Chapter 29
Polly is shit scared and I feel responsible for that. She has stumbled into a world she knows nothing about and I dread what could have happened to her if I hadn’t stormed into her life. She is a weak target that would undoubtedly be disposed of, and all because of my father and his involvement with her aunt.
We leave The Savoy and as soon as we reach my car, I waste no time in pulling into the traffic, my men close behind and in front of me. It’s standard procedure anyway, but now I know who is in town and is already several steps ahead of me, safety is now the most important item on the agenda.
Nikolai Barinov is bad news. He works for the president under the radar and is paid a small fortune for his loyalty. If he is involved, so is the president and I wonder what my father discovered that is making them so reckless.
I have no doubts at all that the president was involved in my father’s death in some way or another. Either my father discovered something he could use against him, or the president’s enemies got to him through my father. It’s a mystery that is almost impossible to solve because lies and secrets run like a dark thread through the tapestry of our heritage and answers don’t come easily.
This is bigger than I thought and my first step is to discuss it with my brothers and yet I’m wary of even communicating what is in my mind right now.
Polly is silent and I can almost reach out and touch the nerves swirling between us and as we pull up beside her house, I say with a deep sigh.
“I’m sorry, malyshka, this is a world you know nothing about. You must be nervous about that.”
“Nervous?” She shakes her head. “Call it terrified. I don’t like it, Valentin. I want to go home and forget any of this happened.”
“You are home, remember?” I tease her gently because Polly is right to be scared, but I don’t want to terrify her more than she is already.
“You know what I mean.” She sighs heavily. “And we were having such a lovely time.”
For some reason, the disappointment in her voice makes me smile because she is right about that. A lovely time isn’t something I consider when I live the life I do, but with Polly it’s different. She is a bright light in a dark existence and like most animals, I am drawn to it. I seek it out and crave it even, and what I learned tonight changes nothing. If anything, it makes me more determined to protect her with a ferocity that doesn’t escape me. I want to see the flame burn brighter, not be extinguished, and now there is even more of a reason to discover what the hell is going on.
We enter the house and Artem follows me, his face like thunder, and I sigh inside. Business must always come first and so I turn to Polly and say with a sigh, “I must attend to business. Try to get some sleep, rest, or whatever you usually do with your time.”
“Business?”
Her eyes widen and I love the disappointment in them and for some reason it causes me to do something alien to me. I pull her close and drop a light, lingering kiss on her lips and whisper, “I won’t be long. I’ll come and find you and Polly–” She lifts her eyes to mine and I whisper, “Remember, you’re not on your own anymore. I’ve got this, and if anyone thinks they can get to you, they must come through me and my small army first.”
The gratitude in her eyes makes me smile as she nods and then turns away and as I watch her go, for some reason my heart twists inside me and I fight the incredible urge to follow her and deal with business in the morning. Once again, I question it because I have never wanted to do that. It’s all about the business with a Romanov, but since meeting Polly, my views changed on that and I’m unsure what the hell to do about it.
I followArtem to the den that sits not far from the entrance and as we walk inside, I picture my father sitting in the leather chair behind the polished desk. This room reeks of him. It is almost identical to the one at home and once again a dark ball of resentment stirs inside me. He has many questions to answer and more than anything, I wish he was here now to answer them. As I take the seat he once occupied, Artem drags a bottle of vodka from the bar trolley in the corner and slams two glasses on the desk.
“You’re going to need this.” He says ominously as he almost fills them to the top and then sits before me with a deep sigh of anger.
“Nikolai arrived in London two weeks ago.”
“From Russia?” I ask as the glass hovers against my lips and Artem shakes his head.
“From Cornwall.”
He takes a sip of his own drink and says roughly, “He arrived there one week prior to Veronica’s death. My investigations place him in the same town and he stayed at a bed-and-breakfast not far from Rose cottage.”
I raise my eyes.”There’s a theme running here.”
He nods. “There is a meaning behind the names chosen for the homes, a connection to the organization Burning Roses, and it is probable that Marsha Steele knows a lot more than she divulged to your brother.”
“He won’t like that.” I’m almost amused to picture Mikhail’s’ expression when he discovers that the woman tried to play him for a fool. Nobody plays a Romanov for a fool and Polly’s lunch date tomorrow is well-timed.
“Then it’s a good job Polly is meeting with the woman herself tomorrow.”
Artem appears surprised and yet says nothing as I consider the plan forming in my mind.
“I must speak with my brothers.”
He nods. “I’ll arrange the connection.”
As he makes the necessary arrangements, I’m still working out what to do about this. Potentially, this is bigger than we thought and now Polly is involved, it has become even more personal. It surprises me that I consider her as family after a few days, but I do. I am protective of her and I’m still working out why.
“It’s all set.” Artem interrupts my thoughts and I lift my phone to my ear and dial the number of my eldest brother, Titus. He is now the head of the Romanov family and this is his shit to shovel.
“Valentin.”His deep voice is reassuring and knowing that Artem has secured the line gives me the confidence to speak freely.
“I have news.”
I waste no time and he says nothing and waits for me to speak.
“Nikolai Barinov.”
I take a deep breath.
“He is involved.”
“Tell me.”
Titus is enigmatic at the best of times and this is no exception because there is no trace of emotion in his voice at all.
“He was in Cornwall when Veronica’s house was blown apart. He is also responsible for helping one of her Cotswold neighbors to an untimely death.”
“Neighbor?”
He is confused and I fill in him on the story and he sighs heavily.
“This changes everything.”
He echoes my own words and I growl. “I agree.”
“What are you thinking?”
He asks simply and I reply, “Polly has a meeting with Marsha Steele tomorrow afternoon. The woman called her today to arrange it, telling her she has a business proposition to put to her.”
“Interesting.”
I laugh softly. “It will be interesting to hear it.”
“Will Polly agree to it?”
“Of course, because Polly will do what I damn well tell her to.”
Titus laughs softly. “They always do, Valentin. I have every faith in you.”
It makes me smile because he is not wrong. We all possess the gift of persuasion that I’ve yet to meet anyone to refuse. Polly will be no exception and this meeting is a timely one because we need to understand what we are dealing with like yesterday because if Nikolai is involved, our tomorrows may well be numbered.
I push away my thoughts and say deeply, “This organization, Burning Roses. Mikhail only got so far with Miss Steele but I’m guessing she knows way more than we gave her credit for.”
“I agree.”He pauses and then says in a low tone, “I will do my research. She must have a weakness. Mikhail used her past to get answers. I will delve deeper and discover every skeleton in her closet. It will help you get answers. Leave it with me.”
“Thank you.”
I sigh heavily. “How’s mama?”
“The same. Grieving and confused about how anyone could have done this so easily.”
“When we avenge his death, she will get the answers she seeks.” I growl and Titus sighs deeply.
“Just stay safe in the pursuit of it. Nikolai is a rare animal who cannot be underestimated. I’ll see what I can discover under the radar and hope there is enough to end this.”
“What about Ana and Arman?” I reference my brother and sister, and Titus’s voice softens as he speaks of our sister.
“Ana is trying to contain mama’s grief and is working from home. Arman went to New York to deal with business there. The markets are unsettled after pa’s death and he is working to stabilize our investments.”
“Rather him than me.” I laugh softly and add, “Mikhail?”
Titus says with amusement. “I never thought I’d see the day, but he is on vacation with Lilli.”
“Has she drugged him?”
“She must have done.” He laughs. “They are due back in seven days, but he calls me most days and is running his usual shit from the beach.”
“So it can be done.”
I picture Polly waiting for me upstairs and envy my brother. He has fallen hard for his woman which is surprising. Could the unthinkable happen to me, too? A few days ago I would have dismissed it, but after Polly came into my life, I’m beginning to believe that anything is possible.
I end the call with my brother a lot happier than when I started. Titus is an information gatherer and we still don’t know how he does it sometimes. He flies under the radar and has contacts we have never heard of, and yet he gets things done. He always has and I have every faith in him and the rest of my family as we work together to bring about justice for our father.