by S. E. Smith
“I am working on it,” Dimitri said heavily. “I have assigned Alex and Pierre to find out everything they can about the kid.”
Sergei walked over to the bar and poured a drink for him and Dimitri. He turned and handed the dark amber liquor to Dimitri before he sat down on the long couch. They were missing something. His gut was telling him it was more than just a random shooting. His mind went through all the possibilities.
He honestly didn’t think it had anything to do with the reason they had first come to Los Angeles. They had the programmer who was leaking the information. It had been easy once they completed their internal audit on emails. The man was sinking in debt and one of their rival companies had offered him a substantial down payment with the promise of additional funds if he could get the latest program they were developing to them by the first of the year.
“I want to return to Moscow,” Sergei said suddenly. “Something isn’t right. I can feel it. I want Rune where we can protect her better.”
“Me too,” Dimitri said staring moodily into his drink. “Pierre said the kid kept saying the old woman told him to kill her.”
Sergei scowled. “What old woman? That makes absolutely no sense.”
Dimitri took a sip of his brandy and leaned back. “I never said it did. Neither one of us know any old women who would want to kill us and Pierre said the boy insisted he was just supposed to shoot Rune.”
“Did the boy say her name?” Sergei asked sharply.
Dimitri shook his head. “No, he insisted that the old woman told him to just kill the girl with you. As far as I’m concerned it is impossible for anyone to know about Rune. Hell, she has only been in our lives a little over a week.”
“It feels like much longer,” Sergei admitted as he finished off his drink and stared blankly at the empty glass.
“When are you going to admit you love her?” Dimitri asked.
Sergei threw Dimitri a heated look. “I care about her. That is not the same as love. You know how I feel about that,” he bit out evasively.
“She is not Eloise,” Dimitri stubbornly pointed out.
“She could never be like Eloise,” Sergei admitted.
*.*.*
Rune leaned back against the door that she had just closed. She had woken up thirsty and lonely and wanted to curl up in the other room near Dimitri and Sergei instead of being in the large, cold bed all alone. Tonight’s events had shown her just how precious her time with them was. Now, she wished she would have stayed in bed. The medication had taken care of the pain in her side but she didn’t think anything would help with the pain in her heart.
She had discarded what the young nurse had said about Sergei. There was no way he could make love to her the way he did and care about another woman. Now, she wasn’t so sure. She had frozen with the door cracked when she heard Dimitri ask Sergei if he loved her. His comment that he cared for her but she would never be like Eloise seared through her heart.
She pushed away from the door and walked silently into the bathroom. She used one of the glasses next to the sink to fill it with tap water. Sipping it, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a tangle of curls that hung half way down her back now instead of to her waist. Her brown eyes were slightly glazed from the medication that Dimitri had insisted she take as soon as it arrived from the pharmacy. She was wearing one of Sergei’s dress shirts instead of one of the nightgowns they had purchased for her. Sergei had suggested it would be better as it wouldn’t brush against her side. By the time the medicine kicked in, she didn’t care what she was wearing or not wearing.
“What are you doing up?” Sergei’s husky voice asked from the doorway to the bathroom.
“What?!” Rune gasped turning around so quickly her head spun.
Sergei caught her in his arms as she swayed. Rune placed a hand on his chest and another to her head as the room swirled around her. She gasped as she found herself lifted into a pair of strong arms.
“Sergei,” she protested.
“You should not be up without one of us with you,” he gritted out as he carried her back to the bed. “You have been shot! You’ve lost a lot of blood, had a traumatic experience and are taking medication which can cause you to be lightheaded. You should have called one of us if you wished for something to drink.”
Rune laid her head against his shoulder and sighed. “I can get a drink without fainting,” she retorted softly as he gently laid her down on the bed. “Though, I have to admit the medicine does make my head feel a bit light.”
Dimitri chuckled as he came in. “You are not used to such things,” he commented as he pulled his shirt over his head. “I will get my shower while you hold her. She needs someone to watch over her.”
Sergei pulled the covers over Rune before lying down next to her. He tenderly brushed her hair back from her face as she rolled onto her right side to look at him. Rune reached up and touched the line along his brow.
“If you keep frowning you are going to have a wrinkle there,” she murmured. “My mother used to tell my father that all the time.”
“What happened to you? The first time when you...” Sergei’s voice faded on the last word.
“When I died?” She finished.
Sergei nodded as he relaxed next to her. His thumb continued to caress her cheek as they lay facing each other. Rune closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. Her lips curved into a small sad smile as she remembered her family.
“There was my mother, father, two older sisters, my younger brother and I in my immediate family. It was the end of the summer months and we were working hard to prepare for the coming winter. My brother, Olaf, was one and ten years of age. He was spending more time with my father by this time. They were helping the freed thralls who were under my father. My mother did not believe in slaves much to my father’s frustrations. Each time he returned with one, she would declare them free and give them the option of staying and becoming a part of our family or returning from where they were bought. Father finally gave up. Most of those who he brought home stayed and declared loyalty to my parents,” she said with a sigh.
“How many were there?” He asked curiously.
“We had close to twenty living on our farm. My father was a warrior under Jarl Bjarni Asvaldsson. He had saved the Jarl’s life on several occasions and was gifted land of his own. In addition, my mother was the youngest sister of Bjarni. She and my father fell in love and our family was born. The match between my parents didn’t hurt my father’s standing. He had been strong before but now he was also very powerful. Some were jealous of my father’s position; jealous and afraid. Over the years as we grew, my father also became very adept at growing crops that were bountiful and was skilled at breeding many fine horses. This made him very wealthy as well.”
“Power and wealth can be seen as a threat to many who do not have it or who crave it,” Sergei murmured as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Yes,” Rune responded with a sigh. “Our land bordered that of Jarl Leifsson, a rival chieftain who was jealous of my uncle and father. Leifsson wanted not only the land that my father owned, he also wanted my father to declare his loyalty to him. Leifsson wanted to rule over the other Jarls but he did not have the support or power he needed without my uncle and father backing him. He wished to join our families through a hand-fasting between his oldest son, Gamli and I. Aesa was already promised to Jorundr Hasteinson and Dalla was already hand-fasted to a warrior who was away. Father refused all of his requests, of course. Soon after, nightly raids began and two of the freed thralls living with us were found dead and many of our sheep and horses taken. Father approached Jarl Leifsson who swore that it was not done by him or his people. Father knew he had done it but without proof my uncle would not strike against him.”
“But your father did,” Sergei guessed.
“Yes. Father and ten of the warriors who lived on the farm set up a trap. Jarl Leifsson’s youngest son, Frodi, and four
raiders were killed when they tried to burn the huts of some of the families and steal a prized stallion father had raised. Jarl Leifsson refused to believe my father when he delivered Frodi and the other men back to him. He and his oldest son, Gamli, attacked my father,” she whispered.
“Was your father killed?” Sergei asked as Rune fell silent for several minutes.
“What?” She asked, distracted by her memories. “No. No, he was not killed then but he was badly wounded,” Rune replied with a soft sigh and rolled over onto her back to stare blindly up at the ceiling. “He made it home with an arrow in his shoulder and thigh. He caught fever and mother nursed him as best she could. She insisted that my sisters, brother and I should go to stay with our uncle. She feared that Jarl Leifsson would take us to force my father to agree. We all argued with her that we should stay and fight or at least send word to our uncle for assistance but she would hear no more of it,” her voice grew fainter as the memories came. “Five of my father’s warriors were to escort us. We had not traveled more than a few miles from our home when smoke rose high in the air. We knew that Jarl Leifsson, Gamli and their warriors were attacking.”
“Rune,” Sergei whispered soothingly as he wiped the tears that escaped as her memories of that day flooded her. “You do not have to tell me anymore.”
Rune rolled back over so she could look at him. “I’ve never told anyone what happened,” she whispered. “I would like someone to know. Someone to realize the injustice done to my family because of greed.”
“Then I would be honored to be that person,” Sergei replied tenderly.
Rune gave a small smile of thanks before the smile died. “Olaf pulled the small sword my father had given him and turned back, ignoring Aesa’s demand that he stay with us. I... I told the guards to escort Aesa and Dalla while I went after Olaf,” she said quietly. “They did not listen. We crested the rise above our home in time to see Gamli take my father’s head from his body. My mother in her grief broke free and attacked Jarl Leifsson. He ran his sword through her before we reached the bottom. One of... one of Leifsson’s warriors struck an arrow through Olaf,” Rune’s voice broke as she remembered watching her younger brother fall from his horse. “He was dead before he hit the ground.” She looked at Sergei. “He died a warrior with a sword in his hand,” she added tightly.
“What happened next?” Sergei asked reluctantly, knowing deep down he was not going to like what he was about to hear.
“Jarl Leifsson had brought most of his warriors even though he knew my father was still recovering from his wounds. I was able to kill six of his men with my arrows before we were captured,” she said in an emotionless voice. “One by one, he ordered each of those who refused to declare loyalty to him killed. It did not matter whether it be man, woman or child. Soon, there were none but my sisters and I. I swore I would kill every one of them,” she replied. “I was my father’s daughter. He often said I should have been a boy. I gave great insult to Jarl Leifsson and Gamli, challenging their honor and male abilities.”
Sergei’s swift inhale of breath told her he realized the extent of insult that would be to a Viking warrior. Rune could tell he was remembering the first time they met and how she had fought against both him and Dimitri. She tenderly brushed her thumb over the crease in his brow.
“Rune,” Sergei started hoarsely.
“Nay, neither had the chance to rape me as you know,” she said. “We would never let such an indignity befall us. My sisters and I struck at the same time. Aesa and Dalla buried the knives they carried in those guarding them before they were struck down while I…” Rune closed her eyes. “I buried mine in Gamli’s throat. We were supposed to take our own lives but our hatred for the loss of our family was so great we sought revenge first. My sisters fought savagely before Leifsson’s men cut them down.”
“Leifsson?” Sergei whispered.
“He lost both of his sons to my family,” Rune replied. “In his rage, he drove his sword through me. I remember feeling the rain as it fell upon me. It made me think that even the Gods wept in sorrow for the deaths of so many. Leifsson left me in the mud surrounded by my family. I saw one of the warriors carry the body of my brother and toss it between my sisters and myself. As I lay dying in the mud, I heard Leifsson cursed me to eternal life. He swore that I would remember his rage each time that I lived and died. I did not understand what he was saying at first. It was I who should have been angry yet all I felt was sorrow as I looked into Olaf’s sightless eyes. My tears mingled with the rain that fell upon my face,” she whispered. “So many lives lost for the greed of one man. He had lost his two sons, I had lost everything. All I asked for was to find someone to love and have a family like my parents while all he wanted was power. In his rage, Leifsson begged the Gods to grant his wish.”
“It was granted,” Sergei stated quietly.
“Yes, it was granted,” she whispered. “I did not understand what was happening at first. I thought I had simply dreamed of my death. I returned the first time on the anniversary of my family’s death. I walked among the fields and came upon Jarl Leifsson’s holding. I did not realize it at first. An illness had swept through the holding. Many of those inside had already perished or were very ill. I came upon a young woman and child. She begged me to help them. I couldn’t refuse. I didn’t realize it was Jarl Leifsson’s remaining daughter and grandson. Jensina had joined with Jorundr Hasteinson, Aesa’s… Aesa’s intended, though I didn’t know that until the very end.”
“What happened when Leifsson saw you?” Sergei asked.
“He wasn’t there when I arrived,” she said. “He and the majority of the warriors were gone. For three weeks, I nursed those that lived back to health. I did not understand why I was not taken ill but I thanked the Gods for that fact and the skills taught to me by my mother. It was the beginning of the fourth week when the horns sounded the return of the warriors. By then, only thirty people out of the more than one hundred that had lived in the holding still lived,” she said sadly. “The grief among those that lived hung thick in the air.”
“What happened with Leifsson arrived?” Sergei said.
Rune looked at Sergei. “Word had already spread of the devastation to the holdings. Many of the returning warriors lost their entire families. When Leifsson rode in, I realized where I was. Rage unlike anything I ever felt rose up. I had saved the lives of not only the daughter and grandson of the man who murdered my family but the remaining family members of those who helped him,” she bit out in grief. “I thought the Gods must be laughing at my pain. I stood looking at Leifsson as he approached. He was drawn and haggard looking, a shell of the man from just a year before. I remember the sound of the wind, the birds and the horses. No other made a sound as he approached me.”
Rune’s eyes rose to where Dimitri was standing near the bathroom door, listening intently to their quiet conversation. She smiled at him and he came forward to lie behind her on the bed. He carefully slid his arm around her. She relaxed back against him as he pressed an encouraging kiss into her shoulder.
“What… what did he say?” Dimitri asked.
“Nothing,” she said softly.
“Nothing?” Sergei asked in surprise.
“Nay,” Rune said with a tired sigh. “He drove his sword through my heart.
“What?! After you saved his daughter, grandson and his people?” Dimitri asked in shock.
Rune smiled. “It was the second time he would slay me. Only this time, there were those that remembered his curse. Feelings of unrest moved through the holding. Many believed it was his black heart and greed that had brought the devastation to them and their families. That he would kill the woman who would save them did not sit well with the survivors. Jensina rushed forward to catch me but already I was but a ghost among them. I told him before I faded away that his wish had been granted, that the Gods had sent me,” she murmured. “I found out nearly a century later that Leifsson took his own life a few days later. While Leifsson
was given the gift of death, his curse lived on and I have continued to live and die.”
“What happens now?” Dimitri asked in a quiet voice.
“Now,” Rune whispered looking at Sergei who had grown very quiet. “Now, I think the Gods have heard my plea and will grant me my wish.”
“What wish is that?” Sergei asked in a calm voice.
Rune paused as she reached out to tenderly trace his hard jaw line. “All I ever wanted was to be loved and have a family,” she said softly. “It is time for me to go home.”
Chapter 19
Late the next afternoon, Rune looked around the room to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind. She picked up the large handbag that Cheri had given her. She was beginning to appreciate carrying one as she opened it to pull out the scarf that the young nurse, Pam, had put in it the night before.
A thin paper covered in colorful images fell out with when she pulled the scarf out. She bent, wincing when the stitches on her side pulled, to pick it up. Unfolding the paper, she saw an image of Sergei and a very beautiful blonde haired woman embracing each other. Her eyes moved to the caption. She slowly read the words under it.
Billionaire, Sergei Vasiliev, and model and actress, Eloise Ferguson, are seen leaving the world premiere of Ferguson’s latest movie, Night Moves in Vegas. Reports close to the actress say she is taking a break due to a delicate medical condition. Is that a baby bump we are seeing? A source close to the actress has stated that the actress is pregnant with the billionaire’s baby and that plans for wedding bells are in the immediate forecast.
Rune’s hand trembled as she looked at the almost half dozen images of Sergei and the beautiful woman holding each other, kissing or smiling at the camera. Well, the woman was smiling. Sergei didn’t look like he was too happy.
“Rune, are you ready?” Dimitri asked. “Sergei has already gone downstairs.”
“What? Oh, yes. I’m ready,” she answered, quickly folding the paper and placing it back into her large handbag. “I’m sorry for taking so long.”