Chapter Fifteen Vladimir
As soon as we’re in the car, I tell the driver to head over to the theater. He follows the directions Anya provided. As we search for Alexandr’s car, I pull out my phone and call Alexi.
“I take it you were the heroes who saved Anya?” I ask when he picks up.
“Yeah. After I walked the path I took that day, I wanted to go by the theater. I’m glad I did,” Alexi says.
“Did you recognize the men?”
“No, but there were Russians. We’re driving around looking for Rurik. I know he wouldn’t have left Anya alone. Something must have happened to him.”
“We’re searching for him, too,” I say. “Anya and her friend made it home safely. They’re with your father. We told Alexandr that we’d search for Rurik.”
“Where have you looked?”
I give him the directions we’re following, and Alexi tells us a few places he’s going to look before ending the call. We’ve been driving around for almost an hour before Alexi calls back.
“We found the car. Rurik was knocked out and put in the trunk.” Alexi gives us directions to where they are. When we arrive, Rurik is sitting inside the car with the door open. Alexi is nowhere to be found. As I pass the vehicle we’re renting, I see him sitting in the back. I nod as I pass by.
“You’re Rurik Andreyev?” I ask.
He nods. Someone gave him a bag filled with ice cubes. He has it pressed to the back of his head.
“What happened?”
“I was at a stoplight when a man rushed the car and opened my door. He knocked me out before I could defend myself. That’s the last thing I remember. Is Anya okay? I was supposed to pick her up.”
“She’s at home, and she’s safe,” I assure him. “Some men attacked her, but their efforts were thwarted. Do you want to go to the hospital? We can get you there. I can call Alexandr and let him know we found you,” I offer, taking out my phone.
“If you could call him, I would appreciate it. I don’t need to go to the hospital. I’ll take the car back, it’s my responsibility,” Rurik says.
“We’ll follow you,” I offer, nodding for my men to get back into their vehicle. I join Dominic as we follow Rurik back to Alexandr’s house.
Rurik insists on entering the house through the back door rather than the front. Dominic and I follow him inside to find Anya and the housekeeper waiting for him in the kitchen. Alexandr joins us immediately. Dominic greets the older woman as Nadia.
“Do you remember what happened?” Alexandr asks as Nadia grabs a bag of ice and presses it against the bump on the back of Rurik’s head.
Rurik tells Alexandr the same story he told us.
As he speaks, I watch Anya, who is hiding her grin as she watches Nadia fuss over Rurik.
With everyone’s focus on Rurik, I’m able to study the girl.
She has her hair tied back in a ponytail, and without makeup, she could pass for a teenager.
Our eight-year age difference seems much larger.
I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with my attraction to her.
Luckily, Alexandr distracts me by standing and gesturing for me to follow him.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for my family today. Our meeting was cut short. I wanted to invite you to a small dinner party I’m having here tomorrow night. I’ve invited all the men whom I’m considering. Would you be willing to attend?”
“I’d be honored,” I tell him.
“I have another favor to ask of you. Anya will need to go shopping tomorrow for a new dress; however, I don’t feel comfortable sending her without guards.”
“You don’t have men to watch her?” I ask in surprise.
Alexandr glances at Anya and then Rurik before returning his attention to me.
I can see the fear and suspicion on his face.
“I don’t know who to trust,” he admits. “Whoever attacked Rurik knew his routine. They were waiting for him. This wasn’t someone taking advantage of an opportunity.
They knew where he would be, and they knew when Anya was getting out of rehearsal. ”
I can think of several ways someone could have hijacked Rurik without inside information. Still, I can’t deny that I like the idea of being her guardian angel for the foreseeable future. She’s obviously in danger. I agree to his request without argument.
“Tell her that I’ll pick her up at ten-thirty tomorrow. We’ll go shopping, and I’ll take her out to lunch,” I say.
“Thank you,” Alexandr says.
“So, Anya was the target?” Dominic asks once we’re back in the car. I tell him about Alexandr’s request.
“It appears so. I wonder why and by whom? This is something my father would have done to coerce Alexandr.”
“Do you think your father hired someone here to kidnap Anya?”
I shrug. “Maybe. Although it is also possible that one of the other families ordered her abduction for similar reasons. Someone made certain that Alexi was taken out of commission. It isn’t a stretch to believe that the same person who orchestrated Alexi’s disappearance would want to have a second bargaining chip.
I don’t like it. We need to talk to Alexi and see if he learned anything during his excursion today. ”
We return to the hotel to find Alexi waiting for us in the suite.
“Did Rurik make it back to my father safely?” he asks.
I nod. “We followed Rurik home. He’s safe. He didn’t get a look at you, did he?”
Alexi shakes his head. “No, I stayed in the car while the others helped him. I didn’t want to risk it.”
“Why were you at the theater? I thought you were going to retrace your steps.”
“I did. I remember reaching the nightclub, but nothing after that. I can’t remember if I made it inside or not.”
“That doesn’t help us narrow down the suspects, does it?” Dominic states.
“What happened at the theater?” I ask.
“I wanted to see Anya. I knew she would be at the theater for the dress rehearsal. Once we sent those assholes into retreat, I separated myself from her. I got the cab and let your men help the girls.”
“I don’t think she recognized you,” I assure him. “She would have said something to her father. However, I have some questions about her friend. Have you met Skylar Prince before?”
Alexi shakes his head. “No, I’ve never heard of her. I don’t think she was friends with Anya before my abduction. Why? Is there a problem with her?”
“I don’t know. I just find it strange that she’s here and that she’s befriended Anya.”
“Who is she?” Dominic asks. “You recognized her. She seems familiar.”
“She’s an influencer, or something similar. She produces a travel vlog geared toward women. She travels the world and shares vacation tips for single women who travel. She gives them pointers on staying safe. It’s called a Prince Among Women.”
“You watch her show?” Dominic asks with a smirk.
I cuff him on the back of his head. “No, I don’t watch her show.”
“She is hot,” Dominic says.
“She’s friends with Cleo, my brother’s woman,” I say. “Hex mentioned that she was out of the country and hadn’t been in contact with Cleo. He said Cleo was concerned because she left suddenly. I find it odd that she’s here when all this shit is going down. It seems too coincidental.”
“You think she’s here for a different purpose?” Alexi asks. “Is she a danger to my sister?”
“No, I don’t think she’s a danger to Anya. You said she fought the men off today and protected Anya, right?”
Alexi nods. “She was pretty impressive. Anya was, too.” He smiles at the memory.
“Anya kicked her attacker in the crotch. He went down like a rock. Anya may look fragile, but she’s strong.
Her legs are as powerful as a jackhammer.
Her friend had some good moves, too. But if she teaches women how to protect themselves while traveling, you’d expect that, right? ”
“Yeah, I don’t think she’s a bad person, but the coincidence bugs me. She’s here during a pivotal situation with the Bratva, and she’s right in the middle of it. I’d like to know how she became friends with your sister,” I muse.
“Want me to find out?” Dominic asks.
I shake my head. “I’m going to call my brother and ask him what he knows.”
Pulling out my phone, I retreat to my bedroom and place a call to Hex.
“I was wondering if I’d hear from you,” Hex says when he answers the call. “Where are you?”
“St. Petersburg, Russia,” I tell him. “We’re staying at the Grand Hotel. Our ship landed this morning.”
“And how did our father enjoy his trip?”
I chuckle darkly. “He complained about his accommodations up until the minute we asked him to disembark in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Can’t imagine a more fitting end,” Hex says. “What about you? Have you risen from the grave yet?”
“I have. I met with Alexandr Stepanov and told him what Maxim had tried to do. He made all the right noises about how he would never have condoned his kidnapping Delphine and the girls, but since he’s offering his daughter’s hand in marriage along with control of his empire, I’m not sure how much I trust his word.
He may believe that the two situations are entirely different, but I don’t.
We didn’t get a chance to discuss it because his daughter, Anya, showed up and interrupted our meeting.
She told us that someone tried to kidnap her and her friend.
They escaped. However, I thought you’d be interested in her friend. It’s Skylar Prince.”
Hex sucks in a breath. “Seriously? What is she doing in Russia?”
“I don’t know. It’s one of the reasons I called. Did you know Skylar was here?”
“No, but I don’t pay attention to Skylar’s schedule. I’ll talk to Cleo when she returns and let you know what she says. Do you suspect her of something?”
“No, I just don’t like the coincidence of her being here at this time and befriending Anya, who is at the heart of this situation. I know it is supposed to be a small world, but this seems awfully small.”
“I agree. It could just be a coincidence. Skylar travels to many places. I’ll contact you once I speak to Cleo. She and Delphine are out with Lake’s woman.”
“Lake has a woman?”
“You met her, Olivia.”
“Right. How did your trip to Ireland go?”
Hex spends the next fifteen minutes telling me about the meeting between Dixie and Sigil.
I’m glad to hear that he wasn’t sanctioned for faking my death.
Hex also tells me about the recruits he’s brought over from Ireland, Dixie’s adopted brothers.
When I hang up, I realize that the stilted relationship between Hex and me has morphed into something more akin to family than strangers.
I’m grinning when I return to Dominic and Alexi.