Chapter 15
B lack and white. The streets glistened where the snow had melted, reflecting the lights of the billboards on the black pavement. Frost laid on top of every surface the cold had touched, crystalizing and painting the city white. A thick blanket of snow had fallen overnight. Dead branches swayed and shivered, twisting in the wind, whispering to the silent city.
It was warm in the car, but I still felt cold sweat run down my spine. I pressed my hands between my thighs to stop myself from fidgeting. The headlights burned in my retina, shining towards the middle of the parking lot where my father was already standing outside with his entourage, dressed in black, fully armed and in position to greet our guest.
Logan squeezed my knee, slightly harder than was necessary. I bristle at his touch. Ever since that conversation, he had gotten more aggressive with his approach. He was clingy and more forceful than before. He was acting as if we were already married and I had to use every ounce of my charm and skills to keep him at arm's length but content, lest I anger him. It was getting harder every day to turn him down. Every kiss made the bile rise in my throat.
“Remember, Valentina, not a word.”
“I promised I would be good.”
His hand moved up my thigh, his thumb following the seam of my pants. I shuffled in my seat in an attempt to shake him off gently, but his hand carried on, till it rested on my hip, bruisingly. In my head I prayed he wouldn’t move any further.
“Well, just to make sure you keep your word, I placed snipers in the surrounding buildings.” His face turned into a sinister smirk and indicated towards the rooftops. I stared at him in horror, not wanting to believe what he said to me.
“What?” I squeaked, feeling my heart in my throat.
“You keep your mouth shut and the pretty boy gets to keep his head. Do you understand? One word out of your mouth and-” He imitated the sound of an explosion with his mouth while mimicking the effects with his hand next to his skull.
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly serious. Don’t test me, Valentina.” He replied, snaking his hands up my torso, cupping my breast. Mentally I willed my body not to recoil. I wanted to punch him so hard I had to hold on to the leather seat not to go through with it. He got closer, his breath fanning over the skin on my neck.
“You don’t need to do this.”
“I beg the differ. You have a tendency to fuck things up.” He nipped my lip, causing me to yelp.
“What are you talking about?”
I pushed him back and noticed him licking his lips, tasting my blood. No longer able to hide my fury, I scowled at him, but before I had a chance to do anything else, he reached for the door to unlock it.
“They’re here. Get out.”
Stumbling out of the car, I wrapped my coat tighter around myself, feeling the cold winter breeze whip my hair immediately. Everywhere I looked was concealed in the darkness. The endless cover of the clouds shrouding what would have been a beautiful star lit sky. The lights pouring out the windows created a patchwork of illuminated squares against the harsh shadows of the buildings. No sign of snipers, though, but I knew that was by design.
Logan moved beside me and I felt him press the parallel of a gun at my back. “Remember, not a sound.”
The tone in his voice was enough of a threat without the added pressure on my back, because what he had revealed in the cabin had already sealed my lips. Despite what had happened, despite everything we went through, I wouldn’t risk Jax’s life. He was the one thing I couldn’t sacrifice.
The headlights of the other caravan shined brightly, joining the already existing halo. My pulse was hammering a mile a minute in my throat almost deafeningly loud. Squinting, I tried to recognize any of the faces of the men stepping out of the vehicles. Only when I was almost certain this was a set up, I saw him .
He was as handsome as I remembered. Tall, dark and mysterious, the deep contours carving his face. The ember of his cigarette brought a red glow to his eyes. I bit my lip as our eyes locked. He was gorgeous and I cursed my treacherous heart for thumping faster because of it. Even now, even after all this time, I was still madly in love with him. And for a second, I thought I saw something in his expression too.
But just as fast, the moment was gone. He looked away and focused on my father, stepping forth, a respectable distance from everyone. The spotlight was on the two of them. Out of a habit, I played with the ring on my finger. The ring I hadn’t had the heart to get rid of. Not yet.
“Mr. Gregorovich.” Hearing his voice for the first time in almost a year was a shock to my system. Involuntary moan threatened to escape me. His voice was a low rumble, like velvet for my senses, bringing back all the memories of how it affected me. Damn.
“Mr. O’Hara. Priviet. Glad you could join us.”
“So, you’ve summoned me. Let’s skip the pleasantries.”
“Quite right. It’s rather cold out and I’m sure we would rather be at home than freezing our asses off.”
“Indeed.”
“Straight to the point then.” Vapors formed in the air as they spoke. “You and I both know your relationship with my Valentina ended abruptly due to some unfortunate circumstances.” To put it mildly.
“I’m aware. I thought the matter settled. We are not currently under a new contract nor do we have any joint business that need such insurance.”
Snowflakes got caught in my lashes but I didn’t dare to blink as I noticed a red dot that had appeared on Jax’s jacket. Shit. As the conversation carried on, more dots joined the first.
“My question is, do you wish to resume this marriage?”
“This is why you summoned me?”
“It had to be settled. For our families to keep on working together in good faith in the future, I had to be sure of your stance on the matter. It’s only good business. ”
“I believe my answer remains unchanged so it’s not up to me to decide. If Valentina wishes to return, she should speak for herself.” My name felt like daggers. He had never used my first name before. What did he mean by that? Is he trying to send me a message or am I just overthinking it?
“Well, do you, malyshka? Do you wish to return to your husband?” Both of them turned to face me. My father issued a silent warning but Jax remained unreadable, yet again. He was being cryptic when I needed him to be clear. For once I wished there would be no secrets between us. No more lies, no more guessing what the other one was thinking. I didn’t know what was real anymore.
Do I wish to go back to the man I loved?
Yes. The voice in my head screamed.
“ Shake your head. ” Logan hissed in my ear so no one else could hear and poked the barrel of the gun against my spine. The red dots on Jax’s jacket were aimed at his heart. Slowly, I complied, shaking my head from side to side. If Jax was disappointed, he didn’t show it as he turned away.
“This was a waste of time.”
“Glad we agree. Consider this matter settled once and for all. I do hope when we meet again it will be more beneficial to the both of us. Dasvidaniya.”
Jax didn’t meet my gaze again. He simply nodded to my father, motioned his men to retreat and climbed into his car. Logan might as well have shot me. I felt like a bullet had just pierced my heart. It was finally over.
This time, I didn’t cry. I had no more tears to give. As their tail lights disappeared into the frozen flurry, I accepted my fate. I feared I would no longer be able to deny Logan. He would have me with or without my consent. A bullet may have been more merciful.