Chapter 13
Two weeks later, Adam woke before dawn. Millie was curled against his side with a hand over her belly where their child rested, protecting it from the wicked world outside their little piece of paradise.
For moments he didn’t move—just watched her sleep, listening to the sound of her breathing and the soft snores she would deny making.
He thanked God she was there.
Only two weeks ago she’d been in Ricard Sokolov’s hands, under his control.
Adam had been scared out of his mind. What if Ricard had hurt her or the baby? Adam would be in jail right now because he would have killed Ricard. Nothing and no one could have stopped him.
But all that was over. His Millie was here safe beside him. She was his wife. Not because of a bargain. Not because of protection. Not because of a baby. But because she loved him and he loved her.
He never thought he could feel the way he did about Millie or anyone, for that matter.
She was everything to him. His light in the darkness.
His music in the silence. There was a time and another woman that these same things had irritated the heck out of him.
Cally. She’d used him for everything he would give her and then walked out of his life as though he meant nothing.
He vowed he would never fall in love again.
But that was before Millie. She’d changed his entire world, made him believe in love again and in the possibility of a happily ever after. She had turned his world upside down and he found the scenery much to his liking.
He loved everything about her from her light snores to her laugh where she sometimes snorted. She would get so embarrassed when she did but he found the noises adorable. Everything about her was adorable.
She was amazing. Moved right in and made all of his brothers and himself, toe the line, from picking up after themselves to using manners at meals. She’d turned them all into human beings instead of letting them remain the animals they’d become.
His mother would have loved Millie and he thought Millie would have loved his mom.
He loved Millie beyond all reason. The thought settled deep in his chest, making him feel warmer than any fire ever could.
Then his phone vibrated on the nightstand. The time was six o’clock in the morning. He looked at the caller ID. Adam reached for the phone trying not to jostle Millie and wake her. She needed her sleep.
Benjamin. He was in their Denver office.
This couldn’t be good.
“Hello,” he whispered. “Benjamin. Why are you calling so early? You’ll wake Millie.”
“I’m sorry but this is important. Ricard is in jail but the CBI wants to talk to Millie as soon as possible. They will probably be at the gate soon. I couldn’t stop them.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll wake Millie.”
“No need,” came a groggy voice from next to Adam. “I’m already awake. Did Benjamin say the CBI wants to talk to me…again? I’ve told them the same thing over and over. I don’t know what my father has planned.”
“Let me put this call on speaker.” Adam pressed the button so everyone could be heard. “Now, tell us everything you know,” he instructed Benjamin.
Benjamin took a deep breath. “Apparently, your father has been informed of the events that happened here and Ricard’s subsequent arrest. He was furious…that Ricard failed. I wouldn’t put it past him to try again with someone else.”
“We’ll have to remain vigilant,” said Adam. “I don’t like the idea of playing the kidnap Millie game.”
“I’ll talk to my father, explain that nothing will change and he will only be losing soldiers and if he ever wants to see his grandchild, he will call off his dogs.” Millie rolled onto her side and put an arm over Adam’s chest, cuddling with him. “Believe me, he’ll leave us alone.”
Adam snorted. “You really think the threat of not seeing his grandchild will stop him?”
“I know it will. It is the only thing he thought I was good for…producing children. Now, he’ll want to see the results of his efforts—and he will say it was only through his efforts to get me married that I am now with child.”
“That bas—” Bile rose in Adam’s throat at what Millie had grown up with. How did his beautiful wife manage to survive and flourish under such conditions.
She reached up and put two fingers over his lips. “No cussing. The baby will hear.”
Benjamin roared with laughter. “She’s got you there big brother. You have to watch your language.”
Millie didn’t laugh. “Remember that goes for the rest of you, too. No cursing around me or the baby after it’s born.”
Benjamin groaned. “You’re stifling our First Amendment rights.”
She snorted. “You’ll survive.”
Adam smiled at Millie. She kept her own with his brothers now. She wasn’t afraid of them at all. In fact, he thought they might be a little afraid of her. “Benjamin do you have any more news?”
“Yes, Viktor is now talking and asking for a deal.”
Millie leaned up, supporting herself on Adam’s chest. “That’s ridiculous. Viktor was a soldier. He knows nothing about the inner workings of the Bratva.”
Adam shook his head. “Sounds like whoever he’s talking to doesn’t know that.”
She huffed out a breath. “When they try to confirm his information, they’ll find out soon enough.”
“Was there any other reason you called, Brother?”
“Yes, I don’t think we should let the security go. I’m afraid her father could come after her and if not him then someone else. Perhaps her father’s enemies. I’d just feel better, for now anyway, if we kept the extra security on the ranch.”
Adam nodded even though Benjamin couldn’t see. “I agree. Until we are certain the ranch is safe again, we keep the extra security.”
Millie huffed out a breath. “My father will not try anything now that I’m expecting.
He’ll be afraid to, but we can revisit this after I talk to him.
” She leaned back on the pillows and placed her right index finger on her chin.
“Although, you might be right about Father’s enemies.
If they find out about Ricard’s debacle here, they might try something.
It seems highly unlikely since they know I am well protected here. ”
Adam wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to his side. “We’re going to do our best to make sure nothing happens to you. I know I fell down on the job with Ricard, but I won’t do it again. You have my word.”
Millie wrapped her hand behind his neck and brought his lips to hers.
She kissed him and he returned it with his whole heart.
When they broke apart she leaned her forehead against his.
“I don’t blame you for Ricard taking me.
I didn’t realize how desperate he was and neither did you. We’re human, not perfect.”
“I want to be perfect for you,” said Adam.
“And I want to be perfect for you,” she responded. “I guess that means we’re perfect together.”
Benjamin groaned. “On that note, I’ll let you go back to sleep or whatever. I have work to do.” He hung up.
Adam slid his arm to Millie’s waist and pulled her close. “Do you really think your father will leave us alone?”
“Yes. My father is many things, some good and some bad, but he really only wanted the best for me. Sometimes his idea and my idea of what’s best for me clashed, but that’s the way it is with family.
You, of all people, should understand that.
You have your brothers and what you have here with them is special. You do realize that don’t you?”
“I do.” Adam had doubts about what she said about her father. Not that she didn’t believe it, he was certain she did, but in his profession he recognized that what had happened was not at the behest of a loving father, but a tyrant.
“Now, why don’t you do something for me while we have some extra time?”
He grinned. “And what would that be, my darlin’?”
She leaned up on an elbow and looked down in to his face. “Make love to me, husband.”
He brought his lips almost to hers. “Your wish is my command.” Then he kissed her.
They were late getting downstairs.
Denver, Colorado
Office of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Millie wished they would move this process along.
She had things to do and really hated being here.
They’d brought her to a conference room with a long table and twelve chairs around it.
She sat in one on the same side as the door.
An easier escape route when they were done; she wanted out of there as soon as possible.
She’d been told this was the formal interview. The others had just been information gathering.
She hoped this was the last time she would have to relate these details of her abduction by Ricard.
The door opened and a tall man with light brown hair entered. He walked to the side of the table opposite her and set an ipad on the table in front of him.
“Mrs. Sullivan, thank you for coming. I’m Special Agent Alan Aubrey. I’ll be conducting this interview.”
“Agent Aubrey, I’d say it was nice to meet you, but I’d be lying. I just want this over with. I’m tired of having to repeat the facts to the CBI who should be recording them if they have such a tough time remembering.” Millie clasped her hands together on the table in front of her.
For his part, the agent squirmed a little in his chair, but the mask dropped a bit.
“I’m deeply sorry about the previous inquiries.
The rules were not decided by me but they do extend to all our offices.
We are required to interview you several times to check for discrepancies in your statement.
This formal interview will be recorded. Field interviews are not recorded. ”
“Fine. Let’s get this over with, and hope it’s the last time I talk to the CBI. I really don’t want to do this again.”
“I understand. Please start with your name and then tell me everything that happened.”