9. ISABELLA

Chapter 9

ISABELLA

“Yes.” Stacy’s still going strong. “But he, Stan, and Igor, and even that fake-boobed Doctor Bimbo helped us get out of there.”

“Who was this doctor?” Konstantin asks.

“Doctor Alder!” I say and watch my brother’s features go stony and his eyes darken with such intense anger that I take a step back as he looks scary as all shit. “Do you know her?”

“We met many years ago,” Konstantin says, his emotions once again in check except for his tightly balled fists. “She’s at the lodge with Marco?” His eyes are narrowing into slits.

“So is Lev,” I say again. “And please, if you’re to go blazing in there, please don’t hurt Stan or Igor.”

“You need to get dressed.” Konstantin ignores me and looks at Stacy before turning back to me. “How much of your cash do you have left?”

“Quite a bit,” I tell him. “Why?”

“You need to continue on the way we were going,” he tells me. “Do the route you were planning on taking until we hijacked your plans. I’ve already added to your provisions on the off chance we had to do the trip this way.” His eyes slide to Andrey. “Andrey, I need you to go with my sister to a place where I know she’ll be safe.”

“What about Lev?” Andrey looks at my brother with narrowed eyes.

“Leave Lev to us,” Temur tells him and turns to Stacy telling her once again, “You may want to put some other clothes on as we’re putting you on a train back to Genevra in Boston.”

“No fucking way!” Stacy refuses, shaking her head. “I’m going with the two of you to get Lev.”

“No!” Konstantin and Temur speak in unison. “It’s far too dangerous.”

“Then I guess I’ll just stay here and stroll around the town,” Stacy says. “Making sure every street camera out there picks up my face so the kidnappers will come find me and take me back to the lodge.”

“Fine.” Konstantin looks at Temur. “Give her your flajacket once she’s put some clothes on.”

“As I’m going with Isabella, Stacy can have mine.” Andrey pulls the jacket off and hands it to Stacy.

She nods, grabs some of the new clothes we’d bought earlier, and ducks back into the bathroom.

“Get a good rest tonight,” Konstantin tells me. “You and Andrey need to head to Derby Line which will be your first collection stop. You know what to do from there Izzy-B.” He smiles and walks toward me, hugging me and whispers, “In the last backpack, at the final stop before the next border you have to cross, you’ll find the address you need to get to. It’s time to do what we discussed that first week in Maine.”

Oh shit! My heart slams against my ribs. “I was really hoping I didn’t have to do this and thought maybe it was just some sort of myth our family uses to scare people and us,” I babble and Konstantin kisses my forehead.

“You’ll be okay,” Konstantin assures me.

“Not without you!” I insist my eyes are huge. “Please, big brother, don’t make me do this on my own.” I glance toward the bathroom. “Let us come with you to the lodge to save Lev. At least I can be there to advocate for Dad before you all rip into him. Stacy might be right as I think he and Doctor Bimbo were helping us escape for some reason.”

“I promise I won’t just execute him without asking questions first,” he teases. “And you’re not going to be on your own.” He turns to look at Andrey. “Andrey will be with you.”

“I seriously have to do this?”

“Yes.” Konstantin nods. “It’s as much for you as it is for all of us.”

“Great!” I throw my hands in the air. “Put that on my shoulders too.”

“You’ve got this.” He smiles. “Think of it as a road trip adventure.” He leans closer. “But for fuck sakes, listen to Andrey.”

“What?” My brow furrows and anger slashes through me. “You said this is my trip!”

“No.” Konstantin shakes his head and his eyes connect with Andrey’s who is watching us intently. “It’s your trip.“ He uses his index fingers to include Andrey and me. Before turning to Andrey. “I’m trusting you with my sister. Don’t make me come after you.”

“Get my brother back or I’ll be coming after you.”

“Once you’re finished comparing dicks,” Stacy’s breezes back into the room all ready to go wearing the flak jacket which is way too big for her over her puffy coat, “can we go save my husband and find out what the fuck is going on with Marco?”

“Don’t stay here too long,” Konstantin warns us, pulling out a phone. “I’d leave just before dawn. I’ll have a contact drop off a car for you at four in the morning. Be downstairs ready for him.”

“How will we know who he is?” I ask my brother.

He turns and smirks. “He’ll recognize you.” Konstantin gives me one last hug and kiss, handing me the phone. “It’s clean and it will keep my mind at ease knowing where you are. I’m sure you know how to hide it.”

Stacy and Temur say goodbye and then they amble out the room.

The door shuts and a heavy silence falls over the space. The aroma of the food once again hits me and my stomach growls.

“You should eat,” Andrey tells me, looking at the tray of food. His eyes landing on my stomach. “You need to keep yourself and the baby healthy.”

“You know?” My eyes widen.

“Your cousin told me.” Andrey’s eyes are cool as they meet mine, and we stare at each other for a few seconds before he turns toward the food. “Come on.” He snaps the command and pulls out a chair for me.

My anger instantly ignites and I want to say fuck you but my stomach growls again and I imagine my little beans tugging on the umbilical cord demanding food. My angry stubbornness will have to wait for another time.

Andrey pulls the silver lids off the dishes and again my mouth starts to water. “Stacy ordered my favorite food. Mash, gravy, carrots, and grilled chicken.”

“That’s your favorite dish?” Andrey’s eyes widen as he sits in front of me and looks at the food Stacy ordered for herself. “Stacy ordered the steak, eggs, and fries?”

“Yes,” I nod. “She loves that. But fair warning. Stacy likes her meat really rare.”

“No wonder my brother fell for her,” Andrey says. “What is that in the teapot?”

“Ginger tea,” I tell him. “I like it with lemon and honey as it takes away my nausea, and it’s the only tea I like after having to give up coffee for about another six months.”

“Ouch!” Andrey says, knowing how much I loved my coffee. “That must be torture for you.”

He’d even bought a special barista type machine for his penthouse when I moved in for those two days. My heart now tugs with guilt at the sweet things he’s done for me. I nod and dig into my chicken and mash. As I’m eating my eyes land on the two covered dishes. I really hope Stacy ordered me the sticky toffee cheesecake with whipped cream.

“Did Stacy order anything besides ginger tea for herself to drink?”

“Hot chocolate.” I point to the fatter teapot. “That’s what must be in there.”

“Thank God.” Andrey breathes a sigh of relief. “I don’t think I can stomach ginger tea.”

We fall into one of those awkward silences again. “I was going to write to you and tell you about the babies once I was sure I was pregnant.”

“I would’ve preferred you did it in person as my wife.” Andrey’s eyes flash angrily but he controls his anger and attacks his steak. “Do you think they have a store in this hotel that sells a shaving kit, deo, and a change of clothes?”

“Yes, it’s just off the lobby,” I tell him. “If you’d come into my room in the conventional way you’d have seen it.”

Another awkward silence engulfs us as we eat and I pour myself some tea squeezing a good dose of honey into it.

“You must be careful with honey while you’re pregnant and …” His eyes widen. “Did you say babies?”

Oh so the penny only dropped now? “Yes.” I nod. “I’m having twins.”

Andrey’s eyes widen further, and I can see the internal battle he’s fighting. He clenches his jaw, his anger momentarily slipping through his controlled exterior. He looks at me with a mix of hurt and frustration, his eyes hardening as he tries to process the news.

“Twins,” he mutters, more to himself than to me, the weight of the revelation settling heavily on his shoulders.

I stand and retrieve the sonogram from the dresser, handing it to him. As he looks at the image, I see the emotions rush over his features, a mixture of wonder and disbelief. My heart tightens with guilt as he lifts his head, and my breath catches at the look of awe and love in his eyes. I know that feeling well—it’s the same overwhelming sense of love I felt when I first heard their heartbeats and saw them on the sonogram.

“Twins!” A grin lifts his mouth and for a few seconds his dark scowl is replaced by a look of pure joy.

His fingers trace the picture and I remember he was a surgeon so of course he can read the image. I don’t have to show him. That makes me feel a pang of jealousy for some reason. Jesus, my emotions feel like they are on a yo-yo string.

“Can I hold on to this for a while?” He holds the picture up and my heart drops.

I want to say no and snatch it out of his hands like one of those crazed creatures that hogs things in a sci-fi and says mine . But instead I nod and push the tumble of confusing emotions aside.

I polish off my chicken and have noticed Andrey staring at the sonogram most of the time and that pang I now know is jealousy hit me again—now I’m jealous of a picture? What the fuck is wrong with me. I don’t give a shit what occupies Andrey’s thoughts. He can stare at the sonogram all night. At least it will keep his angry eyes off me.

“Mmm.” I lick my lips after pushing my food plate aside and find the toffee cheesecake. “Thank you, Stacy.”

“What dessert did she order for me?” Andrey pulls the lid back. “You’re lucky,” he says. “I was going to take the cheesecake from you if this wasn’t the same.”

“You’d have to fight me for it,” I warn him. “And trust me, right now you don’t want to do that because I’ll either end up shooting you or getting sick on your shoes.”

“Oh!” Andrey’s brow draws together. “Are you having bad morning sickness?”

“I have been yes.” I nod. “And why the fuck is it called morning sickness?” I ask him. “I wish it was just isolated to that time of the day. But I find ginger tea with lemon and honey settles my stomach or freshly squeezed apple juice.”

“Be careful with too many sweet things,” Andrey warns me. “Moderate your sugar intake.”

My eyes narrow as I take another large spoonful of cheesecake with a dollop of cream and spoon it into my mouth, sighing in delight. “I’m going to enjoy my cheesecake and not feel guilty about it,“ I tell him. “It probably won’t stay down that long anyway and that’s why I have a drawer filled with ginger cookies and a few barf bags for our trip.”

“Good thinking.” Andrey nods.

Once my dessert is finished, I excuse myself. “I’m going to take a bath and get some sleep,” I tell him.

“I’m going to find the store and get some supplies,” Andrey tells me. “I’ll take the tray.”

“Thanks.” I nod and turn to walk to the bathroom trying to ignore the fact that there’s only one queen sized bed in the room and again my clit does a little pulse.

I hear Andrey taking the tray out of the room and the door closing. I don’t know if I’m sighing in disappointment or relief when I realize he’s gone. He’s being so controlled and nice it’s creepy and freaking me out. I move toward the bath.

It’s going to be so nice to have a soak. At least then, when I’m finished, Andrey might be asleep in bed by then. Then I don’t have to try and make more small talk pretending everything is normal. Nothing between Andrey and me is normal.

Walking over to the bath, I put the plug in and turn on the faucets. The hot water doesn’t take long to heat up. My eyes fall on the bubble bath and I’m about to reach for it when I remember reading an article that the chemicals in the formula of the stuff can be harmful to my babies.

“So no bubbles then.” My eyes gleam when I see the jets. “Ah, it’s a spa-type bath.” Mmm, that could be pretty nice right now. “I need to work out some tension from everything that’s happened.”

A few minutes later, I’m relaxing in a warm bath, the jets gently kneading my flesh. I’m careful about the pressure and keeping them away from my belly. I’ve piled my hair on my head and have a towel at the back of my neck.

I know I’m being a coward trying to avoid Andrey. But I’m also trying to keep the peace. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. While I admit to wanting him really badly, the man has a way of rubbing my emotions the wrong way.

Why does he have to be so fucking controlling and, like my father, he makes me feel like I’m trapped. A child with no say in what I do, where I go, or how I live my life. And who the fuck are they to do that?

This is my life ! For twenty-one years, I’ve lived in this fake work like a Barbie doll in a perfect doll house. I was told what to wear, where to go, when I could go, who I can socialize with, and so on. Can’t Andrey see how suffocating that is? Or how much I don’t want this life.

Fuck, now I sound like a whiney ungrateful bitch. There are so many people much worse off than me. And I’m grateful for everything I have and have had in my life. I truly am, but the one thing I’ve wanted the most has always been out of my reach—my freedom.

While I don’t really know what I want to do with it, I’d like a chance to figure it out and do crazy shit along the way. The good thing is, I can still do that with my kids. I just have to be more careful and selective with the crazy shit.

My hand moves to my belly. It hasn’t rounded yet.

“Hey, little beans. I’m sorry your mommy and daddy don’t see eye to eye. But hopefully, we’ll have everything sorted out by the time you make your debut into the world,” I whisper to them.

As I move in the water, the jet hits my nipple, sending a shockwave of pain and pleasure coursing through me. My hand instinctively moves to soothe the sting.

My belly may not be swollen, but I find that my breasts have changed. They feel fuller, heavier, and more sensitive to touch.

My fingers trace over the soft mounds, cupping them from beneath, and I gently squeeze and massage them, rolling my nipples between my thumbs and forefingers.

Use my fingers to stimulate my nipples. The pleasurable pain sends a delicious tingle through me and ignites a desire that makes my clit throb with need.

I shift my hips, pressing down with my butt to soothe the sensation, but then another jet targets my pussy.

Making me gasp with overwhelming sensation, and I spread my legs wider, allowing the water to become my lover and take control. My arousal builds while my mind races with thoughts of Andrey and our complicated life, but it soon becomes a blur as the water teases my sensitive flesh into giving over to pleasure.

My fingers slide down to my clit, which is swollen and aching with greedy need. As the jets continue to pulse in rhythm with my body, I feel a kind of freedom, my cares and worries melting away with each wave of pleasure.

The warm water surrounds me, and my hips begin to move in time with the jets. I close my eyes and let out a low moan, feeling my orgasm build. But just as I’m about to reach the peak, I feel my hands being roughly pulled away, and the jets disappear.

My eyes fly open to see Andrey kneeling beside me, his eyes filled with lust and desire. His voice is low and hoarse as he says, “Princess, you know how I feel about you having fun without me.” He leans in closer, his breath hot against my ear. “While we may not agree on the life we lead, I know how well we agree when it comes to sex.” His eyes travel down to my exposed pussy, which is glistening and begging for his attention. “I’ve missed this pussy these past eight weeks.”

Without another word, Andrey stands, pulls off his clothes, and climbs into the bath. His eyes capture mine. Without breaking eye contact, he kneels between my legs and then dives down. His mouth latches onto my clit. His fingers plunge deep inside me. I cry out as sensation explodes through me. Andrey expertly works my body, his tongue flicking and swirling against my sensitive flesh while his finger curls and strokes my G-spot.

I’m lost in a haze of pleasure. My body is wracked with spasms as I climax over and over again. Andrey doesn’t let up, his mouth and fingers working in perfect harmony as he brings me to new heights of ecstasy. I scream his name as I come one final time, my body shaking with the intensity of my orgasm.

As I come down from my high, I feel Andrey’s mouth leave my clit. I open my eyes, still lost in the haze of my explosive orgasms. He takes a cloth, soaps it, and starts to wash me. First, he starts with my feet, massaging each toe with care before moving up my legs. He lingers on my thighs, lavishing attention on the sensitive skin just before my apex.

Andrey swishes water on each leg before kissing his way up each thigh. A soft chuckle rumbles through him when he hears my breath hitch feeling his warm breath near my pussy, but he deliberately misses it.

Next, Andrey’s hands move with careful precision as he rubs the soft clothes over my belly. His eyes soften as he circles it and leans down to place two gentle kisses on either side.

I can’t help but let out a small gasp when Andrey moves on to wash my breasts. He pays special attention to my nipples, rolling them between his fingers before flicking his tongue over each one.

“Mmm.” Rumbles in my throat, and my tongue wets my lips. I whimper when Andrey leaves my breasts, not wanting him to stop. He continues cleansing my neck, arms, and armpits. His touch sends electric jolts of pleasure coursing through my body.

When he’s finished, Andrey’s firm grip grabs my legs and pulls me into the water, eliciting a startled yelp from me.

The warm water cascades over my body as he rinses away the soap before returning to lather it on the cloth once again.

My breath comes out in small gulps when his skilled fingers glide over my sensitive clit, causing a surge of desire to course through me.

The smooth material of the cloth sweeps across my entrance before dipping down to my butt hole. Strange dark thoughts begin to swirl in my mind as Andrey expertly cleanses every inch of me.

Andrey removes the cloth and swishes the water around, thoroughly rinsing my nether regions. “Turn over onto your hands and knees.”

His low, husky voice sends shivers down my spine, and I comply with his request.

His hand moves down my back, gently washing away any lingering tension before splashing more water over it.

Andrey turns his attention to my ass, I bite my lip and close my eyes, gasping as more pleasure courses through, and a moan erupts from my lips. Andrey’s touch ignites a fierce ache deep within me that I can’t ignore.