The Captive Series (21 page)

“I think it’s more than this, especially because he’s more than likely the one who gave up the goods. You two didn’t get together until six months ago. What I can’t figure out is why?”

“I didn’t do shit to the guy except come into town.”

“It had to have started since then, but what did you do? Screw one of his broads? Sorry, sis,” Luciano said guiltily, knowing his sister cared for Rykov and was sitting right there.

“No, I didn’t,” he said as he caressed Bianca’s cheek and gave her a look that made it clear he wasn’t lying.

“So, then, what is it?”

“I don’t know, but he’s got to have something against you. Which is fucked up because until this happened, he had every intention of marrying Bianca.”

There was a knock at the door. Nikolai beckoned the person in.

“Sergei, what is going on?”

“Sir, we need to leave now. I got a call from a friend, and he told me Santini just landed.”

“What!?” Nikolai snarled.

“Everything is in the car, and our plane is ready to go,” Sergei said hurriedly.

“We have to go.”

“We’ll meet you at the airport and pick you up,” Luciano said.

“Great.”

“Come on, sweetheart.” Nikolai grabbed Bianca’s hand and rushed her out the front door.

They got into the car while the other staff went in another. Sergei had it all planned out. There was a secret he’d orchestrated to make everything go smoothly.

“What’s going on?”

“Here’s the plan. We’re taking a commercial flight to the U.S. Our other guys will be going to Moscow. I already informed the staff at the house of the plans, so they’ll think you left for Russia.”

“That’ll work, and by the time they find out it’s a lie, they may be in Russia. I need more information on who’s involved.” Nikolai turned to Bianca and could see the fear in her eyes.

“Baby, it’s okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Bianca was taken by surprise when Nikolai kissed her sweetly, causing tears to fall from her eyes.

†††

“This is so fucked,” Luciano said as he waited for the time to go pick up his sister and Rykov. He hoped to fuck the bastard married his sister already. The thought of her living with a man like his whore just pissed him off. She deserved better.

“Luciano, you need to be calm and think straight,” Amber said as she rubbed his shoulders.

“I know, amore. I’m trying.”

“She is safe with Nikolai. He loves her, and I’m sure he will keep her safe.”

“I couldn’t keep you safe,” Luciano said dejectedly.

His recovery from her assault was taking longer than hers. Amber struggled from it, but it was Luciano that kept her strong. His love had brought her out of her funks. Whenever she fell back into the memories that she could never erase, he was there to hold her. It was his guilt that caused her to recover faster. She hated seeing the upset in his eyes when he was reminded of his inability to save her. So to prevent him from being eaten up with guilt, she pushed away her memories. It ended up working for her, and it was working for him as well. These issues were setting him back. The sweet and kind Amber was ready to put a bullet in Santini’s head herself.

“I need to talk to the men, but the problem is, I’m skeptical. I feel like I can’t trust anyone these days, and I’m putting my trust in a man who took my sister as his own and scared the shit out of my family.”

“Well, I like him. He’s been honest, generous, and helpful to us several times already. He could’ve read the report and just ended us, but he didn’t.”

“Yeah, because he wanted Bianca.”

“Santini wants us dead and still wants Bianca.”

“Damn. Amore, you’re right, but he’s still on a short fucking leash.”

“Excuse me, Luc. I’ll be right back.” She jumped off her husband’s lap.

“Where you going, Amber?”

“To the bathroom.” Luciano looked at his wife funny. He was already suspicious since the other night. She left the room. He waited until he heard her enter the first floor bathroom. He exited his office and walked up to the door and listened. Just like he expected, he heard his beloved wife vomiting. Luciano waited against the wall for her to finish up.

Amber was struggling to share her happiness with Luciano, but with everything going on, she was afraid of making him insane with worry. Her moments of nausea were luckily not around him, but this time it was close. She thought she was in the clear when she exited to the bathroom.

“So, amore, when were you planning to tell me my seed has been sewn?”

“Shit!” she said with a jump. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Sorry, Amber, but you still didn’t answer my question.”

“I wanted to tell you that night, but you were upset with the raid.”

“Yes, and you’ve had five days to tell me since then.”

“Yes, but I didn’t want you stressing more than you already are. You’re dealing with a lot.”

“Amore, I’m not stressed about the baby. You and my son are my priorities. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe. This little one is inside you and is loved and protected inside the woman I can’t do without.”

“Luciano, I love you too,” Amber said before she snuggled into his arms.

“Son, it’s time to go get them,” the Don said as he stuck his head into the hallway.

“Come with me. I want to leave you here, but I need you to stop me from killing Rykov.”

“You’re not going to do anything to him.”

“Not if you’re with me.”

“Well you better not, Mr. Rossi,” she said with a wagging finger.

“Yes, yes. We’ll see, wife.” Luciano kissed his pregnant wife before smacking her ass. “Let’s go.”

The goons and guns were all gathered down the road. The three cars were packed with enough armed men to take down all of Nikolai’s men and capture Bianca. They drove slowly up to the villa.

“Petrov goes in first. Then on his signal we go in, but don’t go in shooting. I need Bianca alive. Hell, Rykov should live too. I wouldn’t mind him watching,” Santini said sinisterly over the walkie-talkies. As far as he was concerned, she needed to pay for her betrayal.

Petrov had his driver pull up to the front of the villa. He entered the front while the men waited down the road for word. He noticed there was no one manning the front entrance. He check around the corner, and no one was there either.

He walked into the house where the door was unlocked.

“What the hell?” he murmured to himself as he entered, un-holstering the gun he’d hidden in his suit coat. Warily he walked around the entranceway, and no noise could be heard. When he was done searching the house, it was empty. He turned on his cell phone to see he’d gotten a voicemail from Nikolai.

Petrov, I don’t know where you’re at, but I’ve got some business to take care of in Russia. We are heading to Moscow. You can stay here or come and join us.

“Fuck!” Petrov paced back and forth, frustrated and nervous. He didn’t know what Santini would do when he learned that they had left.

His phone vibrated. It was Santini.

“What is going on, Petrov?” Santini said impatiently.

“They’re gone,” Petrov whispered nervously.

“What the fuck do you mean ‘they’re gone’?” Santini growled.

“I had my phone off so they couldn’t track my location, and it had a message. They left for Moscow, supposedly called on business.”

“Call the airport and make sure the fuck actually left for Moscow or if somehow you’re fucking with me and he was tipped off.”

“I didn’t tell him shit. I didn’t even see him and his whore before I left.”

“Don’t you call her that again,” Santini snarled.

“Sorry. I’ll call the airport.”

Petrov made the call. “Yes, I am calling to see if Mr. Rykov’s plane left for Moscow already.”

“Yes, the flight left three hours ago, sir.”

“Can you give me the flight manifest?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t give that type of information out.”

“Thank you.”

He called Santini back. “They said the flight left three hours ago, but they wouldn’t tell me who was on it.”

“Shit. Well, we’ll camp out here, and when he calls, we’ll trace it.”

They waited for five more hours before the call came from Nikolai.

“Petrov, you finally answer your fucking phone. Where the fuck are you? I’ve got a problem with the warehouse here. The contracts are causing concern, and a possible strike may be underway. Plus I wanted to show my bride our future sons’ heritage.”

“I’m back at the villa. I had some cases to handle. You know you’re not my only client.”

“Do you have me on speakerphone?”

“Yes, I’m eating right now.” Petrov lied, and Nikolai didn’t believe him for shit. It helped that they’d installed hidden mics in the common areas before they left.

†††

Their flight had just landed when Nikolai gave Petrov the rerouted call. They hadn’t even grabbed their luggage yet because he wanted to find out where Petrov was. The speakerphone had been a dead giveaway for him that there were others listening to the call. He took care of that, though. Once they reached the Rossi residence, he could check the audio. Everything made it seem that he was in Moscow. There was some unrest at the warehouse, but it was something that didn’t require his immediate presence.

“Nikolai, what happened?” Bianca said as she waited alongside Sergei at the luggage carousel.

Nikolai walked up to his wife and wrapped her in his arms, bent down, and whispered, “I love you,” before kissing her quickly. Bianca stood there stunned for a moment. He hadn’t used those words with her before. She looked back up at her husband and smiled before saying, “I love you, too.”

“Let’s go. We can talk when we get to a safe location.”

They walked a little farther to see Luciano, Amber, and two of their guys. Bianca dragged Nikolai along and cheerfully ran up to her brother and giving him a big hug, letting go of Nikolai’s hand.

Luciano begrudgingly shook Nikolai’s hand while Bianca ran into Amber’s arms. The two men looked at each other suspiciously, neither of them trusting but still needing each other to keep the people they love safe.

“Rossi,” Nikolai growled.

“Rykov,” Luciano hissed.

“Boys, please play nice.”

“Amore, I am playing nice,” Luciano replied.

“Luciano, this is Sergei, my longtime friend, and the one who hurried us out of the villa.”

“Sergei, make sure you continue to be on the right side.”

“I’ve no problem with sticking by Nikolai.”

“Are we taking two cars?”

“Yes.”

“Lead the way.”

They walked to the car with their guards, and the luggage was packed away. It was still bright and sunny out, so they had their shades on. It was the first time that Bianca saw Nikolai with sunglasses on. Something about them turned her on—fiercely. Nikolai noticed the change and pulled her aside before they entered the car.

“Love, what is the matter? Is it my scar? It’s more noticeable with the sunglasses,” he said sincerely. That’s why he avoided wearing them.

“Please, Niko. How many times do I have to tell you…I think the scar looks sexy on you?”

Luciano was standing behind them and nearly threw up in his own mouth as he watched his sister reach up and kiss the Russian bear.

“Could you two save that shit for later? Or do you care to be out in the open with a target on your backs.”

The moment they got in the car, there was plenty to discuss. Nikolai let them in on his suspicions and his conversation with Petrov.

“That’s a sick bastard. What’s his problem with you? If he isn’t a crime boss, but just a lawyer, why the hell would he think of screwing you over?”

“That’s what I don’t understand, but at this point, I don’t give a fuck. First, he put me in prison and pretended to be my ally. Then, he’d almost had me take revenge on your family, unjustly.”

“What’s Santini’s issue with us, though?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. I’m thinking he wanted to take over the whole region. Think about it. Remember when your guys gunned down some of mine because you thought we were part of that drug ring? Well, who told you that it was us?”

“Enzo.”

“Right. So I’m thinking he might have been working for Santini back then. If you and I were fighting, then we’d end up killing each other, and he’d pick up the pieces. When we resolved the issue, he called in the second option and had me sent away.”

“Love, how long was Santini after you?” Nikolai questioned.

“About six months ago,” she answered. 

“Just about the same time I was released?”

“I believe so.”

“I think it was his plan to get in with the family, but when he found out about your feelings for me, he decided to end the family instead of joining families. I’m not saying that he still didn’t want you, but he used me to be the executioner.”

“That would make sense because then she’d hate you.”

Nikolai turned to look at his wife and intertwined their hands. “As pissed as I’d been, I like to think rationally. I wouldn’t have killed all of you, just the men, but…”

“It doesn’t matter. We can’t change what happened. All we know is that despite what supposed proof you had, you didn’t act on it rashly. We’re lucky Santini picked you to use as the actor because if it’d been someone else, then we wouldn’t have stood a chance,” Amber said as she patted her husband’s thigh.

“So, then, what’s the plan?” Bianca asked.

“The plan is for you women to go back to the house and play with little Luci and make us some food. The men need to have a talk about this alone.”

“Did I just hear you right?”

“Amore, don’t start with me. You think I’ve gone soft, Cara? I’m still who I was before we met. You’ll do as I say, or you’ll catch some shit. Understood?”

“Whatever, ass,” she pouted.

Nikolai and Sergei smirked.

“You two fucks shouldn’t be laughing. This is what you have to look forward to with this one. You, your day will come,” he pointed to Sergei.

“Please, you boys love us.” Bianca said.

“Yes, we do,” Nikolai said as he smiled at Bianca. It was clear to the other passengers that there was something special between the two of them. Even if it made Luciano want to gag.