The Masterful Viking (The Masterful Series Book 3)

by Cordelia Gregory

  “I am sorry but I really don’t.”

  Unable to take anymore, Vidar walked purposefully towards him.

  “I don’t want your damn oil platforms. I want to know where you are keeping Stina,” Vidar shouted pulling Janis up from the desk by the lapels on his tuxedo.

  “Keeping who? Do you mean Stina, my wife?” he answered gruffly attempting to push Alvarsson away from him but failing to succeed.

  Vidar pulled him out from behind the desk.

  “Your what?”

  “My wife.”

  “She’s not your damn wife. She was sold to you. You are going to take me to her now. I have had men searching this place while we have been busy in here with your games and they can’t find her. Where the hell is she? I know she is here. You are keeping her prisoner.”

  Janis started to laugh making Vidar want to hit him. He raised his fist to punch the man but Fallon was suddenly on her feet and behind him. She placed her hand on his arm and shook her head at him. He felt her warmth and love radiate into him calming his temper. Abruptly he let go of the man and pushed him away.

  “You came all this way. Endured my games just for Stina?”

  Janis was still laughing. Vidar took a breath and patiently waited for the bastard to tell him what the hell was going on and what he was laughing at.

  “Stina isn’t a prisoner. Yes, I bought her from that woman’s father,” he laughed pointing at Fallon. “I knew who you were, Fallon the minute both of you walked in to the party. I knew you were after Stina and I wanted to see how far you would go. I bought Stina as a sex slave but that was a long time ago. I am not in that game anymore. Now we are husband and wife and I love her very much.”

  “You’re lying. If that’s true then why the hell all the games with other men’s wives?”

  Vidar started towards him disbelieving his story. Janis did not answer his question fuelling his anger even more. But again, Fallon’s warning hand on his arm stopped him dead.

  “Where the hell is she?”

  “She has been here all the time, watching our games.”

  Janis glanced upwards to the corners of the walls at the hidden cameras Vidar had detected when they first came into the room. He frowned. The door at the opposite end of the room opened and a tall willowy woman whom he immediately recognised as Stina walked in to the study and came to stand next to her husband. She reached for his hand and he leaned over to kiss her making Vidar’s frown deepen.

  He was confused because he felt frozen to the spot. He had envisaged this meeting so many times and it always began with him cuddling his long-lost sister and vowing to protect her. Vidar had expected to find her broken, fragile and tormented. Yet here she was beautiful, rich, and appearing happy at thirty-five. It made him feel cold towards her.

  “Vidar, it has been a long time. You look as handsome as ever and is this your wife?”

  Somehow, he found the courage and will to move forward.

  “Is it really you, Stina?”

  “Yes. Yes, it is.”

  She moved forward and gave her brother a hug. But it felt empty, hollow somehow. There was no love there. Perhaps it had been too long.

  “I came here to take you home. I thought… I have searched for you for so long.”

  “You needn’t have bothered,” she said coldly.

  “I don’t understand. What has happened to you? What happened to your friends?”

  “They all found their way out in the end. I don’t see them now but I know at least two of them are married and happy while another died of an overdose after the Russians got her hooked on cocaine and the fourth was murdered. I was lucky. I was only in that world for a year.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you call me? Didn’t you hear about our parents? They were looking for you? Why didn’t you tell us? They died…”

  Stina pursed her lips.

  “I never got on with Mum or Dad. You know that. Besides, you were the favourite. You always were, little brother. They didn’t have much time for me. They threw me out of the house because of my partying or don’t you remember? It sounds like you have a distorted view of our family life.”

  “They looked for you and never gave up.”

  “No doubt because they felt guilty. They didn’t give a damn when I was left to walk the streets because they had thrown me out. I spent two nights in the park alone before I had somewhere to stay. I know they wouldn’t have done it to you.”

  Vidar stared at her.

  “They told me you had left of your own accord and gone to work in Bergen. I always found it strange why you left so suddenly even after you came to say goodbye to me that night.”

  “I remember. You were only twelve and I was sixteen. I am sorry to ruin your memories, little brother, but our parents weren’t what you thought they were.”

  He said nothing. Too much in shock. Fallon rested her head against his arm to give him comfort and support. He stared at Janis still holding Stina’s hand lovingly, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

  “Why are you with him?” He felt his brotherly protectiveness rile.

  “Because I love him.”

  “But look what he does.”

  Janis grinned.

  “It is just one of the games we play together. She watches me play and I watch her. It keeps our marriage fresh.”

  Vidar shook his head.

  “I want you to leave with me, Stina.”

  “No.” She gave an incredulous laugh. “My life is here with Janis. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. I will always love you, little brother but I don’t want to be in your world. That part of my life is dead now. I don’t want to relive it.”

  Janis stood and moved in front of his wife to shield her as Vidar shook his head again and walked towards her as though to take hold of her arm and take her with him.

  “You heard her,” Bukelis said, a warning in his tone. “I think it is time you left.”

  “I am not leaving without her. She doesn’t belong with someone like you.”

  The Latvian stepped forward ready to fight but Stina pulled him back.

  At that moment, two men entered the room. Janis’ security men.

  “I think you better take your beautiful wife and leave before I have you thrown out.”

  Vidar felt Fallon tug on his arm.

  “Vidar, it is time to leave. There is nothing you can do here.”

  The Billionaire glanced up to see another two men entering the room and relented. He wouldn’t be able to take them all on and drag two women from the room no matter how versed he was in martial arts. He pointed at them both.

  “This isn’t over.”

  “It is, Vidar. I don’t want to see you again,” Stina told him.

  “And I will make sure she doesn’t as long as that is her wish,” Janis finished.

  Vidar took hold of Fallon’s arm after a last look at Stina and walked her out of the room and the Manor House never to see his sister again.

  Chapter 9

  It was midnight when the car reached the dock. Vidar had spent the car journey in silence unable to contain his anger and not wanting to verbally take it out on Fallon. She had once covered his hand with hers when he rested it on the seat. Fallon’s delicate touch had been comforting but at that moment he had wanted to be alone and had removed it, preferring to look out of the mirror. He supposed he was sulking like a little boy who could not have his way but he had spent so many years rehearsing the reunion between himself and his sister and it had all been for nothing. Now that Stina had been found, Fallon would leave him for sure as well and he would be completely alone in the world. He couldn’t blame her. He had taken her from her own life and forcibly made her part of his own. Now she was a free woman. It was only a matter of time before she voiced the assertion but to his surprise she said nothing.

  When they reached the dock, he escorted her aboard and stopped in the lounge wanting to pre-empt her.

  “I suppose this is the end of the road for us,
Fallon.” He was unable to look at her as he spoke. “Thank you for your help. I will keep to our bargain. When we dock in Bergen I will have the jet on standby to fly you to wherever you want. I will get the divorce papers sent to your new address,” he told her in a non-committal cold tone expecting her to agree and confirm that was what she wanted. But she was quiet, prompting his heart to sink and him to add, “I will sleep in one of the other cabins tonight.”

  Again, she said nothing. He could hardly look at her. Letting her go was the last thing he wanted to do. He was in love with her. Vidar listened to the declaration in his head with surprise. He hadn’t been able to love anyone for a long time. Yet here it was laid bare in front of him. Fallon had stolen his heart and leashed him to herself. There was no other woman for him but Fallon. He turned around to face her and confess but she was already gone. Feeling defeated, he loosened his bow tie and poured himself a scotch. He sank down in one of the white leather chairs to down it in one swallow, while he inwardly cursed his stupidity.

  Fallon kept to herself the next day while they travelled to Bergen along the fjords. He wanted to spend the day with her and show her more of the beauty of his country but she stayed in the cabin. At one point, he ventured to knock on the door of the cabin and ask her to stay but he could hear her on the phone laughing and talking to what his insecurity perceived as another male. The sound of his voice on the end of the phone coming through loud and clear when she placed the call on speaker confirmed his suspicions making Vidar walk away.

  Finally, they reached Bergen and the car came to take Fallon to the airport.

  “She wants to be taken to Paris,” Mark told him quietly.

  He had asked Mark to deal with her departure and to make sure she had everything she needed. “And she won’t take any of your money to help her get started again.”

  “How is she going to manage? Make sure she has credit cards and all she needs. Force her to have them, if you must. I took everything away from her I…”

  “She doesn’t need your help, Vidar. I have tried, believe me. I have even pleaded your case. I know you don’t want her to leave and just haven’t had the guts to tell her.”

  Vidar glared at his friend who shook his head at him. It was the first time he had seen Mark appear frustrated with him. Mark was right, of course.

  “She doesn’t want to stay. She made that pretty damn clear the night before.”

  “If I remember, she said nothing. You did all of the talking.”

  “Where is she going in Paris? I heard her talking on the phone to a man yesterday.”

  Mark raised one eyebrow.

  “Jealous, are we?”

  “No. It is over between us. I am simply curious. Who is he?”

  “A friend and business associate. Fallon told me he has been wanting her to run the oil division of his company for a long time. I believe they had a relationship at one point. He wanted more but she wasn’t ready after her divorce. I would think Fallon will want more this time.”

  Vidar felt his body tense.

  “Who is he?”

  “One of your own business associates, a Billionaire like yourself. Lucien Barbour.”

  Vidar widened his eyes in surprise.

  “I don’t understand. She could have got him to help her at any time. She could have left but…”

  “But she stayed to help you find your sister,” Mark finished for him shaking his head again. “And she doesn’t want you of course,” he said sarcastically. “Stop being an arse and talk to her. Find out for sure,” Mark told him quickly when they heard Fallon’s voice as she thanked one of the staff for taking her bag up the stairs.

  When Fallon appeared, she was dressed back in the business suit she wore when he had first met her and appeared every bit the professional he had always taken her for. He had to admit she looked sexy, strong, and capable. He loved the submissive side of her more but this persona also had its delicious attractions.

  But here she was going to another world with another man. Could he really expose himself and risk rejection after all that had happened? He wasn’t sure. Maybe this would be a good change for her. He wondered if she would ever have been able to settle down with a man who had kept her captive anyway. It was best for her if he just let her go to start over again.

  He noticed she only had a small bag and didn’t appear to be taking any of the clothes he had handpicked and provided for her before he had taken her from the office. It pinched a nerve. She clearly wanted to eradicate anything that reminded her of her short time with him.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked quietly.

  “Yes.”

  She smiled when she spoke. He searched her eyes that appeared a little glassy but she was hiding any hurt behind them with the beautiful smile on her face.

  “I will travel to the airport with you.”

  She nodded and turned to hug Mark.

  “Thank you for arranging everything, Mark,” she gushed.

  “Take care, Fallon. Maybe we can catch up some time.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Vidar led her off the yacht and to the car. He opened the car door for her ahead of the chauffeur and then got in himself on the opposite side.

  He at least, this time, managed to make small talk on the way to the airport but after a while it drove him nuts. He wanted to know about her relationship with Lucien Barbour, how strong it was and whether there was going to be more going on with it. To his frustration he was jealous, very jealous. She belonged to him not Lucien Barbour.

  “Lucien Barbour wants you to work for him?” he asked as the car travelled around the Old Wharf and the picturesque traditional wooden buildings of all colours lining the Eastern side of the Vagen harbour in Bryggen. He’d planned to take her around the world heritage site in Bergen before taking her for lunch. But now they were not together anymore and it would remain just a dream.

  A small smile lit her lips.

  “To work with him. He wants me to run Barbour Oil and have a seat on the board. He’s wanted to get me out of my father’s company for a long time. I met him five years ago when he became really successful doing the same thing as you. I believe you started with your Oil Refinery in Norway.”

  “Yes. That’s quite an offer. What about going back to University to finish your PhD like you planned and we discussed? I thought you wanted to conduct research on that theory you have and lecture at Oxford?”

  “That would have suited you wouldn’t it, Vidar? To keep me contained and safe and not working in a company again. God forbid your wife had a career in the business world. If I had really wanted to go back to University I would have found a way, I suppose. Clearly the timing isn’t right this time either. Maybe I will in the future but now I want a new challenge, a fresh start and Lucien is going to give me that,” she told him with confidence even though he could hear the disappointment in her voice she was trying to hide.

  “I make no apologies for thinking the way I do. I am a traditional man and I don’t want my wife to work. She doesn’t need to.”

  “Then it is a good job I am no longer your wife.”

  “The divorce hasn’t happened yet. You are still married to me. Like it or not.”

  “Not for long.”

  “Perhaps I will never sign the papers,” he teased wanting to dig at her for her jibe.

  “Suit yourself but I no longer consider myself married in any event.”

  “That way you can take up where you left off with Lucien Barbour,” he said as the Mercedes came to a stop next to the jet.

  Fallon gave a sigh but did not retaliate. The chauffeur opened the door and she got out. She immediately tried to run up the steps of the large G6 jet but he caught her arm.

  “Are you really going to just leave like this?” he couldn’t help feeling appalled at his pleading tone that was begging her to stay.

  “It’s the best thing to do. We clearly want the same thing.”

  She shrugged off his hold and ran
up the steps. He wasn’t sure but he thought he heard her begin to sob as she did so. He stood back and watched the jet prepare to leave, feeling the cool early morning Norwegian air blow against his face as he stood next to the car. The jet taxied to the runway and then took off carrying her away from him to Paris and another man.

  Chapter 10

  One month later, Vidar was back in his office in London working when Mark entered the room.

  “We have a problem. I sent you those divorce papers three weeks ago and you still haven’t signed them but what is more surprising is that neither has Fallon. What the hell are you both playing at? “he asked with frustration.

  Vidar closed his eyes feeling warmth engulf his body which had been cold and desolate since Fallon had left. The Billionaire hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since he’d watched her leave on the jet or the plans to start a family with her he had made. He hadn’t attended any parties or made any public engagements not wanting to be without her by his side. He’d wondered if he was ever going to get over her and continue his life again. He couldn’t even sleep at night because she wasn’t tucked in his arms where he could keep her safe. And although he knew Barbour would guard her from Lyov and her father’s associates, he worried for her safety.

  When Mark had given him the papers he had tossed them in a drawer. Hiding them meant he could pretend she was at least still his wife. But now Mark was shoving it all in his face and forcing him to deal with it. Although, perhaps there was still some hope if she had not signed them.

  “As you can well imagine, Mark, I am in denial but I can’t speak for Fallon.”

  “Then maybe you should get yourself on a plane and find out what is going on?”

  Vidar touched down in Paris four hours later and was driven straight to Barbour’s offices. This was where he claimed her back and asserted his rights as a husband even if he had to throw her over his knee and spank some sense into her. They belonged together and he wasn’t going to let her go this time.