Chapter Nine
Cora
I’ve been here for three weeks, and I never want to leave. Although Dmitri speaks as if we’re going to get married, he hasn’t actually proposed or anything serious. Still, he trusts me enough to give me my phone back which does my heart a world of good. I’m in love with him. We haven’t said the words, but I truly feel his love every single day.
I climb out of bed a little late, and it’s all Dmitri’s fault. Before he left for work, he devoured my pussy and then we made love. He was running late himself. Still, he couldn’t resist giving one more orgasm, and then I fell back into a blissful sleep.
It’s already eleven, but I’m not scheduled to be anywhere, so I can lounge about. Last week, I called my job on the phone in Dmitri’s office, and I apologized for not returning their calls. They had already fired me, but it wasn’t a big deal since I was a server at a local chain restaurant, and my weekly check was pennies to Dmitri. They easily replaced me after my first no-call no show.
Since I have nothing to do all day I spend most of my time making notes for my book. I’ve always wanted to be an author, but I’ve been working every night and going to school. “One day,” I whisper to myself.
Languidly, I drag myself into the shower and let the hot water soothe my aching muscles. Sex twice a day is extremely exhausting, but damn is it heaven. Scrubbing my body, I noticed several of his marks on me. The bruises on my thighs are the best because he’s holding onto me firmly as he slams me down on his stiff cock. My hand reaches between my thighs as the ache builds, but I’m stopped by the sound of my cell phone.
It rings loudly, vibrating against the bathroom counter, so I jump out of the shower, thinking it’s Dmitri, but it’s not. My stepfather’s number appears and my heart jumps and my body freezes. I refuse to answer it and leave it on the bathroom vanity. I finish my shower and then it rings again. It’s a number from back home that I don’t recognize. The caller leaves a message, so I check it.
“Cora dear, please call me. The man you’re with is a liar and a killer. You’re not safe.” It’s my stepfather who obviously is calling from a different number. I would believe his words if it wasn’t for the documents they showed me or the pictures at the hotel.
I ignore the message and get dressed. The entire time I considered calling Dmitri and telling him about it, but he’s busy and I don’t want to bother him. I’ve learned a little about what he does, and I’m impressed. He’s out here creating empires, one building at a time.
It's nearly noon when I leave our bedroom. “Good afternoon, Ms. Hardwick,” Margaret says as I reach the bottom step.
Mikhail went with him so I’m alone with the housekeeper, Margaret. She’s a sweet woman who comes to clean and then leaves. Tomas should be in the kitchen making lunch and prepping meals for the next two days since he’s off.
“Please, I must insist you call me Cora,” I say.
“Cora, Tomas should be done with lunch momentarily. Do you need anything from me before I leave?” she asks.
“No, thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure to see Dmitri with someone. I thought he and Mikhail would be alone forever. Now Mikhail will hopefully be next.”
“Next for what?” Mikhail asks, stepping into the room with an apple in his hand.
“We’re hoping you find someone too. Where’s Dmitri?”
“He has other matters to attend to before coming back. I need some documents before heading into town. I might find a girl one day, but I’m not sure it’s a good thing. They distract you too much.” He smiles and then walks away taking another bite of his apple.
“We’ll find him a girl,” I say.
“Yes, we will,” Margaret says with a conspiratorial smirk.
As we part ways I wish her a happy birthday since she’ll be off next week. I sneak into the kitchen quietly while Tomas is stirring the sauce on the stove.
“Boo,” I called out.
He practically jumps out of his skin, sending the wooden spoon into the air and sauce everywhere. Rapid Italian falls from his lips as he curses me out. I giggled and apologized.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“I am the one who is sorry. My language was inappropriate.”
“It was funny, though.”
“It would be, if I was the one doing the scaring,” he says, smiling and stirring the pot on the stove.
“Well then I’d be the one using every available swear word. So I guess lunch is going to be a bit longer?”
“Yes, about ten minutes.”
“Okay, I need to go annoy someone else.”
“If you are bored, then there is always the garden in the back,” he offers. It’s a beautiful place made of wonder. With summer upon us many of the flowers are starting to bloom. I’ve been there every day, but honestly, without Dmitri around I feel listless.
“I’m just going to my cushy spot in the library.” I wave him off and walk away. Running my finger along the shelves, I find another great book to read and tuck it under my arm. I’ll start it after lunch.
My phone rang again, so I stopped in my tracks to check, and it was my stepfather again. Damn it, I should take the call, but I want to wait for Dmitri.
“Lunch,” Tomas calls out and I jump, dropping the book on the floor.
“You got me back,” I laugh, shaking my head as I pick up the book.
“Sorry,” he says with a wink.
****
It’s been a long day and I’m waiting for Dmitri to come home. He had several meetings, but he promised we’d go out for dinner. Maybe that’s why I’m growing impatient. Well, that and my stepfather won’t stop calling me. Dmitri should be here soon, but it’s not soon enough.
My phone hasn’t stopped ringing, and I check it to see it’s my stepfather again. I don’t want to answer it, but he’s only going to call back. “Hello,” I answered.
“It’s about time you answered, Cora. Please tell me you’re safe,” Edmond says. His voice is frantic.
“I am safe, but I’ve decided not to go back to Chicago.”
“What? You need to come back.” His voice is a bit scary and if I was unsure about my return, his tone just made the decision for me.
“Why? So you can claim your insurance policy?” I snarled.
“No, I would never do that. It’s just in case something happens, and you know that.”
“Do I? Because the last time I checked my policy was only twenty-k and now I find out you added additional policies totaling a million. Please stop me when I’m lying. There’s no reason you need that much money from me.”
“It’s just precaution.”
“Bullshit. There’s no reason for it since you’re a millionaire.”
“Things have gone south lately,” he confesses, and my mind freezes at his audacity.
“Oh my goodness. You just admitted that you want me dead,” I screeched.
He huffs into the phone before speaking, “Well, bitch it would have happened if those fuckers did what they were supposed to.”
“So Romano was supposed to kill me.” Dmitri said that Romano only wanted to spook my father into paying.
“No, I made a deal with his men and promised that I’d pay the money to have you accidentally die while escaping. You should be dead, and since you betrayed me with that Russian, I’m not giving up until you’re dead.” Tears flood my eyes, making it difficult to see.
There has been a question in my mind since I learned of his willingness to off me, so I take my only chance to ask. “Like my mother?”
“No one can prove that.”
“I’m sure they can. I’ll call the police and have them dig up my mother.”
“You won’t because I’ll get to you first,” he threatens. To me it’s hollow. Like he said he was broke and he’s back in Chicago, so he’s not a real threat.
“You can’t get to me anymore,” I answered with a sob.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I will before you know it.” The phone is wrenched from my hand and it’s Dmitri.
“Trainor, it’s good to hear from you again. You were warned to leave her alone. It seems you’re not only hard of hearing, but stupid as well,” he snarls into the phone, looking extra domineering. His arm slides around my waist, pulling me to his side.
“I’m just checking up on my stepdaughter,” he lies.
“That’s against the rules.” Dmitri presses the end call button and then turns to me. “Baby, are you okay?”
“Yes, I just can’t believe…” He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly.
“I’m not going to let him hurt you again,” he whispers in my ear.
“I love you, Dmitri.” He moves his head back to look into my eyes and smiles.
“It’s about time. I’ve been in love with you since we met. Marry me,” he says, dropping down to one knee as he pulls out a small box.
“Oh my, I will.” He slides the beautifully large stone onto my ring finger, and then kisses my hand.
“So how about dinner to celebrate?” I nod and he stands and kisses me tenderly. In my heart, I know I have nothing to fear with Dmitri around.