Chapter 15 - Diomid
There are multiple layers of issues hanging over my conscience as I drive away from Jaroslav’s estate with Angelika in the passenger seat of my car.
Firstly, the most immediate problem is that she looks fucking gorgeous.
That dress is too short, and even though it has long sleeves and a high neckline, it’s far too revealing for a place like the one we’re headed toward.
The perfume she’s wearing is too alluring.
Her hair is braided over her left shoulder, and she has a little too much makeup on, but it suits our purpose.
She looks too sexy. And I’m about to send her into a room full of perverts and savages.
But despite the tension building due to the situation, sitting next to her in the car and trying to ignore how gorgeous she looks is a problem in its own right.
“Don’t you want to put that jacket on?” I ask, reaching behind me without taking my eyes off the road.
“Um, doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of this exercise?” she gestures over her attire.
“Yes, I guess so,” I mutter, annoyed with myself for not being able to keep my eyes from drifting to her.
Another issue? As if I needed more.
I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why I agreed to let her come.
Don’t lie to yourself, Diomid, you know exactly why. You wanted to see her again. And she has a right to be a part of this.
“You look tense,” she says, eyeing me from across the car.
“I am tense,” I huff.
“But you’re supposed to be used to this kind of operation. Aren’t you?”
“Yes, it’s just…”
I know exactly what it is. It’s her.
If she weren’t here, I wouldn’t even be thinking about it. I would just trust myself to handle whatever popped up as it popped up. Moving on, instincts and spontaneous decisions without hesitation. I can’t do that with Angel.
Things need to be planned, strict, careful… Otherwise, how will I make sure she stays safe while we throw her into the lion’s den?
“Let’s go over the plan one more time,” I suggest, hoping it will calm my racing thoughts. If I’m thinking about the plan, I’m not thinking about my mistake in bringing her with me.
She reaches over and touches my leg, sending a sharp current through me that blanks my thoughts for a second.
“Diomid, you haven’t made a mistake by letting me come with you. I’m going to help you on this one. We’ll work as a team,” she says, trying to reassure me.
“I don’t doubt your usefulness, Angel. I’ve already seen how levelheaded you are in a crisis, and how focused you can be in tense situations.
You handled my operation cleanup really well, considering it was a messy job.
It’s not that. It’s about keeping you safe,” I sigh, turning off the main road. We’re almost there.
“I promised I’d listen to you every step of the way. And I will. That’s what this is for,” she taps the earpiece that I gave her. Her smile is beautiful. My heart skips a beat when I steal a glance at her.
“Let’s go over the plan,” I insist. No matter how many times she tries to reassure me, this tense knot in my stomach isn’t going anywhere until this is all over.
I’ve never felt so focused on consequences in my life.
You need to trust her, Diomid. She can do this.
“Step one?” I say.
“You and I are going to get inside, using the back entrance. You’ll stay back to look at the offices and private areas, and I’ll sneak around the stage, into the main venue.”
“Step two?”
“I’ll pretend to be one of the hostess girls, offer drinks, blend in, and scout the place. You’ll scout the private areas.”
I clench my jaw. “And the purpose of this task?”
“Only to gather information and to plant listening devices. I am not there to help anyone I see or try to rescue any of the girls.”
“Correct,” I say. “No one. No matter how bad it looks in there, you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“And if you get overwhelmed? Or have… flashbacks or something?”
“Get out.”
We can’t go over it again, because we’ve arrived.
My stomach knots tighter. “You ready?”
She’s already unbuckling her safety belt and checking her earpiece. She’s ready. More ready than I am.
I climb out of the car, adjusting the Kevlar I’m wearing beneath my shirt. A lightweight, invisible layer that might save my life. Angel has one too. A smaller version, tighter, shaped around her breasts and hidden beneath her dress. It’s the reason she opted for a long-sleeved one.
Walking around to her side, I pull her against me and hold her for a second. “Don’t forget the safe word,” I whisper in her ear.
“I won’t. Paradise.”
“And if you say that, I’m coming to get you. Even if it means I need to rain hellfire down on the place.”
“I’m not scared, Diomid. I saw what you did the last time we were here. I know what you’re capable of, and I know you won’t let anything happen to me.”
Her eyes, bright and trusting, pierce into me. Beautiful green and calmer than they should be.
Her trust in me should be reassuring. But it terrifies me. What if I fail? What if…
No. Stop this. You are perfectly capable.
“Let’s go,” I say, stepping back, ready to get this over with.
***
Getting in is easy.
These assholes are so arrogant, they don’t expect a damn thing, and while I would have ramped up my security after last time, they haven’t done anything other than add a few extra men around the perimeter.
The music is heavy inside the passageway outside the event venue.
To the left, the private areas. Offices, store rooms. To the right, the auction party.
Stale cigar smoke drifts in from the right, and when the door swings open each time a waiter carries something through, a flash of ominous red light spills into the hallway.
I press close to the wall, watching her walk toward the red glow.
Her dress is only just long enough to cover her ass, and her walk is accentuated with an extra sway of her hips. She’s already in character. Her confidence is astounding.
My jaw is clenched so tightly it aches across my face.
Alright, Diomid. Move. She’s in. You can’t follow her. Do your side of this thing, and let’s get out of here.
It’s hard to walk away from the door she just disappeared through, but I do it, keeping my head down, I move into the offices.
“Report in,” I whisper.
“The place is packed. But no girls. The stage is packed with art pieces and weapons.”
Her voice is calm and clear. “Maybe this isn’t a human auction?” I say quietly, pushing an office door open and stepping inside. I lean over the desk and press one of the bugs against the underside near the corner. Then another behind a large file cabinet.
“It doesn’t appear to be,” she replies.
I can picture her moving through the crowd, smiling at old men, subtly leaving bugs here and there. Beneath the bar counter, around the stage, on the frame of an art piece on the wall.
“How long do you need?” I ask.
“Ten minutes. Max.”
“Alright. Same. I’ve done the main offices, I just want to get into the store room if I can.”
“Oh,” she giggles, overly sweet. “It looks like your drink is nearly done.” Another giggle that makes my stomach churn. She must be talking to one of those pervs. “What’s your poison?” She asks.
“I like them young and tight like you,” a gruff voice. It stabs into my ear, making me shudder. For a second, I pause, knowing he has his hands on her, and she has to go with it in order to play her role.
I want to vomit. But more than that. I want to abandon what I’m doing and go fetch her.
“Now, now, you can’t keep me all to yourself. I have other customers who also want drinks,” she says sweetly.
“What a pity. Maybe, if you want to make some extra money tonight, come find me later,” he suggests.
“I might just do that, honey. Now, what are you drinking?”
“Vodka. Straight. Three ice blocks. If there are two in there, I’ll have your throat.”
She giggles again, but even I can hear the agitation in it.
“You ok?” I ask, after holding my breath.
“Perfect.” Her reply is tense.
“You sure?”
“I am. I promise. I just planted the last bug. I’m heading for the exit.”
“I’ll meet you there. I bugged one of the store rooms. But I reckon we’ll hear more from the offices.”
Seven minutes later, we’re both back at the car. My heart is racing when I see her, and relief tugs at me, closing my throat. She climbs in, and I don’t waste a second getting the fuck out of this shit hole of a place.
“My heart is beating so fast,” she says, breathless and quiet, as we turn the corner onto the main road and leave the hell hole behind us. It’s the first time she’s spoken since we left.
I reach over and take her hand. “You did really well. Level-headed, calm, I’m really proud of you, princess.”
She looks down at her hand in mine. Hers is shaking.
Her smile is tight.
“Do you think the bugs will work?”
“If they plan another human auction there, we’ll know about it. Then we can decide how to deal with it, ok?”
She nods.
Glancing at my dashboard, I smile. “It’s still early.”
“Eleven. It is early. That went a lot quicker than I expected.”
My grin grows wider. “That means we have a little bit of time before I need to get you home,” I say, turning toward the city. I’m in no rush to let her go just yet. Any moment I can steal with her is a moment I’m grabbing.
The restaurant is quiet, with a romantic atmosphere. It’s a popular place, but not at this hour.
“Dio, here for your usual late-night feast?” the chef asks, standing next to our table, wiping his hands on his crisp white apron.
“Hey, Dimitri, this is a friend of mine, Angel. I thought you’d be able to make us some of your seafood stir fry?”
“Aah, of course I can. Spicy? Lemon butter? Garlic?”
I glance at Angelika. She smiles at Dimitri. “Lemon butter,” she chooses.
When he’s left our table, she giggles and shrugs. “Usually, I would have opted for one of the other two, but smelling of garlic might be suspicious tomorrow morning.”
I chuckle. “Good thinking,” I say, taking her hand in mine for a second time tonight.
“You’re not shaking anymore. Do you feel better?”
“It was so weird being back there, but being in control. Like, the fear was still there, but I somehow felt that they couldn’t touch me.”
“Except for creepy three-ice-blocks asshole,” I mutter.
“Balding old man with yellow, stained teeth. Ugh. He was so gross. We have to make sure we shut this place down, Dio,” she says, looking me straight in the eyes. Unnerving and fierce.
I grin. She’s fierce, alright. “We will,” I reassure her.
Angelika looks around the restaurant. “This isn’t the type of place I would picture you in,” she says, teasing me, although I’m not sure how exactly.
“Why? This place is great? Why doesn’t it seem like a place I’d like?”
“It’s quiet, normal, probably way too boring for the likes of you,” she grins.
I scoff, shaking my head. “Wait till you see the dungeons,” I say, raising my brows.
“Ha. Ha,” she says, sarcastically, not falling for it for a second.
“I found this place by accident, actually. After a late night of drinking, I needed some food, and Dimi keeps it open twenty-four hours. But then once I tasted his stir fry… well, there was no turning back after that.”
“A loyal customer?” she asks.
“To the end.”
As if on cue, Dimitri arrives with our food, placing it down ceremoniously.
“Born up a tree,” he declares, winking at Angel. She giggles, her eyes glittering in the soft candlelight. “Thanks, Dimitri. I can’t wait to try it.”
Dimitri doesn’t leave. He stares expectantly at Angel, her brows raised, his face flooded with excited expectation.
Her cheeks flush a soft shade of pink as she quietly declares, “Oh, you’re going to watch…” and picks up her fork shyly.
Dimitri’s eyes don’t leave her as she twirls the fork into the noodles and takes a tentative bite. Angel closes her eyes and lets out a soft mmm.
It’s all Dimitri was waiting for. “Yes!” he shouts triumphantly. “Another customer hooked on the famous Dimitri stir fry. And with that, he leaves us in peace, and Angel starts laughing so much she almost chokes on her food.
“What a character,” she says, once it’s swallowed down. “And that seriously is incredible!” she gestures over the bowl.
“Told you.”
We eat, chatting about the auction. I get the feeling that she’s talking more about her trauma than tonight’s experience, but from what she’s saying, tonight really helped her.
Then the subject drifts to other things, and it’s almost as if we’re back in Barbados, without a care in the world, relaxed and happy.
But when I glance at the watch and see it’s almost one, I reluctantly say, “I think we should start heading home.” The words tease me, as though she and I are heading to the same home, as we’ve done in the past.
It’s crazy how much I miss having her around. It’s frustrating and difficult to deal with.
“Yes, we’d better. If Jaroslav finds out I’m not there…” She rolls her eyes.
“It’s his job to keep you safe.” I smile, wrapping my arm around her as we walk back to the car.
On the drive back to her home, we’re both quiet, but it’s a peaceful, melancholy vibe.
For me, I’m miserable to say goodbye again, but in my mind, I keep reminding myself that this can’t ever happen. It can’t ever be, so there’s no point in dwelling on it. But my emotions are getting in the way of that logic. I want her.
She’s mine.
She’s always been mine.
This little Angel was made for me.