Chapter 9 #2
“That’s a good girl,” he breathed while taking the phone from my hand.
“Now, as you might imagine, I’m not pleased with your behavior.
Sadly, it means I can’t trust you and that pains me.
I’ll also need to punish you for defying me, but that will need to come later.
Grab your things. Now. One last promise, and I truly hate to do this, Vivian, because the time we spent together has been so meaningful, but if you try anything while we’re walking out, I will hunt those you care about and punish them for your misbehavior. Are we clear?”
“We’re clear that you’re a monster.”
His laugh in my ear was soft.
Inviting.
Evoking one too many random yet sinful thoughts that had no place in the moment.
There was no room to argue with him any longer. I didn’t doubt what he’d do to prove a point or to make me pay for my sins. As we walked down the corridor, the closer we came to the emergency center, the more activity there was.
A doctor waved and I waved back, trying to plaster on a smile. Kirill’s grip on my arm was tight, but as soon as there were more people, he switched his hand to placing it against the small of my back.
Which kept me quivering in his still powerful hold.
As we rounded a corner, a couple of nurses ran by at full speed. There was instant chaos and catching sight of two police officers, it didn’t take me long to realize a violent if not deadly crime had been committed, police waiting for the outcome of emergency care.
Shouts overruled normal conversation, more people flooding the area.
He managed to steer us away from the melee and toward the sliding doors. I could barely breathe, my entire body aching from heavy tension. I searched the crowd for anyone who would make eye contact. In a city like New York, not doing so had become an art.
Even inside a hospital.
“Come on,” he said, his voice ringing in my ears.
A single tear formed in my eyes out of frustration. Anger flowed but mostly at myself for not being able to see the man for what he was. Just like my uncle.
When we were outside, he allowed a slight growl out of his own frustration.
The morning light was just dawning over the horizon. There were several people in the parking lot and I knew this was my last chance at getting any help.
Light from the headlights of a vehicle drew my attention as they were flicked on once. The halo effect of the overhead LEDs prevented me from seeing inside, but I could tell it was an SUV.
Maybe that was the moment I realized the full extent of what was happening. I was being taken against my will by a man who would likely never honor his promise. If I stepped one foot inside the vehicle, I could very well never see the light of day again.
When I jerked my arm, I was shocked I was able to pull free.
But Kirill was right there, moving in front of me.
I understood just how dangerous he was, but I refused to back down.
“I’m not going with you. Now, I have no intention of spilling your secret because I do want to live, but I am not going anywhere. ”
The heavy emphasis on the negative brought a lingering smile to his face.
He cupped my jaw, acting as if not only did we have all the time in the world, but also that he wasn’t bothered in the least that there were two police cars in the closest parking lot, people everywhere, and that the morning sun had already popped over the horizon.
In the shimmer of light, I was even more fascinated by the look of his eyes.
They were those of a cold-blooded killer with no conscience.
“Yes, you are. Given it’s apparent you aren’t true to your word, I can’t risk placing my trust in you, which would threaten not only my livelihood and that of my employer but also a billion-dollar international corporation. ”
“Oh, now your Bratva is a billion-dollar international corporation. Wink. Wink. Are you trying to impress me with your wealth or that there’s a legitimate reason you’re destroying my life?”
He laughed and the sound was exactly as I remembered from the plane.
Enticing. With a slight brush of the rough pads of his fingers, he managed to create another pool of tingles.
“Perhaps both. Now, as much as I’m enjoying your rebellious side, let’s not make a scene.
” He didn’t need to flash his weapon. I knew how talented he was.
I glanced to my right, noticing a police officer. This was my one chance to free myself. Evidently, my body movements were odd enough that officer narrowed his eyes, acting as if he was going to take a step closer.
As luck would have it, which wasn’t in my favor, another ambulance with full flashing lights and a screaming alarm was moving quickly toward the emergency bay.
The sound alone drowned out any possibility of saying a single thing to the officer.
At the same time, a team of doctors and nurses flew from behind the doors with a gurney, waiting for the patient’s arrival.
The officer’s attention was pulled away and without fanfare, Kirill was able to slide his arm around my waist, guiding me toward the awaiting vehicle. I made mental note of the dark Suburban, the smoky glass preventing me from seeing anything.
The seductive Russian opened the door, ushering me inside. “Get inside. Don’t fight me. And I’ll take your belongings.”
“What’s wrong? Do you think I have a weapon?”
The man could smirk with the best of them. “There is nothing I would put past you.” He pulled the strap of my purse from my arm, taking the time to rub his fingers down my arm.
Which in turn created another wave of tingles.
He was goading me, pretending there was nothing to worry about with cops standing outside, people everywhere. Who in the hell was this man?
My chest tightened but I moved inside, doing my best to memorize everything.
Two men sat up front, both in dark suits, neither one acting as if they were paying any attention.
With a harsh glare, I did as Kirill asked. Only he hadn’t planned very well and when he didn’t slide inside immediately after me, I made a getaway, throwing open the opposite door and jumping onto the pavement.
“Damn it,” he snarled from behind me.
I didn’t do the usual thing and look over my shoulder given I was no fool.
There was no time to waste. At least with wearing tennis shoes and the fact I walked well oven ten miles a day with my job, I sprinted through the parking lot, heading toward the street.
Yes, I could scream and cause a scene, but I honestly had no idea the lengths the man would go to for his method of punishment.
The sound of my feet pounding on the pavement echoed in my ears.
What I realized when I was at least a hundred yards from the SUV was that I didn’t hear alternate footsteps.
With Kirill being a huge man at six foot four and weighing at least two hundred and twenty pounds, there wasn’t a chance in hell that he wouldn’t make a sound in his approach.
My curiosity getting the better of me, I glanced over my shoulder.
The powerful Russian was nowhere to be seen.
Damn it. What the hell was he doing, playing a game? Well, two could play at it.
With quick steps, I moved behind a huge Dodge Ram, dropping down behind the driver’s side. At least I could catch my breath. Still hearing nothing, I scooted toward the rear, peeking around the end. I should be able to see the huge vehicle.
I couldn’t.
Maybe he’d given up?
Not a chance. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back as I thought about what in the hell to do.
Since he had my purse, he had my address, my credit cards and cash.
If he had any techie guys, he could easily crack the code to my phone offering him access to every scrap of information about my life.
I’d coded passwords and banking information as taught to me even before I opened my first bank account.
All that would do was provide a temporary hindrance to full discovery.
There were highly intelligent criminals everywhere, including within crime syndicates, who used all aspects of modern technology from hacking to overseas internet banking to AI.
It hadn’t mattered that my family was celebrating a marriage; my father had to provide every member with an updated security briefing.
And I’d heard all about a new business opportunity that would make the family millions.
A venture that my uncle didn’t want jeopardized.
Maybe that’s why the Russians had arrived. They were businessmen. Right?
I pressed my hand over my mouth when a laugh bubbled to the surface. Wouldn’t my father be thoroughly impressed I was doing mental exercises with his pertinent information?
A slight rush of wind jarred the hell out of me.
Only what I feeling kissing my cheek wasn’t weather related but coming from the dangerous, grinning man hunched only a few inches away. At the same time while I offered my most hateful look yet, the SUV pulled up directly behind the truck and I didn’t need to even think about escaping again.
It wasn’t going to happen.
Kirill shook his head then looked in the opposite direction while taking a deep breath. No words were said but they weren’t needed. I didn’t resist when I was led to the SUV, his hand remaining on my arm until the very last second and just before he climbed inside.
As I settled into the seat, I glanced out the back passenger window, my body tensing the further away we got from the hospital.
For about a dozen reasons, I knew my life would forever be changed.
And in truth? I wasn’t terrified.