Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
ARMAN
G abrielle has shocked me, and that is very hard to do. It’s not the way she’s swearing like a trucker, either. It’s the panic in her voice and the chaos surrounding her. She is afraid and her words are her weapons of defense. It could be that, or it could be because I have never been spoken to like this before. I get what I want and people listen. They do what I ask, even if they don’t want to.
I’m stunned because I wasn’t expecting her to answer me back and definitely not with such a vulnerable edge to her voice.
She snatched her hand away as soon as she learned the true nature of the evening and I miss her touch already. In fact, rather than be angry about her outburst, I want to reassure her. To promise her that everything will be alright but I can’t. I can’t make those reassurances and so I say evenly, “I am here to protect you. I won’t ask you to do anything you are uncomfortable with.”
“How?”
Her voice shakes and I resist reaching for her hand because I am battling many things this evening, but none as hard as my desire for this woman.
“My father never shared. It was his rule that was expected.”
“Thank God for that.” She exhales sharply and leans back in her seat, breathing in and out deeply as if she is meditating or something.
“What are you doing?”
“Reaching for my inner zen to calm me down.”
She holds her hands up and starts moaning softly and I almost crash the car.
If anything, it makes me smile because Gabrielle surprises me the more time I spend with her.
After a few minutes, she says with more composure.
“Okay. Tell me your plan.”
“As I said, my father made it clear he wouldn’t share, and I am told he always left before things got out of hand.”
“That’s good. I’m okay with leaving, just so you know.”
I disguise my small twitch of a smile and continue. “We are here to steer the ship into calm waters and reassure the men they can trust us. That is all. You play your part as my escort and I will do my best to get us out of there as quickly as possible. ”
“Quick is good.”Her voice is calm, and she says softly, “Can I ask you a question, Arman?”
“Of course.”
I’m curious and she turns toward me and I hate that my eyes drift to her shapely legs where the dress has risen up, exposing her thigh.
“Have you ever been in love?”
“That’s a curious question, Gabrielle.”
“That’s not an answer.”
It makes me smile and I shake my head. “Then no. I take it you are referring to a person?”
“Of course.”
Her voice is soft and curious and the southern edge to it adorable.
“Me neither.”
She sounds sad about that, but I say nothing.
“I’m hoping I’ll experience it one day, though.”
“Then good luck with that.”
I’m already bored with the conversation because love doesn’t interest me.
“If I fall in love, I will have purpose.”
“You don’t need love for purpose. Make something of yourself. Rise to challenges and win all your battles. That is purpose. Nothing else is important.”
“I feel sorry for you.”
The sadness in her voice captivates me, but I don’t reply. She is entitled to her opinion and I don’t care what that is.
There are no more words spoken on the journey and as we turn into the sweeping drive through gates that announce we have arrived at Eglantine House, I shift my mind to the reason we are here.
We walk into the house hand in hand and as soon as we enter the huge formal reception room, Gabrielle tightens her hold.
“Mr. Romanov. Arman.” A portly gentleman approaches us, his hand wrapped around the waist of his escort for the evening, who regards us with open curiosity.
“Mr. Vanderwilliams.”
I offer him my hand and he says jovially, “Call me Joel. We are all on first-name terms here.”
“Joel.” I smile as I shake his hand and, as expected, he doesn’t bother to introduce his companion. His gaze lingers on mine though, and there is no mistaking where his attention now lies.
Gabrielle speaks up, “I’m Gabrielle, by the way.”
She smiles at his escort, who says nervously, “Iris, um, Mahoney.”
Joel turns to her and says loudly, “Fetch us a tray of champagne honey. Make yourself useful.”
Gabrielle’s grip is as powerful as the anger flashing in her eyes, and she says quickly, “I’ll help you.”
She tears her hand away and as she heads off with the escort, Joel leans in and says with a slight shake of his head. “It appears you have a spirited filly there. Nothing a good whipping wouldn’t cure.”
He roars with laughter and I physically ache to empty my revolver into his head, but I nod politely. “Of course.”
He calls across the room. “Michael, buddy. Come and meet Arman, Andrei’s son.”
The man who heads our way is a huge player in the stock market and one of the main ones here.
“It’s good to meet you, son.”
Rather than shake my hand, he slaps me on the back and I wish I was anywhere but here right now.
He turns to his companion and jerks his thumb to the door. “Go and freshen up. You have five minutes. ”
She scurries off, and he lowers his voice.
“Now we’re alone, I’ll tell you how it is.”
Joel nods, the cruel glint in his eye revealing how ruthless these men are.
“We don’t know you or your brothers but we knew your father well, and he was a good man. We only do business with good men and so we need to work out if that man is you.”
“How can I prove my loyalty?”
There is no point in offering words right now. It’s obvious actions count louder than them and Joel interrupts.
“There is an oil refinery wrapped up in red tape and overrun with protesters. You make it all go away and you’re in.”
It’s obvious this was discussed beforehand by the members of the club and is my test of sorts.
Michael adds. “We are aware that the real power behind the Romanov throne lies with your brother. As his messenger, it falls on you to make it happen. If you can’t, we can no longer help you because dealing with the unknown isn’t good business. Do we make ourselves clear?”
“Crystal clear.”
I take a moment and then say firmly, “Our father was a member of this club for a very good reason, and we are only aware of his membership now. He guarded his secret well and I can assure you of the same discretion. It’s in all our interests to work together and nothing will change except the man standing before you, representing the interests of our family. Business as usual is what you seek and is what you will get. Send me the details and consider it done. It’s well within our capabilities, but in return–”
I fix them with a hard glare of my own.
“We play by the same rules as my father did.”
As I speak, the women head back our way and Joel says jovially, “Not all of your father’s rules, I hope.”
His meaning is clear as he strips Gabrielle with his dirty thoughts and my voice is like steel as I hiss, “All of them.”
The possessive fury in my voice causes them to exchange a resigned look and Michael says with a sigh, “It must be a Russian thing. It’s a shame because your companion would be most appreciated by our members.”
Their eyes trip on her curves as she sways toward us, and I am regretting the choice of clothing already. The dress code was included in the invitation and now I can see why. These dirty arrogant men want it all handed to them on a plate and women are obviously part of that.
As they reach our side, Joel definitely makes his point as he grasps his escort’s dress at the hem and lifts it around her waist, revealing her naked body beneath and he stares at Gabrielle the entire time as his thumb caresses the woman’s clit and he says evenly, “Welcome to our club, we will look forward to getting to know you better.”