Inside rests a black leather bound sketch pad and a set of keys. I was pleasantly surprise when Valentina dropped off a complete business plan at my office last week. I was quite pleased with her ideas and proposal. This is just the start to her dream.
~B~
As I peek inside the box I am a little confused at first. All I can see are keys and a leather book. Uri has been so sweet all day. After delaying my departure to make love this morning he showered me with words of love and comfort. He was even extra tender during sex.
Something is up with him but I can’t put my finger on it. It is nothing alarming. He is just showing me more of a side that has me falling in love with him all over again. I lift the keys and turn to look at Uri with a lifted brow.
“The odd looking key is to your office, work studio and showroom here in London. The other two keys are for your suites in the States, one in New York and one in Chicago, as that is where we will split our time,” he answers my unspoken question.
I gasp as reality sets in before flinging myself so hard against his chest I almost topple us over. “Uri are you serious? What if I suck at this? When I gave you the business plan I was thinking more along the lines of a few years from now or something,” I push out pass the lump in my throat. I love this man so much.
“Your ideas are brilliant. I have already set things in motion. You meet with the designer for your suites here tomorrow morning. Rebecca will be bringing over the staff for you to interview and make final decisions on in the afternoon,” he shrugs as if it is no big deal.
I stare at him in disbelief. When it sets in that this man has listened to my dream and has set the wheels in motion I cup his face and kiss all over it. I land one final kiss on his full lips. I suck his bottom lip into my mouth causing us both to moan.
He lifts from the chair with me in his arms as if I weigh nothing. He nuzzles my neck. “Are you happy, Bella,” he whispers against my ear.
“Very,” I coo back to him. “Thank you. I love you so much.”
“You are more than welcome, Love,” he murmurs into my neck.
~B~
Valentina’s reaction was better than I could have expected. When I let her climb on top of me she showed me just how grateful for her gift she was. I’ll never get enough of her tight wet channel squeezing around me. The amount of passion Valentina releases in the bedroom is intoxicating.
Even now I am forcing myself not to take her again as her body is draped over mine. I know she will have an early morning tomorrow to start her new shoe and bag company. I have been creating circles on the smooth skin of her back as her small hand caresses my chest.
Valentina kisses the center of my chest and I close my eyes as the fire she causes to burn within me surges through every vein. When I open my eyes again her blues are staring into mine. I push her hair from her face and caress her cheek.
“Uri,” she asks.
“Yes?”
“Do you really think I can do this?” she asks innocently.
I lift to kiss her forehead and resume rubbing her back. “I think you can do anything you put your mind to. You will not do this alone. I will help you whenever you need and if I cannot assist you I will find the best that can,” I reassure her.
She beams that perfect smile at me. “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. I have been thinking of doing something more with my life and …this is the perfect opportunity for me,” she coos.
“Exactly why I suggested it,” I tease.
So swiftly I am taken back, Valentina shifts to straddle me and pins my arms above my head. She has a smug grin on her face when she sees my shock. I crack smile and lift a brow at her, challenging her next move.
However, before either of us can react my cell phone starts to ring. Valentina frowns but releases my hands. I trap her to my chest with one arm before she can roll off of me. I retrieve the phone with my free hand.
“Hello,” I answer upon seeing the caller.
“Uri, this is Nathan Briggs,” the voice on the other end says. I don’t like the tension I hear in his voice.
I release Valentina and sit up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “Yes Nathan, is Pamela okay?” I ask.
“Actually she is safe but I have a problem,” he sighs into the phone.
“Go on,” I reply.
Nate goes on to tell me the story of a woman named Vanessa that apparently has been a part of a scheme to bring harm to Nathan and Pamela’s family. I listen intently but I am also aware of the anger and frustration starting to roll off my wife.
I stand and start for my closet pulling a small duffel bag and beginning to pack it. When Nathan tiredly ends the story, making it clear that this Mims is my target, I have my bag packed and ready.
“I have left Pam long enough to get Vanessa some place safe. Mims still needs to be handled…,” I cut Nathan off. He has nothing more that needs to be said.
“Done,” I reply and disconnect the call.
When I enter the room Valentina is in a robe sitting in the middle of the bed. I can read the agitation on her face. I know she has questions about Pamela but I do not know how to explain our relationship without revealing Luca’s relationship with her. Yes, Pamela has moved on but I am not too sure that Luca has gotten over her.
I think the two women would actually be very fond of each other, but I don’t want to fill Valentina’s head with ideas of Pamela before she can meet her for herself. It just doesn’t seem right, especially with the murmurs of trouble with Shannon and Luca’s engagement. I press my lips as Valentina folds her arms over her chest.
“Where are you going,” she asks as I place the bag by the door.
I start back for the closet to toss on some clothes. Valentina appears in the doorway with a pissed look on her face. I pull on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. I push my feet into a pair of runners and grab a leather jacket. I will be able to shower and change on the jet. Once dressed, I move over to Valentina placing my hands on her hips and pulling her to me. I kiss her forehead.
“I have to go across the pond. It will be quick and I will be back before you know I have gone,” I say against her temple.
“Then I can come with you,” she says before trying to free herself from my hold to go pack a bag.
Tightening my hold I keep her pressed to me. “I don’t think that is a good idea. This is business not personal,” I say pointedly. She glares at me and frowns. “You have your appointments tomorrow and this is not worth changing those plans.”
“But this Pamela is worth changing your plans and jumping out of our bed in the middle of the night,” She accuses.
“Do not put words in my mouth, certainly not when you do not understand what you are talking about,” I growl.
“Then make me understand,” she pulls from my arms and places her hands on her hips.
“I don’t have time to right now,” I reply walking around her and heading for my bag.
“Really Uri?” She yells from behind me.
I snap on my heels to face her. “You are safe here,” I point downward. “I have to take care of this in a timely fashion. I am already a day behind the incident. This is not the time for you to be a brat, Valentina. You understand this better than anyone. We will talk when I return,” with that I turn lifting my bag and pulling my phone to get arrangements in order.
CHAPTER Twenty Four
“That whore is dead,” the wanker spits as blood drips from his mouth. “Julissa thinks she can get away from me. I made her. Vanessa will always be mine.”
“But we are not here because of Julissa,” I shrug as I use the torch in my hand to heat the tip of the hunting knife I am holding.
Hearing that this prick not only beat his own wife within an inch of her life, not once but often. Let alone the fact that he had plans to harm Pamela and my goddaughters, has my blood boiling in rage. If I tried to explain this to Valentina before I left I would have lost it before finding this piece of shit.
“Vanessa, Julissa, whore, call her whatever you want. She is dead,” he growls through his pain.
“I think you are mistaken because I am the one looking at a dead man,” I say with a smug grin on my lips.
I had first thought to just put a bullet through his head and end his sorry life before he ever knew it was coming. However, once I received the pictures from the research I had done on him I flipped. The things he has done to his wife and not just her. He had a mistress that he has beaten beyond recognition before. I thought it only fitting that I return the favor.
“Do you really think this will end with me,” he snorts smugly. “Do you think a man of my means won’t have arms beyond the grave? I want you to tell Vanessa that she should not get comfortable. She will never be able to sleep safely. I will haunt her and one day my revenge will meet her.”
I don’t fear anything, but in that moment there was a sense of truth to his words. I don’t know where Nathan has taken this Vanessa but I have a feeling she will be safe for but so long if Nathan is not careful.
“What I will tell her is that I enjoyed sending you to hell,” I say before I fillet the wanker and hum to his screams of agony.
“Hello,” the voice on the other end of the phone answers.
“Good day, Thomas this is Uri,” I reply in greeting.
“Uri, hello son. How are you?” Thomas Briggs replies.
“I am well. You can tell Nathan that it is done. I am contacting you because I know he is most likely caring for Pamela. This does not sit well with me. I have taken care of the main problem but I think it best that the young lady stays well and hidden for some time. It’s… some of the things he said cause me think it safer to keep her hidden for the time being.”
“I appreciate the heads up son,” Thomas says. “Now a word to the wise for you, get home. The lid has come off your problem.”
The phone disconnects but I need no further explanation as my blood runs cold. I have great respect for Thomas Briggs. Little known fact to many he, my father and grandfather were quite close. He and his family had part in finding me when I was kidnapped at six. Funny how life comes full circle, once again I owe the man.
CHAPTER Twenty Five
I punch the pillow once again. It has been two days since Uri took off, leaving me behind. I have slept like crap and my mood has been darker than dark. To piss me off more Uri had the nerve to leave a bodyguard behind for me. Fin is a large teddy bear of a man and rather sweet but I don’t need him. It is insulting.
He has followed me to my meetings both days. I am pissed and exhausted. I just want Uri to come home. I had no idea I would miss him so much. I miss him almost enough to forgive him for our argument.
He hasn’t even text me so I guess all thoughts of forgiving have a justified reason for why I refuse to. I don’t want to be jealous Uri has been so attentive. I hate feeling like I should question him after all he has done for me.
I growl at my stupid thoughts and punch the pillow again. However I sit up as I get the overwhelming feeling something isn’t right. As if on cue, my phone rings. When I see it is Uri calling the feeling increases. I answer right away despite wanting to make him suffer for his silence. Something just isn’t right.
“Hello,” I say softly.
“Where is your gun, Bella,” he asks in rapid Italian.
“What,” I ask in confusion. “It is with me like always.”
“Good,” he rumbles. “I am on my way and Fin should be there in minutes. Is my mum there with you?”
“No, she went to Italy this morning. What is going on?” I asked as my senses go on high alert.
“Someone is about to make a big mistake,” Uri growls.
I go to ask him what he is talking about but I hear movement in the apartment. “Uri, I have to go,” I whisper and hang up on him calling my name. I quickly silence my phone in case he calls back.
I slip from the bed in just my silk sleep shorts and tank top, glad I decided to throw something on for bed tonight. I pull my glock from beneath the mattress with the silencer already in place. I click off the safety. I know this is not Fin. He would have announced himself at the desk like he has done for the past two days.
I do a quick sweep of the room I am in. I smile to myself. I have always loved the décor of the master bedroom. Above the closet and master bath is a unique planter feature. There is a remote switch that lights it up and gives an ambient glow. It will be serving a different purpose tonight.
I place my phone between my teeth. With a soft running start I scale the wall between the closet and bathroom grabbing hold with one hand to hoist myself over the edge, landing softly into the planter. Once again I am grateful to my uncle for my wide range of training. I duck down out of sight. From this vantage point I can see the entrance to the bedroom without being seen.
The room is still dark save for the light spilling in from the blinds. I train my eyes and my glock on the doorway. As I strain I can hear someone move through the hallway outside the room.
Donatella called me earlier this evening to check on me and let me know she arrived in Italy safely. Besides her room is on the other side of the apartment, she rarely comes on this side. I can feel the adrenaline pumping. It has been too long since my last kill and now I feel the bloodlust pumping through my veins.
All of my reservations and doubts about what I do float out the window. There is a reason they call on me. I think of Uri’s words when he found me with my piece that morning.
‘But you better make sure nothing happens to my wife. If you insist on protecting yourself in this manner you better damn well do a perfect job.’
“Oh baby, I got this,” I say under my breath.
Not even a few seconds later a broad man steps into view through the glass bedroom doors. A beat later he is stepping into the room aiming a gun with a silencer at the bed. A smile creeps on my lips. Yeah, Uri is right. This fool done made one big mistake. When he fully steps in the room I pull the trigger. His body hits the floor with a thud.
“Shit,” I hear a second intruder whisper. “Rick?”
Before he finishes hissing his buddy’s name I have my gun trained on him. As soon as he shifts a bit the left I take the shot. He goes down just as swift as his friend. I hear heavy foot falls come up the hallway.
The door swings open further but no one comes into sight. I hear a voice instead. “No boss, I don’t see her but I have two down in your bedroom,” I hear Fin’s agitated voice before he pauses. He sticks a hand in the room to turn on the light.
“I’ll find her. Sir, with all due respect, I’m not trying to get my head blown off,” Fin sounds annoyed as he eases into the room.
I stifle a laugh but sit up in the box to allow him to see me. “Oh shit Boss, I found her,” Fin looks between me and the two bodies with a brow lifted then shakes his head starting to chuckle. “I’ll call the cleaner and get her out of here.”
He is speaking into the phone but giving me a proud smile as he tells Uri where he found me. I shrug my shoulders and climb onto the ledge before dropping soundlessly to the floor. Before I can turn for the bathroom Fin disengages his Bluetooth and is handing me his phone.
“Hello,” I say into the phone.
“I love you,” is all Uri says before the line goes dead. I don’t miss the tension and stress in his voice. I repeat his words despite knowing he is already gone. I hand Fin back his phone and he is right back on it calling a cleaner and giving the location.
I head into the closet to get dress and grab a few things. I know we won’t be coming back here for some time now. I’m okay with that. What I am not okay with is that someone has put a hit out on me, and if it is who I think, I will be happy to rectify this situation on my own.