Chapter 21

Marissa

We go to dinner. I hold onto his arm as he leads me out, and dread grows within me with every step that I take. Our identities can be discovered at any point. I know why he did this, why he forged an allegiance to the Boston Bratva, to rescue me. But now that he has me, the temptation to run and hide is stronger than ever.

We aren’t safe here. At any moment, we could be discovered. What would happen if those who sanctioned my abduction come here? We already know they are friends with the pakhan. But how can we escape without another member of the Bratva ever finding us?

Nicolai is silent, as he leads me toward the large dining room. It’s set apart from the other rooms, and the only way in is to enter through a large bar area. I am shocked at how many people there are in the anteroom, the bar teeming with guests, and couples mingling around the small room holding drinks. He marches us swiftly through to the dining room.

I hold onto his arm and walk beside him with my head bowed. He demanded my obedience in front of his pakhan. Will he do the same at dinner? I cast a discreet look toward him. His eyes are flinty, his jaw tight. He would never admit it, but he’s as nervous as I am.

Thankfully, when we enter the dining room, we aren’t alone. At least twenty people mill about, the men dressed in suits, and all have women on their arms. I am dying to have a glass of wine or champagne or whatever it is they’re drinking but as soon as we enter, someone signals for us all to sit.

Nicolai takes me by the elbow and leads me over to where Tomas waits for us. We sit in silence. The table is set with bread and butter and small plates of salad, but my stomach is so tight with nerves I’m not even sure I can eat anything. But Nicolai has other ideas.

“Eat,” Nicolai orders, buttering a roll and handing it to me. Obediently, I take a small nibble to pacify him, then place it on my plate. I look around the room to see if I recognize anyone at all and smile when I see Yakov and Yvonne enter the room. With his reddish hair, beard, and bright blue eyes, his strong and muscled stature, and her nearly white blonde hair and petite, curvy body, they make a striking couple. She holds onto his arm tentatively and keeps her head bowed. I lift my hand to wave, but then realize that’s likely inappropriate. They sit at the far end of the table. Yakov meets my eyes and gives me a little smile.

“I said eat,” Nicolai snaps. He’s on edge, and I remember the admonition to obey him. “I won’t tell you again.”

Tomas eyes us both curiously. I pick up the roll and quickly eat it. I don’t even taste it. It sits like a rock in my stomach.

Most of them speak in Russian, and I’m grateful no one even looks my way. They talk of the auction, the death of the man that committed suicide, and other business affairs. I focus on eating the salad and bread, and soon waiters come in serving large trays of food. I’m grateful for something else to occupy our time and my appetite returns when I begin to eat.

“You’re being a very good girl,” Nicolai says, leaning over to speak into my ear. “I’m proud of you.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Soon, I will excuse you for feeling ill and send you back to the room.”

I nod. I whisper back, “I hope you don’t send me back before I can eat dessert. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a meal like this.”

He chuckles and tugs a lock of my hair. “Certainly not, zvezda moya.”

I smile to myself. I like that even after all that’s happened, I can still make him smile.

“We have more guests arriving,” Tomas tells Nicolai. I feel Nicolai tense beside me. The more people who arrive, the more dangerous it is for us. He smiles at Nicolai. “And you can thank the man that recommended you to our brotherhood in person.”

I pause with a forkful of salad halfway to my mouth when I see the lock on Nicolai’s face. Though he schools his features, his body’s gone still. What does this mean?

“Excellent,” Nicolai says. “When will that be?”

“Shortly,” Tomas says. “They arrived earlier today and will be joining us for dessert.” He turns his attention to someone else.

Nicolai places his fork down on his plate, and I note how he looks around the room with narrowed eyes, as if trying to out a traitor. He lifts his wine glass and polishes the whole thing off, then leans over to me.

“You’re sick,” he whispers. “I have to take you back to your room.”

It’s my cue. I bring my hand to my forehead and moan in a low voice. I clutch my stomach. He eats his dinner, and shoots me an obvious look of concern. He doesn’t want to make it look too obvious.

“You feeling okay, love?” he asks out loud.

“No,” I say, and I really do feel ill now. My stomach churns with nausea. I don’t know who the person was who recommended his entry into this Bratva, but I saw how he reacted, and I know Nicolai wants to hide me.

“What is it?” He’s facing me now, and he places a hand on my head. “Nauseous?” A few others look our way.

I am, though, for real. “Yes,” I say with a grimace.

He sighs. “That’s unfortunate,” he says, tucking a stray lock of hair behind one of my ears. “Let’s get you to the doctor.”

“I think I just need rest,” I tell him.

He gets to his feet and takes my hand. “I’m sorry. She doesn’t feel well,” Nicolai says to Tomas. “I’ll take her back to the room.”

Tomas is distracted by someone else he’s speaking to, but he nods to Nicolai. My heartbeat quickens when he grasps my elbow and marches me swiftly out of the room. He tucks me against him and slings an arm around my shoulder, so few can see my face as he escorts me.

“Keep your head down,” he hisses. “Look at no one. Do not speak.”

My pulse races but I do what he says. We’re just to the exit when I realize we still have to leave through the bar area. What if someone in there knows us? I look wildly to the left and right, but there’s nowhere else to go.

“You heard what I said,” he repeats. “Eyes down.”

I realize his hand is at his waist, and he’s ready to draw a weapon. Oh, God. How many people would he kill to keep me? Would he survive if he attacked when we were surrounded like this? Is he even in his right mind?

We make it out the door and to the hall leading to our room, when I realize we’re not alone. He quickens our pace. Someone followed us from the bar.

I want to look so badly it’s killing me, but he insisted I don’t. With considerable effort, I keep my gaze to the floor, pretending like someone isn’t walking in step behind us.

“Khristos,” Nicolai says, and to my shock, we come to a stop. I look up, and gasp in shock when I see his father. I’ve known him since I was a baby, and I want to run to him and hug him. I’ve always loved Stefan. But this isn’t the place to greet him.

They don’t let on that they know each other. They don’t touch each other, but stand at a distance.

“Pleased to see you’ve arrived, Aleks,” he says. I blink in confusion. What the hell? He knew?

“Thank you,” Nicolai says. “And I appreciate the recommendation to Tomas.”

Ah. So it was his father that recommended him to the Boston Bratva.

His father nods. “Yes,” he says. “It was my pleasure. Has your pakhan told you I’ve brought some guests with me?” Though his voice is casual, it’s tight. My pulse quickens. My father is a member of Stefan’s Bratva.

Nicolai stills. “He has mentioned guests, but none by name.”

They hold each other’s gazes and Stefan lowers his voice. “Several arrived here before me,” he says. “I didn’t know they’d be coming here this weekend. I came as quickly as I could.”

Nicolai holds his gaze and drops his voice. Casual, so a bystander wouldn’t suspect anything is out of place. “Is he here?”

“Yes.”

My heart skips a beat, and I draw closer to Nicolai. Who? My father? I’ve suspected since my abduction he wasn’t innocent in any of this.

“I see,” Nicolai says. He can’t hide the panic and anger in his voice. “If you’ll excuse me, my woman is sick, and I was taking her to go lie down.”

“Of course. I hope to see you soon.”

Nicolai marches me so quickly to our room now, he’s nearly running. He opens the door and practically shoves me in. I stumble, and when I right myself, I look at him in surprise.

“Why is he here?”

“We can’t speak freely.” He runs his hands through his hair. “Fuck, you’re not safe in here. The fucking cameras. And if anyone comes in here, if anyone knows you’re here…”

“Where am I safe?” I whisper.

He crosses the room to me and grabs my arms, pulling me to him. His blue eyes are alight with fire, his voice tight with emotion when he speaks. “With me. The only fucking place you’re safe is with me, because I’ll end anyone who comes near you. I’ll kill anyone who touches you. I’ll murder anyone who harms a hair on your head.” He yanks me to him fiercely and kisses the top of my head before he brings his mouth to my ear and whispers. “Your father is here. Your father was the one who orchestrated your abduction.”

“What?” I whisper. “No.” I had suspicions, but having them confirmed breaks something inside me.

“He owed a debt,” he says. He strokes his thumb along my cheek as if to soothe me. I begin to shake. “He was in league with your boyfriend, the fucking douchebag. It’s why I took you. It’s why we ran. And it’s why we can’t go anywhere freely, because the ties your father has run too deep. He would proclaim me guilty for abducting you, and I’d be killed. And I have to protect you.”

He’s more concerned with his inability to protect me than dying.

I rest my forehead on his chest, inhale deeply, then exhale. “What do we do?”

“We can’t hide anymore,” he says. “I’m done hiding. I want you to myself, Marissa. Everywhere we go, another danger threatens us, but I’m done. I will not spend the rest of my life hiding you.”

A chill washes over me at the tone of his voice.

Before he can speak again, the doorknob between the rooms jiggles. Nicolai has his gun drawn and cocked before it opens.

The door swings open, and I gasp. It’s my father.