Chapter 19 #2
Montgomery wasn’t paying any attention to me, yet I sensed he was completely aware of everything I was doing.
He confirmed it even before he roared from the parking lot.
“Who are you going to call and what would you tell them, Fleur? That you’ve been kidnapped after finding your brother murdered in a motel room?
The same brother whose been working for the Papovek Bratva out of New York, something I believe you already knew, which is why you didn’t want him in your life.
And certainly didn’t want to tell me. Or would you tell your friends that you’d once been engaged to another equally dangerous man? ”
“What?” Oh, my God. He’d run some crazy kind of dossier on me. “You invaded my private life.”
“Is there any difference in you discovering aspects about mine? Come on now, Fleur. We’re both intelligent people with colorful pasts. The last thing either one of us need is to allow anyone into our protected area who could destroy everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
“So this is business for you?”
“No,” Montgomery half laughed. “This is a cold reality and one you understand better than you want anyone to believe.”
“You have no idea who I am,” I pushed, but every electric sensation told me otherwise.
“I know enough. You used to live in New York.”
“Is that a crime?”
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
“Not at all. It’s a mecca for monsters, including the man you were engaged to be married to.
I’m certain you’re aware of this already, but Zane Cummings pretends to be against crime syndicates, work his father as a senator was committed to doing.
However, since taking over his father’s empire, Zane is even more corrupt than the Papoveks.
I’m going to venture a guess your found family in Stowe has no idea about your connection to either ruthless family. ”
“Are you threatening to expose me?”
“Of course not. I’m merely telling you that we have more in common than you might believe. We also have a reason for our connection.”
The hatred I had for the man increased, but instead of lashing out, I was remarkably calm.
“You are… a true fucking son of a bitch.” He glanced into the rearview mirror but seconds later, I could feel the heat and weight of his stare.
I squeezed my phone. He was right. Only Bekka knew a small portion of the story.
A flicker, either anger, amusement or both flashed in his eyes.
“So you’ve told me.”
The hum of the engine was only matched in sound by the rapid beating of my heart.
Lightheaded, my mind was too muddled to figure out what to do.
The ache in my heart would soon be suffocating.
“I’d left Zane because he was a monster.
Controlling. Belittling. A fucking abusive man, the kind who lures you in with all the niceties of a gentleman, and the passion of someone who cares, then does everything to ruin your life.
Did I have my suspicions he was involved with criminal activities?
Yes, but when I chose to confront him about what I’d discovered only the night before my wedding, I found him balls deep in his assistant.
After that, I just hadn’t given a shit what he did with his life. I’d wanted no part of it.”
His growl surprised me. Not only was the man still acting as if he owned me, but he was furious at Zane. “Bastard.”
“It takes one to know one. I ended ties with my brother because of the people he’d determined were his new family.
I’d tried so hard to ensure he had a decent life.
He was lured by the promise of money and clout.
Fine clothes and fancy cars. I’m certain that’s what you and your family members do.
You lure people into your army with promises that will put targets on their backs. ”
“Now it’s my turn to say you don’t know me very well or my family. We don’t lure people into our organization because we don’t need to. We’re also not in the business of eliminating our employees based on issuing a warning.”
“You told me you wouldn’t lie to me, yet you’ve killed people before. Does that mean if you found a traitor in your midst, you wouldn’t touch them?”
The look he threw me was affirmation of what I already knew. “Yes, I do what’s necessary to protect my family. There’s no time for the game of semantics.”
“What are you trying to do? To find out if I’m working with the people who tried to kill you?
Is this about the Russians my brother worked for?
Or are you merely trying to hurt me by forcing me to relive the worst experiences and moments of my life?
Is that how you get your kicks and giggles, by destroying others? ”
“Is that what you think? That I want to hurt you in any way?”
“I don’t know what else to think.” I couldn’t look him in the eyes, mine were so filled with tears. I couldn’t breathe from the heavy weight, the burden of knowing if I’d allowed him to stay…
“I’m trying to keep you alive, Fleur. If you’d asked your brother to stay at your house last night, you’d also be dead.”
“Why? If he’s working…” I swallowed another gasp. “If he… was working for this mafia family, then why was he killed? And what does it have to do with me? Or with you? You’re the reason this happened. I know I’m right.”
He concentrated on the rearview mirror before darting a glance to both side mirrors. “In the Bratva, nothing else matters but the organization. Family is never to interfere. If what you said is true and he was trying to warn you, he broke an oath made to the Bratva. The penalty is death.”
His words were the harsh, ugly reality of a life I’d always known existed but had never wanted a part of. “Why was he trying to warn me? Was this all about you? Keeping you out of my life.”
“That depends on when he contacted you the first time.”
“I don’t remember!” Exasperation. Exhaustion. Despair. Panic. Every one of them had settled in.
“We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down.”
“I’m never going to calm down. And I’ll never trust you.” I rubbed my eyes, fighting to grasp control. I furiously wiped my eyes while images of Danny’s face filtered into my mind.
Doubling over, the knots in my stomach throbbed, the pain agonizing. I tossed my phone on the dashboard, wincing from a sharp pain.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. When the only answer I could provide was a strangled gasp, he gripped my knee. “What is happening?”
“Pull… over.” I’d never experienced nausea so severe in my life. My entire life was crashing down on me and my stomach chose now to revolt. “Please.”
“Shit. Hold on.”
At least we were already on back roads. I gripped the edge of the dashboard, trying to pay attention to where we were. “There’s a park… On the left.”
He made a turn, flying down a gravel path and skidding into a small empty parking lot. I barely tumbled out the door, racing for the trees before my stomach revolted. Only there was nothing in my stomach other than coffee. Remaining doubled over, I mostly dry heaved.
I felt the warmth of his fingers across the side of my neck while he pulled and kept hair from my face. His presence should terrify me, but every aspect of my feelings for the man was skewed, so much so I had no idea what to think any longer.
Now my chest was pounding, the ache ripping at every muscle and tendon. In turn, he rubbed my back, his touch so soothing my body’s betrayal was even more horrifying.
I relaxed from his touch, taking comfort in how he seemed to care.
Seconds later, he handed me a clean cloth, which I was grateful for.
“Are you feeling any better?” His voice was no longer as gruff.
“No! I’ll never feel better.” Deciding to stand upright was a big mistake. I toppled over, pitching straight into his arms.
“Whoa. I’ve got you.”
Why did he exude such intense warmth? Why did my body react with such passion?
“You still think I’m trying to hurt you. Fleur, but you’re wrong.”
Fighting him was useless. “I already told you. I’m never wrong.”
His sigh was heavy, full of annoyance. Too bad. “You’re an empath. Right? What is that girl inside telling you?”
“Don’t you dare use my curse against me.” He was right. I could tell how angry and concerned he was, his entire body creating a dark aura. He was emitting completely different pheromones.
I slowly lifted my head, blinking to force tears to fall. His expression softened and with a single finger, he wiped the tip through the trickle on both sides of my face. “You’re going to be okay.”
“It was just something in my throat.” Every time I dared look away from him, he refused to allow it, this time cupping my chin with his thumb and forefinger.
“I’m not talking about your upset stomach. I’m talking about what we’re dealing with.”
“And what are we dealing with?” I watched, shuddering to my core as he glanced over his shoulder. He was fearful we’d been followed. The outline of his weapon could easily be seen even through the thick leather. Instead of offering comfort, I was still shaken to the core.
I’d gotten in the middle of a war.
“Come with me.” He brushed his fingers across my cheek before taking my hand. I wanted to pull away. At least a part of me did. But I couldn’t.
There was a group of picnic tables deeper in the woods. He lifted me onto the edge of one, his gaze even more dark and demanding than I’d seen in him.
“Doesn’t your leg hurt?” Did I really care? The answer was painfully simple and clear. Yes.
With a quick glance at his thigh, he grumbled. “Stop worrying about my leg.”
“Fine. I will. You’re a big boy.”
A slight wry smile was there as he reached into his pockets, holding out a bottle of water with one and opening his other to reveal a couple of peppermints.
“Yes, I am. Which one do you prefer?” The deep baritone of his laugh filtered into air when I snatched both.
“It’s not funny.”
“I’m not laughing at you, Fleur. I’m certainly not laughing at the situation. I’d say I can’t imagine what you’re going through except that I can.”
After gulping some water, I popped a mint. “Your dad.”
“Yes. His murder was nothing we’d expected.
What I said before is true. We run a glorified hospitality corporation, our business activities trending more toward full legitimacy every day.
Our employees worry more about their 401-Ks than they do getting killed.
We had no idea our enemies were lying in wait for the perfect opportunity. ”
“As they did with you.”
Nodding, he scanned the forest surrounding us. “Yes. The hit came out of the blue with no warning. That’s how the Bratva operate.”
“Are you trying to suggest the people who tried to kill you are from New York?”
His laugh was full of amused bitterness.
I never knew there was such a thing, but I heard it clearly.
“The Bratva in New Orleans orchestrated a complicated game ending in my father’s murder.
We put them in their place. They’re smart enough to know we’d assume they tried to have me killed, even burning down portions of the city to find evidence.
The two Bratva leaders are cousins. What I know for certain through the chatter on the dark web is that several assassins were hired.
They were told to continue until the job was finished. ”
“That’s really why you’re in Vermont.”
He nodded in response.
“Danny was trying to warn me.”
“Evidently. The question is why the warning. And yes, the timing is important.”
“You have his gun. You kept it. Maybe he’d still be alive if…” I was constantly trying to avoid another round of hysteria, which was becoming more difficult as the minutes chased the wind.
“I assure you that your brother carried an arsenal with him. Call it crime syndicate 101.”
Whether he was joking or not I couldn’t tell, but I laughed nervously anyway.
I looked away, sipping the water. “The first time I heard from him was the morning I brought you muffins. Was Danny warning me about you or about what was going to happen? Or was he hired as one of the assassins, then realized you and I are… connected.” By the flash of his eyes, I could see his wheels turning.
“The timing is… interesting. However, I don’t have enough information to suggest Danny’s warning was about me. What I do know for certain is that your life is in danger. As I said to you before, you need to trust me. Do you think you can do that?”
“What are we going to do?”
A sudden crack as if someone had stepped on a fallen tree limb captured both our attention.
Montgomery swung his head toward the sound while grabbing his weapon. “Stay alive.”