a long time, John. I think we make a pretty good team.'

There was no denying the two of us worked well together. As we make our way back downstairs to the main ballroom, more guards appear, but I take swift action and Lydia by surprise. I'm able to pin her up against a wall, our bodies pressed together, and before she can open her mouth to question me, I bring my lips down on hers hoping the distraction deters the guards from coming our way.

I couldn't quite believe I was kissing Marcus's daughter while surrounded by the Russian mafia on a job. As much as I was about keeping it professional, you had to work with your surroundings and a couple making out at this party wasn't a one-off. The guards run past us, but I don't break the kiss. Instead I deepen it, and Lydia makes no protests kissing me back with equal passion.

At least a couple minutes pass in peaceful bliss before Lydia breaks the kiss and puts her hand on my chest, pushing me back a little. She bows her head and starts shaking it, her hands clenching around the knife handles, 'I can't do this anymore John,' she whispers, just loud enough for me to hear.

I go to lift her chin, but she slaps my hand away, 'I need you to stop confusing me, Mr Wick. When you've made up your mind we can talk. Goodbye.'

Next thing I know she's walking away from me, pushing her way through the crowd towards the exit. I pocket the guns and lean against the wall, running my hands through my hair at my stupidity. I'd overheard her saying she was in love with me, and I'd been questioning for years whether or not my feelings for her were mutual. Now it appeared I had my answer but had put my foot in my mouth once more. This whole night had been one big failure, but I had to make it right between us.