CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
YURI
“I’m not going to leave you Charlie,” I say catching my breath after the panic of worrying someone got to her while I was on the phone. I can see she’s trying to stop herself from crying. She’s looking up at the ceiling and taking measured breaths.
It takes her a few heartbeats to respond, “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep Yuri,” she says with a small sniffle.
“I don’t make promises lightly, Charlie. I mean it. I will never leave you again. Here,” I pass her a plate and a fork, “Try this. Tell me what you think.” I watch as she examines the omelet lightly picking up a section of egg with the tip of her fork.
Cooking has always brought me peace. There are rules to cooking, but you can also experiment with flavors which I truly enjoy. I used to create experiments for my family when we first moved back to the city. My mother humored me, but my brothers and Pap didn’t hesitate to tell me when one of my dishes was a fucking disaster. I’m no sous-chef, but I’m pretty good at creating a meal on the fly.
“What’s in the omelet?” She asks.
“Try it and find out.” I smile. She takes a small bite of the omelet and her eyes go wide and then one eyelid flutters closed and opens again as a moan escapes her lips. “That good, huh?”
“Damn, Yuri! This is the best omelet I’ve had in a, I don’t even know, a while. I know I didn’t have any fancy spices or sauces, so what’d you do to make it taste so good?” She asks taking another bite. I love watching her enjoy the food I’ve made.
“It’s a secret.” I say with a grin. “Do you want to go get dressed before we eat? I want to talk about something before you have to get to work.”
“No. I’m good.” She says with a smile, “I’ll get dressed in a bit. But I want you to tell me what your secret is with this omelet soon! It’s really good!” Her praise makes me smile.
“Want some coffee?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Is that even a real question?” She says, the corner of her eyes lifting as she smiles. “The coffee grounds are in the cabinet above the microwave. Don’t forget the creamer in the fridge.” She instructs.
“Oh, don’t worry, Malyshka . I’ll take care of everything.” I nearly purr and get to work on brewing the nectar of life.
Once we’ve finished our omelets and we both have had at least one cup of coffee, we head to the couch. I don’t know how she’s going to react to my suggestions to try and keep her safe, but I can’t let anything happen to her. I just hope she’ll be reasonable.
“Do you want another cup of coffee before we talk about the safety measures I’d like to put in place for you?” I ask.
She sits next to me on the couch, legs crossed and hands in her lap like a kindergartener ready to hear the best story of their life.
“No, I think I’m good on caffeine right now. What do you mean by safety measures?” The litter furrow in between her brows makes me want to reach up and smooth out her worry.
“Like I mentioned last night, my family doesn’t live a very safe lifestyle. I can’t let anyone hurt you. I won’t.”
“I don’t honestly think I’m in any danger, Yuri. I’m a nobody.” She says, sounding a little dejected. I hate hearing her put herself down like that. It reminds me of when the girls at school would gang up on her and call her names.
“You’re somebody to me.” I remind her, holding her face in my hands. “If the people who hate my family find out about us, they’ll hurt you to hurt me” I sigh, bracing myself for a potential argument and trying to find the words to make her understand.
“Charlie, I know you don’t believe that anyone knows who you are. I pray that’s true, but I won’t take that chance. I can’t.” I say, hoping I don’t sound like a bumbling idiot.
“Ok then… What did you have in mind?” She asks. Completely skirting over the fact that I called us an “us”.
“Well,” I hate to change her whole world, this isn’t fair to her, but it’s too late to turn back now. “I was thinking you could move in with me.” I rush out.
She hesitates, she opens and closes her mouth before she finally states “Move in?” Her hands are in her lap and she keeps closing them tightly into a fist and then releasing them, “like… live with you?” I can see the wheels turning in her mind. “Like I would no longer live here? Or you just want me to stay at your place from time to time?”
“I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed, but for your safety, I think moving into my apartment and living with me is the best way to keep you safe. We can still keep your apartment, but I don’t want you staying here.”
Panic and a bit of defiance reach her eyes, “Woah! Ok, hold on just a minute. I worked really hard to get this apartment and my job. Do you expect me to just sit in your apartment all day? Because there’s no way that’s happening!”
“I know how hard you’ve worked Charlie,” I say quickly, “but it’s not safe for you to stay here. If you start writing articles about the crime in the city you’ll put a target on your back. I can’t let that happen.”
“I’m going to write about whatever I want, Yuri! I’m a grown ass woman. You can’t just waltz back into my life after ten years of being a ghost and expect me to drop my whole life.”
“Charlie, listen…” I start to explain.
“No, you listen to me!” She stands from the couch abruptly and spins, pinning me with her stare. “I’m no damsel in distress, okay? I am happy to have you around to help keep me safe, but I will not be locked away in a tower. Do you hear me?”
She caught me off guard a little with her response. I always knew she was stubborn, but I didn’t think she thought so little of her life to allow herself to be put in danger without a care in the world.
“I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe, Charlie, I don’t want to be some controlling mother-fucker. I’m not going to snatch you and lock you away.” Does she really think I’m some kind of monster?
“Well, if you expect me to drop my whole life for you, then you don’t know me at all.” She throws back, “I appreciate the protective boyfriend vibes you’re throwing out, but don’t think I’m some weakling! I’m not worried about anyone coming to hurt me. If the circumstances change, then maybe, MAYBE, I’ll consider moving, but until then, I’m staying right here.”
Damn! Charlie’s sexy when she’s determined. I don’t know how I’m going to keep her safe if she won’t let me, but I won’t let her stubbornness and ignorance of just how much danger she’s in stop me from protecting her. I backpedal a little to try and regain some ground.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I know you’re not some sheltered princess. I don’t want to stop you from living your life. I will; however, keep you safe, so here’s what we’re going to do,” I take a deep breath and hope she doesn’t throw away everything I’ve done over the last ten years to keep her safe. “I will take you to work everyday. If I can’t, one of my guys will. Can we start there?” I ask.
“Fine. If you want to be my chauffeur, go for it, but I don’t like the idea of a random guy I’ve never met driving me around.”
“I’ll have Maxim and Andrey come by after I pick you up from work so they can introduce themselves.” I say kind of enjoying this back and forth power play we have going on. I’m not sure I want Andrey to meet Charlie after the way he talked about her earlier, but maybe if he talks to her, he’ll see why she needs to be a priority.
“Fine. I’m going to finish getting ready for work. We can talk more about this later.” She says as she heads for the bedroom, “and don’t think I’m not appreciative. I am, but you haven’t been in my life for ten years, Yuri. I just got you back and I don’t even know what that means yet.”
“I know. I get that.”
“Then don’t go grade-A-asshole on me. Okay?”
“Okay. Like I said before, I won’t let anything happen to you and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good. Just so long as you know I’m not some princess who’s waiting for my prince charming. I won’t just dig a hole and hide because you have some big, bad enemies.”
I chuckle at her description of the Italian Mob, “Go get ready. We’ll talk more on the drive.”
She heads into her room to get ready and I brew her another cup of coffee before we head to my car. As we drive, I wait for her to bring up our previous conversation, but she doesn’t. We talk about her family and my brothers until we reach the building that houses The Chicago Times.
“Thanks for the ride,” She says as we pull to the curb, but she doesn’t get out of the car.
“I’ll pick you up from work and we can have dinner at my place. We can talk more then, okay?” I hate how she must think of me.
“Okay, sounds good.” she smirks at me. “I’ll see you after work.” She opens the door of my Audi, but before she steps a foot on the pavement I take her hand in mine and draw her close.
“I’ll see you for dinner.” I lean in; our lips centimeters apart, but I don’t initiate any further. She closes what little space is left and kisses me, soft and sweet. I savor the taste of coffee on her lips and deepen the kiss before we separate. Breathless.
“See you later, Yuri.” Charlie whispers onto my lips releasing my hand. She steps out of the car and walks into the building.