Chapter 18
Vissarian
I took a deep breath before sliding the keycard into the lock, waiting for the green light.
My emotions were still all over the place. I’d gotten very good at masking them over the years and suddenly, I was right back to where I’d been fifteen years before.
Not just because of the past, but also because I’d already started developing feelings for Fallon.
Even so, I couldn’t ignore what I’d been told. Maybe she had no clue she’d fallen into something that had started so long ago. But if she was playing me, using me, she would pay a price.
Fuck.
Thunder rolled behind me. I took a quick glance at the darkening sky. I’d made the determination that we would get off the damn island at some point tonight. Now a weather system was rolling in quickly. We’d need to leave immediately or we’d be forced to wait.
And damn it, I needed answers to the questions almost paralyzing my mind.
Why hadn’t I paid more attention to the weather forecast and the possibility of a tropical storm?
Because in my mind, I was fucking invincible. Maybe that wasn’t entirely accurate. I’d simply adopted the concept that if I died, so the fuck what?
Right now, I wanted nothing more to do with Saba Island or the Hoffman Group. One way or another we would leave.
The silence inside the cottage was unnerving. It was also telling.
Fallon Zimmerman wasn’t who she’d pretended to be.
The realization hit me harder than I could have imagined. For a few seconds, I felt winded.
I don’t know what reasoning I had for thinking that she’d still be waiting for me inside. Maybe I’d believed she’d felt something too.
But as usual, I was wrong.
The dog was gone, the interior appearing as if no one had been inside except for me. There was also no note. When I noticed the shirt I’d been wearing the night before now folded and placed on the suitcase, I paused, detecting a hint of her perfume.
She’d played me damn well, so much so I’d been like putty in her hands. I had to give her credit. She was a damn good actress.
However, she was captive, my captive and she would tell me everything she knew.
Glancing at the items in my hand, I half laughed. I’d fucking spent a few hundred dollars. On Bella. It dawned on me how ridiculous doing so would seem even to her. However, I knew the reason deep inside.
Bella reminded me of the puppy Megan had found, insisting we adopt and care for it.
Fuck me. Were my emotions simply being played?
It was funny about the timing of the dog suddenly needing rescue.
Or was I just falling prey to some crazy conspiracy theory?
This was getting ridiculous. First things first.
Answers from the beautiful yet potentially dangerous woman.
Exhaling, I dropped the items. Fallon would talk to me whether she wanted to or not. After slamming the door, I immediately headed to her cottage.
What the fuck?
A dog barking.
Not just barking. Growling.
Bella.
My hackles rose. Something was wrong.
A rumble of thunder mixed with the sounds the dog was making, pushing me further onto an edge. My thoughts had gone from fury about Fallon playing me to concern she was being attacked.
The moment I was yards away, I heard two people bickering.
Immediately, every muscle tensed.
With several long strides, I was in front of Fallon’s cottage and without thinking or a moment of hesitation, I grabbed Ludolf’s arm, jerking him away from where he had Fallon pinned against her door, his hand wrapped around her arm.
I snapped my hand around his throat, slamming him against the exterior more than once. I fucking lost count and didn’t care. While he was obviously dazed, the fucker made the mistake of smiling at me.
“Vissarian. Don’t!” Fallon exclaimed, but I wasn’t interested in paying any attention.
So I jerked him off the concrete, squeezing his throat until I knew for certain the man could no longer breathe.
Bella continued to bark although her intensity lessened.
“Jesus,” Fallon muttered.
While Ludolf appeared surprised, his expression was quickly replaced with a knowing smile. As if he’d anticipated my reaction.
“We should talk,” he managed even with the pressure I was putting on his neck.
Fallon immediately scrambled to pull the dog into her arms, backing away and for a split second I witnessed a moment of anguished fear.
“Talk? I doubt you want to spout the truth so what’s the point? However, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” My bark was low-slung, but loud enough I could tell he heard my question.
Fallon shrank back, taking several deep breaths. “Don’t. Vissarian, just stop. I’m fine.”
“No. He was hurting you. That is unacceptable.” With another snarl, I turned my head toward her.
Her face was pinched, the lovely woman standing in shorts and a tee shirt, her hair in a long ponytail, shaking her head. But her features softened and she placed her hand on my arm. “Don’t. He was… He was warning me.”
“Against what?” When she bit her lower lip, I returned my attention to Ludolf. “What were you warning her against? Me? Some fucking Italian syndicate? Or yourself?”
Bella whined, trying desperately to free herself from Fallon’s hold.
Ludolf’s face was turning red. What did I care? Allow the fucker to suffer. I had to admit, I was surprised he wasn’t fighting me. I drove him against the wall two more times.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Ludolf, but it will not work. You have information I need and you will supply it.”
“Then work with us,” he gritted out, the bastard still wearing the same smirk as if this was enjoyable to him.
In that moment, I realized what he’d been doing.
He’d been testing my feelings regarding Fallon.
The moment he’d seen us together, he’d known it would be an excellent method of determining if I could be swayed.
“Whatever you’re really selling has little to do with real estate. You’re trying to develop a super alliance of powerful men who could easily handle any opposing organization. At my expense. Playing with my emotions. Meanwhile, you don’t do shit.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Your father knew and respected the important work. Talk with him, Vissarian. I’ve done what I could, but there are others who won’t honor the brotherhood.”
Brotherhood. The term was constantly being tossed around as if every criminal organization had one. Bullshit. Most were bottom feeders who didn’t understand the honor of serving, the need for respect. He was hiding one too many details.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” My demand was merely a growl.
“I can say no more. Unless you agree.”
I smashed his head against the building once again.
“Stop!” Her cry was louder than before. “Just let him go. Vissarian. You don’t want to do this. He’s not worth it.”
She was right about that.
Exhaling, I released my hold, allowing him to drop. Even as I backed away, I kept my harsh glare.
“Talk, Ludolf.”
He took the time to adjust his tie, his gaze shifting from my look of anger to Fallon’s face of anxiety.
“You need to ask yourself what really happened fifteen years ago.”
Right now, all I wanted to do was to take out fifteen years of rage on the man. I chose not to simply because Fallon remained two steps away. “Whatever this is, Ludolf, I want no part of it.” I remained close, finally pulling my weapon into my hands so he knew I meant business.
He took a deep breath, adjusting his tie.
“Die Vergangenheit wird sich immer wiederholen.” With that, he pushed me back, walking away.
German was one language I knew little of, but it was obvious by the look on Fallon’s face she knew exactly what he’d said.
Exhaling, as the first drops of rain began to fall, I forced myself to keep from falling into the ugly despair that had tainted my life.
When I took a step closer to Fallon, she pulled Bella closer, creating a wall between us and even took a step backward. It was impossible to tell whether she was more terrified of Ludolf accosting her or that I’d returned.
“Put your gun away, Vissarian. Please.”
After a few seconds, I did as she asked. I shoved my hands into my pockets, looking away briefly. “What did he say, Fallon? I need to know.”
“I have no clue.” Her voice was shaking.
“My mother taught me the importance of paying very close attention to people, especially in moments of duress. She believed that trained observation skills allowed for almost anyone to know when they were in danger or if something was wrong.” I returned my attention to her, taking a few seconds to stroke Bella, who extended a paw, gently placing it against my chest.
“What do you mean?”
She was genuinely terrified and confused. Maybe I was wrong about her involvement. Fuck. This was getting out of hand.
“It means you know exactly what he said to you. As I was just reminded, I can’t help you unless you talk to me.
” Her entire face was furrowed, but her eyes told me she was as haunted as I was.
Fuck. This wasn’t anything that I’d expected.
“Fallon, we might not know each other, but you need to trust me. Even if you don’t, you will talk. I need to know who you are.”
“Who do you think I am?” Her look of confusion intensified.
The rain continued to fall, thunder rumbling in the distance.
“Someone the Hoffman Group has great interest in.”
“I don’t know that man. Other than yesterday, I’ve never seen him before. What does he want with me?”
“Maybe you haven’t seen him, but you are hiding something from me. I am possibly the only man who can help you. I’m definitely the only man who can protect you. If you talk to me.”
“Protect me? From what?”
“From the same people who want to destroy me.” At least I was being honest.
Her hold on Bella tightened. “If I trust you when I don’t even know you.
Right? Why do men always spout off about trusting them?
Usually, that means to follow them around blindly while they destroy you.
” She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Dmitriyev. I should remember my place.
We don’t know each other. You have your business and I have mine.
Thank you, but I don’t need your help. I’ve told you before. I can take care of myself.”
God. Whatever the hell was going on appeared to have Fallon smack in the middle of it.
Or perhaps vice versa. Was it possible she was as much in the dark as I was?
I’d need to follow my instincts and right now, they were telling me whatever she’d been through only a couple of weeks before she’d been running from. Jeffrey had provided the perfect out.
The question remained if she’d been sent to encourage me into joining this brotherhood.
When I crowded her space, she tried to look away, but I cupped her face tenderly, rubbing my thumb across the bruise she’d done her best to cover. “Who hit you, Fallon?”
The hint of shock was quickly masked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
How long had it been since I’d felt the need to be gentle with anyone?
The pain I’d suffered had turned me into an angry man with zero patience.
Even though a huge part of me remained concerned her sudden appearance had been a ploy, the thought of anyone touching her let alone causing harm kept me enraged for an entirely different reason.
“There’s a yellow bruise on your cheek, which means the brutal punch to your beautiful face was done ten to twelve days ago. The fact you’ve winced every time I’ve touched you indicates the hit was extremely savage. If I had to guess, I’d say done by a male.”
“You don’t think women can dole out brutal punches?”
“I think women can do anything they want, but dangerous men will stop at nothing to destroy anything and anyone who gets in their way.”
She jerked her head away, immediately touching her face. “Does that include you?”
The moment of tension was palpable. “There’s no reason to lie to you, Fallon. I’ve done some things I should regret.”
“Yet you don’t.”
“No, I don’t, but I had my reasons for doing them.”
Her mouth twisted and I could tell she was holding back saying something to me. “I can’t trust you, Mr. Dmitriyev. I’ll get you back to Miami safely, but I won’t consider being your pilot again.” She managed to open the door to her cottage, but before she could escape, I grabbed her wrist.
“There’s a reason you’ve been targeted by Ludolf Hoffman. He mentioned you were of importance.”
She laughed. “Me? I’m a pilot. I live a decent life. I pay taxes and support human rights.”
“Who are you?”
“You’re hurting me.” Her teeth were gritted.
Goddamn it. She wasn’t going to budge. I rubbed my face with my other hand. It was time to use other tactics. The craziest thing was that I should feel nothing but anger, interrogating her as I would any enemy.
Yet I didn’t feel that way.
Seeing the look in her eyes, the horror on her face and knowing something had injured her pulled out every emotion I’d thought dead. Hell, that I’d wanted dead and buried. And why? To protect myself, my ridiculous feelings. To hold onto grief as I’d been doing for years.
For the first time in so goddamn long I felt something other than anger and hatred.
“I’m not trying to hurt you, Fallon, but I am trying to get some answers.” The fucking wind was driving me crazy. I knew the best thing to do was to get the hell off this island.
“I’m exactly who I said I was.”
“Jesus, woman. I’ve been honest with you and you’re right that we don’t know each other. Do you have any idea how long it’s taken me to do that?”
“You lost someone.”
“Haven’t we all?” I admitted.
“Yes,” she said so quietly I strained to hear.
Another deeper rumble of thunder was followed by a series of lightning flashes jetting across the sky. She blinked several times and while the light was shadowed, I could swear she had tears in her eyes. With Bella fighting to get free, Fallon pulled the pup closer, nuzzling the top of her head.
“The past will always repeat itself.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“That’s what he said. The words were chilling, as if he had a crystal ball in front of him and was able to tell the future. But I need to ask a question, Vissarian.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Was he talking about your past or mine?”