28. Dimitri
28
DIMITRI
I don't make a sound, though my phone is on mute, recording every word on the other end of the line.
I realize a few things with crystal clarity.
One? I don't do well with distance. Any sort of distance. Willow's never going to be too far for me to reach her within thirty seconds. Ever.
Secondly, I'm done with patience. It was well meant, but clearly a future endeavor that has to be set aside in light of recent events.
Thirdly? I am done with keeping my hands clean. Today, they bathe in blood. And I'll like it.
I never thought I'd be that kind of person, honestly. When I kill, it's out of necessity. If someone is gunning for me, I shoot first. It's simple survival, and it's actually legal. But there's no life-or-death situation here. The man is just a worm, trying to writhe under my woman's skirt.
And she is mine. She just doesn't know it yet.
"Sir, they're in position," Charles informs me.
Seven minutes. That's acceptable, I tell myself. None of this is the fault of either one of Willow's bodyguards, and they did well enough. But Willow will never again be in a situation where she's seven minutes away from help.
I think of all the things that could have happened in that time, tapping my foot.
"Sir, we're—"I'm out of the car before he finishes the sentence, entering the building.
There's security at the door, and I waltz past the metal detector, though the alarm starts as soon as I step through.
One of the guards comes forward."Sir, I'm going to ask you to…"
I don't pause, seeing his colleague holding him back, before bending his head toward me wordlessly. I'm already to the elevator.
"Move."
The three people waiting scurry out of my way, as Charles and Ivan flank me, their pieces in hand.
The elevator takes an eternity to reach the seventeenth floor. No wonder it tookAndrei and Marc seven minutes. They must have spent at least four in this antiquated piece of crap.
I'm unfamiliar with the office space, so I make my way to reception. Charles and Ivan point their guns at the blonde behind the counter, and she screams, jumping to her feet.
"Please, please, I have a family."
So do I, and it is in danger.
"Where might I find Willow Brown?"
The blonde blinks several time. "Sorry?"
I think he would have caught her alone. "Copy room. Break room. Female bathroom. Which way?"
The woman doesn't hesitate to point, and I shake my head.
Weak.
I bring my phone to my hear. It's still on silent, so I don't have to worry about her aggressor hearing me and escalating the situation where he believes himself to be in control.
"Mr. Lloyd, I'm going to have to ask you to move. I need to get out."
"No, I don't think so, Ruby. You're going to do exactly what I say."
Oh, how he's going to suffer. I will enjoy every scream.
I've only taken a few steps down the corridor the receptionist pointed to when I see Mark and Andrei, in position, waiting as I demanded.
"Clear the room," I tell Charles. "And get me the CEO on the line. Put him on hold."
I pocket my gun, and step into the door Andrei holds open for me.
Showtime.
When I look at him, I'm thoroughly disgusted; not because he's the average ugly, overweight, old creep, but because of how he reacts to me.
I heard him moments ago over the phone. So smug. So certain of himself.
Now he shifts, s his tie, and clears his throat. "Sorry, I don't think we've met?"
The scum has the gall to offer me his hand.
"We haven't," I confirm. "Not yet."
I don't pay him any mind, making my way to Willow. I lower my mouth to her forehead. "You're all right?"
From the corner of my eyes, I see the creep stiffen, and start to move toward the door.
I don't think so.
I barely even glance, taking out my gun and aiming at a knee.
Willow's eyes widen as she looks at her bleeding, screaming harasser. "Sorry you had to see that. You did good, calling me," I assure her. "Andrei?"
"Sir."
"Take him to the lab for me, will you? I have to take Willow home. Is that guy on the phone yet?"
He hands me his mobile, and I bring it to my ear.
I had one meeting with the CEO of this corporation when Willow accepted the job. It was nice, polite. Friendly, even. It opened potential cooperation in the future.
Now I only say, "I asked you to clean your house. As you haven't, I'll take care of it for you."
As I lead Willow out, tucked under my arm, through the now-empty office, I send the recorded conversation to the board. If they know what's good for them, no one will ever hear of an incident on the seventeenth floor of their building; otherwise, their company will be trashed, sold, and then I'll take pleasure in buying the pieces and dismantling it until their stock is worth nothing. For a profit, of course.
As the endless elevator goes down, I say, "You're not going to work there anymore."
"Yeah. I don't exactly want to."
"Good." We're back at my town car, and heading back to my building in silence, Willow still right next to me. I draw her closer, needing to feel her, touch her, know she's all right, but my mind is a million miles away.
"Dimitri?"
"Yes, petal?"
"What did you mean, when you told Andrei to take Lloyd to the lab?"
There's more to that question. So much more, and we both know it.
"Are you ready for that answer? Because I will give it to you if you want it."
"Please."
I thought so. Otherwise, she would have deflected, asked a benign question around the situation as she usually does when she doesn't quite want to get to the point. "He's going to be brought to a place where some of my less-than-charming associates cook meth, petal. In New Jersey. I told Andrei to take him there, because it is equipped with adequate disposal facilities, once we're done with the body."
"Oh." She straightens up. "I mean, I figured it'd be something like that, but you know."
"I do know."
"So, you're going to…?"
"Torture him, cut off his cock, make it eat him, then kill him?" I ask. "Something of the sort."
"I see." She's not running. She's not flinching. She's not even afraid. "Can I watch?"
Since I first got her call about thirty minutes ago, my mind has been in pieces; some of it in the present, some in the very near future when I'll get to exact my revenge on the man who dared corner and threaten my fucking woman.
Now I'm all here, put back together, with those three simple, and yet oh so complicated words.
I get it, finally.
I get the draw, the appeal, the irresistible pull I never could deny.
She's made for me, perfect for me, sweet and soft and the comfort I need in the darkness, but also strong.
Cruel.
Fully capable of understanding, and taking the darkness that runs in my blood. She might not be the kind of girl I could take to a training session like Markus does with Dez, but she'll be right here, next to me.
For better and for worse.
I tilt her chin up, and bring my mouth to hers.