Chapter 16 #2
“No, you don’t,” Ilya agrees. His voice softens when he adds, “And don’t worry, I’m not going to force a confession from you either. If you can’t obey me willingly, you’re of no use to me.”
I want to feel relief. As excruciating as this is, I could get up from the table, grab my keys and leave. I don’t have my burner phone on me, but I have my official one, and I’ve memorized the only two telephone numbers I need. Reid’s and Strider’s.
Ilya must read my mind. “It’s your choice. But if you walk away now, I can’t help you either.”
“And how exactly can you help me?”
The Russian’s chest rises steeply, then falls. “Do I have to lead you every step of the way, Jade?”
No. Please, god. No!
I try desperately to hold myself together, but as I purse my lips, my tremors shake the sob from my throat. Ilya reaches across and slides my wine glass towards me. “Drink.”
The last thing I want to do is obey this bastard, but I need something to stop my heart hammering out of my chest. I take the glass and force myself to take small sips. My hand shakes so much that wine dribbles down the side of my mouth. I swipe at it with the back of my hand.
“What– What else do you know?”
Ilya waggles a finger at me. “Your turn.”
I’m stronger than this, I tell myself. I’m here because of Blake, and I’m within touching distance of finding answers. I don’t ask myself what the ultimate cost might be, but the waiting is finally over.
“My name is Jade Holloway, and my sister is Blake. She met you in Atlanta.” It’s a surreal moment as the words spill from my mouth. It’s almost as if I’m a passive listener too.
Ilya picks up his plate and rises from the table. He takes mine and carefully collects up my silverware, including the steak knife.
“Please, continue,” he says as he strolls over to the counter and sets the dishes down.
“She was besotted with you,” I say. “And in the space of six months she became completely unrecognizable. She wasn’t the sister I knew.”
“She blossomed under my care,” Ilya murmurs.
“No, she didn’t,” I argue. There’s nothing to be achieved by being polite. Ilya’s words have been brutal, so I reply in kind. “You used her. The last time I saw her she looked ill. She was painfully thin.”
Ilya returns with two chocolate tarts. “Are you sure you weren’t envious?” he asks, sliding my plate towards me as he takes his seat. “Although you don’t appear to be the type to worry too much about your figure.”
I grab a fork and stab at the chocolate filling. “I like my curves.”
Ilya watches as I take a mouthful. The corner of his mouth twitches. “So does Reid, judging by the video.”
The chocolate clogs my throat. “Your men videoed us?”
“It was a little grainy, but it’s amazing what AI can do to enhance an image. Catching a Griffin on camera, even the inept half-brother, should be a big hit on one of my sites. People love a bit of voyeurism.” He digs a hand into his suit jacket. “Would you like to take a look?”
“Go to hell!” I hiss.
“That’s what I like to see,” Ilya says, a smug grin on his face. “Now you’re trembling with rage, not with fear. It helps to sharpen the mind. I think we’re ready to open up negotiations.”
“You’re blackmailing me?”
“I find blackmailing a rather blunt instrument, and I don’t believe it’s necessary in this situation.” His ice blue eyes hold mine. “What I’m going to do, dear Quinn, is coerce you.”
There’s such sincerity in his voice, I laugh out loud. “You can try.”
He keeps staring. And staring. I’m not laughing any more. My blood is like ice and my limbs freeze. I don’t breathe.
“Would you like to speak to your sister?”
And then my world shatters into a thousand icy shards. “She’s alive? Where? Is she OK?” I ask. My eyes dart to his pocket. Get the damn phone out.
“Please pay attention, Quinn,” he says impatiently. “I’m the one coercing you. If you behave accordingly, I’ll give you your reward.”
“Tell me she’s alive,” I demand through gritted teeth. He has to give me that.
“She’s alive and well, and never been happier.
” He cuts a wedge off his chocolate tart and forks it into his mouth.
His eyes roll back in his head. “This is delicious. Blake would kill me right now if she saw me eating chocolate. That woman worships my body like a temple. But what she doesn’t know, won’t hurt her. ”
I feel dizzy. Every time I think I have my thoughts in order, Ilya says something else to throw me into a spin. “She’s still with you?”
“Where else would she be?” he croons. “The only reason she vanished out of your life was that you refused to be a part of hers. Your last conversation broke her heart.”
A tear trickles down my cheek unchecked. I’ve gone over our argument in my head so many times. I told Blake she had to choose between me and Ilya. I told her she’d be dead to me if she chose wrong. I don’t need Ilya to point out that I broke her heart.
“It’s going to take a lot of persuasion before she’ll talk to you again, but I’m willing to put in the effort if you reciprocate.”
My patience snaps. I bang my fist on the table. “What do you want from me?”
Ilya steeples his hands beneath his chin. “I’m not the enemy, Quinn. I’m simply a player in a game with multiple adversaries. None of us are wholly good, or bad. We simply have different objectives. And to achieve our objectives, we collect various pieces. Some we keep. Some we throw away.”
“And you want me to be one of those pieces?”
He laughs softly. “No, of course not. But you could have a role in my game if I think you’re deserving.”
“Can we stop with the analogy? Just tell me what you want.”
“Direct and to the point. I like it.” He eats more of his tart.
“I need you to demonstrate that you’re willing to follow my command.
And if you pass a small test, you’ll be rewarded with a call to your sister.
And, assuming you don’t traumatize Blake and she’s willing to work with you to rebuild your relationship, I’ll set you a new task,” he says. “Is that clear enough?”
Dread wraps around my chest. I know it’s going to have something to do with Reid. What if he wants me to betray him? I thought Reid was the enemy once, but I know differently now, and I’m not about to fall for Ilya’s smooth words. All the players in this game are not the same.
“What task?”
“Nothing too strenuous. I simply want you to tell Barrett to fire Jason. I don’t want anyone on this property that isn’t under my control.”
I’m shocked, but there’s a part of me that’s relieved too. “I can’t just ask Barrett to let him go.”
“Please pay attention. I didn’t say Barrett should let him go.
That would be far too simple, and this is meant to be a challenge after all.
” He grins. “I want Jason fired. And by that, I mean I want you to file a complaint about his inappropriate behavior. I’ll leave it to you to fill in the detail, but I expect you to destroy his reputation in the process.
If you can force him to leave the area, I might throw in a bonus. Maybe two calls to your sister.”
I stop pretending I can stomach the chocolate tart and slump back against my chair. Jason’s done nothing wrong. He doesn’t deserve this. “Why do you like hurting people so much?”
He chuffs out a laugh. “We all take our enjoyment where we can, and I like to watch how people react in extreme circumstances,” he says. “And you, I might add, are doing so well.”
The bastard is praising me. “Gee, thank you. That means such a lot.”
He laughs some more. “Do you ever speak to Barrett like that?”
“I’ve never felt it necessary.”
“Because he’s never elicited a deeper emotion from you,” Ilya says, almost to himself. “Your relationship is purely professional?”
“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth, revolted by how he’s discovering so much about my sex life.
He seems to think on this for a while. “I did wonder if he had bigger plans for you. Your boss is making a nest for someone, isn’t he?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Then make it your job to find out,” he says slowly and carefully.
I dare to feel some hope. “Is that going to be my other task?” I wouldn’t have any qualms about betraying Barrett. I just don’t want to do anything that would endanger Reid or his brothers.
“Hunter Griffin stole his bride last year,” Ilya continues as if I haven’t spoken. “Barrett could still be planning to steal her back, but if he’s looking for a commiseration prize, she would have to compete with Maddison Corbyn.” He pauses to look me up and down. “It was never going to be you.”
“I’ll get over it.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Are we done?”
“For now,” he says with a shrug. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow evening and I want Jason gone by then. You have my permission to continue speaking to Reid. It’s imperative that you maintain links with the Griffins so that you don’t raise suspicion.”
“That’s big of you.”
In less than an hour, this monster has me at his mercy. How did that happen? Why am I letting it happen?
“But,” Ilya continues. “You do not tell Reid anything about this conversation. Make up whatever story you like, but you will not tell him that I know your true identity.”
“How did you find out?” I ask. I knew my cover would be blown eventually, but Mace hasn’t been able to figure out who I am yet, and I’d hoped to fool the Russians too.
“I have ways and means, but with you, it was ridiculously simple. Do you think I didn’t have my men tracking your every move when you visited my Blake in Atlanta?
Did you think a new style of hair would be enough of a disguise?
I knew who you were by the time Barrett employed you.
” He slaps his hands down on the table. “Now, back to business. Complete your mission by tomorrow evening, and I’ll hunt you down before I leave so I can give you your reward. ”
I want to shake my head and refuse. I can’t let him control me so easily. He’s already given me more than I dared hope. Blake’s alive. And if they’re still a couple, maybe she’s actually happy with her life. Maybe I don’t need to take this any further.
Unless Ilya’s making it up.
He’s more than capable of dangling hope in front of me so he can snatch it away again. But if he is lying about Blake, I’ll find out tomorrow. Then what? Why waste his one and only move to force me to do something as petty as getting Jason fired? No. He can’t be lying.
And I want to believe Blake is alive so desperately. I need to talk to her. I need to tell her how sorry I am.
As I stand from the table, Ilya extends his hand towards me. “Deal?”
He wants me to shake his hand? Fresh tears well in my eyes as Ilya’s cold fingers wrap around mine. I’m so sorry, Jason. “Deal,” I rasp.