Chapter 23
Halle
My little girl had been brave.
More so than I’d been.
After the police had the two kidnappers in handcuffs and I’d handed Emily off to ‘Mr. Boyfriend’ at her request, I’d ignored the police and slapped the woman across the face. While I’d hoped it would make me feel better after what had occurred, I was beginning to realize almost nothing would.
Safe.
I remembered when I was a child, my father had checked the closet and under the bed for me just to ensure I felt safe in my own room.
In truth, I’d never been as terrified of monsters or boogeymen like my friends had been.
Maybe because I adored the gnomes and warlords in the fantasy stories that had always been my favorites.
It had taken me until I’d gone to college and had been assaulted outside my favorite coffee shop to realize there were true monsters in the world. The only difference was that they were very human instead of beasts of the night.
A part of me had tried so hard to believe the uglier stories I’d read about Alexsey. That would make it much easier to push him aside. Then he’d saved my daughter’s life, the only man capable of doing so.
He’d dropped everything and come to my rescue.
While a part of me was still numb, shaken by the events, I’d never felt so safe as I did being around him. Even if I was furious inside, wishing he would have pulled the trigger killing the woman. I’d wanted to do it myself. Maybe that made me a bad person, but I just didn’t care.
My daughter had been kidnapped, taken and why? Because I’d been out on a date with the man, allowing him into my house, or because I’d saved his life?
What did it matter? My instincts told me whoever they were wouldn’t stop. I wrung my hands, taking another look at my little girl before partially closing the door.
As with all aspects of Alexsey’s personality, his instinct had been to take control of the situation.
He’d barked at the police officers, berating them for how they’d handled the two suspects.
He’d insisted we be allowed to wait inside the small coffee shop, protected by the two men who’d followed him like dutiful soldiers.
He’d even insisted what few customers the tiny place had inside left.
Although I did notice he was on his phone just before we left after talking with him.
I’d snooped, looking over his shoulder. He’d sent a cash payment to the small store owner for taking away business for two hours.
He’d been rough around the edges when dealing with everyone.
Except for me and my daughter.
That’s when I’d seen the same tenderness he’d displayed while being in my house making pizza. I’d been so numb that I hadn’t fought with him. I’d allowed myself to be protected, including by having his jacket draped around my shoulders given I’d been freezing inside the tiny store.
What topped off his dominant personality was refusing to allow me to return to my house. He’d taken the same vehicle as us and he’d chatted with Emily the entire way, asking her about her first day of school.
Like a father would do.
It had been pointless arguing with him. He’d simply given me one of his authoritative looks. Maybe I’d still be shell-shocked enough that I hadn’t had a single bit of energy to fight him. Now I was much calmer, reflective. Eager for retaliation.
Even more than that, I was longing to curl up in my bed under the covers with my daughter beside me. We’d binge watch whatever she wanted with a huge bowl of popcorn. Maybe then the fact I was beginning to truly believe monsters existed would fade to black.
As I walked down the hallway of the man’s condo, I was finally struck by how insanely gorgeous it was.
There were floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, the vantage point on the twentieth floor allowing a perfect shimmer of the brilliant orange and pinks of the afternoon sun.
And the incredible view of the several gorgeous resorts.
Including Ecstasy, which the family owned.
Whoever had decorated the rooms had created a world of beauty and luxury.
All while not allowing for any sign of life.
There wasn’t a single thing in the huge floor plan the color of green.
Nothing. And there certainly weren’t any plants.
While there were perfectly positioned bottles of wine on the counter complete with two crystal balloon wineglasses, there was barely any sign the condo was lived in.
I’d yet to check the closet and kitchen cabinets, but I could swear this was the sales office for the massive tower.
Emily’s little pink backpack caught my eye.
I’d forgotten she’d been carrying it when she’d been taken.
I didn’t remember grabbing it from the getaway car, which meant someone else had done so.
Huffing, I was happy we hadn’t lost that like I would imagine we’d lost her innocence.
Although she hadn’t mentioned anything since we’d left the coffee shop. Maybe it was true kids were resilient.
I found the powerful, oh-so strong Russian staring down at his phone while standing in front of a triple window. His body was stiff and while he’d tossed his jacket over the back of the couch, he was still wearing what was left of his suit, including his tie.
At least his shoulder holster was nowhere to be seen and he’d managed to shield his weapon from Emily. A tiny thing to be grateful for. She’d asked to see him again just before falling asleep. The fact she’d trusted him after what she’d gone through spoke volumes.
The man was as tense as I felt.
At least he had a glass of amber liquid in his hand.
Instantly, he sensed my approach, his body tensing.
I was able to see the intense expression on his face, the very anxious look in the eyes that had constantly searched for me while talking with the police.
I’d yet to ask him what he’d said to them, thrilled that the two individuals who’d hurt my daughter had been taken away in the back of two squad cars.
Yet I had a feeling that as with everything and everyone else in this town, he owned them. It was something else that I should hate, but I just didn’t.
When I approached, he turned slightly. He seemed surprised when I wrapped my hand around his glass, slowly taking it from him. The slight touch of his fingers was incredible. I wasn’t a big bourbon drinker, but I had to admit the first sip went down easier than I’d thought.
The second was even better, allowing me to taste the smooth notes of the obviously expensive liquor. The third, while more of a gulp allowed me to stop shivering. Only when I returned the dense crystal did I realize I’d almost drained the entire glass.
I was obviously still in some level of la-la-land since I giggled, marking the second time I’d done so around him. He smiled in return, the slight action nothing more than his way of breathing a sigh of relief.
“You had me followed,” I said with a mild hint of rebellion in my voice.
“And he failed me.”
“Don’t be too hard on him. We were stuck in a traffic jam.”
“Uh-huh. He was told not to allow you out of his sight. Is Emily resting?” he asked, his deep voice resonating in every nook and cranny within my body.
“She is. My guess is she’ll be out all night. She crashed. But… she’s missing her teddy bear. She never goes to sleep without it. And my creative skills at making up a story were pretty piss poor tonight.”
“From what I witnessed, you were wonderful, brilliant even. As far as the teddy bear, we’ll take care of that in the morning.
” He nodded as if he’d decided our fate before walking to a bar on the other side of the room.
I studied him while he made drinks, deciding since I’d finished his that I needed another of the exact same libation.
“What happens now?”
He took his time answering and I had a feeling more than just the answer was weighing heavily on his mind. “Tomorrow, I find out who the hell hired those people.”
“Are you certain you’re going to be allowed to talk to them?”
The way he slowly turned his head had me throwing up my hands as if in surrender.
“I forget you’re the great Alexsey Dmitriyev, king of Vegas.”
“You’re close,” he said, laughing. “They call us the Casino Kings.”
“Where’s your crown? I bet you’d look sexy in one.” Maybe I just needed to banter a little, although nothing about the day held any reason to laugh.
“My guess is you’d tell me it would be a crown of thorns.”
“Well, if the shoe fits,” I teased. The way he was looking at me was somewhat disturbing. “What is it?”
He took a few seconds, rubbing his jaw, completely contemplative. “I need to ask you a question and I require an honest answer.”
My hackles were immediately raised. So was my irritation. “What would make you think I haven’t been honest with you?”
“Nothing. Yet. Did you have anything to do with hiring someone to take photographs of us inside the restaurant and in the parking lot?”
I could tell my eyes were about to bug out of my head. “You are joking.”
“Does it seem as if I’m joking?”
“Wow.” My God. He was serious. “If you think that I would be that stupid then I need to leave. Right now.” I turned, furious with the man.
“You’re not going anywhere. It’s a question that needs an answer.”
Since my integrity had been questioned recently by a bunch of men I’d thought were my friends, I was hot as shit. My actions reflected it when I stormed toward him, ready to slap him.
But he caught my hand, lifting his eyebrows. “I don’t think we need violence. Do you?”
Why did he have the ability to make me feel bad?
He’d just accused me. Damn him. I curled my fingers and he let go of my hand.
“No. You’re right. But how dare you think something like that?
I was the one who didn’t want to go on a date with you in the first place and you insisted.
Remember?” I threw the attitude right back at him.