Renee blinked. “Even after…” She knew that there was no need to finish her statement.
Anatoly was relieved beyond words. “I’m sorry about the way that I behaved. I just have a lot on my mind right now.”
“
I know,” she said, thinking of Langston earlier. “I tell you what…let’s just do us…okay. Let’s not make this about how other people handle having a baby. Let’s do it our way…
whatever way that is
. If we don’t set expectations made by other people, then we won’t disappoint each other. Besides, we’ve never done things the normal way. Why start now?”
Anatoly stood up and grabbed her hand. “I’ve two hours,” he said, kissing her lips. “Let me make up for two days of putting you through hell.”
His idea sounded like heaven, but she knew that he needed more than sex right now. Fighting against her own desires, she led him by his hand to the kitchen. “Not until you have had some breakfast.”
Anatoly followed without any fight. He was starving, exhausted, and in need of everything that she could and
would
provide him. Watching her sway her wide voluptuous hips in front of him, oblivious to his thoughts, he thought of something else he was in need of. He needed to tell Royal about the girls he had stuffed in his father’s library down the hall before she found them on her own.
They walked into the kitchen to find a large group gathered at the table eating. Royal poured juice in over twenty glasses, and Briggy stood at the stove with boxes of eggs to make more omelets. She looked up at him as he walked through the door and felt her heart constrict. As usual, his blue eyes sparkled like prisms, and his carved, angelic face carried a grave seriousness. Briggy smiled at him as he passed, and he - in his own way- spoke to her through a nod.
“
Anatoly,” Royal said, passing him a glass of juice. “Good morning.”
“
Dobroe utro
,” he said, pulling out a seat for Renee at the table. “Sit down, baby. I’ll fix you a plate.”
Briggy paused for a nanosecond. Anatoly had never once offered to cook for her or remotely make a kind gesture like pulling a chair out for her. She couldn’t help but look on in amusement.
“
Why don’t you
both
sit down, and we’ll fix you both a plate,” Royal said, pointing at the table. “You want a little of everything?” she asked Anatoly.
“
Da
, I’m starving,” he said, sitting beside Renee. He propped his large elbows on the table and looked over at Vasily. “Anything new?”
Vasily shook his head no.
Anatoly rolled his eyes. He felt like they were standing still even though they were making progress. It was just too slow for him.
Briggy brought over plates to the table and lowered her gaze to not meet his again. Even without looking at her he could feel the tension in her stance and wondered for a minute why now she seemed so uncomfortable with him when she had been in his home back in Memphis nearly a year ago and seemed to have had no feelings at all.
Women.
They always were looking for something to nag about. He looked over at Renee and smirked. If she only knew what he was thinking, she’d be nagging him right damn now.
Briggy could still smell the familiar scent of his cologne as she reached past him to put down his food. The clink of the porcelain plates hitting the table only added more discomfort for them both. How many times had she served him in this exact manner before? She could not even count anymore. But it was odd now, serving him and his significant other. It was even odder that she was dating his cousin - moreover his equal. Life was odd, but Anatoly was odder.
“
Just so you know, Royal, we have more guests,” Anatoly said, pulling his thoughts away from Briggy before Renee picked up on them.
“
Guests?” Royal repeated, baffled. She turned away from the stove and looked over at him for an explanation.
“
There were some girls who had been abused by the guy that we had a visit with last night. We couldn’t leave them there, so we brought them with,” he said, looking over at Renee.
“
Abused how,” Renee asked, concerned.
“
Sex slaves from what we could tell. All of them are underage and most don’t speak English. We’ll figure what to do with them afterwards, but for now they have to stay here,” Anatoly said, looking over at Vasily. “Keep an eye on them, will you?”
“
Of course, boss,” Vasily said, getting up to go and check out the situation.
The idea that the girls had been raped hit a raw nerve with Royal. Even now, every once in a while she had a nightmare about her own rape. “They are more than welcomed here,” she said softly. “Stepan, will you prepare more food and make sure that they get some. They can stay on the third floor in the quarters farthest from the men.”
“
Yes, madam,” Stepan answered.
“
And will you make sure that the men know to leave them alone,” Royal added.
“
You don’t have to worry about that,” Anatoly assured.
“
Does this mean that this is the type of person who has stolen my child…a child rapist?” Royal asked, shaking.
“
No,” Anatoly answered sternly. “No. You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I promise you.”
Renee felt proud of her boyfriend for what he had done. Touching his hand, she smiled at him.
He cracked an uncomfortable smile before stabbing his food with his knife.
Royal fixed a large plate for her husband and put it on a tray. “Is Dmitry still in his study?” she asked, looking at her watch. She knew that the kidnappers would be calling soon and she wanted to talk to Dmitry about meeting their demands.
“
Da, he’s still in there,” Anatoly said, sticking a fork in his sausage. “The old man won’t rest. Maybe you can talk him into it.
On sobiraet
·
sya skhodit
ʹ
s uma , yesli on ne spit (He’s going to go crazy if he doesn’t get some sleep)
,”
he said, worried about his father. His thoughts switched when he looked at Renee’s stomach. “Before you go, where are my brothers? I haven’t seen them yet.”
“
Up in their rooms resting,” Royal said, passing him a baby monitor. “When you go up to your room, stop and check on them. We’ve got two bodyguards outside of the door on post,
just in case
.”
“
Royal, I promise you that you’re absolutely safe in your own home,” Anatoly said, seeing the worry in her face. “Nothing is going to happen to them.”
Royal nodded. “I know,” she lied.
“
Where’s Gabriel?” Briggy asked Anatoly still without looking at him.
“
With Dmitry I suppose,” Anatoly said quickly. He looked down at his food. “I’m sure he’ll be in here to see after you soon. We only have two hours before we’re off again.”
Renee groaned at the thought. “Eat fast,” she urged. “You still could take a little cat nap, if you hurry.”
His team looked up from their foods and moaned collectively. They only had a moment to rest now. For some reason, they had hoped for more. But Dmitry was relentless. He would not stop until he had what he wanted.
“
Two hours,” Briggy gasped. “But you’ve been gone all night.”
“
I’ll send him out when I take Dmitry his breakfast,” Royal promised Briggy. “Don’t worry. He’ll come to you before he leaves again. It’s just that there is so much for him to catch up on.” She quieted herself in front of the hired men. Smiling at Briggy, Royal picked up her tray and walked to the door. “Oh and Anatoly…”
“
Da
,” he said, turning to his stepmother with a warm gaze.
“
Congrats,” she said with a proud smile. “If I had known, I would have told you earlier.”
He looked over at Renee and cracked a grin, despite himself. “Thanks.”
***
Royal found Dmitry alone in his study when she arrived with his breakfast. Knocking on the door before she entered, she carried in the large silver tray and closed the door behind her.
Dmitry was behind his desk, still studying the papers. He was so used to maids bringing him his food until when he looked up to see his wife struggling with his meal, he jumped up and quickly helped her.
“
You shouldn’t be carrying food with your stitches,” he said, taking the service from her. Putting it on the desk, he took her hand and led her to a chair. “All of this is too much on you,” he said, thinking of her wounds still fresh from birth.
“
I’ll be fine, Dmitry,” Royal said smiling. “Really, you treat me as though I’m made of glass.”
“
You are more fragile than you pretend,” Dmitry said, ignoring her false strength. “And you need to be resting with the children. Leave the other women to chores.”
“
There aren’t enough of us as it is, Dmitry. You’ve sent everyone home…all twenty-five of the people who used to keep this place going,” she reminded.
Dmitry deflated. He ran a hand through his hair. “I know. But I can’t trust anyone at this point. We’re too
vulnerable
. It wouldn’t be anything for the kidnappers to get to one of the hands and blackmail them into slipping someone poison or giving away sensitive information or sneaking someone in with our already defenseless boys. I can’t…risk it.” Dmitry’s voice was flat and exhausted.
Royal saw the worry in his eyes. Reaching out, she touched his face and pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips touched softly before he slipped his minty tongue into her fleshy mouth. Deepening his kiss as he knelt before her, he pulled her into his embrace and pulled her to his body. Her legs wrapped around his upper torso and she mingled her long arms around his neck.
Dmitry groaned in need. “It’s so cruel that I can’t have you now,” he said, opening his eyes to look upon her face. She was soft in the light, glowing and fresh-faced without makeup or lipstick. He ran a hand over her silky skin and buried his face in her shoulder.
“
It’s just as hard on me,” she whispered.
“
When all of this is over and our family is back together again, I’m going to make love to you until my body can no longer move,” he promised.
Royal giggled. “You do that already.” She held him close and looked out of the window. “The idea of us all being together again is the only thing that keeps me going.” She watched the trees sway in the distance as she held him.
“
It won’t be long,” Dmitry promised. “Langston has provided me leverage, and I plan to use it to my advantage.”
“
I still can’t believe that the freaking CIA was actually in our home this morning.” Royal said amazed. “Is there still so much that I don’t know about you?”
Dmitry rose up and looked her in her eyes. “I’m afraid so,” he said honestly.
She lifted her chin at his shrug. “All I ask is that you protect us from the things that you keep from us. Is that acceptable?”
“
It’s more than
acceptable
,” he said, standing up.
“
I heard that we’ve picked up a few stragglers since last night,” she said of the girls Anatoly and Gabriel had rescued.
“
I haven’t seen them yet, but from what Gabriel says, they are in bad shape. Do you think that you could help?”
“
I’d be happy to. Maybe someone will do the same for Anya. You just continue to focus on getting our daughter back. I’ll see to the house.”
Her words had provided him comfort and at the same time the energy he needed to push forward and harder to see this thing done.
Getting up, she touched his shoulder. “Eat your breakfast, and if you can, take a nap before the boys leave.” She looked at her watch. “They’ll be calling soon, right?”
Dmitry nodded.
“Are we going to pay them the money?”
“Of course we are. It’s just money. I’ll do anything…pay anything to get her back.”
Royal felt comforted. Inwardly, she knew that she could count on Dmitry, but she also knew the amount of money that they were requesting was enormous.
Dmitry propped his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers together. Peering at her from across the room, he cupped his chin in his hands and closed his eyes.
“God please let him get some rest,” Royal muttered as she left him alone in the room.
Chapter 20
The Caymen Islands
Coastal winds swept in onto the shore pushing the sea breeze through Vladimir’s dark long locks as he sat in front of his computer Skyping with Manon and basking in the sunlight.
An older Hispanic maid in a traditional black and white uniform brought him his meal and sat it on the patio table of his beach front property and quickly moved out of sight without notice.
After tasting his food, he carefully calculated the next phase of their plan and watched in the background as his bodyguards cleaned their weapons and prepared to escort him to the bank for the first deposit due to take place in just a couple of hours.
“
How is Balthazar holding up?” he asked, tasting his strawberry crepes.