YURI (Her Russian Protector #3) (9 page)

You're not stupid!

A cold chill crept up my neck. In the back of my mind, an ugly, mean voice started to taunt me.
He's playing you
and you were dumb enough to fall for it.

I shook off the irritating taunting. Yuri had been so sweet the other night. He wasn't playing around with me. Whatever that nasty voice in my head said, it wasn't true. Yuri wouldn't lead me on just to ditch me like this.

"Lena?"

It wasn't Yuri's voice that called to me but Ty Weston's. He touched my arm and drew my gaze. Smiling, he asked, "Can I buy you a drink while you wait?"

I glanced at my empty wine glass. "Sure."

Ty's hand settled on the small of my back and he guided me through the throng. At the bar, I exchanged my glass of wine for another. He asked for whiskey, neat, and took me to a pair of chairs that had opened up in the opposite corner of the bar area. He sipped his drink and ran his finger over the rim. "It's busy here tonight."

"Very," I agreed and swirled the dark, rich wine in my glass. "Are you out celebrating or is this a regular dinner spot for you?"

"Just a run-of-the-mill get-together."

"Oh."

"You're on a date?"

"Well, I'm supposed to be," I said with a nervous laugh. "He's running late."

Ty sighed and set aside his glass. Leaning forward, he touched my knee. "Sugar, if it's the man I'm thinking of, he's not coming."

"What?" I sat back and laughed. "You must be thinking of the wrong guy. It's Yuri Novakovsky."

Ty wore a reluctant expression as he plucked his phone from his pocket. He tapped at his screen and spun it around for me to see. At first I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to see. Then it hit me like a ton bricks.

My heart stuttered in my chest at the sight of Yuri in a tuxedo with his arm wrapped around a drop-dead gorgeous brunette in a glimmering gold evening gown. Self-consciously, I rubbed a hand along the front of my knockoff dress. The silver hoops dangling from my ears and the simple bangle bracelets I'd worn looked so cheap compared to the diamonds and emeralds dripping from her neck and ears. No doubt her high heels probably cost more than Vivi and I spent on our rent every month.

What the hell was wrong with me? Had I really believed that I could ever move in
that
world? I could never be that woman. Obviously Yuri had figured it out before me.

"When was this taken?" I croaked the question as I tried to blink back the tears prickling my eyes.

"A few hours ago at a charity gala in Berlin. Apparently he was there for some pipeline deal." He hesitated before saying, "Her name is Tanya Kruger. She's a media heiress he dated last year."

Of course she was. Ty tried to pull the phone away but I stopped him. "Are there more?"

Compassion flashed in his dark eyes. "You don't need to see them."

"I do." I had to burn the images into my brain so I'd never be stupid enough to think a guy like Yuri would ever want something to do with a ghetto princess like me.

Holding the phone in my trembling hands, I swiped through the gallery. Yuri looked sexy and dashing and so damn happy. In every photo he smiled. In every photo
she
clung to his arm. Tanya—with the perfect hair and the perfect dress and the perfect face. And the perfect bank account and pedigree no doubt.

It was obvious he'd gotten a better offer while he was away on business. He could have come back to Houston to see stupid, poor, unlovable, unemployed me or he could stay there and rub elbows with Europe's wealthy and elite while a supermodel lookalike gazed adoringly at him.

I handed the phone back to Ty and lifted my glass of wine to my mouth. In three long pulls, I gulped it down. Catching Ty's eye, I said, "You must think I'm a real dumbass."

His gaze never wavered. "I don't think that at all, Lena. I think men like Yuri are used to taking what they want and discarding it when they're done. You're at a disadvantage because you didn't grow up in this glossy world of mine. You learn quickly to spot the users."

Was Yuri a user? He came across as so caring and kind. Was it all an act? I rubbed my face. "God, I'm really losing my touch. There was a time when this wouldn't have happened to me."

Ty gripped my hand. "Don't let him win. He's nothing, okay? He's just some rich ass Russian with some stupid boats."

My lips quirked in a sad smile. "I thought he was something special."

"Oh, honey." He squeezed my fingers. "Don't."

Feeling colossally stupid, I cringed at the idea of going home and telling Vivian what had happened. She would be so sweet and supporting but it wasn't what I wanted right now.

And Erin? She would be furious for me and demand that Ivan track Yuri down and kick his ass as a twisted way of restoring my honor. Knowing how tightly she had Ivan wrapped around her little finger, he'd probably do it too. Then Dimitri and Nikolai would be dragged into the mess. The last thing Benny needed was the stress of a huge bust-up in our tightly connected group of friends.

"Hey," Ty tipped my chin with his finger, "come out with me."

"What? No. I'm okay. I'll go home. You don't have to offer to take me out because you pity me."

"I don't pity you. I actually like you quite a bit. I think we got off on the wrong foot. You and me? We have more in common than you think, Lena Cruz."

I wasn't so sure about that but the prospect of a sad night in my apartment didn't seem so appealing. Tempted by his offer, I asked, "What did you have in mind?"

Grasping my hand, he dragged me out of my seat. "Well, it wouldn't be any fun if I told you…"

* * *

The relentless chirp of a cell phone dragged Yuri from a deep sleep. Confused and groggy, he rolled onto his back and tried to remember where the hell he was. Berlin. A hotel. Another night alone in a strange bed.

The cell phone on the bedside table continued to vibrate and ring. If it had been the ringtone from his business phone, he would have let it go but it was his private line, the line to which only a handful of people had access. Worried something had happened in Houston, he snatched up the phone and answered. Fully expecting Ivan, Dimitri or Nikolai, he slipped into Russian. "What's happened?"

"I to-told you! English only!"

Taken aback, Yuri bolted upright at the sound of Lena's slurred voice. The heavy, thumping electronic music in the background made it difficult to hear her. He glanced at the clock and calculated the time in Houston. It was nearly one in the morning there. "Lena? Are you okay?"

"Like you care," she snapped back.

He'd never heard such anger in her voice. There was something else coloring her tone. Pain? "Of course I care."

"Liar. You're a big, stupid, Russian liar and I'm a big, dumb Mexican believer."

He frowned and tried to make sense of her ramblings. It was clear she was very drunk. "Lena, are you alone? Is Erin or Vivian there?"

"It's none of your business who I'm with tonight." He heard male voices in the background. She came back on the line, louder and angrier. "Yeah, that's right. You want to be so nosy about what I'm doing. Who the fuck was that girl you were with tonight? Huh? Is she with you now?"

"Tanya? What does Tanya matter?"

"Apparently a lot. You dumped me for her."

"What are you—?" The pieces fell into place. Had she seen photos from the gala? Did she think he had feelings for Tanya? "Lena, it was just a charity thing. It doesn't matter."

"Charity? Are you calling me a charity case?"

Between the alcohol dimming her wits and the outrageously loud music, she'd misunderstood him. "No. I didn't call you a charity case."

"Whatever, Yuri. What! Ever!"

He flinched as she shouted into the phone. The loud male laughter in the background worried him. If she was alone and drunk with men, it could be dangerous for her. "Lena, where are you?"

"Wherever you aren't."

Pinching his nose, he tried to keep his temper in check. "Lena, please, I'm begging you. Tell me where you are."

"Oh my God! I love this song." Her voice sounded fainter. He strained to hear her. The sound of fabric rustling against the phone scratched at his ear. A few moments later, he heard Lena whooping and raucous applause.

Imagining the very worst, he shouted, "Lena?
Yelena
!"

A deep male voice came on the line. "Sorry, dude, Lena can't play right now. She's busy dancing."

The line went dead. Panicked, he tried to call her but there was no answer. Terrified that she'd gotten herself into a dangerous situation, he called the only person who could find her in a city the size of Houston.

"Yuri?" Nikolai's calm voice soothed his raw nerves.

"I need you to find Lena."

He laughed. "Let the girl sleep, Yuri. She doesn't need you calling her all hours of the night because you're lovesick."

Somehow he managed not shout at his best friend. "She's not at home. She's drunk and in a club. I'm worried about her."

There was a moment's pause before Nikolai sighed. "Let me call Vee."

The line went dead. As Yuri waited for Nikolai's call, he flipped on the lamp and slid out of bed. The exhaustion he'd been feeling from the protracted negotiations fled as adrenaline took hold. What the hell was Lena thinking?

As he tugged on a shirt and pants, he replayed her conversation. Behind the alcohol making her so aggressive, there was so much hurt in her voice. What in the world did she think was going on here in Berlin? What was her hang-up with Tanya?

He had specifically told Anna to make sure that Lena understood this was simply a way for him to get the approval on the pipeline. He went with Tanya, gave an outrageous donation to an environmental charity and in the morning her father would run positive coverage in his papers to steady the nerves of those people preparing to vote to allow the pipeline to cross German soil.

"Shit." Running his fingers through his hair, Yuri pocketed his private phone and stormed out of his bedroom. He crossed the large suite to the bedroom where Anna slept. Hating to wake her so early after all the work she had done, he knocked loud enough to get her attention. "Anna?"

It was more than a minute before the door opened. Rumpled and sleepy, she hugged her robe around her willowy frame. "What's wrong?"

"Did you speak to Lena about cancelling our plans?"

"Yes. Well." Her cheek twitched and she made an apologetic face. "I sent her an email. Between running interference with the council and trying to track down a tuxedo and getting the cash freed up for the donation, I didn't have time for a phone call. Why? Was it important?"

Yuri groaned and wiped a hand down his face. "She's incredibly important to me."

Anna looked surprised. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was—I mean, I thought she was just another one of them. If I had known—"

"Yes." He lifted a hand to stop her. His stomach knotted so painfully he thought he might get sick. The stupidity of what he had done threatened to drop him to his knees. He had been so focused on this damn pipeline that he'd put everything at risk. Now there was only one thing to be done. "Get me on a flight to Houston as soon as possible."

Her eyes widened. "But it's—"

He cut her off. "I know what time it is. Leave our private jet here for the rest of team. Find me another one. Hell, I'll take a commercial flight if that's the only thing available."

"Yes, sir." She hesitated. "And the pipeline deal?"

"Jameson is my VP for a reason. If he can't seal the deal, he can find a new job." Harshness edged into his voice. He had no one to blame for this mess but himself. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so short with you. This is my fault."

She didn't argue with him. "I'll get it handled."

"Thank you." His phone started to ring as he crossed the living area and ducked into the bedroom. "Nikolai?"

"We've found her."

Yuri sagged against the closed door with relief. "Where is she?"

"Vee tracked her down using the internet. Apparently she's been posting pictures all night on a club run with someone called Ty."

Yuri groaned even louder. Could this night get any worse? "He's a gossip columnist." Certain Nikolai didn't care, he said, "It doesn’t matter. Can you get her?"

"I'm waiting for Vivian to get dressed. I'm not about to try to bring Lena home myself—especially if she has that damn gun in her purse."

Yuri reeled with shock. "She carries a gun?"

"Can you blame her? With a father like that she needs it."

Yuri's brow furrowed. He had only done a cursory peek into her background. Clearly he needed to delve deeper. "Be careful. I don't want this to turn into a bigger mess than it is."

"Vee and I can handle this." Nikolai's voice trailed off and Yuri heard Vivian's soft voice in the background. When Nikolai returned, he sounded unhappy. "You owe me big, Yuri."