Chapter 22 #2
“Yes there is. I don’t answer unknown numbers either.
Nine times out of ten, they’re fucking telemarkers or scammers.
But if the same number calls me repeatedly, one after the other after the other, I’m more inclined to answer it because it might be someone I know calling me from a different phone.
You’re missing. I bet it will take her about the third or fourth call for her to answer.
The hope that it might be you will be too great for her not to. ”
His lips pursed in thought. “Okay, I can’t deny that makes a little sense.” He tried her number again and again.
“Do you know all your siblings’ numbers off by heart?” I asked as he tried for the third time.
“Yeah. That way, if my phone is ever stolen by, oh, I don’t know, a crazy woman who kidnapped me, I can call them for help without needing to look up their number,” he said, a teasing quirk at the corner of his mouth.
“Hardy, har, har.”
He threw me a wink before blowing me a kiss. I caught it and shoved it into my mouth like I was trying to eat it.
Ring-ring, ring-ring, ring-ring—
“Lukyan, this better be you,” a light, feminine voice answered through the phone.
An affectionate smile flashed across Lukyan’s face. “It’s me, sestra.” Sister.
“Holy fuck,” she breathed out in shock. “I didn’t think it would actually be you! Where are you? Are you okay? Tell me where you are, and I’ll get someone to come get you.”
His eyes flicked to me for a brief moment. “I’m okay,” he said, not answering the other questions. “I just called to make sure you are okay. You’re not hurt, are you? Grandfather hasn’t done anything?”
“What? No, I’m fine. Lukyan, where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
Rustling came through the other end, followed quickly by a door slamming. “Well, look for a street sign or something. I’m getting Nikolai now. We’ll start tracing the call.”
“This line is untraceable,” I said.
There was a beat of silence. “Lukyan?” Illayana sang, her voice pitching higher with a hint of what-the-fuckery.
“Yes?” he answered.
“What the fuck is going on?!” she blasted.
I’m a goddamn mind reader.
Lukyan looked at me for what I assumed was confirmation. I just shrugged, nodding my head. He could tell her whatever he wanted. It wouldn’t change a thing. They wouldn’t be able to find him.
“Lyla graciously let me use her phone to call you and make sure you were okay.”
“Graciously? Graciously?!” Illayana shouted. “You mean your crazy, kidnapping stalker was nice enough to let you use the phone. How fucking nice of her.”
“It was nice of me, actually, thank you so much for noticing,” I responded.
“I was being sarcastic,” she spat.
“I wasn’t.”
“What do you want in exchange for my brother?”
I felt like shaking my head. “Nothing. There is nothing you could offer me for him because he is all I want. In this life, the next, and any after that. He’s mine, and I’m never fucking giving him back.”
Lukyan’s eyes flashed with something predatory.
“You—”
“Your brother wanted to talk to you,” I cut in, interrupting her. “I gave him five minutes, and you’re wasting them talking to me.”
Another beat of silence.
“Lukyan?” Illayana’s voice had taken a softer tone, drenched in vulnerability.
“I’m here.”
“You’re okay?” she asked again.
“Yes. I’m not hurt. I need to know…Has anything happened with Grandfather? Has he hurt you? Threatened you? Anything?”
“No. Nothing. Father said he’s fucking ecstatic. He got exactly what he wanted because the Tarasovs reneged on their contract when Anya didn’t show.”
“I told you,” I mouthed to Lukyan.
His hand waved through the air in an I know, I know kind of gesture. “What about Father? Is he still at Sergei’s estate? Is he still at risk?”
“He’s still there. The…plan is still in place. Father is going to do it.”
Illayana was talking in code, completely unaware that I knew exactly what she was referring to.
“He is?” Lukyan asked with a frown. My eyes narrowed in suspicion. There was something there. Some emotion he was masking, hiding from not only his sister, but me too.
I was going to find out what it was.
“Look, Lukyan. I don’t care if that bitch is listening.”
I chuckled, finding her attitude humorous.
“You kill her, you hear me? You kill her and come back home.”
Our eyes locked, and he held my gaze. I arched a brow in curiosity. What are you going to say, baby? Are you going to say you’ll kill me?
Could you?
I doubted it. He might not be consciously aware of our bond, but it was there. I felt it in my soul, and I knew that, one day, he would too.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said instead, and a small sense of triumph filled me. “Are the rest of the family?”
“Aleksandr is going crazy looking for you. Nikolai too. And don’t think I didn’t notice you completely ignored what I said. I know you heard me. Don’t fall for her bullshit. She’s fucking crazy.”
Her insults didn’t bother me, but I felt compelled to point something out. “You seem to be forgetting I saved your lives.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
The frown on Lukyan’s face told me he was just as confused by that as his sister.
“Talon’s island. I was the one who found out its coordinates and sent them to your brother’s wife. Because of me, you are all alive right now. I think that’s earned me a little bit of respect, don’t you?”
“You kidnapped my brother!”
“Yes. And it’s my greatest achievement to date.” I winked at Lukyan. “Thirty seconds.”
“Illayana, listen to me,” he hurried out. “Don’t worry about me. I’m going to find a way to convince her to let me go.” Fat chance of that happening. “Focus on helping Father. He needs it more than I do. I’m just glad you’re all safe.”
“Lukyan, tell me something that will help us find you. What do you see? What landmarks are there? Have you seen any towns? Who is she? Give me something.”
His mouth compressed into a hard line. Again, he looked at me, and I did nothing but stare back.
It would be up to him to reveal my identity.
It wouldn’t help them locate us if he did.
I’d purchased the house under an alias. In town, they only knew me as Lyla.
They didn’t know my last name. There was nothing in my identity that could be traced back to us.
Lukyan chose to answer none of her questions. “I love you.”
“No, wait—”
Beep, beep, beep.
Silence drifted into the air. He stared at the phone in his hands, his thoughts raging behind those stunning, big blue eyes.
“I like her,” I said, wanting desperately to break that silence between us.
“What?” He laughed. “She called you a crazy bitch.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I took the phone from him and locked it, placing it down on the ground. “She’s only telling the truth. I am a crazy bitch, and fucking proud of it. Do you feel better now?”
“Yes,” he exhaled. “I do, actually.”
I smiled. “Good. I’m glad.”
“I’m curious about something,” he said, grabbing the can of whipped cream. His head tilted back, and with a woosh, he sprayed it into his mouth. “How did you find the location of Talon’s island?”
Ah.
A tiny bit of whipped cream escaped his mouth. Unable to help myself, I leaned forward and licked it from his lips with a flick of my tongue, then I moved right back. Or at least, I tried.
Lukyan’s hand snapped out, and he gripped the back of my head, yanking me back toward him. His lips smashed onto mine in a brutal, punishing kiss. His tongue dove into my mouth, hot and possessing and utterly addictive.
I froze. Our first official kiss.
His taste exploded all over my senses, and I was powerless to fight it, clasping onto him tightly and kissing him back. Usually, I always took the lead, but that time, I didn’t mind, too overcome with what was happening to even think about stopping it.
He kissed me.
With a sharp tug, he pulled me into his lap, my legs going either side of his body. His big, rough hands landed on my thighs, the contact searing, and I ground myself into him.
The kiss was fiery. Passionate.
Perfect.
Everything I knew it would be.