Chapter Sixteen Anya
“What do you know about Vladimir?” Skylar asks when we get to my room.
I shrug. “I don’t know anything about him. Today was the first time I met him. You know as much as I do. Why?”
“Because he looks like someone I know back in New Orleans. I mean, he looks exactly like him, except for the eyes and how he dresses. The guy I know wears denim and leather, not expensive suits.”
“You think they’re related?” I ask her.
“I don’t know. They could be twins, but I didn’t know Hex had a brother, much less a twin.”
“Hex?”
“That’s his road name. He’s the President of the Demon Dawgs. They’re a motorcycle club in New Orleans.”
“How do you know someone in an MC? Did you do an episode with them or something?”
Skylar chuckles. “No, I don’t think they’d like that. Hex is with my best friend, Cleo.”
“Oh, the woman you mentioned? Cleo Golubrev?”
Skylar nods. “I’ve known her since we were kids. I met Hex and his club after they rescued her from…” Skylar trails off, thinking. “They rescued her from Vladimir Zoloth. He drugged her in an attempt to kidnap her.”
My eyes widen in horror as I consider the implication. “You think Vladimir was behind the attempt today?”
Skylar studies me. “Maybe. I don’t know the whole story.
I think I’ll call Cleo and ask her about Hex and Vladimir.
It’s odd because you and Cleo have much in common.
Physically, you could pass as sisters. Cleo was also the daughter of a wealthy and influential man.
It seems too much of a coincidence. Maybe the attempted kidnapping was to get your father to trust Vladimir. ”
“How do we find out the truth?” I ask, disappointed. Vladimir interested me. He was the only associate of my father’s who enticed me. He seemed like a nice guy. Was it just an act? Am I that lousy at picking men?
A knock on the door distracts me from my thoughts. When I call out, the door opens, and Nadia peeks in. “They found Rurik,” she said. “Mr. Zoloth and his men located the car and freed him. They’re bringing him back here.”
“Oh, what a relief! Is he okay?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out when he gets here. I just wanted you to know that he’s safe.”
“I’m coming with you,” I tell her, before glancing at Skylar. “You can come with us or stay here.”
“I’ll stay here. I want to call Cleo and see what she knows about Vladimir,” Skylar whispers to me.
I nod in agreement as I follow Nadia into the hallway and downstairs into the kitchen to wait.
We don’t have to wait long. Rurik comes in through the back door just as my father joins us.
Nadia and I fuss over Rurik while my father questions him.
Rurik isn’t alone; Vladimir and Dominic are with him.
“As I explained to Mr. Zoloth, I don’t know who attacked me. After dropping off Miss Stepanov, I was waiting at a stoplight when someone opened my door and dragged me out. He hit me over the head and knocked me out. I came to in the trunk of the car. I don’t know how long I was unconscious.”
“Maybe you should go to the hospital,” Nadia says as she places an ice bag on the back of his head.
“I’d rather not,” Rurik replies. “I’m not feeling dizzy or nauseated. I don’t think I have a concussion.”
“I’ll have the doctor come here and give you an examination,” my father insists. “No reason to take chances.”
Nadia gives my father a look of gratitude before she returns her attention to Rurik. I hide my smile because I know Nadia has had a bit of a crush on Rurik. He seems oblivious to her interest, but I’ve seen him looking at her with yearning. Sometimes I want to shout at them both for being clueless.
“Nadia, would you be so kind as to call the doctor and play nurse for our brave chauffeur?” my father asks. The twinkle in his eye tells me he’s just as aware of their attraction and maybe just as impatient as I am to see them together.
While Nadia rushes off to do my father’s bidding, I focus on Rurik.
“I’m sorry you got hurt because of me,” I tell him.
“No, I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to protect you. Vladimir told me about the attack. I see you made it home safely. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Three men rescued us and put us in a cab. We’re fine.” I glance at Vladimir to see my father speaking with him. Vladimir’s eyes flick to me before he nods at my father. I turn my attention back to Rurik, but when I glance back at Vladimir, he’s gone.
“The doctor is on his way,” Nadia says, returning to Rurik’s side.
“Why don’t we get you to your room, and the doctor can examine you there?” Father suggests. Nadia and my father carry Rurik between them as they leave the kitchen. I return to my bedroom to find Skylar sitting on my bed. She’s holding her phone as she stares at the wall.
“Everything okay?” I ask her.
Skylar jolts before turning her attention to me. “Yeah. Everything is fine. I talked to Cleo. She said that Vladimir is Hex’s twin brother. I guess their father kidnapped Vladimir from the hospital while Hex and their mother recuperated after their birth.”
“What? That’s horrible?”
“Yeah. Cleo said that Hex’s and Vladimir’s mother, Delphine, suffered greatly at the hands of her sons’ father, Maxim.”
“My father has mentioned Maxim Zoloth. Said he was a cold bastard who never cared for anyone but himself.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard, too. Vladimir is supposed to be different from his father. I’m not sure how much I believe that, though.”
“What about your friend Cleo? You said Vladimir kidnapped her?”
“Yeah, I asked about that. Cleo said it was a misunderstanding. Vladimir was trying to rescue her from his father.”
“She believes his story?”
“Yes. Maxim kidnapped Delphine and Delphine’s twin daughters. He planned to bring them here and offer them as a gift to your father. Vladimir helped them escape. Cleo is certain that Vladimir had nothing to do with the kidnapping attempt today.”
“You trust her judgment?”
“I trust her with my life. Cleo wouldn’t trust Vladimir on a whim. He brought Rurik home. He could easily have killed Rurik and claimed they found him dead. We’ll keep watch because someone tried to kidnap you.”
My father knocks on the door and opens it.
“The doctor has examined Rurik and agrees that he doesn’t need to go to the hospital.
However, he needs to recuperate. I’ve arranged for Vladimir's men to drive you. They’ll pick you up in the morning to take you shopping.
I’m having a dinner party tomorrow night, and I’ve invited everyone that I’m considering to fill Alexi’s position.
I thought you and Skylar could go shopping tomorrow and buy new dresses for the event. How does that sound?”
Terrible, but the expression on my father’s face keeps me from voicing my true feelings.
He looks hopeful, frightened, and pained.
I need to remember that he’s doing what he thinks is best for everyone in his organization.
Thousands depend upon him. He has to do what’s right for them.
Stability is what his organization needs, and that’s what he’s trying to give them by finding someone to fill Alexi’s shoes.
While I wish he’d leave me out of this process, I can’t ignore that in his way, he’s trying to do what’s best for me, too.
He just doesn’t realize that he’s destroying me instead of saving me.
“That sounds fine,” I tell him. “We’ll buy something beautiful to wear.”
He gives me a soft smile before leaving. I turn to Skylar and shrug at the look of exasperation on her face.
“I can’t betray him. He’s doing what he thinks is best,” I tell Skylar.
“He’s treating you like property,” Skylar insists.
“I know. Look, I can’t change anything right now.”
“We could plan for your escape,” Skylar says.
“How?” I ask, intrigued.
“Let me work on it and see if I can come up with a plan. I might be able to get you out of the country. If I can, would you go?”
I consider what it would mean to leave my home and venture out alone.
Would it be better than staying here and marrying someone I don’t love?
I’ve known several women in similar situations.
Women who were forced to marry to create alliances.
Could I abandon my father and embarrass him by running away?
I don’t think I can, but rather than give up completely, I nod.
“I don’t know if I can do it, but if you could find me a way out, I’ll consider it. ”