Chapter 6
Chapter Six
“You can’t do this.” Saskia tried to sound tougher than she felt.
Radik wasn’t paying attention to her, he was barking at his people, ordering them to prepare the jet.
“Jet?” she repeated faintly. Where was he taking her?
To the doctor, Radik said, “Zander, I thank you for answering my summons quickly. I am grateful, my friend.”
Saskia didn’t think anyone would ignore a summons from Radik, but as the two men embraced each other, she realized their relationship went deeper than just doctor and client.
“If you need anything at all, please call,” Zander said, winking at Saskia. “I will come.”
“Uh, thanks for patching me up.”
Zander gave her a crooked smile, pulled a card from his wallet and handed it to her before leaving.
Saskia tucked it into her pocket, then realized what she was wearing, blushing over her belly-baring bustier. She probably wouldn’t have chosen bar-star chic if she’d known she was about to be reunited with her stalker.
“I can’t go with you,” she tried again, but Radik walked away from her, leaving her in the living room, his staff buzzing all around. “Hey, come back here.” He returned with her jacket, a jacket she had last seen hanging in the closet of her hotel suite. “Did you go through my things?”
Ignoring her question, he put the jacket on her, tucking her arms through the sleeves as though she were a child.
“Stop it,” she grumbled stepping away from him. “I’m warm enough.”
“It’s too cold out for your…” his eyes dropped to her cleavage then lower, lingering on her belly button ring. “Shirt.”
She zipped the jacket to her throat.
“It’s kidnapping to just grab a person from the street and decide to keep them. Even if you did save them.”
He took her arm and shuffled her out of the way as his employees rushed past them, bags in hand. One of those bags belonged to Saskia.
“Hey, that’s mine.” She reached for it, but it was whisked away before she could touch it.
“I didn’t grab you from the street, I carried you unconscious out of a basement,” Radik said.
“Semantics.”
“You prefer I’d left you there?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m grateful you took care of me in my moment of need, but I don’t owe you myself as payment. If you want compensation, take me to an ATM. I’ll get you some money.”
As soon as the words were out, she regretted them. Well, not so much the words, but Radik’s reaction. Though not a muscle moved in his face, it was like a thundercloud passed over him. His voice was soft, but steely as he said, “You need to be more careful with your words.”
A shiver ran down her back and she was tempted to step away from him, but he still had hold of her arm. “Gotcha, you don’t want my money.”
“Or your cousin’s,” he said, his lip lifting in a sneer, his gaze darkening as he mentioned Jozef. “So don’t bother offering a ransom.”
“I wasn’t going to,” she snapped defensively, but she definitely had been about to offer up Jozef’s vast wealth for her freedom.
The apartment quieted around them and she realized Radik’s staff had disappeared.
“It’s time.” Radik led her to the door, picking up her laptop bag from a table that had a vase full of fresh lilies and handing it to her.
Grateful to have it, she pulled the strap over her head and tucked the bag against her side before glancing over her shoulder at the interior of Radik’s apartment. “So if you don’t live here, what is this place? An Airbnb or something?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I have many places around the world. Wherever I spend time.” At her frown, he added, “I prefer the comfort of my own space over a rental or hotel.”
Something they had in common, except her salary didn’t allow her to purchase apartments all over the planet. Actually, it wasn’t entirely true that she couldn’t afford it. She had her portion of her parent’s estate, but she was trying to make it on her own. She’d save the rest for retirement.
Radik led Saskia to the elevator, which was just outside the apartment door. Looking around, she realized his was the only apartment on the floor. Fancy. Radik’s bodyguard stood next to the elevator, pressing the button as they approached.
“Saskia, this is Shola. If you need anything, you will let her know.”
Saskia stared at the tall, athletic woman.
Her head was as bald as Radik’s, but the look was more delicate on her.
It suited her, gave her a warrior-like appearance.
She wore tight black jeans, combat boots, and a green jacket with multiple pockets.
There was a lump at her hip under her jacket where her gun was probably located.
“Nice to meet you,” Saskia said, sticking her hand out.
Without making eye contact, Shola gave Saskia’s hand a quick squeeze. “You as well.”
Saskia looked between the two, wondering if Shola had a thing for Radik. Why wouldn’t she? Radik was a powerful man, and the two probably had way more in common than Radik and Saskia.
Jealous, Saskia, you’re just jealous and making assumptions. She internally smacked herself.
The three of them stepped onto the elevator and Shola hit the button for the ground floor. Saskia stared at Shola while Shola stared at the elevator panel. Radik’s eyes were on Saskia, and when she side-eyed him, his lips lifted into a smile.
“Stop looking so smug,” Saskia snapped, though the smile definitely did something to her insides. “Havel, Leeza, and Jozef are probably already on their way and I’ve seen what they do to people who mess with the family. They won’t be happy about you forcibly taking me away from Pretoria.”
Shola grumbled something and her shoulders stiffened as though she was offended by the idea of Saskia’s family threatening Radik.
Radik said something to Shola in Afrikaans, too fast for Saskia to catch. Shola nodded, her eyes remaining straight ahead.
Radik stepped in front of Saskia, cutting off her view of Shola. Well, her view of everything really.
“How tall are you?” she asked, then bit her tongue. Stop being interested in the kidnapping stalker, Saskia.
He grinned, his teeth flashing in the light, giving him a sinister pirate look. “I’m six foot five,” he said, not in a boastful way. “And your family doesn’t scare me.”
“Why?” she demanded. “You know of Jozef’s nickname, right?
He’s the Guard Dog of Prague. He’s vicious and he doesn’t stop when he has someone in his sights.
” Her heart sank. She wasn’t posturing. Jozef really was a stone-cold killer and he would come for Saskia.
Even if he didn’t love her like as sister, which he did, it was a matter of honour.
No one fucked with a Koba and lived. As big and battle-hardened as Radik was, she didn’t see him being able to defend against Jozef, Havel and their Bratva allies.
Radik lifted his hand, reaching for her face, but he stopped, his fingers hovering in the air. “May I touch you?”
She was surprised by the question but nodded. Maybe she shouldn’t let him, but there was something about such a dominant person asking for permission. It melted her.
His fingers brushed her cheek and she closed her eyes, inhaling, drawing in his warm, masculine scent.
Cigar, sweat, and… pancakes? She must be hungry.
He wrapped his long fingers around the back of her neck and drew her closer, pulling her toward him until they were inches apart, her nose almost brushing his chest.
Her heart lurched, pounding in her chest like an out-of-control sonata. Her palms sweated and her breath hitched.
His breath grazed her forehead as he bent over her, speaking in her ear.
“It’s our time now, Saskia Koba.” His lips touched the tip of her ear, sending a shudder down her spine.
“No guard dog will stop what is happening between us. I won’t allow it.
” Radik stepped away from her and her breath came out in a gasping rush.
He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “You understand?”
She stared at him, reading his expression. There was resolve, determination, and… and… love… maybe.
“I understand,” she whispered. But she didn’t have to accept the situation. No more words left her mouth though, no denial, no threats. She didn’t have it in her to argue with that powerful stare.
God, was this how he warlorded? Just stared down his victims until they gave him whatever he demanded?
She noticed the elevator wasn’t moving anymore and wondered how long they’d been on the ground floor.
Radik turned to face away from Saskia, blocking her view again, but this time with his broad back.
He nodded at Shola who lifted her finger from the elevator lock button.
As soon as the doors slid open, Shola stepped out, her head swinging from side-to-side, her hand at her hip as she scanned the area before nodding at Radik.
Radik took Saskia’s hand and strode from the elevator, pulling her with him. She had to jog to keep up as they headed straight through the lobby and out the front doors. A long, dark SUV sat at the curb waiting for them, the door open, a man standing next to it.
“Saskia, this is Nuani, my second-in-command,” Radik introduced her as the man nodded at her.
Radik pulled Saskia between him and the door, shielding her from both the sidewalk and the street. She slid into the car. Radik followed her.
“Are we in danger?” she asked, reaching for her seatbelt.
Radik brushed her fingers aside and buckled it for her, adjusting it around her chest. She raised a brow at him.
“We don’t know who attacked you at the hotel, or why,” Radik replied, buckling himself in next to her. Though there was a seat in between them, he was such a large man, his thigh still brushed against her as he spread out. “Until we have more facts, I’m not taking any chances with your security.”
Saskia let out a heavy sigh. “Welcome to my life,” she mumbled. “Protected whether I want it or not.”
His brows lowered into a formidable frown. “You resent my protection?”
She pondered the question then shook her head. “I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I really do appreciate that you came to my rescue, but despite all appearances, I can take care of myself.”
“You had no gun in your luggage, unless it was lost when you fought the Russians.”
Damn it, he was as bad as Havel. “I don’t bring my gun to work with me.” Her tone was cranky. Why wasn’t it obvious to these guys that a diplomatic translator shouldn’t be carrying weapons? Oh right, because they were mafia to the core.
One of his brows lifted. “Ayaan tells me your hand-to-hand is less than mediocre and you have little to no skill with most weapons.”
Ouch. “Your sister has a big mouth.”
Radik grinned at her. “Why do you think I sent her away?”
Saskia burst out laughing, surprised she had the capacity for humor after everything that had happened.
Radik’s gaze lingered on her lips as his answering smile slowly faded. “She tells me about you because she loves you. She considers you her best friend.”
Saskia smiled softly. “I feel the same about her. She’s been a solid friend from the first moment I met her at the gun range.” She mentioned the gun range to remind him that she could take care of herself.
The car came to a halt and the engine cut. Saskia glanced out the window. They were parked next to a jet. It was smaller than Jozef’s, could maybe fit twelve people, but it was luxurious.
She gripped Radik’s arm. “Please, Muhammed, you can’t do this.” She purposely used the name Ayaan called him to connect with him on a human level. “I need to go home.”
He looked down at her hand, then covered it with his own, squeezing gently. “I like it when you call me by my birth name.” His gaze pierced hers and all thought fled. “You are home, my love.”
His love.
Was she really?