Chapter 17
Ries stepped off the elevator, breathing a sigh of relief at being home and not having to look over his shoulder for another minute.
He was tired of having to leave the apartment each morning, only to spend hours riding around in the limo, or sitting in a safe location as deemed so by Chris, hoping that someone would find this Angelo person, or better yet, Dmitrius and put an end to this horrible situation.
He was tired of sitting in the limo and told Chris to take him back to the apartment. He wasn’t sure how he was going to keep Stephanie at an arm’s length but he missed her and wanted to spend time with her.
He kicked his shoes off at his bedroom, slightly disappointed to find that she wasn’t in the living area. He headed for the bedroom she’d been using and then stopped in the doorway, anger and fear causing him to clench his fists and growl her name. “Stephanie! Where are you?”
He heard a shuffle from the other side of the bed, a muttered oath of pain, and then she was pushing herself up with her hands on the mattress. She rubbed her head and glared at him, “What are you doing home?”
Seeing her suitcase lying on the bed, he knew she’d planned to leave. The knowledge was like a knife in the heart. He thought they’d had something real – something permanent.
The assassins had probably seen her, and knew that she had saved him. If she walked out onto the street, and was shot or abducted...
The image of Stephanie bleeding on the pavement was the only thing he could see.
He stalked toward her, fury making his voice much harsher than he’d intended. “What in the name of Zeus do you think you’re doing?” he shouted.
Stephanie crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “I think it’s pretty obvious. I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not.” Ries mimicked her stance, crossing his arms across his muscular chest and daring her to challenge his authority. He almost hoped she would. “You don’t own me,” she shouted. “And frankly, I don’t care what you think anymore. I’m tired of being kept prisoner here and I’m done.”
“I haven’t been keeping you prisoner! I’ve been keeping you safe from a syndicate of assassins. Stop talking nonsense,” he growled at her.
“What would you call keeping me in this apartment for well over a week and refusing to let me step one foot out of the building?”
“I’ve been keeping you safe,” he repeated through clenched teeth. She was like a small child who wanted to run out into traffic. He admired her confidence and independence – but he didn’t admire anything that put her in danger.
His security team had found all sorts of information on Angelo, and the man wasn’t above abducting individuals close to his target in order to draw them out into the open. If Angelo caught Stephanie, Ries knew he likely wouldn’t be able to rescue her alive. No matter what he did.
“I can keep myself safe,” she spat back. “I’m only in danger because I was trying to save you to begin with.”
Another knife in his heart.
“You are not leaving.” He forced his voice to be cold, not passionate. If she thought she was getting his goat, it would only encourage her. “Unpack your things before dinner.” Ries turned on his heel, not even considering that she might defy him.
When a shoe hit him in the back, he whirled around to see her standing with her hands on her hips, and the light of battle in her eyes and on her face.
He picked up the shoe and then narrowed his eyes at her, “Did you just throw this at me?”
“Yes,” she told him defiantly, reaching out and picking up the matching shoe and drawing her arm back with the intent of hitting him in the chest with the next one.
Ries stalked toward her, warning her ominously, “I would think twice before throwing that second shoe.”
“Or what? What are you going to do? Spank me again?” she challenged him, fury making her shake as she defied him.
Ries huffed out a laugh and then nodded, “Don’t tempt me. Unpack your belongings and then come downstairs. I came home early to spend some time with you as I thought you might be getting bored.”
Stephanie stared at him and then dropped the shoe, her expression falling as she glared daggers at him. Ries frowned. Were those tears in her eyes?
“Go away.” Stephanie said through clenched teeth. She retreated into the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it loudly.
Ries stood there for a long moment, his hands on his hips as he tried to calm himself down. Part of him wanted to go to her and soothe her anger.
But fear for her safety told him that would be a mistake. He might break down and give her what she wanted. And he wouldn’t risk her safety to make either of them feel better.
“Stephanie, come back out here. We’re not done talking,” he pounded his fist on the door.
“I’m done talking with you. Go away.”
“We need to talk about this.” He tried to sound commanding, not desperate. He waited for her response but instead heard the bath water being turned on.
He sighed and then shook his head as he left the bedroom and headed for his office. He sat down at the desk and opened up his computer, frowning when he saw that he’d missed a call from his brother Damon. Ries’ heart turned cold. Had Damon spoken to Stephanie while he was away?
He scrolled over the screen, his frown increasing when he saw that Damon had called not once, but twice. The second call had been answered and had lasted well over five minutes.
Stephanie was the only one who’d been in the apartment today, meaning she’d answered his brother’s call and spoken to him. What had Damon said?
Ries felt doubts and old feelings of despair take over his emotions.
It seemed that anytime one of his girlfriends spoke to Damon, it was the beginning of the end of their time with Ries.
Damon was the golden boy, the one with all of the financial ties, and the one who ultimately called all of the shots.
I don’t know why I hoped that Stephanie was different from the rest. That we had a future together. Damon snaps his fingers and she does whatever he says. Did he offer to pay her?
It had to be Damon. Stephanie had been angry for days but she had never packed a bag before.
She’s just like all of the rest and she’s figured out who holds the purse strings.
I wonder if he’s going to provide protection for her if she leaves me? She’s certainly not worried about her safety, and Damon would never ask a female to put themselves in danger.
Ries closed the computer screen and then headed for the bedroom once more. The bathroom door was still closed but the bath water had stopped.
“Stephanie, did my brother call?”
“What do you care?”
“Just answer the question. Did you speak to Damon?”
“Yes. We had a lovely conversation.”
Ries clenched his fists together. “What about?”
“Can’t remember,” she hollered back.
Ries’ vision clouded, and he headed for the elevator. The housekeeper was in the front room and he stopped and talked to her.
“Please see that Stephanie’s bags are unpacked and her clothing returned to the closet and dresser. Remove her suitcases and other bags and see that they are taken down to the storage closet for safe keeping.”
“Miss Stephanie wishes to leave us?” the housekeeper inquired quietly.
“No, there was a misunderstanding. It’s not safe for her to leave the apartment. She’s taking a bath, please see that my orders are carried out before she is finished.”
“Very well. I will go do that right now.”
“Fine. I’m going out and won’t be in for dinner. See that Stephanie eats.”
The housekeeper nodded and Ries shoved his feet back into his shoes before getting onto the elevator, ignoring Chris’s puzzled look as the doors closed and headed to the ground floor.
“Want to talk about it?” Chris asked quietly.
“No. Make sure the other guards lock the elevator out once we leave. I don’t put anything past her right now.”
“Doesn’t she understand the danger she’s in?” Chris asked.
Ries shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think she cares.”
She’s gotten Damon’s attention now, and she’s made her choice.
Damon wins again.