Chapter Seven
Ivan
My “business” was finding and talking to her father. I know all about Ambassador Jason Walker. He is a good man, a patriot. He just doesn’t have all of the facts.
In the lobby, I get on one of the reservation computers and figure out that he booked a room for one night. I leave the reception area and take the elevator to the fifth floor. I knock on the door to room 525, when it opens, I am greeted by a shirtless Mr. Walker. It is one of our deluxe suites.
“What the fuck do you want, Dobrev?” He says taking another drink from his glass of whiskey. He looks like he has had quite a few in the hour or so since he was in my room.
“I wanted to talk to you about Destiny, Sir.” I say.
“What could you possibly say that she did not?” He says, gesturing me inside and closing the door.
“I’ve just found out some more information about my parents. My cousin had my parents killed to get their money. Apparently, his plan was to kill all of us. Mikhail was shot, but Natasha and I were still at school. So, we were spared. He’s sent my sister over to another island thinking that they would either arrest her or kill her.”
“That very well maybe, but your parents had ties to the Bratva. I don’t want that for my daughter.”
“With all due respect sir, I think a lot of people in Russia have ties to the Bratva. Given the history, I’d say it is inevitable.”
He lets out a huge belly laugh. “I suppose you are right. How the hell did you even meet Destiny?”
“Well, it is a long story. The short version is my brother wanted her friend and I was to put Destiny in a room until my brother got what he wanted.”
“So, you are just using my daughter to pass the time?” He asks.
“Of course not.” I say outraged. I have to remember he is about to be my family. “That was the original plan. As I spent time with her on the plane, I just knew.” I finish.
“Mrs. Walker and I were the same way. We met at a holiday party the State Department puts on every year. I married her within two weeks. This is the first time we have had separate assignments in eighteen years. Thankfully, Jacinda’s post is only six months. She will be here tomorrow. I was going to have her try to talk some sense into Destiny, but I see that will be pointless.” He makes himself another whiskey. He pours me one and hands it to me. I drink it to be polite, but I prefer vodka.
“I love your daughter, Sir. I want to marry her.”
“Enough of this Sir shit. Call me Jason.”
“Jason. Do I have your blessing?”
“You do, but I want it on record that I am still concerned about this Bratva business.”
“Trust me, Jason. There is no Bratva business as far as my family is concerned.
“That’s what I like to hear. Another whiskey?”
“Sure.” I say. We spend the next hour talking about Destiny as a child. I learn a lot about my girl.
“I am going to head back. I have to take Destiny to my brother’s. Marisol wants to have dinner with her.”
“I should have known the friend was Marisol. Her and Destiny are never more than a few feet apart. This must be killing them. I mean since elementary school, joined at the hip.”
“I’ve heard that.” I say, standing. I shake his extended hand and leave the room. I have to go back down to the lobby to get into the penthouse elevator. When I finally get back upstairs, I notice a flower pot has been tipped over.
“Destiny?” I call out. I feel a sense of dread as I search throughout the suite. The sheets are rumpled, the way they were when I left. The only difference is a large pool of blood on the bed. I run my hand over it, it is still damp.
“God dammit.” I say, as I pull my phone from my pocket. I call Mikhail. “Is Destiny there?” I demand.
“No brother. She isn’t. What’s going on?”
“Someone has stolen her from our room. There is so much blood.”
“Calm down. Call Peter. There are only a few places she can be.” I know he is right. Besides the hotel, there is the big house over on the other side of the island. A small cabin, the outbuildings for the kitchens, and staff quarters. There are twenty small houses on two “streets” about fifty yards to the northwest of the hotel. To the south is the water. I pray that she isn’t in the water. That I can find her in time. That I can steal her back. I realize I should let her father know.
We search everywhere until it gets dark. The security team had to call the search off. I want to keep going but I know that it will do no good. This is the first night I’ve spent without her since I met her.
As I pace my room all night, I realize I will burn this island to the ground to get her back.
I just hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, I am prepared to do what needs to be done.
◆◆◆
The next morning dawns and of course I am no closer to finding her. I head down to the lobby. I am grabbing a cup of coffee when Stavros, comes up to me.
“Morning boss. I know you have a lot going on right now, but Stacia never showed up, so I haven’t been able to fire her yet. She wasn’t in her quarters either.”
“Are you telling me that Stacia is missing too?” I demand, grabbing him by the shirt.
“That is what I am saying.”
At that moment, Jason and who I assume is Mrs. Walker run up to me.
“Any news?” Jason asks.
“Nothing concrete. An employee who has been giving her trouble is also missing.”
“What can we do to help? I’m Jacinda, Destiny’s mom.”
“All we can do right now is wait.” I say, extending my hand for her to shake.
“None of that now. From what my husband says, we are about to be family.” She says as she pulls me into a hug.
“We are.” I just need to find my bride.
“Sir? Mr Dobrev?” Mischa, a security agent, shouts as he runs up to me.
“Yes?” I reply. For the first time, I begin to hope.
“We’ve found her. Not far from here.”
I take off at a run. When I find her in a tool shed, she is black and blue, but she is alive.