Chapter 5
Fallon
Wow.
Gorgeous.
A rough Russian god wrapped in an Armani suit with a mischievous smile and dancing green eyes. Then there was the accent to die for.
At least I’d have eye candy for the trip.
I resisted groaning as I studied the gauges.
I’d made such an impetuous decision leaving Chicago in the middle of the night, urged to return to Miami.
At least we were close to the Saba Island Airport.
I was shocked how quickly the time had flown.
Soon, I’d touch down on a tropical island in the Lesser Antilles, Saba a location I’d never been to and one I’d had about fifteen minutes to read up on.
Flying the plane wasn’t the problem or landing, as difficult as I heard it to be.
Trying to keep from losing my mind was.
What was I doing here?
Running further away in hopes Antonio and his goons would leave me the fuck alone.
Pretending as if my life wasn’t a complete fucking mess.
Hungering for a man I’d just been introduced to a few hours before.
Hell, I’d jumped on a plane so fast the moment I’d been able to leave Chicago I’d almost left my passport and airline credentials. Thank God that hadn’t occurred since this gig was extraordinarily profitable.
I’d only remained in Chicago through the release of my mother’s and stepfather’s bodies, the funeral well attended, people mourning the loss. So many people I didn’t know. There’d been monsters lurking in the shadows, and who’d stood right by my side acting as if he gave a damn? Antonio.
The fucking asshole.
I touched my face, fighting the anger and hatred, sadness that often became overwhelming.
The moment I’d found a decent real estate agent, I’d jumped ship, refusing to play games with the Bruni Syndicate.
I’d heard rumors of how powerful they’d become, something I’d managed to avoid for well over a year and a half when I’d made an impetuous decision to move to Miami, certain I’d been in love.
I’d only been home discharged from the military for a couple of months before I realized my mother’s depiction of life with Luis had been either a fantasy she wanted to believe or was based on his manipulation of her.
Things had changed since I’d been in the military and not for the better. I’d tried to blend in after returning from serving my country, living my life in a city I’d grown to love, yet neither Chicago nor Miami had really ever been my home. A small town in Colorado held that claim.
While my memories of my real father had started to fade, I did remember being happy.
Jeffrey had been a nice distraction, his layover in Chicago creating the chain of events.
My instant crush with another pilot had fizzled out in a flash. At least we’d remained friends hence the reason I was now fawning over a man who was way out of my league. Doing so allowed the first smile since receiving the call in the middle of the night from a Chicago detective.
Now that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Pining away for the sexy Russian wasn’t my typical behavior, but my emotions were all over the place and I’d needed grounding.
I could thankfully stop looking over my shoulder for a couple of days and maybe I’d get some rest. I touched my face for a second time, praying to God the twenty-four-hour makeup was doing its job.
A nod to a girlfriend of mine who’d swooped in to tell me which makeup to purchase. Her modeling days had come in handy.
The ache in my face remained, a reminder I was on precarious grounds, uncertain of my stepbrother’s intent.
I knew I hadn’t seen or heard the last from him, but maybe the next time, I’d be more prepared.
How, I’d yet to determine. Staying in Chicago wasn’t an option.
I was beginning to wonder if I should leave Miami as well. Great. More running.
Maybe I could head back to Colorado even without knowing anyone there.
I shoved the ugly thoughts aside. At least a couple of days being a thousand miles away would allow me time to clear my head.
Hopefully.
Plus, Antonio couldn’t find me on a tropical island.
Jeffrey wouldn’t say a goddamn thing about who I was.
He knew how dangerous Antonio was. He’d listened to me for years.
Hell, he’d known something was wrong the moment we’d met in the bar in Chicago.
Maybe that’s why I’d fallen for him because he’d been so sympathetic.
I should remind myself how that had worked out.
I tilted my head, catching sight of Mr. Dmitriyev. Wow was the appropriate word. Even lounging in one of the leather chairs, casually holding a drink in his hand, he appeared enticing.
“We’re coming in for a landing, sir,” I told him after I’d been given the okay from the control tower to land. The airport on Saba Island was small, the runway extremely short, but given my background, it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I’d landed on dirt paths between groves of trees.
Mr. Dmitriyev said nothing, but I could still feel the weight of his eyes on me as I’d experienced almost the entire trip. I knew men like him.
Arrogant.
Opinionated.
Far too sexy for their own good and they knew it.
That didn’t mean I hadn’t found him extremely attractive, but right now, just thinking about a powerful man was frustrating.
He was also handsome, but the kind that you didn’t find on a store rack.
Of course I shouldn’t hold that against him and he’d said very little to provide evidence of his arrogance. Maybe I’d become jaded from people like Antonio and the rich assholes I’d encountered when accepting the few private gigs. They’d made it clear that I was nothing but property.
That didn’t sit well with my personality.
I was zigging and zagging all over the place. It would be best to hover in whatever tiny motel room I’d be offered. I’d brought enough material for entertainment purposes for two days. All I’d need would be a bottle of wine and I’d be good to go.
Mr. Dmitriyev had handled business on his phone and laptop, but every few minutes, I’d felt the rush of fire tearing through me.
What few words he’d spoken had sent tingles through me from his light accent alone, but his deep voice penetrated a portion of my body in a way that was impossible to ignore.
I was doing Jeffrey a favor, the poor guy. He’d acted as if he could still continue with the damn flight. Thank God, he’d allowed me to call an ambulance, but not before begging me to take his job.
I’d almost laughed, but he was in a bind. So was the way of private pilots who worked exclusively for rich and powerful people. I knew nothing about who I was working for, the few words Jeffrey had gritted out in pain only giving me the basics.
Rich and dangerous.
Perfect.
Not what I needed in my life right now.
I had enough of looking over my shoulder on a daily basis. A few more details and I could leave my past behind.
The thought of a day lounging around a pool was sinful and exactly what I needed.
As images of the very handsome Russian entered my mind, I bit back a murmur as the wheels touched down. He wasn’t simply handsome. Vissarian Dmitriyev was drop-dead gorgeous.
Stunning short cropped blond hair and vivid green eyes the color of the Aegean Sea were just the beginning of his incredible GQ looks. With a body like a weightlifter, long legs and arms with broad shoulders, I could only imagine what he looked like with his shirt off.
And with everything else removed.
Oh, I could be such a bad girl in my imagination. How sad I followed one rule.
Never to become involved with my clients.
Not that I’d had many opportunities in the past. I’d been approached by a few passengers during my career, mostly from businessmen looking for an adventure, joining the mile-high club. If only they knew how uncomfortable fucking inside a lavatory could be, they would never consider the lewd act.
Still, if I had to be truthful with myself, I’d say that indulging in something completely out of my comfort zone might be good for my aching soul.
I taxied to the required location while slowing the engines. The jet was a dream, the controls fluid.
As soon as I’d pulled to a complete stop, I allowed a breath to escape, something I’d done from day one of landing my first plane. That had been a long time ago and what seemed like a lifetime away.
So much had changed, not every aspect for the better.
Maybe because my mother’s and stepfather’s murders were never far from my mind.
As expected, no one had been arrested. There’d been no evidence.
Yeah, right. Not that the detectives assigned to the case had worked very hard to locate the bastard responsible.
They were definitely under the Bruni thumb.
I pulled off my headset, unfastening my seatbelt. By the time I moved from the cockpit, Mr. Dmitriyev had already pulled his bag from the compartment, opened the door, and was securing the ladder.
“That’s my job, sir. You didn’t need to do that,” I told him.
“Nonsense. You were busy locking down the plane.” He grinned at me, taking another onceover just as he’d done when he’d stepped onto the plane. I’d seen the surprise in his eyes. I’d felt the electricity shooting between us, the heat burning deep within my core unlike anything I’d felt before.
Now the way he was looking at me created more than a feeling of discomfort between my legs. Being attracted to my client wasn’t going to allow me to obtain a restful night’s sleep.
Even his voice, a deep baritone, brought a wave of sinful images to my mind. Rough yet sophisticated.
“Grab your things,” he added. “After we get through security we’ll share my rental car.”
“No, sir. I’ll be fine.”
“No, sir. I like that, but it is not necessary. At least not at this point. I won’t take no for an answer.”
Was he flirting with me?
I did as he requested, suddenly feeling self-conscious in my uniform, something I’d never felt before.
He took long strides through the airport and I’d be damned if every person inside the terminal wasn’t parting ways, gawking at him as if he was a celebrity. Who was this man? Even with my long legs, I found it difficult to keep up with him.
“I’m certain we’re not going to the same hotel, but I have your itinerary and will return to the airport long before departure.”
Stopping short at the security and immigration line, he walked closer and as soon as he did, I was gifted a whiff of his incredible aftershave.
The combination of exotic woods, citrus, and spices were mixed with hints of danger and power.
The infusion of scents created a serious wave of tingles.
His neck was crawling with tattoos on both sides, bold lines in black disappearing under the collar of his shirt.
I longed to trace them to where they ended, envisioning they covered his muscular body. Everything about him screamed danger.
“I forgot that this is your first time handling a Dmitriyev.”
Why did his words sound so dirty and delicious? “I’m not sure what you mean.” Shocked the line was moving quickly, I slipped my hand into the pocket of my carryon, grabbing my passport.
“It means you stay where I stay. Jeffrey had the information on the resort where we’ll be staying and should have provided it to you.”
“I’m sure he did, sir, but he was in insufferable pain at the time.”
“Ah, yes. At some point, you’ll need to tell me how you know my friend. And please don’t call me sir or Mr. Dmitriyev. While I’m older than you are, I refuse to feel as ancient as my father. Plus, he’s not a very nice man. My name is Vissarian.”
While everything about his demeanor screamed of superiority, his touch of playfulness caught me off guard.
Yet I certainly couldn’t trust him. My instinct was on high alert.
I’d once asked Jeffrey about his well-paying private client and he’d refused to tell me anything.
Now I wished I’d pressed. Vissarian reeked of money, but more than that, he had an aura of danger.
“Why, yes, sir.” The words slipped past my mouth, which I was certain would annoy him, but his face lit up instead.
“I can see I just might have a force to be reckoned with. That should help make this trip easier to stomach.”
The line moved quickly. After I’d gone through with no issues, shoving my passport back into my suitcase, I noticed he was having a conversation with security. What was that about?
Vissarian kept a smile on his face, not arguing with the two men who were conversing with him. I finally understood what they were doing. He had something in his bag that had appeared on the scanners. If I had to guess, I’d say a weapon.
A few seconds later, he was allowed to pass. After adjusting his jacket and with a twinkle in his eyes, he slowly walked toward me. With his hand on the small of my back, he guided me up through the small airport.
Everything about his actions screamed of possessiveness. I wasn’t certain how I felt about that. We spent maybe three minutes at the rental kiosk and he had keys in his hand, the man behind the desk grinning as he darted his eyes back and forth between us.
“Welcome to Saba Island, Mr. Dmitriyev. I hope you and your wife will find your stay enjoyable.”
“Oh, I’m not…”
Vissarian gave me a look, commanding and soulful. “I’m certain we will. Let’s go, beauty.”
He’d strolled through the space as if he owned the place, more confident than any man I’d met, including Jeffrey who I’d more than once called an arrogant ass.
Once outside, I shook my head. “Why did you allow that man to believe we were together?”
“Why not? We’re in a tropical location and you’re a beautiful woman.”
“Translation. You hope the word will get around that you’re off limits.”
He burst into laughter. “Very intuitive, Ms. Zimmerman.”
“Fallon.”
The look he gave me was far too seductive. “Fallon. Perfect.”
“Why perfect?”
“Do you know what your name means, Fallon?”
He’d turned to face me as he’d done before, but this time, his closeness felt even more personal.
There was a softness to his words, every syllable extremely seductive.
The light breeze was trying to unravel the bun I’d haphazardly pinned much like it seemed he was trying to do with his deep voice and penetrating eyes.
If he thought I was that easy, he had another think coming.
“I must admit I do not.”
I’d be damned if he didn’t inch even closer, taking the time to slide the same strand of hair I’d been tugging at behind my ear. The closeness was electrifying.
“It means leadership, superiority, and being the descendant of a ruler. All evocative qualities. I’ll enjoy getting to know you. Perhaps we’ll share a drink later.”
When he backed away, I was left with an intense ache that I didn’t want and certainly didn’t need.
Yet I had a feeling as with everything else about the man, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.