Chapter 24 - Riley
When I arrive at Gwen's house, I can't help but wonder why Viktor didn't kick up a fuss and come with me. Is he really so distracted by work? It doesn't matter. I'm safe with Gwen. I find her in the living room drinking wine. There's a glass for me on the table.
“Hello there,” I say with a grin.
Gwen gets up and hugs me. “Hello. How has your week been?”
“It's been good, thanks,” I say. “Very passionate.”
“Passionate?” Gwen wiggles her eyebrows. “So, everything is still going well?”
“Better than well. Viktor has taught me how to defend myself, how to shoot, and how to have amazing sex. Oh Gwen, I never thought I would ever feel this way about anyone.”
Gwen giggles and sits back down. “Sit. Sit. I feel the same way about Roman. He's just incredible, and he makes me so happy.”
“I feel kind of bad,” I admit as I sip my wine. “Because I know they do illegal things that we don't ask about, but honestly, I don't care. Viktor is a good person. I've seen it.”
Gwen nods. “I know what you mean. Roman is such a gentleman, and he's so good to me. I can't wait to spend our lives together. Are you going away for the holidays?”
“Somewhere with snow,” I say. “Viktor is going to teach me how to ski.”
“Oh, cozy. Nice. You can cuddle up for warmth.” We both laugh.
We spend the rest of the visit gossiping. We talk for hours and it's like we saw each other just yesterday, as though no time has passed between us seeing each other. I love that about Gwen. We have lunch together and talk about our studies. I admit I miss campus and Gwen promises I can go back soon. We have two more glasses of wine before I finally hug her goodbye and leave.
As we drive back to our house, I can't help but smile as I watch the scenery pass. My life feels like it's getting back on track and I feel less afraid. With Viktor, I feel I can do anything and now that I know how to shoot and defend myself, I feel a lot more confident going out, even if it's just to Gwen's house.
When I get home, I look around for Viktor, but he isn't there. He must be working. He's been so busy this week that I haven't even told him that I got great results and that my grades are back up. I want to tell him when he's not distracted so that we can celebrate together. Since Viktor isn't here, I decide to go over some of my study notes and see if any new assignments have been uploaded.
Two new ones.
I pull out my notes and textbooks and begin reviewing the information I will need. There's really nothing else to do besides watch movies, and I've done that quite a bit this week. After a couple of hours working on the questions, I shut down and grab another textbook, bringing it to our bedroom and placing it on my bedside table. I head to the bathroom for a shower, change into my pajamas, and get ready for bed. I read the textbook for less than an hour before putting it down and turning off the lamp. I lie down and curl up, drifting off to sleep, wishing Viktor were here.
When I wake up, the first thing I notice is how cold it is. I reach behind me for Viktor, but he isn't there. I turn over and look at his side, but it's still made up. I sit up and call out softly, “Viktor?”
I check the time. It’s 6 am. He didn't come home last night? How strange. He's never spent a night away from home, at least not while I've been here. I slide out of bed and put on my robe. I walk down the hallway, but all the lights are off. I head to his office, but he's not there. I try downstairs, and he isn’t in any of the rooms, not even the kitchen. He's not asleep on the sofa either. I head back upstairs and grab my phone, dialing his number. It goes straight to voicemail. I frown.
He always has his phone with him. He would never miss a call from me. Oh God, what if something is wrong? I hurry to his office and sit at his desk. I shouldn't rummage through it, but I can't shake this sinking feeling that something bad might have happened to him. I open the drawers and go through them. I don't find anything. I open his laptop, and a password screen appears. I bite my lip and consider what his password could be. I start by entering the digits of his birthday. It gets rejected. I try his family name, but that gets rejected as well. I think about it for a few more moments before I type in 'Riley Milov' and hit enter. The screen unlocks, and the first thing I see is a tracking app that is open. I look at the phone numbers he's tracking, and I don't recognize any of them. I scroll through the app, then I open his documents. I find a folder called Riley, and curiosity gets the better of me, so I open it. There are several documents saved in it.
I open the first one and read through it. My eyes widen and my mouth falls open. He's been tracking the Vultures all week. Another document is an invoice for explosives. I find another folder and it's filled with photos of a warehouse. Viktor has gone after the Vultures and he hasn’t come back. Something must have gone wrong and now he's captured or hurt.
I panic and rush to the bedroom. I dress quickly and run downstairs. “Martin!” I shout as I run out of the house.
“Yes, Mrs. Milov?” Martin says, killing a cigarette he was smoking.
“I need to get to Gwen's house immediately.”
“Right away, Ma'am,” he signals to two guards to follow him. We get into the car and we drive toward Gwen's home. The guards seem hesitant to wave us through, but after Martin threatens them, they open the gate and we drive up to the house. I get out and run inside.
“Gwen!” I yell as I hurry upstairs. “Gwen! Roman!”
They come out of their bedroom as I reach the top of the stairs. Gwen hurries to me. “What's wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No, it's Viktor,” I say breathlessly. “He went after the Vultures and he hasn't come home. I think something's happened to him.”
“It's okay,” Roman says. “Don't worry.”
“What do you mean, don't worry? I thought we were lying low.” I all but shout.
Gwen takes me by the shoulders and looks at Roman.
Roman looks awkward as I start to cry. “If they kidnapped and tortured me, then imagine what they will do to an actual Milov.” I turn and hug Gwen, sobbing into her shoulder.
“Don't cry,” Roman says softly. “He's okay.”
I look at him. “How do you know?”
“Because he's predictable,” Roman says. “We knew he'd do something like this, so we kept tabs on him and I sent Anton to run interference. He's with Anton right now, I promise. Anton would have called me if anything went wrong.”
I wipe my eyes. “You couldn't lead with that?” I snap.
“Sorry, you didn't give me a chance, really.”
Gwen frowns. “Roman! You could have told her before he did something stupid.”
“I'm sorry. We didn't want him to know we knew what was going on. Anton has his own plans for the Vultures’ meeting spot today, but it's not going to be enough. We need to cut off the head of the snake. Jimmy, who's been following you, Riley. He's bad news. He wants to take you. He wants to destroy us. And he's not going to stop. Rigor is finally seeing that and has given us the go-ahead to deal with him.”
“So why don't you?” I ask. “Just take him out. Isn't that what the family does?”
I can see Roman suppressing a smile, but I don't think it's funny. I glare at him.
“It's not that simple,” he says, losing the smile. “Jimmy is hiding. He is sending others to do his dirty work for him. Right now, we need a reason to draw him out himself. Something he can't resist. And the only times we've seen him is when you are out.”
Gwen shakes her head. “You're not using Riley as bait.”
“We need you, Riley. We need to get you out somewhere where Jimmy thinks he can take you.”
“He won't approach me while I have guards,” I say.
“You can't seriously be considering this,” Gwen says to me, looking at me, shocked. “You can't entertain this.”
“I want this to be over,” I say. “I want to be able to go out and do stuff. I want to go to campus. I want to go to the shops without thinking someone is going to attack me. You're damn right I want to do this, but we can't have guards or he won't try to grab me.”
Roman considers me for a moment. “Okay, we will keep the guards back while you shop at the mall. He might just buy it. But if he sees you crying or upset, he's not going to approach you; you need to be strong.”
I nod. “Can I use your bathroom?”
Roman nods. “Go get yourself cleaned up. There's no time like the present. We'll do it this afternoon. I'll have the cook whip up some breakfast so long.” He heads downstairs.
Gwen stops me. “Riley, this is dangerous.”
“Life is dangerous, but I am no longer going to be a victim.” I grab her arms. “I need you to trust me. I won't get hurt.”
“You better not,” she says. “You're my family.”
I smile at her and nod before I head toward the bathroom.