Chapter 9
Vivian
The question had been rhetorical of course.
A man like Kirill had no real answer for a query that had no meaning for him. I knew his type all too well. He was eager to prove his worth in a sea of monsters where each candidate for being Satan’s right arm tried very hard to top another.
I’d saved the lives of two men who could very well work alongside him, although something told me New York wasn’t his home city. Why? Because he’d acted alone in his assassination attempt.
I could tell by the way he was dressed, much like when he’d been on the flight and I’d thought him a powerful businessman that he was someone of importance.
If he was working for a crime syndicate, which I suspected, he was in the upper tier of those working for some Don or Pakhan or whichever branch he’d sold his soul to.
And that’s what occurred every time. Men sold their souls for the promise of power and money. Although I had a feeling with Kirill that he enjoyed the work he was doing. When the bag was full of items I’d need to care for him, I studied the way he hid one weapon under the shirt.
If I could get my hands on the other one, I might be able to escape.
The thought was fleeting. Then what? He knew where I worked. For all I knew, he’d been stalking me. Granted, I’d seen the same look of surprise on his face I’d likely shown in mine.
Where I’d been hot under the collar before, I was now nervous around him. Not only because he was carrying a weapon and obviously knew how to use it, but because I was still attracted to him even after what I’d just experienced.
So much so my nipples were aching, the deep throb in my core exactly as had occurred on the plane. And the two nights since. What the hell was he doing in my hospital? There was no way out of all the hospitals and all the millions of people in the city fate had brought us together a second time.
So what then? Had he discovered who I was? And what would it matter if he had? I honestly wasn’t certain at this point.
His beauty was indescribable, rugged yet sophisticated at the same time. While he was in obvious pain from the injury, which must have been excruciating given the depth of the blade’s cut, he maintained a sense of cool and calm only a few beads of sweat had managed to expose.
“Mafia. You’re mafia. Right?” I don’t know why I bothered.
As I stared at his rain-slickened body, I hated knowing he was right about my body’s betrayal.
I was tingling in places that were ordinarily never awakened.
Only on the plane. With his thick hair a wild mop of strings from the rain, he appeared even sexier. How was that possible?
“Something like that.” He checked the gear, his expression stoic.
“No, you’re Russian. The Bratva have finally infiltrated New York.”
While he lifted his head, his eyes searching mine, he allowed a moment of amusement. “I assure you the Bratva had been a part of the landscape of the Big Apple for a century or more.”
“But even more prominent now. That hotel you mention. The perfect way of laundering money.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “For a woman who claims she won’t say anything to anyone, you seemed well versed in the world of crime syndicates.”
“Netflix,” I tossed back. He was right. I should shut up, but he fascinated me and I hated myself because of it.
“Are you ready?” he asked in the same dark, demanding tone that I’d fallen for during the flight. Sensual. Commanding.
Now I was furious with myself that I’d fallen for the man or his bullshit. “You need to listen to me. I can’t leave here. This is my life.”
He inched closer and I’d be damned if I wasn’t even more aroused, but I refused to give him even a single thought that what he was doing was acceptable.
Only when I threw my hand out did he finally stop moving, his face pinched. Was he hurt that I’d pushed him away? Tough.
“I don’t plan on ruining your entire life, Vivian. Not unless I’m given a reason. But you are coming with me. Now, we can talk about this further when we’re settled.”
Maybe that’s when the fantasy faded, the ugliness of reality hitting me. I had to get away from him at all costs.
“Jesus. What about my things? I don’t have a change of clothes or even my purse.”
He stared at me as if I was nuts. Oh, I was, but not for the reason he was thinking.
“Where’s the locker room?” he asked, agitated I was so pushy.
“On the second floor right below us.”
“Fine. We will grab your things, but if you say a word to anyone that stops you, I’ll need to respond in a way you won’t like. Understood?”
“Fine,” I hissed, matching his tone while whispering between clenched teeth.
“After that, we’ll head to wherever you live and you can grab a few things. Fair enough?”
“You’re bargaining with me?”
“I’m trying to accommodate your needs.”
I shook my head several times. What choice did I have but to go with him? I had one thought in mind but I’d need to remain compliant. “Your prisoner.”
“Think of yourself as my guest.”
“That is a crock of shit and you know it.”
He laughed and took my elbow, guiding us to the door.
I had the bag in my hand, twisting my fingers around the strap.
My only hope was that someone on the staff would figure out something was wrong.
I couldn’t believe an alarm hadn’t been sounded as of yet.
Although my guess was that the men he’d shot hadn’t stuck around long enough for anyone to notice.
We moved to the same set of stairs as before, going down a flight. When we were on the second floor, it was a little busier, but no one paid us any mind. I knew only a few people given the hours worked and my companion looked the part, enough so no one bothered to give us a second look.
When we reached the locker room, I pointed toward the notification on the door indicating women staff members only.
Just as I started to walk inside, he pulled me back, lowering his head until I could feel his hot breath dancing across my skin.
Every time he was near, my pussy clenched several times.
A shiver coursed down my spine, enough that I was flushed and incapable of thinking clearly.
“Don’t do anything stupid, my beautiful Vivian. I would hate to find a need to punish you.”
His voice was low, as sultry as before but with a hint of danger should I disobey him.
“Don’t worry. I’m not stupid,” I hissed, jerking away. When I went inside the room, I took a deep breath, struggling to calm my nerves. What in the hell had I gotten myself in the middle of? Whatever it was, this wasn’t my lucky day.
I moved to my locker, taking a quick glance over my shoulder. I had one chance to try to escape. I yanked my phone from my purse, moving to the other side where he couldn’t see me if he opened the door.
I dialed the number, hoping Emily would pick up. “Come on. Come on…” Hearing a slight sound, a lump formed in my throat, fear leaving a trail of icy tingles clawing at my skin. I peeked around the corner of the group of metal lockers, clearly able to see the door. There was no one inside the room.
Although I prayed like hell someone would walk in.
The morning shift should be coming through the doors at any moment.
Somehow, my captor seemed to know that instinctively.
He’d studied his TAG Heuer military-style watch at least ten times while I’d tended to his wound.
He was organized, highly skilled, and dangerous.
And eighty percent of my thoughts revolved around the passion we’d shared instead of the danger I was in.
“You’ve reached Emily Reynolds, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
The single long beep was jarring, pulling me from the crazy thoughts. “Emily, I need?—”
A large hand was placed over mine on the phone, another over my mouth. With a nuzzle against my neck and a swath of hot air sliding across my skin, I was thrown into a surreal bubble.
“I’m certain you want Emily to live so you’re going to tell her something that won’t raise any red flags.
If you don’t, I’ll need to follow through with my promise.
” There was no malice to his threat, no anger at finding me betraying the limited promise I’d made.
Just a sultry tone that fashioned filthy, highly inappropriate images. “Nod if you understand.”
I did with a single jerk of my head. I was finally at the point of surrendering to fear.
When he slowly removed his hand, I took a deep breath, doing what I could to control my nerves.
“I’m sorry, Em. I was distracted. I wanted to ask if you’d look in on Mr. Jacobs for me as I was doing earlier.
Just in case. And call me if there is any issue.
He is supposed to be discharged later today and I’ll be back before that. ”
The only thing I could do was toss a couple of hints in hopes that Emily would realize I sounded nuts and called the police. From there, I had no idea how anyone would discover who was behind what had occurred.
If my instincts were correct about Kirill and he was working with a crime syndicate, the cleanup he’d requested would include dealing with the police. Which meant the police in their entirety were likely owned by the criminals. Typical; New York was dealing with three or four major syndicates.
And so many people believed the era of the mafia owning a piece of everything in town was over. Bullshit. They had their hands in almost everything, more legitimate than not. They’d learned from Fortune 100 companies how to manage their wealth.
The only difference was crime syndicates handled their enemies with violence instead of buyouts and forced mergers.