Persuasion

by Stone, Piper

“Stop pontificating on your qualifications, Dante. As I said, I need proof in order to consider what you are saying. From what I’ve been able to tell, Wyland Worthington is a bit player, a man who was irresponsible in his methods of obtaining stolen art.”

  He laughed, lifting his glass once again. “A true soldier, Kostya. Yes, I have proof and you are correct. Art. Didn’t it strike you as odd that Worthington suddenly managed to steal a priceless diamond?”

  “I’m not paid to ask questions.”

  This time, he rolled his eyes before walking toward a simple desk, pulling out a drawer. “Wyland has certain foibles, including gambling. While he was indeed in Europe to abscond with a painting, he ventured into Armenian territory, entering into a high stakes poker game run by none other than...” He allowed the words to linger as he walked toward me, handing me a photograph.

  The black and white picture highlighted a handshake between Drakoff’s son and Worthington himself. “Let me venture a guess. He lost.”

  “Yes, quite a bit of money, eventually owing the table almost four hundred thousand dollars. His only way out was leaving the country with the diamond, of course making certain there were enough opportunities for our people to eventually discover that he was the thief. Or so we believed.”

  “Clever,” I said as I stared at the long-range photo, taking several deep breaths. The setup had been spectacular.

  “Very much so. The Armenians were able to swipe the diamond with ease, although their tactics were much more sophisticated than any of us are used to. It would seem their operation has evolved.”

  “Yes. And I would assume that Mr. Worthington is no longer in possession of the diamond.”

  “You would be correct. Unfortunately, there is no indication of where the diamond has gone, which is entirely disconcerting. From what I’ve been told, the contract on your head is worth two million.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “It would seem I’ve come up in the world.”

  “You should take this seriously, my friend.” His face clouded over and for a few seconds, he stared into his drink, allowing the ice to clink against the glass. “I know what you experienced years ago was horrible, but the Armenians believe their loss to be greater. They will come for you again.”

  “And Worthington?”

  “If I had to venture a guess, they will eliminate all loose ends, exactly as you would do.”

  “Yes, exactly as I would do.” There were far too many red flags still raised, but the scenario was plausible.

  “As far as Giliana. You can’t trust her.”

  “And why is that?”

  He took a deep breath. “You are aware she lived in Paris for several years.”

  “Yes, in order to get away from her father.”

  “While that may be partially true, she was involved with an Armenian soldier for a short period of time. Too coincidental if you ask me.”

  I gave no immediate reaction, but a cold chill slid down my back. I didn’t believe in coincidences. “Her father called her back into the States.”

  “That is likely true. You have to ask yourself why.”

  I took another sip of my drink, the taste now bitter. It was entirely possible she’d been nothing but a distraction.

  “I have a suggestion for you and one I hope you’ll consider. You must eliminate her. It’s quite possible she has some method of contacting Drakoff. You can’t risk the chance.”

  Several emotions rushed into me, including sadness. My throat seized, my breathing difficult.

  “I know this is difficult for you given your feelings for her and what happened with Katina, but from what I can tell, the pieces fit far too well.” Dante’s voice seemed to echo in my ears, but I heard every word.

  Just as he anticipated.

  I’d never been the kind of man to believe in neat packages and this was far too convenient. I would do my own investigation.

  My way.

  “Why did you bring me here, Dante?”

  “Why? Because this might be the only safe place for you at this point.”

  I turned to glare at him, studying his eyes. While he seemed sincere, I had more than just doubts. “I will need to make a few phone calls.”

  “Absolutely. I have several secure lines you can use. I suggest you make them from this room.”

  “I’ll consider that. I will need to see Giliana, Dante.”

  “You are aware of the rules, my friend.”

  I walked closer, doing everything I could to control my anger. “Giliana is nothing but my property, Dante. She means nothing to me. However, you will not touch her. Am I clear?”

  He eyed me warily before reaching into his pocket, tugging out a handful of keys. As he eased his drink onto the desk, slipping off a single key into his hand, he sighed. “I learned a long time ago never to allow my feelings to get in the way of business. You made that mistake once before. I would think a man of your experience would keep that in the forefront of your mind.” His expression was contrite as he walked closer, handing me the key.

  “You know nothing about me, Dante, and that will never change. As you said, we are not friends and never will be. Keep that in mind.”

  “A man of few words but when spoken, they are pointed. Have it your way, Kostya. Our business is lonely, shared with few. I understand your need for a taste of the darkness. Just remember your duties are to the Specialists, no matter the reason why you are here.”

  “Worthington made a few phone calls within seconds of a visit I made to him. If your systems are what you say they are, find out who he placed them with. That may go a long way in confirming what you believe.”

  He gave me a quick onceover. “I can do that. I have several of our soldiers searching for Viktor. We will find him.”

  “Good to know.” While Viktor had his own vendetta against me, my instinct told me he’d been used in this ploy in the same way Worthington had. If that was the case, I doubted he would be alive in order to be carted back to prison. “What are your plans?” I asked the question in passing, still questioning his motives.

  “With a bounty on your head and a traitor in our midst, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes knocking on my door. I’ve arranged for a number of additional soldiers. They will arrive sometime in the middle of the night. We will be prepared for whatever might occur.”

  I took a deep breath, eyeing him carefully. “And you trust these... soldiers.”

  He lifted a single eyebrow. “With my life. You need to remember, Kostya, I opened up my home, a safe haven. I don’t intend on allowing whatever plan of revenge to either destroy what we’re trying to achieve or my estate.”

  “Fair enough. Whatever has been planned will occur quickly.”

  “I agree.” Dante moved back to his desk, retrieving two additional pictures, hesitating before heading back in my direction. “If you plan on having a conversation with the lovely Giliana, you might want to show her these. By the way, she is truly an interesting woman. I understand why you find her so attractive.”

  I barely glanced at the two photographs, only enough to see the passion she’d shared with another man. For the first time in years, a twinge of jealousy rushed into my system.

  I hated the fact I cared for her.

  Loathed the weakness my mind and body had presented.

  But there was no sense in lying to myself.

  I’d fallen in love with her.

  “I will need access to your computer,” I demanded in a cocky way. The man would not deny me.

  “You really think you’re going to be able to figure out who’s behind this?”

  “I have no doubt.”

  He clenched his jaw, finally nodding as he snagged a piece of paper from his desk, scribbling across the surface. “All right. I have to trust your judgment. Here is the password that isn’t to be shared. I will allow you access tonight, the code changed in the morning. Be careful, Kostya. There is much at stake if our beliefs are wrong. We cannot fail this mis
sion. I think you understand why.”

  To fail could mean our death, the leaders of the Specialists as ruthless and unforgiving as any mafia family, if not more.

  I gave him a practiced smile before shoving the key into my pocket. If he betrayed me, I would have the pleasure of killing him. In the meantime, I would use his near fortress to my advantage.

  Discovering the truth.

  * * *

  I stood in front of the bolted door for a full two minutes before being able to slide the key into the lock. I was uncertain of what I would say to her, the questions that needed to be asked. There was a chance she had nothing to do with any of this, but Dante was right in that I couldn’t take that chance. When I opened the door, I found her curled up on a chair in front of the fireplace. In her hand was a glass of wine, her eyes staring into space. Even the shadows overpowering the room couldn’t hide her beauty.

  She’d changed into a simple cotton dress, her feet still bare and her hair freshly washed. She was a picture of true beauty and innocence, the very look I’d fallen for in guarding Katina all those years before.

  I closed the door behind me, studying her surroundings. Either she hadn’t noticed my presence or was pretending not to care. At least her accommodations were suitable at this point. I had the distinct feeling that if I didn’t follow through with ending her life, Dante would find a reason to. That wasn’t something I would allow, even if she betrayed me in some small way.

  She was too... precious.

  Giliana finally turned her head in my direction. From where I was standing, I could tell that she’d been crying. She gingerly wiped her eyes, sitting up straight in the chair. “At least our host has excellent tastes. There’s wine in the galley kitchen.”

  “I’m not thirsty.”

  She seemed to ignore me, easing onto her feet and padding toward the opposite end of the room. I trailed behind her, watching as she grabbed another glass from the single cabinet, her hand shaking as she poured from the bottle. After several drops fell onto the counter, she wiped her pinky through them, bringing the tip to her mouth.

  Every desire I’d felt before clawed at the surface, my longing more intense than before. I could see her in a luxurious beach house dressed in much the same way, delighted when I returned home. Her appearance fueled several visions of spending time together in front of a fire, trading stories about our respective days.

  Only my days could never be discussed, or their details revealed. That was no kind of life for anyone.

  Including me.

  She added more wine to her glass before handing me one, able to do so without our fingers touching. Every action she made was riddled with nervous energy, the same fear I’d seen before flushing her cheeks. “Dante is...”

  “An asshole,” I finished for her, the words creating a slight smile on her face.

  “He’s worried,” she whispered.

  “As I am. We need to talk.”

  “The diamond again?”

  I moved back into the other room, going to stand in front of the window. Twilight had settled, the single light from somewhere in what appeared to be a tidy garden only adding to the ominous appearance.

  Seconds later, she turned on another light behind me, allowing me to catch her reflection in the glass. I rubbed my eyes not only from exhaustion but from what was necessary. “Tell me about Paris.”

  “Paris?”

  “What do you want to know?”

  I reached into my pocket, pulling out the two photographs. “You were involved with someone while you were there.”

  I heard the strangled sound in her single huff before she walked toward the chair, easing down. “Yes. I was reckless for a little while after leaving the States. I guess you could call it sowing my wild oats.”

  “Because of what you believed about your father?”

  “Yes, mostly, I guess. Maybe I was just ready to cut the strings he’d held so tightly. He’d hated every boyfriend, said they weren’t good enough. So I found the roughest assholes in all of Paris. Trust me, I was happy when they were gone.”

  Her words sounded genuine. I walked toward her, handing her the photographs. While she narrowed her eyes given the darkness, I could tell she recognized the man easily. “You’ve been checking up on me.”

  “A part of my world, Giliana. I would think you’d know that by now.”

  “You want to know about Andon? He was number one asshole extraordinaire. I hated him after only a single month but by then he’d wrapped his claws around me, terrifying me. He’s actually one of the reasons I took my father’s bait, returning home. There was something... odd about him.”

  “I’m curious. How did you meet him?” Odd. The word stuck in my mind.

  “He came into the restaurant where I worked. He was oh-so charming at first. You know the type,” she started, tossing the pictures onto the floor. “He plied me with roses and wine, begging me for a date. I was lonely and stupid. It wasn’t two nights into our... relationship that things went south. He was controlling as hell, trying to tell me what to wear and who I could talk to. He even tried to command me to leave my job.”

  “Why did you stay with him?” I asked, watching her myriad facial expressions. She wasn’t lying about their relationship. That much was easy to tell.

  She snorted, taking several small sips of wine before answering. “I guess I was afraid of what he’d do if I left him. I was in the city all alone. I hadn’t even told the few friends I had about my new relationship. I felt trapped.”

  “Did he ever ask you about your father? This is important, Giliana.”

  She lifted her head, studying me intently. “What does my father have to do with the men I dated? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. The man you dated was a soldier in one of the most ruthless mafia families in Europe. The Armenians are little more than animals, violent and merciless. I find it hard to believe that he wasn’t after information, Giliana.”

  “Why, because I’m too ugly to date?” She laughed, although her eyes clouded over.

  Sighing, I crouched onto the floor, debating what I would do. “The people who attempted to have us killed are also their soldiers. They were hired to assassinate me as well as the men who protected me. You would have been collateral damage.”

  “Collateral damage. What an interesting choice of words. Why? What do they have against you?”

  I took a deep breath before answering, still remaining cautious. While I wanted to believe her story, there were too many missing pieces. “Because of an incident that occurred many years before.”

  She bit her lip and leaned forward. “This has something to do with what you were forced to endure all those years ago, the horrors you experienced. Doesn’t it? In truth, the assassination attempt has nothing to do with my father or with me.”

  I hesitated before answering. “While you are right in that the reason I was imprisoned has something to do with what occurred, the fact is that your father was used as a mule with the diamond. So yes, his involvement was a catalyst.”

  “A mule? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

  I yanked out the last picture, dropping it onto her lap. “Your father is an art thief, Giliana, among other extortion attempts with his business I believe you are already aware of. It is my belief that you knew about his penchant for art as well. While he has his own private collection, he sells others to the highest bidder. That’s how he augments his living, which allows his carte blanche in other highly criminal activities. Sadly, he has a weakness that was exploited. He is also is a high stakes gambler and he made a simple mistake. He lost.”

  Her entire body trembled. “You’re saying he lost to these...animals?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I don’t get it. Why not just kill you if that’s what they wanted?”

  Her question was valid. “Another piece of the puzzle.”

  “In other words, you have no idea what you’re de
aling with.”

  “No.” I hated admitting what had become a noose around my neck. There were just as many questions as the answers Dante had provided, some of which threatened me like sharp daggers.

  There was a quiet yet heavy tension between us. I eased onto the hearth, staring at the blank hole where a warm fire should be.

  “Kostya, maybe you need to reflect on what happened all those years ago in order to find answers. I know you can’t trust me and I understand. Perhaps I tried to block out my time with Andon, but I do remember that he did ask me questions about my father, although nothing that would make me think he was searching for information. Not really.”

  “You’d be surprised what can be obtained from a general conversation, Giliana. Unfortunately, my belief is that they were also searching to find out how involved you were with your father’s company, perhaps to use you against me.”

  “And still, that occurred,” she whispered.

  “Yes...” The word was strangled, my heart racing. I swallowed hard, thinking about her suggestion. Perhaps what had occurred with Katina had more influence on this bullshit than I wanted to admit. “I was assigned to protect the Godfather’s daughter.”

  “Godfather?”

  I chuckled, taking a gulp of wine. “He is the leader of the Baranov mafia, a man who took me under his wing when I was little more than a child. I thought of him as my father since mine had been killed. I accepted the assignment without question, becoming her main security for several months. Things were...” I could barely say the words, sadness gripping my very soul.

  “You fell in love with her.” Her words weren’t condescending, merely accepting.

  I nodded my answer, moving the glass from one hand to the other. “We hadn’t intended on it happening. I was still just a soldier then, little more than a hired gun and certainly not good enough for Pavel’s daughter. We carried on in secret for months, the passion we shared incredible. She was kidnapped while I was supposed to be protecting her. I’d allowed my guard to fall for only a single hour. That’s all it took for Drakoff Caroli, the leader of the Armenian mafia and Pavel’s enemy, to take Katina. Pavel was outraged, demanding I find her.”