Chapter 12Valerian
12
Valerian
N early a week later, I stride into the kitchen as Claire stands at the counter, a glass of red wine in her hand. Her back is to me, but I notice the slight tension in her shoulders as she senses my presence.
“Good evening, Claire,” I say, keeping my voice low and smooth.
She turns, her cheeks flushing as our eyes meet. “Oh, Valerian. I didn’t hear you come in.”
I move closer, noting how she shifts her weight, almost imperceptibly angling her body away from me. “May I join you for a drink?”
Claire hesitates, then nods. “Of course. There’s plenty of wine left in the bottle, and it’s your wine and your house.”
Not exactly an enthusiastic invitation. I bite back a small smile while pouring myself a glass, savoring the rich aroma before taking a sip. The Cabernet is excellent, but I’d expect nothing less from my cellar. “You’ve been scarce lately,” I say, watching her reaction carefully.
Her fingers tighten on the stem of her glass. “I’ve been busy,” she says, not quite meeting my gaze.
“Busy enough to skip three of my massage appointments?” I raise an eyebrow. “I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding me.”
Claire’s cheeks darken further. “I... I suppose I have been,” she admits quietly.
“May I ask why?”
She takes a long sip of wine before answering. “It’s complicated.”
There’s no need to press for an answer since I know why she’s been avoiding me since that kiss. I lean against the counter, close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo. “I enjoy complicated. It keeps life interesting.”
She laughs, a short, nervous sound. “I’m sure you do.” Her gaze flicks to mine, then away again. “I received a letter from Jay today. He wants me to visit him in jail.”
The abrupt change of subject doesn’t surprise me. I’ve been expecting this. “I see. When do you plan to go?”
Claire blinks, clearly caught off guard by my calm response. “I... I’m not sure. Soon, I suppose.”
I nod, swirling the wine in my glass. “I’ll accompany you.”
“What?” Her eyes widen. “Valerian, that’s not necessary. I can handle it on my own.”
“I’m sure you can,” I say, my tone gentle but firm, “But I have business with your brother as well. It makes sense for us to go together.”
Claire’s shoulders slump slightly. She knows she can’t argue with me on this and expect to win. “Alright.”
I study her face, noting the worry lines creasing her forehead. “Tell me about Jay,” I say softly. “There’s more to his story than simple gambling, isn’t there?”
She looks up at me, surprise evident in her expression. “Why do you say that?”
“I’ve been in this business a long time, Claire. I can recognize when there’s more beneath the surface.” I take another sip of wine. “Talk to me. Please.”
Claire is quiet for a long moment, her fingers tracing patterns on the countertop. When she finally speaks, her voice is quiet as she reveals more to me about him than she’s already shared. “Jay wasn’t always like this. He used to be different.”
I remain silent, giving her space to continue.
“He had such big dreams when we were younger,” she says, a wistful smile touching her lips. “He wanted to open his own restaurant and be this famous chef, but he never had a real plan, and he’s never been one for hard work. He always thought luck would be enough.”
I nod, encouraging her to go on.
“That’s what led him to gambling in the first place. He thought he could make enough money to start his business. Or course, it spiraled out of control so quickly.” She takes a shaky breath. “I became the responsible one. I had to step in when Jay couldn’t pull himself together, hide the worst of it from our parents, until it became impossible to hide after he was arrested for robbing a convenience store to get money to gamble a few years ago. That was his first time in rehab, but not his last.” She shakes her head, looking somewhere between sad and disgusted by his failings.
“You’ve been handling this alone for a long time,” I say softly. No wonder she’s disappointed at his constant failure to reform when it so deeply affects her life.
Claire nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I had to. Every addict’s family goes through something like this, I guess, but I wanted to shield our parents as much as possible.”
I set my glass down and take a step closer to her. “You don’t have to do it alone anymore, Claire.”
She looks up at me with a touch of hope, but mostly wariness. “What do you mean?”
“I’m here,” I say simply. “Let me help you.”
She shakes her head, a rueful smile on her lips. “I don’t know how to do that, Valerian. I’ve been on my own for so long...”
I reach out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She shivers at my touch but doesn’t pull away. “Start small,” I murmur. “Let me come with you to see Jay.”
For a moment, I think she might refuse. Then, slowly, she nods. “Okay,” she whispers.
I smile, feeling warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the wine. “Good. We’ll make the arrangements tomorrow.”
Claire takes a deep breath, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Thank you, Valerian.”
I lift my glass in a small toast. “Anything for you.” My tone is light, masking the sincerity behind the sentiment.
The security guard at the prison barely glances at my credentials before waving us through. I place my hand on Claire’s lower back, guiding her down the sterile hallway. The fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows, emphasizing the dark circles under her eyes.
“Are you ready for this?” I ask quietly.
Claire takes a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
We’re led to a private conference room, which is a perk of my connections. We bypass the usual communication through a glass window. Jay is already seated, his hands cuffed to the table. The conference room is all about Claire’s comfort, not his, and I don’t push for the guard to unlock him. His orange jumpsuit hangs loosely on his frame, and stubble darkens his jaw. His eyes widen when he sees us.
“Claire! I didn’t think you’d actually come.” His gaze flicks to me. “And...you brought company.”
I remain standing as Claire takes a seat across from her brother. “Hello, Jay. You’re looking well.”
He snorts. “Yeah, prison’s been great for my complexion. What are you doing here, Rostova?”
“I have business with you as well,” I say smoothly. “First, I believe you and your sister have some catching up to do.”
Jay shifts uncomfortably. “Claire, I’m sorry about all this. I never meant for things to get so out of hand.”
Claire’s jaw tightens. “Really? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you knew exactly what you were doing.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” he protests. “Derek was the one who?—”
“Derek?” Claire interrupts. “Who’s Derek?”
Jay pales. “The guy I was working with. He’s the one who got us into this mess. If it wasn’t for him—” He cuts himself off.
Claire leans forward. “Jay, why did you want to see me if you’re just going to make excuses? You helped a woman escape, and a cop got shot. Do you understand how serious this is?”
Jay’s shoulders slump. “I know. I just... I need your advice, Claire. They’re offering me a plea deal. If I testify against Derek, they’ll reduce my sentence, but I’m not a rat. How can I do that to a friend?”
Her expression softens slightly. “You need to take the deal. What Derek did was terrible, and that officer could have died. You both deserve consequences, but you don’t deserve as much time. It would be easier on Mom and Dad if you take the plea.”
Jay nods slowly. “You’re right. I’ll do it.”
It seems clear to me he was already leaning that way and just needed someone to assuage his conscience for betraying his friend. Of course, he’d dump that on Claire. I have to breathe in and out to restore calm before speaking. “If you don’t mind, I’d like a moment alone with Jay.”
Claire’s eyes narrow. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I sigh internally. Her stubbornness is admirable, if inconvenient. “Very well.” I give her a look of irritation before proceeding.
I study Jay’s face intently. His gaze darts between Claire and me, a sheen of sweat visible on his forehead despite the cool temperature of the room. I’ve seen that look countless times before, the nervous fidgeting of a man with something to hide.
I keep my voice low and measured. “I’m going to ask you a question, and I need you to be completely honest with me. Your parents’ and sister’s safety may depend on it.”
Jay swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “What do you want to know?”
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Were you aware the Petrov Syndicate was grooming you to be one of their foot soldiers?”
His eyes widen, and he shakes his head vigorously. “No! No way, man. I had no idea about any of that stuff. I was just gambling. That’s all.”
I glance at Claire. Her expression is unreadable, but I notice the slight tightening of her jaw. She already knows about this possibility from our previous discussion, but it’s still clearly painful for her.
“Are you certain?” I press. “Think carefully. Even the smallest detail could be important.”
He runs a hand through his disheveled hair. “Look, I swear I didn’t know anything about the Petrovs or foot soldiers or whatever. I was just trying to make some quick cash, you know? Things got out of hand, but that’s all it was.”
I study him for a long moment, searching for any sign of deception. His story seems plausible enough, but something doesn’t sit right. “What about Matvey Petrov? Did you have any direct contact with him?”
Jay shakes his head again. “Matvey? No, I never met the guy. I only dealt with some lower-level guys at the casino. Derek was my main contact, but he never mentioned anything about the Petrovs.”
“Derek,” I repeat, recalling the name from earlier. “Tell me more about him.”
Jay shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “He was just a guy I met at the casino. Seemed cool, you know? He started giving me tips and showing me the ropes. Said he could help me make some real money.”
Claire lets out a sound of exasperation. “You didn’t think that was suspicious? Some random guy offering to help you make money?”
He has the decency to look ashamed. “It sounds stupid now, but at the time, I was desperate. I was already in hock to Mr. Rostova, so I figured if I could make enough to pay him off, then I could focus on winning enough to open a restaurant?—”
I hold up a hand, silencing their brewing argument. “I need you to be absolutely certain about this. Matvey Petrov doesn’t have anything over you besides gambling debts?”
Jay meets my gaze, and for once, I see a flicker of genuine sincerity in his eyes. “I swear, Mr. Rostova. It’s just the gambling debts. I never got mixed up in anything else.”
I settle back, considering his words. Part of me wants to believe him because it would certainly make things simpler. Years of experience have taught me to be cautious, especially when it comes to the Petrovs and guys like Jay, who never take responsibility for their actions.
“Alright,” I say finally. “I’ll take you at your word for now, but if I find out you’re lying to me...” I let the threat hang in the air, unspoken but understood.
Jay nods quickly. “I understand. I’m telling you the truth, I swear.”
Claire clears her throat, drawing my attention. “Valerian, what does all this mean? Is Jay in more danger than we thought?”
I choose my words carefully. “It means we need to be vigilant. The Petrovs may have had plans for Jay, of which he wasn’t aware. We can’t rule out the possibility that they still see him as a potential asset.”
Claire’s face pales slightly, but she nods, accepting the situation. “What do we do now?”
I stand, straightening my suit jacket. “For now, we proceed with caution. Jay, you’ll take the plea deal as discussed. It’s the safest option for you at this point.”
He nods, relief evident on his face. “Thank you, Mr. Rostova, and I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused, and the money I owe. I’ll pay you back?—”
I wave off his apology. “Save your apologies for your sister and your parents. They’re the ones who’ve truly suffered from your actions.” I could reveal Claire is paying off his debt, but I decide not to. There’s no reason to be cruel when he’s already half- broken. My mercy will end if I find out he’s lied to me and hidden something that could put her in danger though.
She rises as well, resting her hand briefly on Jay’s shoulder. “No more secrets, okay?”
Jay nods, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I promise. No more secrets.”
As we prepare to leave, I have a nagging feeling there’s more to this story than Jay is letting on. The Petrovs aren’t known for their subtlety. If they were grooming him, it’s unlikely he would have been completely unaware. On the other hand, he’s demonstrated many times that he’s an idiot with poor judgment.
I guide her out of the room, resting my hand lightly on the small of her back. As we walk down the sterile hallway, I keep my voice low. “I hope he’s being honest.”
Claire looks up at me and nods. “Me too. Truthfully, I’m not sure he’s capable of full disclosure anymore. Is it naive of me to want to give him the benefit of the doubt?”
I nod, keeping my expression neutral. “Definitely, but I understand why you want to. We’ll just be cautious for now, right?” At her nod, I nod as well.
When we exit the county jail, the cool air hits us, a relief from the stuffy interior. She shivers slightly, and I resist the urge to pull her closer.
“I guess he won’t be here for long, huh? They’ll send him to prison somewhere after the plea deal?”
I nod. “Yes, though I don’t know where. Maybe I can pull some strings to ensure he serves his time at ‘Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility,’ so he’s close enough for you and your parents to visit.”
She slides me a glance. “How much will that cost me?”
I glare at her. “Nothing. I’m occasionally capable of being nice.”
“Sorry. I’m just tense and shouldn’t take it out on you. I know you aren’t looking for ways to bind me to our agreement for longer.” She straightens her shoulders. “If you can arrange that, I’d appreciate it.”
I nod but don’t verbally reply. She’s wrong, after all. I’m getting so ensnared by this woman, who hasn’t even graced my bed, that I’d gladly latch on to any excuse to keep her with me for as long as possible. A dangerous thought in my world, but something about her makes me willing to be less risk-averse than usual.