“THERE BETTER BE a damn good reason why you requested to see me in broad daylight,” Nikolai said as he joined me where I was standing at a cliff, high above the water’s edge, which could only be accessed on foot.
Although it had taken me an hour hike to make my way through the foliage, it was one of the few spots I could ensure I wouldn’t be followed.
“There is,” I replied. “Hope you made sure you weren’t followed by any of your men,” I quipped.
Nikolai sent me a scornful look, so full of fire exactly like Mikhail. “Don’t insult me. No one follows me unless I want them to and I always cover my tracks, had to cover up some of yours, too, you’re getting sloppy, Hendrik,” he chided.
“Nice try. You didn’t cover up mine, it was probably some animal’s tracks,” I laughed.
“I don’t have much time before someone realizes I’ve gone missing and sends out an alert,” Nikolai replied impatiently.
“Fine, then let’s get down to it,” I said getting serious. “Mikhail told me that when he broke into your compound you put a gun to his head. I thought you said you were going to stay well away from him,” I growled.
“You don’t wanna play that game, Hendrik. You said you’d keep Mikhail away from me and yet I found him in my territory, stealing away a recruit. He’s lucky no one else found him,” Nikolai yelled, his eyes flashing.
“That recruit, the girl he took with him, was in harm’s way and Mikhail didn’t want her to become corrupted like he was. I couldn’t stop him even if I tried. But you didn’t have to talk to him. You gave him hope that you had no right giving to him,” I reproved.
“I know!” Nikolai screamed. “I tried to stay away but I couldn’t. I missed him. He’s my brother,” he justified.
“No, you don’t get to do that. You don’t get to put your needs before his. We agreed you’d stay away from him until you got out,” I rebuked. “That’s also why I’m here. I have a proposition for you, a way to fast track your plan if you want to put your fists down and listen,” I said looking pointedly at his hands.
Nikolai put them down, closing his eyes as he regained his calm. “What did you have in mind?” he asked as he opened his eyes.
“I’m working with the head of the FBI, Deake Sentry, to dismantle the Ichor cartel,” I began.
“No way,” Nikolai overrode, shaking his head. “You have to be crazy if you think I would agree to work with them. The FBI is full of traitors and I know all about their failed attempt to wipe out the Ichor cartel.”
“This time will be different,” I swore. “The head of the FBI promised me he’s only got his special task force working on this. And I trust him because he lost so many of his men, there’s no way he’d let that happen again. This is a chance, Nikolai, for you and me to take out both the Ichor cartel and the Valentijin mob at once. You want your freedom, and this is the way to get it. We both know there’s no other way for you to get out of the mob alive unless you take out all of the Valentijin leaders at once. And I think I have a way to do it, but without you, it can’t be done,” I stressed.
“I’ll listen but I’m not making any promises,” Nikolai said, giving me the go ahead to explain.
“Thank you,” I said earnestly. “So, the drug front has always been divided. There’s always been two competitors competing, both the Valentijin mob and the Ichor cartel. The cartel’s created a new experimental drug that I’m sure you’re aware of. Separately you both reap divided profits on the drug front but together you have the potential to use both of your connections to market this new drug out to the rest of the world. I want you to convince the Valentijin leaders to invest in this drug, to form an alliance with the Ichor cartel. I want to have both sets of leaders together under one roof and this is the opportunity to make it happen,” I proposed.
“It’s a good plan,” Nikolai mused, “but what makes you think that two mobs that hate each other so much are going to put their hatred aside for even a second?”
“Greed. I can’t argue that both sides aren’t gunning for each others’ blood, but there’s one thing they want more than blood…they want money and they want power and an alliance will give them both of those things.”
“I think I could sell this to my group but initiating a meeting with the other side will be very, very risky. I don’t even know who has replaced Senator Caynes as the new drug lord and whether he would be open to the idea of an alliance,” Nikolai remarked.
“If you don’t want to do this, then you don’t have to. Sentry knows nothing about my plans. He just wanted to know if you knew who the name of the person was who had taken over the cartel. I thought we could use the FBI to our advantage to get what you want. The choice is yours,” I stressed.
“I don’t want Mikhail anywhere near this,” Nikolai replied. And although he hadn’t voiced his agreement, I took this as affirmation that he was in.
“He won’t like it, but I’ll make sure he’s kept in the dark,” I said. I’d make sure that Jarek and Sev would help to keep Mikhail’s attention otherwise occupied on Vasco’s case.
Nikolai moved to the very edge of the cliff, away from me, and stared down hard at the ocean’s horizon. “If anything happens to me then I want you to let him know that I’m sorry that I let him down,” Nikolai said, still not looking at me. “When Mikhail left I realized what a monster I’d become. I swore I’d never be my father, and I’ve become him…a person I loathe and hate. I want Mikhail to look up to me; I want to be the man he’s become. Tell him that and tell him I’m proud of him.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” I denied hotly, grabbing at his shoulder to turn him toward me so he could see that I meant what I said.
Nikolai shook my hands off, and grew fierce. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. If I die, I refuse to allow it to be on your conscience. Whatever happens to me is on me, and me alone. I knew what I was getting into, the things I’ve done I can’t ever atone for. I can’t change my past, but I can try to stop anyone getting hurt again in the future.”
Now it was my turn to look away. I couldn’t have his blood on my hands, too. And Mikhail would hate me if he found out that I was the reason his brother was dead.
“I’m the one who’s putting you up to this,” I refuted.
“No, you’re the one who’s giving me the opportunity to get out. I’m the head of the Valentijin mob, Hendrik, no one tells me what to do. And yet for months I’ve tried to find a way out but haven’t been able to. I can’t just walk away, so I’m going to fight my way out. So, the way I see it, you’re giving me my freedom, and trust me when I say that death is more welcome than being a prisoner in that hellhole any longer. So, no matter what happens, no regrets, okay?”
I breathed out and turned to look at the ocean, needing a quick moment.
So, we were going to do it. We were going to dismantle the Ichor cartel and the Valentijin mob with one fell. I hoped to God it worked.
“Hendrik?” Nikolai pressed.
“No regrets,” I agreed.
“HI, DAHLIA, IT’S Emerson Monsoon, I don’t know if you remember me, we met at Katia’s funeral,” I said when she picked up the phone.
“Yes, I remember you. I hope you are doing well. Is there something I can help you with?” she asked over what sounded like squabbling children.
“Is this a bad time?” I said, biting down on my lip, really hoping it wasn’t.
“Not at all, I was just hanging out with the kids while they have lunch, I can spare a minute or two to talk,” she replied, the background sound getting quieter.
“Perfect. Thank you. I really hate to open up old wounds, but I wanted to ask if you knew if Katia had a sister? She told me she was an orphan, but when I went to her grave today I saw someone there who looked just like her,” I babbled, knowing how insane I sounded.
“When I found Katia, she was alone, but I guess it’s possible that she could have had a sister,” Dahlia answered. “I’m sorry that I can’t help you any more than that.”
“Please, don’t be! I’m sorry for calling out of the blue like this. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to answer my question,” I responded.
After I finished the call I decided to step out on Hendrik’s balcony. A light wind helped with my headache but still brought little clarity to the mystery. I was also trying to ignore the fact that Emelius had forced me to go to the hospital to get x-rays for my foot, which had involved waiting an hour in the waiting room, only for a doctor to confirm what I already knew—that I did have a sprained ankle. Following this, on Hendrik’s orders, Emelius had driven me to Hendrik’s place and told me to put my foot up and rest.
He’d offered me some Tylenol for the pain, but I’d refused.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to deal with Hendrik just yet but I’d made up my mind. I wanted to know all the facts about Katia’s assaulter and I wanted to know exactly why Hendrik believed he was innocent.
“You should be resting your foot,” Hendrik admonished from behind me.
I spun around fast, shocked that I’d been so far gone in my thoughts that I hadn’t heard him.
“The swelling has gone down, and it doesn’t even hurt anymore,” I said obstinately.
“Are you fighting with me because you’re still angry with me or because you’re in pain?” he asked, walking to me so that my front was touching his front.
I stayed right where I was, refusing to be intimidated—or rather, enticed into jumping him.
“I want you to tell me about Katia’s assaulter,” I said, ignoring his question and my yearning to grab hold of his head, angle it down, and fix my lips to his.
“No, you have to stay out of it,” Hendrik refused.
“How can I? She was my best friend, Hendrik,” I yelled in agitation. “You didn’t see her in the hospital like I did. You didn’t see her crying as she relived what happened to her. If you’re telling me that he’s innocent then I want to know exactly why you think that,” I said, crossing my arms.
“Helvete, you’re as stubborn as a bull! Fine, I’ll tell you, but you have to rest that leg,” he conceded.
“Fine.” I walked back inside, sat on the couch and put my leg up on the table.
“Now, you have to hear me out completely without saying a word until I finish,” Hendrik demanded as he took the seat opposite mine.
I nodded and readied myself for him to begin.
Hendrik inhaled, his green eyes turning hard. I knew he didn’t want to do this, but I needed to know.
“A witness has come forward saying that he witnessed Ethan Vasco rape and assault your friend, but Vasco claims he didn’t do it,” Hendrik said.
I dug my nails into the couch to give me the strength to listen when all I wanted to do was run and hide. Hendrik’s eyes honed in on the action but he continued, the only sign that he was affected was that his voice had gotten quieter, almost rougher. “I’m not going to lie to you, Vasco has just gotten out of prison for assaulting two girls decades ago so it wouldn’t be wrong of you to assume that he is Katia’s assaulter.”
I stood up, my hands becoming fists, my nails digging in when all I wanted to do was smash something. No, I wanted to smash Ethan Vasco, I thought, through my red haze.
Hendrik had gotten up too and he was completely unruffled by my rage. It made me even angrier.
“Sit. Back. Down, Emerson,” he bit out, his voice so forceful my knees buckled in fear and I found myself sitting back down. “Good. I’m not finished and you promised you would listen,” he said coldly.
I swallowed and bent my head, waiting for him to continue.
“Now, while it seems that Ethan Vasco hurt your friend, I believed him when he said he didn’t do it.” My head flew up and I looked at him in disbelief, but he ignored it. “I tracked down the witness to confirm this, and he told me that he had been blackmailed to step forward and identify Ethan as Katia’s assaulter.”
“What?” I croaked out. “Are you telling me that someone framed Ethan Vasco? Who? Do you have any leads?” I interrogated.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Hendrik said with frustration. “Whoever has done this has planned it very carefully.”
“Wait,” I said as I thought of earlier today when I was at the cemetery. “Hendrik, I think I might have another lead for you. It could be nothing but I need you to check something out for me.”
“What is it? And don’t worry, I’ll just add it to your debt,” he said as he leaned in closer.
“At this rate it’s going to take a lifetime to pay you,” I complained. Then I leaned in closer, wanting to gauge his reaction. “Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but when I went to Katia’s grave this morning I saw someone there who looked exactly like her. At first I thought it was Katia and I thought I was hallucinating, but what if I wasn’t? What if Katia has a sister? The girl—whoever she was—was crying and she said she was sorry. What if she had something to do with Katia’s death?”
“Let’s find out,” Hendrik said, pulling out his phone and dialing someone. “I’m calling Jarek. He’s one of my men and one of my greatest assets when it comes to locating people,” Hendrik shared. “I’ll put him on speaker so you can hear, too.”
“Hi, Hendrik, what’s up?” Jarek answered.
“I have reason to believe that Katia Smith may have a sister. I want you to access the files of all orphanages that operated in a twenty-mile radius of the orphanage that Katia Smith was placed in. I want you to tell me if any children were admitted into an orphanage on the exact same day that Katia was,” Hendrik ordered.
“One sec, I’m running the search now,” Jarek responded. “Yes, I can see that there were two girls admitted, one aged ten and the other aged six at two different orphanages in the vicinity.”
I looked at Hendrik with excitement, and in comparison to me he was quietly pleased. I raised my eyebrows, impressed with his control, and his mouth twitched. I all out smiled, feeling quite smug with myself.
“Perfect, do their files happen to have images of them?” Hendrik asked.
“I’m already way ahead of you. I’m sending you their photos now they are out of date. They must have been taken when they were first placed into the orphanages,” Jarek replied.
Hendrik’s phone beeped as the photos transferred through. I looked at the first photo and shook my head. The ten year old bore no comparison to Katia, but when I saw the second photo, my heart stopped. The resemblance of Katia to the six year old was uncanny.
“Katia told me she was six months old when she was placed in the orphanage, which means that Katia has a sister that’s five-and-a-half years older than her. Why would a mother split up her children like that?” I asked with horror.
“The girl’s name is Evelina Smith. And you didn’t tell me I had an audience,” Jarek commented.
“Evelina,” I whispered to myself, putting the name to the girl’s face and finding it fit perfectly.
Hendrik got up and sat beside me and took my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. I leaned into his warmth feeling shocked and drained.
“She’s Emerson Monsoon. She was Katia’s friend,” Hendrik said by way of explanation. “Now, Jarek, quit playing around. I want you to see if you can track Evelina Smith’s history and find her current residential address.”
“Sounds like a road trip to me!” Jarek said enthusiastically. “Will Emerson be joining?” he asked seductively.
I said, “Yes,” at the same time Hendrik said, “No.”
“Hendrik, I’m coming with you,” I asserted strongly, releasing my hand from his.
“No, you’re not,” Hendrik disagreed.
“Okay, guys, I’m going to leave you two to sort that out. I’ll message you the address once I find it,” Jarek said, and ended the call shortly after.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t go with you guys,” I said, refusing to back down without a fight.
“I’ll give you two,” Hendrik replied, placing his hand on my neck and sliding it up, stopping at my scars. The rough pad of his thumb caressed them, sending shivers sliding down my spine, but I refused to look away. If this was about him thinking that I couldn’t trust him, then I’d make him see otherwise.
“You’re untrained and you’re hurt,” Hendrik listed. “Also, you’d just slow us down and I need all of my attention focused on the mission. I can’t focus when you’re beside me,” Hendrik admitted like he hadn’t just admitted I got to him!
And that was way more than two! But I kinda liked the last reason.
“So, what you’re really saying is that I am a distraction,” I said, taking his hand that was at my neck, in both of mine. Impulsively I placed a kiss at the center of his palm.
His eyes flared, a simmering heat within them that ignited a slow, burning fire within me.
“An endlessly tempting one. I can’t focus when you’re beside me because I want to focus on you. The way you burned up when you were straddling me . . .” he groaned.
I bit my lip, holding back my reaction and then said to myself screw it, and allowed my smile to fully bloom.
His eyes dropped to my lips.
“There it is again, that sweet smile,” he murmured. My heart squeezed in my chest, and I felt lightheaded and completely off-balance.
“You. Are. Magnificent,” he said drawing closer.
I breathed out in frustration, wanting him to quit talking, to quit delaying, because no foreplay was needed. He already had me right where he wanted. It was only fair that we compromised and met halfway. If he moved his lips an inch closer, then I’d move mine the other inch that would close the gap between the two of us, ending with my mouth on his. And it would be a win-win for both parties.
“And I’d rather you stay that way, in one piece. When you get back, we can continue where we left off,” Hendrik said, drawing away from me once again. Leaving me hanging.
I went from burning hot to ice cold in seconds, the change giving me whiplash. I poked him in the chest with a finger, refusing to allow him to get away with it. “Hendrik, this isn’t done. You do this to me one more time and I’ll make your life a living hell,” I threatened. It was more of an empty threat than anything else but he didn’t know that. I hoped.
Hendrik chuckled, the sound like music to my ears. He drew his phone out of his pocket and I realized that Jarek must have messaged him, which is why he’d drawn away.
“I’ve gotta go,” he said as he grabbed his coat off the couch, and shrugged it on, seemingly unperturbed by my threat. “But, Älskling, just for the record, when you ache, I ache. When you hurt, I hurt. The difference is I know how to hide it. You don’t. It doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t rather stay here with you till we’re both satiated. But that can’t happen because we both know that I have to pay a visit to Evelina. I want to take my time learning every inch of you. I want to explore all the thousand ways it takes to make you fall apart. It’s gonna happen, just not tonight,” he said as he entered the elevator.
“You think I’m ready?” I asked, forgetting my anger.
“You left, then you came back. You could have stayed away, but you didn’t. So, the way I see it, I don’t need to be careful with you anymore because you aren’t running away from me, you’re running toward me. You’re more ready than you know,” he replied as the doors closed, his words echoing in my head in the silence.
“Crap, crap, crap,” I murmured to myself. I hadn’t realized that by choosing to return I’d already made my choice. But he was right. I had. Now I wasn’t scared of his touch, I was scared of wanting it too much.