Chapter Twenty-Seven
GAbrIELLA-ROSE
I COULDN'T BELIEVE how good my life had become. In just a couple of months, I had settled in so well to my life in New York. I had decided to continue working as Hudson’s PA, as I loved working at his office. Everyone had made me feel so welcome, and didn’t once comment about me being both his PA and girlfriend. There were a couple of jealous women, but as most of them had thought that Nico was his boyfriend, they were surprised and elated when he announced that we were together.
While the majority of my days tended to be spent with Hudson, my nights were always spent with him and Nico, usually with me helping Nico to prepare a meal for us all. Then I would either spend the night with Hudson or Nico, sometimes on my own to allow them to have time together, or we would all be together. None of us were jealous of each other and enjoyed the time we had together all the more when we did.
As for Vincent, there had been no word from him since he’d appeared at the apartment that evening. Nico had heard that he had gone back to Detroit. I just hoped that was the case and he had decided to give up on me and the money he expected. But there was always a worry in my mind that someday he would be back.
I was currently working in the office on my own, as Hudson had gone to attend a meeting on the other side of town. This was the time when I managed to catch up on all the work that I was meant to be doing when I was in the office, but usually ended up just sitting in with Hudson talking, at his request, not mine. I was just finishing a contract that he had wanted for the following day when the office door opened and a group of men walked in.
I was slightly taken aback at their appearance, as I knew that Hudson had no meetings booked this morning or afternoon.
“Good morning, gentlemen. I’m afraid Mr. Bryce-Stanton is out of the office this morning. Did you have an appointment booked?”
I watched as the five men split, four of them walking to either side of my desk, with one slightly older man walking directly up to the front. My heart almost stopped beating when I heard him address me by name.
“You are Miss Quinn, I presume?”
The thick Russian accent told me exactly who I was currently looking at. I had never met him in person, but had heard many people discuss him with hushed voices. This had to be Viktor Kozlov, the Russian mafia boss, and the boss of Mikhail. I felt my heart start to beat faster as my anxiety rose at being surrounded by these men.
I managed to reply in a strained voice. “Yes, what do you want?”
The man in front of me pulled up a chair and sat down on it. “My name is Viktor Kozlov. No doubt, you have heard of me. My business partner in Detroit, Mikhail Orlov, has contacted me, asking to find you and bring you back to Detroit. I believe you owe one of our friends five hundred thousand dollars that you stole from him.”
I was completely dumbfounded that Vincent would stoop so low as to say I had stolen the money from him after everything he had done to me. The four gentlemen that had accompanied Viktor into the office were now standing around me. I could feel myself starting to shake in fear at what was about to happen to me.
“Now, I wouldn’t usually bother with domestic disputes, but Mr. Forbes-Stuart happens to owe my partner a large sum of money, and that is where you come in. The money you have is owed to Mikhail, and therefore me. So, to get the money I’m owed, I have to make sure that you are delivered to them both in Detroit without any issues.”
I was now completely surrounded with nowhere to go. I guessed the slightest move I made to get away would have been instantly stopped. I knew that Hudson and Nico would be due back any moment, so despite the panic that was rising inside me, I knew that I had to try to stall them for as long as possible.
“Mr. Kozlov, I’m sorry. I am not sure what Vincent told Mikhail, but the money I have isn’t his. Any money he owes you is his business and has nothing to do with me. I spent years of abuse at his hands, and believe me, I do not want to go back to him.”
I wasn’t quite sure how I was managing to speak so calmly when inside I was quivering like a leaf in the wind. My heart was beating out of control and all I could think about was being taken from the men I loved and back to the devil incarnate. I jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder, managing to keep back the scream that threatened to come out.
“Miss Quinn, or may I call you Gabriella?” He didn’t wait for me to reply and just continued. “Do you really expect me to believe that? Mikhail told me that he had arranged for you to go to the auction so you could receive the five hundred thousand dollars to pay off Vincent’s debt. It was unfortunate that he didn’t also win the auction. I’m sure you would have had a wonderful life with Mikhail.”
He took a deep breath and sighed slightly.
“Now, I’m afraid we are all going to have to leave. I’m sorry you didn’t get time to say goodbye to your boyfriend, but I am on a tight schedule here. I will speak to Mikhail and perhaps ask him to keep you for himself. I must admit that I am very tempted myself, having heard from him what you will do. However, I made a promise, and that is what I will do.”
He said something in Russian to the gentlemen that were surrounding me, and suddenly I was grabbed and pulled up from the chair. I heard Viktor’s angry voice speak again, and they loosened their grip on me but still kept hold of me so I couldn’t escape. My heart was beating faster than I had ever felt before, and my breathing became erratic as I started to panic.
“I’m sorry, Gabriella. My men sometimes forget how differently they need to treat a lady than a man. I apologize now if they hurt you.”
He got up from his chair and started to walk toward the door. There were tears now pouring down my face as the men started to lead me out of the room. I panicked and started to kick and scream, desperately trying to get out of the grip I was being held in. If I could just get away for a couple of seconds and into Hudson’s office, I would be safe. At least for a little while.
“Please, my dear, you really aren’t going to get away. Make it easy on yourself and just let us take you.”
I wasn’t going to allow that. I needed to keep them in this room as long as possible. I continued to kick out at the gentlemen around me, determined to try to get away. Without warning, I was grabbed at my waist and hoisted over one of the goon’s shoulder in a fireman’s lift. Try as I might, my hits and kicks were making no difference. He started to walk out of the office, with the other three men walking around him, I guess to stop me from causing any more trouble. It was then I heard the office door open. I thought for a moment it was Viktor until I heard his voice.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing, Viktor?”
My protector. Nico.
“Please, Nico. Do not get involved. I must take Gabriella back to where she belongs.”
“Like fuck you will. She belongs here, with me and Hudson. I’m sure you haven’t been told everything. I suggest you put down our Rosa now before things turn ugly.”
I could hear the argument going on, but from my position, I couldn’t see a thing. All I could see were the men around me with their hands firmly on the holsters of their guns.
It was Hudson who spoke next, in an amazingly calm voice. “Mr. Orlov, we have never met, but I know you have always had a good relationship with Nico. Please listen to our side of the story which, I will add, is the truth, not the vindictive lies that Vincent has spun.”
There was a moment of silence – almost deathly, as if at any moment, all hell was going to break loose. All of a sudden, I was placed down onto the floor and I felt someone hold me to stop me from collapsing in a heap. In a matter of moments, Nico was at my side and engulfing me in his arms.
“Mr. Bryce-Stanton, I agree that I have always had a good relationship with Nico, and have never had any reason to clash with him. For that reason alone, I will give you both the opportunity to tell your side of the story. Then I will make a decision as to what will happen.”
I could feel Nico tense as he held me, obviously unhappy with what he was hearing. He pulled away slightly and looked at me.
“Are you okay, principessa? Did they hurt you, because if they did…”
I quickly shook my head to stop any further altercation. Before anyone else could say a word, the office door opened and Gino walked in. I had spent a little time with him and knew that he was Nico’s second in command. He walked over to where Nico and I were currently standing.
“Boss, I came as soon as I could.”
“Thank you, Gino. Could you please take Rosa to my room while I speak to Viktor?”
I started to panic. I didn’t want to leave either Nico or Hudson’s side, and especially not while he was talking to Viktor. I wasn’t sure what he and his guys would do to my men. I quickly turned and went to speak to Nico, but he just placed his finger on my lips to stop me and pressed his lips to my cheek as he quietly spoke.
“It’s fine, Rosa. Viktor won’t do anything. We are just going to talk. Go with Gino. He will look after you, and I promise I will be with you as soon as possible.”
“But Nico—”
“I promise I will be fine.”
He passed me over to Gino, who carefully put his arm around me and spoke to Nico.
“I will take good care of Gabriella.”
Nico gave him a slight smile and a nod, and I was led away from the office and into Nico’s private room out back with thoughts of what was about to happen swirling around in my head.