Chapter Eleven
After her eyes closed and her body relaxed against his bed, he stayed by her side. The last twenty-four hours had been beyond stressful and he’d not gotten much sleep. He had no idea when he would get a chance to sleep again. He wasn’t sure how long these pain meds would keep her asleep, but he guessed if she woke up to find him asleep, she’d sneak off on him. And with no Yury or Viktor here to keep an eye out, she would be able to easily escape. No, he had to stay awake and alert.
At least this morning she seemed to actually be awake. Yesterday, she’d been in this strange awake-but-not-awake state that freaked him right out. The doc had said it was shock, that she just needed time and rest. But it was scary seeing her staring out vacantly and not tracking anything at all. He’d stripped her and showered her before he got the doc up to look at her. The bruising showed that Rodger had caught her ribs when he’d punched her in the stomach, and he knew they’d ache for a while. Her elbow was also badly bruised. The doc was fairly certain it wasn’t broken, but it needed watching once the swelling went down.
With a groan, he forced himself to roll over and leave her to sleep in peace. He made his way down to the ground level of his home and stopped short when he found Yury in the kitchen, drinking a beer. And looking more worn out that Daniil felt, which was saying something.
“What’cha got for me?”
While he’d been babysitting Julietta, Yury had been down in the basement taking care of their newest guests. His friend stretched his neck out then took another long drink of his beer before he looked over at Daniil.
“Rodger’s a fuckwit. After you cut him off, he went to Tony.”
Yeah, because Tony was one of a very few who’d dare to refuse Daniil’s little announcement about doing business with Rodger. “Predictably, he lost the money, and Tony offered him a deal to pay it back.”
“Let me guess? He needed to deliver Julietta to him?”
Yury tilted his beer toward him as he nodded. “You got it. Tony told him once they had her, he’d let Rodger fuck her as much as he wanted, so long as he was rough and let Tony film it. Bastards were planning on sending you some new viewing material.”
Anger heated his blood, but he kept it under wraps at this point. “And what did Tony have to add to that little story?”
“Mainly he confirmed what Rodger had said, but also threw in a few other details. Like the fact Rodger told your girl about what you really do for a living. Stupid fucker couldn’t wait to tell me how you’d never get near her again after what they told her about what you do. Not sure what kinda damage they’ve done inside her head, D. Especially considering what you pulled before this shit went down, you might be best to cut her loose.”
The very thought of losing Julietta had his gut twisting in knots. With a growl, he spun and picking up a chair, and threw it against the wall, shattering the thing.
“She’s mine. I’m not losing her over this shit. No way.”
Yury was nodding at him, in that slow way people did when they thought a person was crazy.
“Okay, so you’re not cutting her loose. In that case, you better start thinking of ways to suck up to her, because if those two told her all you’re capable of, she’s gonna look at you like you’re a monster now.”
He winced. He’d thought she was still in shock earlier, but maybe it wasn’t anything medical. It was simply she was overloaded and not sure what to think about him. How the fuck was he going to fix this shit?
“I’ll work out something. You heading over to the hospital now? Or you still working?”
“Yeah, I was going to go check in with Viktor, see if he’s woken up yet.” He paused to drink the last of his beer. “They’re still breathing, if you want to go down there and work out some tension on them. Figure they can wait a few days before we finalize things. Bastards deserve to suffer, and if for some reason Viktor doesn’t make it, I want to be able to take my time pulling those fuckers apart.”
He shook his head on a chuckle. This was why he, Viktor, and Yury had bonded so well. They were made from the same cloth. Before he could respond, his phone rang. He pulled it out and when it saw it was a local number he didn’t know, he answered it. He didn’t normally, but with Viktor in the hospital and shit going down all over the damn place, he didn’t want to risk not taking the call.
“Mikhailov.”
“Um, hi. Is this Daniil?”
The female voice was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “Yes, that’s me. Who is this?”
“This is Jess, Juli’s friend. She didn’t come home last night. You know anything about that?”
He huffed out a breath, wondering how to respond to her. Played correctly, Jess could help him get back into Julietta’s good graces. He decided some truth wouldn’t hurt. Julietta’s injuries meant she’d have to tell people something when they saw the bruising. No way would she be able to surf for who knew how long. He needed to call them after he finished speaking with Jess to make sure she didn’t lose her job for not turning up.
“She was attacked up the coast while she was taking photos. I arrived in time to stop them from taking her, and she’s here at my home recovering.”
The string of curses that blasted back at him through the phone was not ladylike in the least, and he grinned. Girl had some fire in her.
“I thought you had a bodyguard on her all the time? Where the fuck was he when this happened?”
“I don’t know what happened exactly, but when I arrived my man had been shot and was unconscious. He’s still in the hospital.”
That left her groaning. “Can I come see her? Or is your place some super-secret location I’m not allowed to know?”
Apparently, she was a brave little thing as well as having some fire. That was a good thing. He was grateful his Julietta had someone like Jess standing beside her.
“I’m sure she’d love you to visit. Maybe you could bring her a few changes of clothes? I would like her to stay here until she is fully healed.”
He gave her his address and hung up, before turning to find Yury still there.
“Weren’t you going to the hospital?”
Yury shrugged, a little too casually. “I’ll wait until Jess gets here. Make sure no one else sneaks in the gates when she comes through. Then I’ll go.”
He frowned at his friend, but when the man stayed silent, he didn’t push things. Time would tell if Yury’s reason for hanging around was to protect his boss and friend, or to check out Julietta’s friend.
Things could get interesting.
****
Julietta’s body stiffened, and she held her breath when fingers stroked over her cheek and tucked her hair behind her ear. Had Daniil returned? What would he want from her now? Rodger’s words played through her mind. Was he really after her only to put her to work on her back?
“Oh, babe, what the fuck happened this time?”
Her breath whooshed out of her at the sound of Jess’s voice. She blinked open her eyes to find her friend lying beside her on the mattress, head on the pillow close in front of her. Tears pricked her eyes, and when the first one leaked out, Jess shuffled closer and wrapped her arm around her to hug her. Juli rested her forehead against her friend’s as she shuddered with her sobs.
“Shhh, you’re okay. It’s all over, and you’re safe now.”
She shook her head, and after a few minutes she managed to contain her crying enough to pull back a little and speak.
“No, it’s not. Nothing is okay. Not even a little bit.”
Jess pulled a tissue from somewhere and wiped her face clean.
“Tell me all that happened, and let’s see if we can work out a way to make it all right. Sound good?”
With a huff, she looked into her best friend’s eyes. Where to start? It was like this latest crap was just the icing on the cake of her shitty life.
“You know, I’ve often wondered if there was something wrong with me. Like, maybe if I was better, more lovable, Mum wouldn’t have killed herself like she did.”
Shock rippled over Jess’s face. “Oh, sweetheart, I had no idea you were still struggling with your mum’s death. It wasn’t your fault at all. It was all her. She’s the one who couldn’t love. You’re totally lovable. Not only are you beautiful and have great tits, but you’re funny as hell and always smiling. Everyone you meet loves you.”
She scoffed at that. “Yeah, I’m so lovable Rodger only wanted me for my great tits and money. Hell, strangers regularly think I’m nothing more than a nice rack and tight ass.”
More tears leaked out, and a sob cut off anything else she was going to say.
Jess pulled her in again for another hug, rubbing her palm up and down her back to soothe her as she cried some more.
“Babe, those strangers are just assholes. They don’t know a single thing about you, and you shouldn’t let their opinions matter to you at all. I guarantee you, your opinion doesn’t matter to them. Rodger’s nothing but an abusive addict. Gambling isn’t so different to drugs. Once addicted, a person changes. The only thing an addict like him truly loves is the thrill of whatever vice they’re hooked on. Focus on the people who do care. I’ve been by your side for seven years, and nothing is ever going to cut me out of your life, babe. I love you like a sister. In fact, I totally love you more than my sister. She’s a bitch, while you’re a sweetheart.”
That had Juli chuckling a little. Jess was right. Her baby sister was a spoiled brat and such a bitch.
“And what about Daniil? He’s saved your ass how many times now? Men don’t do that for just anybody, especially men like him. You know I hear all sorts of shit in the salon, and from what I’ve heard, that man doesn’t date. Ever. He’s a fuck ‘em, then leave ‘em kinda man. But with you he’s had to work bloody hard to even get you to go to dinner with him. You’re so fucking lovable you’ve converted a man-whore into boyfriend material. Be proud!”
She knew Jess was trying to make her laugh, but that one was a little too close to the bone.
“Rodger told me what Daniil does for a living, like the non-legit stuff. He’s a criminal, and kills people, maybe even sells them. I don’t want to be here with him.”
Jess wiggled back a little so she could hold my gaze.
“Okay, firstly, as I’ve mentioned before, Rodger is an ass-wipe. Nothing he says is worth shit. Secondly, I’ve just sat down and had coffee with Daniil. He’s really worried, and he cares about you. A lot. He has the money and time to keep you cared for and protected while you heal up. In your shoes, I’d stay here and soak it all up while I could. He hasn’t hurt you, has he? Tried to rape you?”
Jess’s raised eyebrow indicated she already knew the answer.
“No, he’s not done anything to hurt me. But I know he’s killed men. He’s admitted it to me. What happens if I get him mad?”
Jess chuckled. “Babe, trust me, you’ve frustrated him plenty in the last few weeks, and what has he done? He’s sent you flowers and presents. That man is whipped bad. And yeah, he’s a criminal. Hell, he’s one of the kings of Sydney, babe. Men don’t get to that position by polishing their halos. But if he was going to hurt you in some way, or use you, he would have done it by now. Hell, he could have snatched you that first day you met at the markets and no one would have known what happened to you. But he didn’t. How about you ask the man directly what he’s planning for you, rather than take the word of your ex, who you know lies and cheats?”
Juli sighed heavily. “Yeah. I hear you, but right now, it’s all too much. I don’t want to deal with any of it. I know it’s not like me, but I kinda just want to hide from the world and lick my wounds for a while, you know? Worry about all this shit some other day.” When I find the will to keep going, even though I have nothing much left in my life worth living for.
“You go for it, babe. After all the shit you’ve been through, I’m surprised you haven’t cracked before now. You take all the time you need. I’ll be right here for you, ready to help however I can.”
After that they just lay there silently. Jess stroked her hair and face a little, and when she began to rub her back, Juli drifted off to sleep again.