Her Sweet Surrender (Brie's Submission Book 21)

by Red Phoenix

  Brie smirked, wiping her eyes.

  Lea took her hand and squeezed it.

  They rode in silence, her friends uncertain how to bring up the topic of Kylie’s death and Brie unwilling to break the comfortable cocoon their presence provided.

  When they finally reached the destination, Brie told Mary to pull over.

  “You sure this is the place?”

  “Yep.”

  Brie got out of the car and stood at the edge of the steep embankment overlooking the huge city of LA. There was only one other person she had brought up here after Sir introduced her to the place.

  It had become a sacred spot for Brie.

  Sir had first driven her here after an unexpected run-in with his mother. Brie glanced at the tree where he had released his anger with his fists. That night had been both terrible and hauntingly beautiful at the same time.

  Brie smiled back at her girlfriends. “I brought my mother here once. Just after we found my wedding dress.”

  “Oh, wow, Brie. This is a killer view of Los Angeles!” Lea stepped up beside her.

  Mary sauntered up behind them. “Eh, it ain’t bad.”

  Lea gave her a hip bump. “Mary Quite Contrary.”

  Brie looked over the city in silence, taking strength from the life it represented.

  “How are you doing, Brie?” Lea finally asked.

  Still staring at the city, Brie asked, “Have you ever watched a person die?”

  “No…” Lea whispered.

  “It haunts me every day.”

  Brie pulled out her phone and showed them the photo she took at the hospital. Faelan had his arm around Kylie, both of them glowing as they looked down at their baby. “I took this just before she died.”

  Lea whimpered.

  Ever the blunt one, Mary asked, “What was it like?”

  “Her death was quick and so terribly final…” Brie glanced at the photo again. “How can a person so young and full of life be gone just like that? I still can’t believe she’s dead even though I was there.”

  Lea cried, “Poor Faelan.”

  “He’s definitely been given a shitty hand in life,” Mary muttered.

  Lea looked stricken when she told them, “I heard he hasn’t even held the baby.”

  “Faelan is really struggling,” Brie confessed.

  “Sometimes you reach a breaking point,” Mary stated, her tone so matter-of-fact it frightened Brie.

  Brie turned to her in concern, “You’re not at that point, are you?”

  She scoffed. “Don’t worry about me, Stinks. I’m like the cat that came back the very next day. This pussy ain’t going anywhere.”

  “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your strength, Mary.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Stop with all the mushy crap. You know I hate that shit.”

  Brie smiled.

  “I’m seriously worried about Faelan, Brie,” Lea said. “Is there anything we can do?”

  Brie sighed, feeling equally concerned. “Keep him in your thoughts, you guys. He’s shunning all contact because he’s in a dark place right now.”

  “I feel sorry for his parents,” Mary told them. “They looked completely shattered at the funeral. They’re so desperate, they even asked me to reach out to their son.”

  “Don’t they know you broke up with him?” Lea asked.

  “Yeah, which just shows how desperate they are.”

  Brie frowned. “They have every right to worry. Even Marquis Gray is concerned.”

  A sense of melancholy settled over the three as they stood together, staring out at the bustling city below.

  “There’s only one thing to be done,” Mary stated, her voice resolute.

  Brie turned to her. “What?”

  “It’s time for big boobs to kill us with a joke.”

  “Is that supposed to be funny?” Lea grumbled, clearly offended.

  “No. I’m being completely serious.”

  Brie smiled at Lea. “I could use one right now.”

  “Okay…”

  Lea started pacing back and forth. “Give me a second you guys. I’m not prepared for this.”

  Mary smirked at Brie. “Who knew Lea would ever be at a loss for words?”

  “I actually know a lot of jokes in sign language,” Lea informed her.

  “Really?” Brie asked.

  “Yeah, but nobody has ever heard them,” she answered as she continued to pace.

  It took Brie a few moments to catch on. She glanced at Mary and saw her dragging her hands down her face in feigned agony.

  Brie burst out laughing. “That joke was professionally executed, Lea. It was so subtle I nearly missed it, which makes it even funnier. Well done, girlfriend.”

  Lea beamed at her. “I’ve got a great one for you, Stinky Cheese. What do you call a threesome where one Dom praises you and the other humiliates you?”

  “A good time?” Mary answered.

  Lea snickered. “Of course, you’d say that.”

  Brie thought about it for a minute and shrugged. “You got me.”

  “Good Top, Bad Top.”

  Giggling, Brie walked over to hug Lea. “You can always make me smile.”

  “I aim to please.”

  “Well, now that I am done sacrificing myself for the greater good, I’m calling uncle,” Mary told them.

  Lea snorted. “I was done anyway.”

  “Thank God.”

  “Oh, you guys, I almost forgot. Hunter bought me a new blindfold but there’s a problem.” Lea pouted.

  “What’s wrong?” Brie asked, curious about what it could be.

  She shrugged. “I can’t see myself wearing it.”

  Before Brie could react, Mary let out a tortured groan. “What the hell, Lea! I called uncle.”

  “Gotcha!” Lea giggled, looking quite pleased with herself.

  In the middle of laughing, Brie suddenly stopped short when a vision of Kylie’s coffin came to her mind.

  “It’s okay to laugh, Stinks,” Mary told her.

  “I know.” She let out a strangled sigh. “It’s just that…”

  Lea put her arms around Brie. “No need to explain yourself, girlfriend. We understand.”

  “I’ve been thinking about what you said.” Mary gazed down at the LA landscape below. “If we can’t help Todd right now, then we need to be there for the kid. No child should ever feel unloved.”

  Brie looked at Mary with compassion. Despite her brash demeanor, Mary was a wealth of depth and kindness.

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  The next day, Rytsar came bursting into their house. “I need you both to come with me.”

  Sir looked up from his office desk. “Where?”

  “Wallace refuses to see me, and Gray won’t let me come uninvited without you.”

  “Unless you have a plan, I don’t see the point.” Sir went back to his work.

  “But I do, moy droog! You know the special bond the Wolf Pup has with Vorobyshek. I am willing to give her up for the time being so she can aid him in his healing.”

  Brie perked up when she heard Rytsar mention his dog, Little Sparrow. “That’s a great idea. He’s always had a soft spot for her, and animals can reach people in ways humans can’t.”

  “It certainly has a chance of working,” Sir agreed. “Give me a couple of minutes to finish up here and we can leave.”

  When they arrived, Celestia greeted them at the door. It was the first time in all of the years Brie had known her that Celestia looked troubled. “I’m so grateful to see you all. Please come in.”

  As she moved to the side to let them pass, she knelt to pet Little Sparrow. “Let’s hope you are the medicine he needs, Little Sparrow.” The dog licked her face excitedly.

  Standing back up, she escorted them down the hallway. As soon as Little Sparrow saw Faelan, she whined happily and raced toward him.

  He stared at her, not even reaching out to pet her.

  Little Sparrow would not b
e denied and pushed her head under his hand. Instead of relenting and petting her, he crossed his arms. She sat down and looked up at Faelan, tilting her head from side to side as if she was trying to figure him out.

  Brie was frightened by the change in Faelan. He looked gaunt and his expression was hollow and lifeless.

  The baby started crying in another room. Celestia immediately popped off the couch to take care of her.

  “Can I go with you?” Brie asked.

  She gave Brie a weak smile. “Of course.”

  When Brie entered the room that had been hastily converted into a nursery, she went straight to the crib and picked up the crying infant. “How has she been?”

  Celestia caressed her tiny head. “The poor thing cries all the time. I haven’t been able to comfort her no matter what I do.”

  Brie looked down sadly at the baby. “I wonder if she misses her mother.”

  Celestia frowned. “I’m sure she misses them both.”

  Brie kissed her sweet-smelling head and began gently rocking her. “What did Faelan end up naming this little sweetie?”

  Celestia looked crestfallen when she answered, “He’s never given her a name.”

  Brie frowned. “What?”

  “He refuses.”

  She hugged the baby tighter. “No wonder you’re so unhappy.”

  “Brie,” Celestia whispered, “I’m afraid if things don’t change soon, this little girl will be an orphan.”

  “I promise we won’t let that happen, Celestia.” Remembering what Mary said, she glanced around the room. “It looks like you could use a little help with baby supplies.”

  “We buy things as we require them,” she explained. “But, never having had a child before, we aren’t really sure what else she needs.”

  “Don’t worry. We have a small army of people who would love the opportunity to help.”

  Brie walked into the other room carrying the baby. The instant Faelan saw the child in her arms, he flinched and got up to leave. On his way out of the room, he told Rytsar, “Take the dog with you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Marquis Gray stated as he watched Faelan leave. “At this point, we are at a loss.”

  “Don’t fret,” Rytsar stated confidently. “I have something in the works.” He glanced at Little Sparrow. “As for her, she must stay.”

  “You heard what Todd said,” Marquis protested.

  “The boy has no idea what he needs, but I do.”

  They left Marquis’s house not long after. On the drive home, Brie told them what she’d learned. “Faelan refuses to name the baby.”

  Sir frowned. “Seeing his reaction to her tonight, I can’t say I’m surprised. But, it is extremely troubling.”

  “The boy is stubborn,” Rytsar stated. “But there is no one more stubborn than me.”

  Brie trusted it was true and held desperately onto that hope.

  The Plan

  In the days that followed, Brie was tormented by dreams of Faelan. They had no rhyme or reason, but a sense of foreboding consumed her each morning when she awoke.

  Brie was grateful when Rytsar informed them he was ready to visit Faelan again. When the three of them arrived, Rytsar walked into Marquis Gray’s house without bothering to knock.

  They found Faelan lying on the couch with his forearm covering his face. Little Sparrow sat beside him, her face resting on his chest. She was pushing a roll toward him with her nose.

  Brie’s heart caught when she remembered the story of how Little Sparrow had stolen food for Rytsar, keeping him alive in Russia. The little dog understood the seriousness of the situation and was trying to do the same thing for Faelan.

  “Come with me,” Rytsar ordered.

  Faelan didn’t move or even respond.

  “Now.”

  Faelan croaked, “Go away.”

  “I’m not asking,” Rytsar stated, striding over to him.

  Little Sparrow stood up as Rytsar approached, wagging her tail excitedly. Rytsar patted her head. “You have done well, Vorobyshek.”

  He then grabbed Faelan’s arm to pull him off the couch.

  “What’s this about?” Marquis Gray demanded, walking into the room.

  “All will be made clear,” Rytsar declared, hoisting Faelan to his feet.

  Rytsar dragged him out of the room and down the hallway, ignoring his violent protests. The more Faelan cursed, the bigger the Russian’s smile grew.

  Rytsar pushed him through the front door and outside with everyone else following behind.

  “What the hell!” Faelan snarled, shielding his face from the bright sun.

  “Just wait.” Rytsar crossed his arms, grinning proudly.

  Brie could hear the low rumble of a muscle car approaching. When it rounded the corner she smiled, recognizing the familiar classic blue Mustang convertible.

  Faelan’s eyes lit up. “It can’t be…”

  Rytsar slapped him on the back. “But it is!”

  “I never thought I would see her again,” he muttered, a slow smile spreading across his face.

  It was the first time Brie had seen Faelan smile since that dreadful day.

  Maxim got out of the car and handed him the keys. Faelan just stood there, staring at the vehicle as if he couldn’t believe it was real.

  “Take her for a spin,” Rytsar encouraged him.

  Faelan turned to Rytsar, shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t know what to say, Durov.”

  “Don’t say anything.” Rytsar pushed him toward the car. “Get the fuck out of here.”

  Faelan didn’t need to be told twice. When he opened the car door, Little Sparrow jumped in uninvited and sat in the passenger seat, wagging her tail expectantly.

  Faelan chuckled, then patted her on the head. “You got a problem if I take her?”

  “Be my guest,” Rytsar answered.

  Faelan nodded to him and then told Marquis Gray and Celestia, “Don’t wait for me. I’ve got a lot of miles to make up.” His smile grew wider when the car started up and he revved the engine.

  Oblivious to anything but the car, he backed out and hit the gas as he took off.

  Rytsar told them, “He needed a reminder of who he once was.”

  Marquis nodded and watched as the Mustang sped away. “Brilliant.”

  “It wasn’t easy to pull off,” Rytsar informed him, chuckling. “The new owner wasn’t willing to part with the car.”

  “How did you convince him?” Brie asked.

  Rytsar replied sinisterly, “I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

  When her eyes widened, he laughed. “Not that kind of offer, radost moya. I found the same model in better condition.”

  “I’m certain that came at a steep price,” Sir remarked.

  “I’m sure,” Marquis Gray agreed. “Now that you have his attention, Durov, what do you plan to do with it?”

  Rytsar put his arm around Marquis Gray. “I have a proposal I’d like you to consider.”

  “Go on.”

  “I want to take the Wolf Pup with me to Russia to secure a facility for Lilly.”

  Brie felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck just hearing Lilly’s name.

  “A facility?” Marquis glanced at Sir.

  Nodding to Brie, Sir answered, “The two of us have given it a lot of thought.”

  “Tell me more,” Marquis encouraged him as they all walked back into the house.

  “I want to honor Brie’s desire for mercy while balancing my need to protect her from Lilly.”

  “And, I have the means to build a secure facility in a remote area of Russia,” Rytsar explained.

  “It was something about Lilly’s current location at the convent that I approved of—its remoteness. There’s zero chance of survival should she attempt to escape,” Sir informed him.

  “I see,” Marquis Gray answered gravely.

  Brie spoke up, “We want to give Lilly the chance to recover if it’s medically possible.”

  “Please sit,
” Marquis told them, indicating they sit on the couch while he guided Celestia to sit beside him. “How do you propose to do that?”

  Brie smiled, then looked at Rytsar to answer.

  “I have spoken to Dr. Volkov. He has agreed to oversee her care.”

  “Is that the Russian doctor you spoke so highly of?” Marquis asked.

  “Da.”

  Marquis Gray sat back in his chair. After taking several moments to contemplate their plan in silence, he turned to face Sir.

  “I commend you for coming up with a workable compromise.”

  Sir nodded.

  It was high praise coming from Marquis Gray and it gave Brie confidence they were on the right path with Lilly.

  “However…” Marquis glanced at Rytsar. “I do not understand what any of this has to do with Todd.”

  “I’m taking him to Russia with me.”

  “You said that.” Marquis frowned. “But, putting him at greater risk is not a solution. The baby needs her father.”

  “Exactly,” Rytsar agreed. “But the man is wasting away.” He swept his hand toward Brie and Sir. “We all see it.”

  “What possible benefit is there to taking him out of the country?” Marquis demanded.

  “I will straighten him out.”

  Marquis Gray’s sarcastic laughter filled the room. “That’s preposterous. What makes you think you will have any more success reaching him than the rest of us?”

  “I’m the only one who understands his pain.”

  Marquis sighed heavily and did not offer a rebuttal because he knew Rytsar was right.

  “The boy needs distance to be able to clear his head,” Rytsar insisted.

  Marquis Gray did not look convinced.

  Sir leaned forward, telling him, “Durov speaks from experience.”

  “Da. The best thing my dear mamulya ever did was force me to attend college in America after Tatianna’s death.”

  “You believe separating Todd from his daughter is the best thing for him—for either of them?” Marquis challenged.

  Rytsar furrowed his brow. “Is he really here for her now?”

  Marquis glanced at Celestia and frowned. “No, he hasn’t been present since her birth.”

  “He cannot embrace the babe until he accepts his woman’s death. Once he does that, he will realize the gift he has been given. I can get him to that point.”