Chapter Twenty-Seven

Aksana

It had been over an hour since Vladmir and Maxim left, leaving the house locked down and heavily guarded. Neither one taking any chances where the children were concerned. After Bane deemed me well enough to recuperate at home, Vladmir, Maxim and Illyria finally told me what happened back in Virginia and the subsequent kidnapping of our children.

In a way, I was thankful for not remembering any of it, seeing how it all affected them, but the fear of someone taking my daughter again wasn’t something I could shake. I knew as long as Steele lived, he wouldn’t stop until both Katiya and I were dead.

“Aksana, I’m heading to bed. Do you need anything before I turn in?” Illyria asked, peeking her head inside my room.

Smiling at her, I replied, “No. I have everything. Thank you for asking.”

“If you need anything, just call out. The boys will be roaming the halls tonight. I’m sure one of them will hear you.”

“Thank you.”

Closing the door, I found myself left alone with my thoughts again, unable to sleep. Not that I would, even if I could. With everything going on, I doubted I’d ever sleep again.

I still hadn’t told Vladmir that I heard him talking to Mr. Ess. Not that I didn’t want to, but because I nervously wondered if he knew the man, and if he did, I worried I had made a grave mistake in trusting him.

God, I wanted to be wrong, but in my life, I learned looks could be deceiving. That even the most trusted person could be the very one I should fear the most.

Sitting there in the dark, I watched shadows play across the room. The moon casting its white beams about the room, giving it an eerie feeling. I hated the dark. Couldn’t stand it.

My phone vibrating made me jump. I turned to look at who would be calling me so late. Seeing the caller ID, I smiled, picking it up and connecting the call.

“Sorry if I woke you.”

“You didn’t.” I smirked.

“I just wanted to call and see how you are doing.”

“I’m getting better, thanks to you.”

“I just did my job, Aksana.”

“No, August, from what everyone has told me, you saved my life. Thank you for that.”

“It was a joint effort,” he dismissed, his voice trailing off.

“August, is everything alright?”

“No. Not really, but it’s nothing for you to worry about. The other reason I called was to see if I could come by and visit with you and Katiya.”

Smiling, I said, “I would love that.”

“I have some pictures of Amy. I thought you’d like to see what your mother looked like.”

“I would love that. Thank you.”

“Okay then,” August muttered. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good night, Aksana.”

“Good night, August.”

Disconnecting the call, I placed my phone back on the nightstand when I heard, “Good evening, Aksana.”

I dared not move.

I knew that voice.

Mr. Ess was in my room.

“There is no need to fear me.”

Slowly turning around, I looked around my room and saw no one.

“Why are you hiding?”

“Let’s just say that it’s in my best interest if I do.”

“Because someone might recognize you?”

“Very perceptive.”

“I heard you,” I whispered, looking down at my hands. “That day in Birmingham after Steele tried to kill me. You were there, talking about in vitro fertilization. I didn’t make it up, did I?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I have Katiya because of you.”

“Correct again.”

“Why? Why would you do that to me and Vladmir? We didn’t even know each other back then. You couldn’t have known we’d ever meet, let alone get together.”

“Consider it a calculated guess and I was right, because you ran right to him, just like I knew you would.”

Looking up, I frowned, shaking my head. “Why? Why would you do that to us?”

“To bring Vladmir to heel.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I know you don’t. All you need to know is that what I did wasn’t out of malice toward you. I needed you free of Steele and what he planned to do with you. I knew you would run the second you found out you were pregnant.”

“What did he plan to do with me?”

“He was going to sell you to Devlin Scott. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“But you couldn’t have known I’d run straight to Vladmir.”

“Mikhail Vaidisova.”

“My father’s bodyguard?”

“He was Vladmir’s brother, and he worked for me. He told you, the night before your wedding, that if you ever had a need, to find Vladmir Ivenok. That he would protect you.”

I nodded, remembering that night. He was telling the truth. Mikhail did say that to me. “Mikhail didn’t work for my father, did he?”

“No, Aksana. He didn’t.”

“That’s why my father killed him. Because he found out about Mikhail.”

“Yes. His death was a great loss.”

“You said you got me pregnant to bring Vladmir to heel. Why?”

“Because your husband will not listen to reason when the truth comes out. That’s where you come in. You, Katiya, and the little one you are currently carrying will give him pause.”

Gasping, my hands went to my stomach.

“And before you ask. No, Aksana. I had nothing to do with that child. That was all you and Vladmir. Now my time is up. I must leave.”

“No, wait!” I spoke up. “I have one more question.”

“And that is?”

“Can I trust him? Vladmir?”

“With your life.”

Sitting there in the dark, I tried to comprehend everything Mr. Ess said to me. While most of it made absolutely no sense to me, my gut told me he spoke the truth. All I knew of Mr. Ess was that my father and George Stone feared him, but I still didn’t know why.

Did I really want to know?

Would it make a difference?

They were both dead now and couldn’t hurt me anymore.

Scooting down under the covers, I closed my eyes and tried to forget everything. I was so tired of all the lies, deceptions, and deaths that had occurred over the years. And for what? Money, power, and dominance? I never understood the desire my father craved. Like a drug, he was addicted to his reign of terror and refused to relinquish control and his desire killed him.

Killed George Stone and Devlin Scott too.

My fear now was, would Vladmir fall victim to the same desire, and if he did, would he allow it to consume him as well?

A few weeks had passed since Mr. Ess showed up in my room in the dead of night. I still hadn’t told Vladmir of my unexpected visitor because he and the others had been busy with other matters.

Matters that apparently didn’t include me. Not that I cared anymore. I was so tired of all this crap. I hated looking over my shoulder, wondering if every person looking at me was there to kill me.

It was exhausting.

Punching the dough I was previously kneading, I heard someone knock at the front door while I tried to forget everything that had happened. My body was still healing, and while I was happy to be pregnant again, I wasn’t sure that Vladmir would be receptive.

I worried he would think I trapped him again.

Not that I had anything to do with the conception of Katiya.

He still wasn’t talking to me.

Not that he ever really did.

It was like we were in a stalemate. Both of us refused to budge.

Hearing the doorbell next, I huffed, reaching for a dishrag to wipe my hands. Muttering to myself, I marched out of the kitchen.

“There are close to twenty damn people who live in this damn house or in this fucking compound, but not a damn one of them knows how to open a damn door.”

Grabbing the doorknob, I turned it, flinging the door open.

“What?” I snipped, huffing as I tried to blow my hair out of my face.

Four very handsome men stood on the front porch, smiling as they took a long, good look at me before one man stepped back to look at the numbers on the side of the house. Probably to make sure he was in the right place.

I didn’t blame him.

I probably looked like a mess.

Looking back at me, the man grinned. “Is this the Fedorov House?”

“The one and only. Who the hell are you and what do you want?”

Yeah, civility packed up and left hours ago.

I was surprised I wasn’t a snarling wild animal.

Leaning against the doorjamb, the man greeted, “Cesar Vitale at your service, beautiful. And who do you belong to?”

Rolling my eyes at the wannabe Casanova, I groaned. “No one that matters.”

“His loss is my gain, then.”

Huffing at the man, I moved to the side, waved my arm and yelled, “Visitor!”

Yeah, I knew that it wasn’t very welcoming or ladylike for that matter, but this wasn’t my house, and I had other things on my mind. More importantly, I didn’t care anymore.

Walking away, I headed back to the kitchen when Vladmir, Maxim, and Dmitry rushed out of the office just as four guards appeared from another room.

Shaking my head, I snarked at the guards, “It’s not my job to answer the door.”

The guards stopped dead in their tracks, looking at Vladmir.

“Aksana?” Vladmir cautiously walked over to me. “Are you alright?”

“Oh, now you acknowledge me,” I griped. “You haven’t said shit to me in weeks and as soon as the fucking Italians show up, you act all concerned. Fuck you, Vladmir!”