23. Tatiana
TATIANA
I woke up with a warm, heavy body at my back and strong arms cocooning mine.
My body was sore. My soul and my heart too. True to his words, Illias fucked me all night until I was so exhausted I had to beg him to stop. I shifted around to look at Illias as he slept. Even asleep, he looked like a force to reckon with.
His brows were furrowed. His expression was restless. His lips were pressed tightly.
Maybe he could sense what I was about to do. Or maybe even in sleep he thought about the secrets he would unravel.
Careful not to wake him, I shifted off the bed, then padded to our walk-in closet.
I had set aside clothes to put on. My bag was already packed and stored in the vehicle I planned on taking.
It had enough clothes for Isla and me, as well as money.
While Konstantin kept my phone and personal belongings under lock and key, he gave me free reign of his black American Express and cash.
I took full advantage of it.
The dim lights Illias had installed in his walk-in came in handy as I got dressed. I slid on a bra and panties, then black Lou & Grey yoga pants - hello comfort - and a loose white sweater. I padded across the closet to grab a pair of Uggs when a fancy black box caught my eyes.
Unable to resist my curiosity, I opened it carefully. Maybe Illias got me some fancy gift during his travels, I mused as it popped open.
A piece of paper fluttered out of it and danced through the air until it landed on the floor. I slowly crouched down and picked it up. A note. In my handwriting.
“What–” I whispered under my breath.
You ruined my opportunity to get laid.
Now it’s up to you to satisfy those urges.
Meet me at the gazebo.
All these years, he saved the note. A shiver snaked down my spine as the memories of that night came rushing in.
The scent. The consumption. The words.
I should have never mistaken Adrian for Illias.
So many years were wasted. So many lives.
Adrian never wanted me. It was painful to realize it but it was the truth. The question remained why did he marry me. The clues he left behind were confusing. They just kept sending me in circles.
Maybe the chip that everyone wanted held the answers but I doubted those would ever be shared with me. I was left with no choice.
I’d drag it out of these men.
* * *
“Wake up.”
Isla swatted her arm and almost punched me in the face. That girl should be cut off from alcohol.
“Wake up,” I hissed. When her hand raised through the air I caught it, then slapped her gently on her cheek.
“What–” she jolted up and butted me in the forehead. I saw stars.
Both our whimpers vibrated between us. “Ouch.”
I rubbed my forehead as I blinked hard, chasing the stars away.
“What’s going on?” she mumbled, alcohol on her breath so heavy I was certain I’d get drunk from a little whiff. I should have cut her off after she switched from wine to hard liquor.
I handed her a pair of her own Uggs. “Put these on. We have to leave.”
She blinked her eyes. Then she blinked again. So I pulled on her. “Hurry up. Shit’s about to go down.”
“Where is Illias?” she asked, her eyes darting around the room as if she expected him to appear out of thin air.
“He’s handling the situation,” I whispered. Guilt swarmed me. I didn’t like lying to her but we had to get our butts out of here. Marchetti killed my husband, so he’d give me answers. And they better be good answers, or I’d kill him.
Still confused, she pulled on her Uggs and I took her cell from the nightstand and put it into my pocket. Thank fuck Lou & Grey had yoga pants with pockets.
Taking her hand into mine, I pulled her along and headed out of the bedroom. My heart thundered as we were sneaking through the hallways. Over the six weeks, I knew every camera and every blind spot.
My brothers didn’t raise no fool.
Left corner. Then the right corner. Secret, servant door. Thank God for those.
Ten minutes and we were in the garage. I headed for the Land Rover I designated for this little excursion. Opening the passenger door, I gently pushed Isla into the seat, then buckled her in.
“Stay here.”
She stopped me before I could shut the door. “What’s going on?”
I waved my head. “Just safety measures,” I assured her. “I’ll be right back. Close your eyes.” When it was clear she wouldn’t, I handed her the phone. “Check the weather.”
It was the first thing that came to mind. But I needed her eyes on anything but me. If she saw what I was about to do next, she might become suspicious. She did as I asked so I quickly shut the door.
I headed to the closest car. Another SUV.
I popped the hood, cut the battery wires, then shut it.
I moved on to the next SUV. And next. And next.
Once all fifteen SUVs were non-functional, I eyed all the sports cars.
There was no way they’d make it on the winter roads in Russia even if Illias was crazy enough to drive it in this weather.
“Nah, he’s not that crazy,” I muttered under my breath.
So I rushed back to the only functioning SUV left and got behind the wheel.
Marchetti, here we come.
* * *
We drove away from the castle in silence.
My eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, the castle getting smaller and smaller. Images of burning flames played in my mind. I might not have set fire to Konstantin’s castle but I might have burned a bridge.
The tension in my shoulders amplified. The little whisper in my mind told me I was going about it the wrong way. It didn’t stop me. My plan was in motion. I’d get the answers or I’d never find peace.
I was doing this for me.
The first flicker of dawn came over the horizon. I had been driving for hours and no car, helicopter, or plane roamed around. Speaking of planes… I looked over to find Isla’d fallen asleep, her soft snores filling the enclosed space. She was beautiful and so damn trusting.
My chest tightened at the thought of anything happening to her. But even worse was this feeling that I’d betrayed her trust. I hoped she’d forgive me.
I reached for her phone, held it in front of her for face recognition.
“And we’re in,” I murmured, returning my attention to the road. My eyes flickered to her phone book and looked for the pilot listing. She told me she kept Konstantin pilot in her phone book as ‘Pilot’ since she never knew who was answering that line. Illias apparently had three on standby.
I scrolled to the letter ‘P’ and found it. “Voilà.”
Pressing the call button, I waited. Riiiing. Riiing. He answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
“Hello,” I greeted him, keeping my voice soft to mirror Isla’s. “It’s Isla. Can you pick me up in South Africa? I’m in Johannesburg.”
“I thought I dropped you off in Russia.”
I groaned silently. It was his job to say ‘yes, ma’am’ and get the plane going. Not to fucking question me. Or her. Whatever.
“It got boring and cold, so my friends and I went to Johannesburg.”
“Does your brother know?”
“Hmm.” I expected a simple acceptance of the assignment, not all these questions. “Yes, but he wants me to come home. You know, with Christmas approaching and all that.”
I looked over to Isla and she seemed to still be asleep. Her head was resting on the window, her breaths slow and even, her wild, ginger red hair covering half of her face.
“You’re lucky, since I was just about to fly back to the States.”
“Thank you.”
I ended the call, then let out a breath.
“What are you doing, Tatiana?” I startled at hearing her voice, my hand jerking on the wheel. The car swayed into the opposite lane and I quickly took control, returning to my lane. Thank God there were no other crazy Russians on the road. Or we would have been toast.
“Jesus, you scared me,” I breathed, my heart pounding against my chest.
She didn’t seem fazed. “And you kidnapped me.” Shit, she was smarter than I even gave her credit for. “Didn’t you?”
My grip tightened on the steering wheel. I didn’t want to upset her. I didn’t want to lose the relationship we built over the last week. We just got to know each other.
Keeping my eyes on the road, I answered. “Kind of. I actually need your help.”
She let out a sarcastic breath. “You could have asked, you know.”
“I could have,” I confirmed. “But I couldn’t risk you saying no. Or your brother getting wind of my plan.”
She shifted on her seat, her eyes narrowed on me. “Are you leaving him?”
I swallowed. Was I? No, I wasn’t. Although I wasn’t certain if he’d want me when all was said and done.
It was clear that Illias fell in the same category as my brothers.
Protect me at all costs. Keep the truth from me.
I could see it in the way he protected his sister that Illias wouldn’t change that.
The same way that my brothers wouldn’t change their stance in the protection of me. It was ingrained in them.
“No, but I need to find out something and your brother won’t help me,” I explained.
She raised a brow, studying me. Then she let out a sigh. “Tell me the plan then,” she said dryly. “Obviously, I’m a glutton for punishment because Illias will find us and then he’ll lock us up.”
I smiled.
“He’ll have to catch us first.”
And sports cars and Russian winter roads didn’t go hand-in-hand.