Chapter Five
Dmitri
“Marco, tell me you have the information I need,” I say as I pack up my things to head back into Naples for my meeting. Going to see Cora wasn’t a smart idea. Her almost naked body was too much of a temptation. Luckily my phone rang, and my assistant Marco called because I might have forgotten all about my meetings.
“Yes, I’ve sent all the documents to your device. The deal is worth twenty-five million; I’m not risking a loss because I forgot to email you the contracts.”
“Good. I’ll be there shortly.” Opening up my laptop, I check the email and print the documents. I had a meeting at the same piazza that I found Cora at, and I needed to get a move on before it got any later.
The drive takes a full hour because a flock of sheep crossed the road, forcing me to stop briefly. The morning was already wasting away by the time I pulled into a spot. The area is more crowded than yesterday as if nothing happened. It pisses me off so much because my woman was almost taken from here. My client is sitting at the little café with his assistant, sipping his drink until he sees me approach.
“Ah, it’s good to see you, Mr. Volkov. I’m sorry that our meeting was delayed,” Mr. DeSantis says, standing with his hand out for me to shake.
“It’s my fault. I had an emergency come up.” After shaking his hand, we both took a seat. “I have everything we need to discuss.”
“I hope your emergency was resolved to a positive end.”
“It was.”
“Good, let me see the contract. My lawyer already has a copy of the draft, so it’s only a matter of comparing it. I hope that isn’t an issue.” He has a printed copy labeled draft on the table.
“No at all. Please read through it while I order a coffee.” He nods and takes the contract while I summon the server.
He reads for the next fifteen minutes, asking questions in between as I sip my espresso. “So, any more questions?”
“Only when can we begin construction?”
“We can start as soon as the documents are filed.” I put the documents away in my briefcase.
“Fantastic,” he says. We shake hands and part ways.
I met up with Marco who is sitting with my next client at a mid-level restaurant. He makes the introductions and then I say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say. After an hour we made notes and possibly an incredible deal. After they leave, it’s just Marco and me.
“Boss, do you need me to draft up the contract?”
“Yes, get it done and sent to me by tomorrow. I have other matters to attend to.”
“Yes, sir.”
I walked out of the restaurant and made my way down to the alley where Cora was almost snatched to see if they left any traces.
As I turn the corner into the alley, I nearly collide with a friend and police officer. “Mr. Volkov, what are you doing over here?” Investigator Vinci asked with a smirk on his face. He’s a wise man and aware of everything that goes down here. Although he doesn’t approve of the criminal element, he’s become an ally of mine.
“Heard rumors there was an incident here. I’d hate that since I love the area very much.”
“As do I, but it seems the matter was taken care of and hopefully we won’t have another incident. I’d hate for a war to start in my city.” His words are clearly a warning to me since he believes I’m involved in it.
“I’m sure it was a one-off event or at least that’s what I hope for.”
“Yes, well. It’s good to see you, Dmitri. I hope you can make the fundraiser next month.” Giving a large amount of money to charities helps keep the Guarda and the police force off my ass.
“I believe I will.” We shake hands and then part ways. My next stop is the hotel where Cora was staying. It’s actually two streets down from the piazza. When I entered the tourist trap, I headed straight to her room number and tapped the keycard to the door. It opens and I find a piece of shit packing up her things.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He jumps back and pulls out a gun. I move swiftly and slam him down onto the bed, sending his gun flying. I deck the fucker in the face, and he falls back completely knocked out. My eyes scan the room for any other threats. Seeing no one else in the room, I patted the bastard down and found a wallet. Opening it up, I growl, “I’m about to kill this fuck.”
He needs a bullet, but I have to think about the consequences if I do it right now, so I grab the hotel robe instead. I take a picture of the asshole and then several shots of the room. With a quick tug, I pulled the belt free and used it to tie him up while the prick was passed out. I drag him into the bathroom and close the door with a chair under the handle. That fuck isn’t getting out before I take care of some business. Trapping him in the bathroom, I exited the hotel room and headed for the front desk because I needed a word with the manager.
“Where is the manager?” I snarl at the woman in front of me.
“He’s currently in a meeting,” she says. “But I can handle any of your problems, sir.”
“There isn’t a thing I need you for, but if he doesn’t come out now, I’ll find him.”
She nods nervously and then goes down the hall to a small office. When she opens the door, I see that piece of shit Romano standing in the room. I march right past her and inside, closing the door behind me.
“The other son of a bitch I wanted to see.”
“Mr. Volkov,” the manager says.
“Interesting that you know my name and I’m unfamiliar with yours.”
“I’m Stefano Romano.” My lips clamp together as my temper rises.
I lean in and snarl. “Is that how you collect your victims? Your brother selects guests to abduct, and you make it look like they were never here.”
“It does seem like a good idea, but I have nothing to do with any such abduction,” Stefano says.
“Well, this asshole is working with Edmond Trainor.”
“Are you serious?” Stefano snapped.
“What? I hadn’t scheduled the woman at this hotel, I was just collecting on a debt. I can’t help that he let it slip that she was in Naples and where she’d be staying.”
“That’s not going to happen because she’s my fiancée.”
“Then you better get me Trainor because I want my money one way or another.”
I smirk. “As it happens, I left him trapped in her hotel room.”
“What? How did he get into her room?” Stefano questioned.
“He had this.” I handed over the keycard.
“Let me deal with him.” Maurizio gets on his phone and calls someone. Holding his hand to the phone, he leans over and asks his brother for the room number. “Two-thirteen.”
“I need to clear out Cora’s things.”
“Let’s take care of business,” Maurizio says. All three of us walked up to the hotel room. Stefano opened the door with the keycard, and both of their expressions were comical with their mouths hanging open. They are shocked by the way the room is destroyed. “Holy shit, did you throw him around or what?”
“No, the fucker must have lost his mind when she didn’t contact him for two days.”
“Well, he should have known better since he owed me a lot of money.”
“I think he was hoping you’d kill her so he could claim the life insurance on her.”
“What? I only wanted to hold her hostage for my money.”
“And when he didn’t pay it, you’d off her, and he’d get her one-million-dollar policy.”
He removes the chair from the door and opens it to see Trainor, practically crawling up the farthest wall backwards like he has somewhere to run. “So, tell me, Trainor. Where is my money?”
“I don’t have it, but if you kill her I get her insurance policy and I can pay you.”
Maurizio goes up to Trainor and backhands him across the face. “I might have had my men kidnap her, but I wasn’t going to harm her. Women and children are a no go. I just want my hundred thousand.”
“Just so you know, she has a policy on him as well,” I mentioned, wanting my own revenge. According to the doctor it was a mild sedative, but it still harmed her, and those bastards were rough with her. I want Trainor’s head on a platter.
“Interesting. So there is still a way to recover my money.” Maurizio smirks broadly, causing Trainor to piss himself.
“Please don’t. Please I’m all she has,” he pleaded.
I’m about to attack the fucker when Stefano holds me back.
Maurizio chuckles. “If that’s the case she’s better off alone. Look, I’m going to give you one more chance to get out of my face and get my money. You don’t harm a single hair on your stepdaughter. Understood?” I glared at him like he was crazy to make that offer. I’d blow this motherfucker’s brains out as soon as I didn’t have eyes on me. Then it strikes me that maybe it’s Maurizio’s game plan as well.
“Yes. Yes. Thank you.” He tries to stand, but his hands are tied.
Stefano drags Trainor to his feet and then gets in his face. “Come on. I want you the fuck out of my hotel and if I ever catch you here again, I’ll kill you for my brother.”
Two men in suits come into the room and it’s clear they work for Maurizio when they say, “Hey, Boss. Sorry it took so long, but there was a problem with the valet. What do you want us to do with him?”
Trainor’s eyes go to the men, looking even more fearful.
“Hey, fuckoff, don’t worry about my men. This is the fuck you have to worry about. I don’t know if you had a proper introduction, but this is Cora’s protector. I heard he’s an excellent hitman for the bratva, so if I was you I’d get my money before he takes matters into his own hands.”
His eyes widen as he stares at me. “You bet your ass that if I ever catch you near my future wife, I’ll end you in a creative fashion.”
“I won’t, I won’t,” he promises as he shakes, but I don’t believe a word out of his mouth.
“Get him the fuck out of here and on the next plane back to the U. S.,” Maurizio tells the two men that are waiting on the side. Maurizio stares Trainor in the face and adds, “You make a scene, and I’ll have them drag you away and end your life. No one here is going to touch my men, so it would be foolish to go to the police.” They untie his hands and drag him out.
I snatch up Cora’s things and found the tracking device, so I toss the hidden air tag at Maurizio. “This is how the piece of shit knew where to find her.”
“What the fuck is this?”
“An air tag from Apple. It allows for tracking. Some people add it to their suitcase just in case their luggage gets lost, but she doesn’t have any Apple products.” He hands it back to me.
“Well, I’d toss that just in case he gets stupid.”
“No, I have an idea,” I tell him, tucking it in my pocket. Now it’s time to go home. I have a woman to see. Only I’m not sure how I’m going to explain her stepfather’s deception.
“Gentlemen, I am leaving. If you let that bastard live, and he comes after my woman…”
“Calm down, Volkov. I am not letting him live long. I want my money, and he does have a nice insurance policy. Soon he’ll have an accident, and I’ll take a cut of that check.”
“Fine with me. We’ll find a way to invest it and then transfer the proceeds.” He nods and we all walk out. I carry her luggage to my vehicle and leave.
The drive back is uneventful and faster than my drive in, but my mind is racing. Before I stop in the house, I drop the air tag inside one of my other vehicles in my garage.
When I step through the door, Cora is waiting. “Hey, how long were you waiting by the door for me?” I tease.
“Whatever, I heard your vehicle, and I was worried that it was someone else.” Damn, I don’t care for that. She shouldn’t be afraid of anyone.
“Relax. I promise you’re safe. Now did you eat? Because I’m hungry.”
“Um no. Dinner is actually cooking right now.” A blush steals over her face as she grins.
“Did the chef arrive?”
“Yes, and he and I were making dinner.” A low rumble of distaste comes from my lips. “What’s wrong? You don’t trust my cooking?”
“No, I don’t trust another man around you.” I can’t fight the possessive rush shooting through me.
“You had Mikhail around me all day,” she says with a huff as if I’m being ridiculous.
“Yes, but he’s a brother to me.”
She rolls her pretty ocean-colored eyes. “Well, then you need to relax because he was checking in every ten minutes like something was going to happen.”
My brows knit in confusion. “You don’t get how beautiful you are, do you?”
“I mean…I get that I’m pretty, but…” I press my hand to her lips, stopping the doubt from her.
“You are more than pretty, and when you smile it’s like the entire world lights up.”
“I think you’re delusional.” She pats my chest with her hand, and I clamp my hand down over it. With a quick tug, she pressed against my body.
My head tilts down to hers and I confess, “No, I’m obsessed.”
“Dinner’s ready, Ms. Hardwick,” Chef Tomas says, stepping into the living area where we are standing. “Oh, Mr. Volkov, it is perfect that you are home just in time for dinner.”
“Yes, it is.” I stare at him with a hint of suspicion because he spent the afternoon with my future wife.
“Oh my…is that my suitcase?” she asks, finally noticing the luggage at the door while conveniently interrupting my stare down.
“Yes, I retrieved it from the hotel.”
“Thank you.” She throws her arms around me and squeezes my neck with her perfect tits pressed firmly against my chest. This woman is going to make me break and pin her against the sofa.
“You’re welcome. I’ll bring it to the bedroom after dinner.”
“Okay.” We head into the dining room where Chef Tomas brings our plates and the wine.
“I hope you like it. It’s one of my favorites.” I dug into the chicken parmesan thoroughly pleased with the flavor.
“I do like it, very much.” She smiles and my chest fucking pounds, demanding to lean over the table and kiss her, but I won’t until she’s ready.
“So, I need to call my stepfather.” My neck tenses up at the mention of that shady bastard.
“Why?” I growl.
“He’s probably so worried about me and what if they get to him,” she asks.
“You don’t need to worry about him.” She sets her fork down.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Do you think that because I want you that I’ll just give up my family?”
“Watch your tone,” I snarl. I’m doing my best to hold back the truth from her because it’s going to hurt.
“Why? Are you going to hurt me?”
“What’s your obsession with that? Did your stepfather ever abuse you or your mother?” I asked, needing to understand this fear of men other than the abduction.
“No, goodness no, but I know what you’re capable of.”
I push myself away from the table. “Enough. I’ve done nothing but protect and care for you. I can’t change the man I’ve been or what I’m forced to do, but I’m not even close to the most dangerous man you know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means your stepfather was here today…in your hotel room.” Pulling out my cell phone, I opened the gallery and then handed it to her.
“Oh my God. What happened to my room?”
“He was looking for you and got pissed when you weren’t there.”
“What? But…he shouldn’t have gotten in.” She lifts a hand to her mouth and shakes her head back and forth. “I can’t believe this.”
“Do you know he has a life insurance policy on you?” I ask her pointedly.
“Um…yes. He thought it was best after my mother died, but it’s nothing. It’s only like twenty thousand.” She slides my phone away from her.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but it’s not that low. According to the information I had Mikhail look into, you’re valued at a cool million dead.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“It’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you.” She breaks down, sobbing violently. “Hell, I knew I shouldn’t have said a thing.”
“You weren’t going to tell me?”
“Not yet. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I can’t let you talk to him.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No. I didn’t. Although I don’t believe he’ll last that long after all the money he owes and all the enemies he’s making.”
“I’m not hungry anymore. I just want to go to sleep.”
“Goodnight then. I need to speak with Mikhail as it is.” She huffs but stands and doesn’t say a word or even bother to look back at me. Anger clearly shoots off her body as she leaves the dining room. I leave my plate as well, and see Mikhail looking confused by the encounter. “Ah, please drop this off outside the bedroom and then come meet me in my office. There is much to discuss.”
“Of course.” He takes the luggage and disappears up the stairs.
Two minutes later, Mikhail is back, his expression grim. “I’m not saying that you’re wrong to push her away, but if you want the girl, it might not be smart. She’s pissed.”
“Listen, Mikhail. Trust me when I say that I want her, and she wants me. Cora bends to my touch easily, but we have the problem with her stepfather. I crave her like my next breath. If she doesn’t believe that I’d do anything to protect and care for her… well, fucking hell. I don’t just want her body.” Most would think I’m crazy for not taking advantage of her desire, but I need more, so much more.