Critical Play (Michael Cailen Book 3)

by Mel LeBrun

  Tatiana was inconsolable. She cried out for Jessica at the top of her lungs. It broke Timur's heart, hearing the anguish in her voice. Despite his valiant attempts she refused to be comforted. In addition to Jessica, she began crying out for Michael as well. Timur was at a loss. He didn't know what to do to calm her down. She was only becoming more and more distraught the longer she was away from Jessica.

  “Ana, do you want to see your mom?”

  Tatiana continued to sob loudly.

  “If you want to see your mom, you need to calm down.”

  His words made little impact.

  “Ana,” Timur said firmly, “Ana, listen to me. Dmitri is trying to find out what's wrong with your mom. He needs it to be quiet.”

  Tatiana's loud screaming and wailing turned to numbed sobbing.

  “If you want to see your mom, you need to be calm,” Timur said again.

  Tatiana tried her hardest to stop crying.

  Timur turned to Ivan who was watching on helplessly. “Find out what's going on and if I can bring her over.”

  Ivan nodded and went to do as he asked. Timur found some tissues to help Tatiana blow her nose and dry her face. Although she was still crying she was at least doing so quietly.

  Ivan returned a few minutes later. “They moved her to one of the bedrooms. She's still unconscious. They've called a doctor. Dmitri says she can come in if she's quiet.”

  Timur looked at Tatiana. “Did you hear that?”

  Tatiana nodded.

  JEFF HADN'T told Dmitri that Jessica was on her way so he was surprised to see her standing at the front door. He knew something must have gone terribly wrong for her to come there. There was no way she would have come otherwise. He was anxious to find out what had happened. The first thing that went through his mind when she collapsed in the doorways was that perhaps she had been wounded. After a quick inspection and finding no open wounds he began running through a list of other possible causes.

  Jeff arrived on scene just as Timur was taking Tatiana away. He took one look at his daughter on the floor and fought the urge to call an ambulance. He knew there were people after her and a hospital would be an incredibly unsafe place for her. So instead he immediately called his personal doctor and ordered him to come at once to his house.

  Jeff described the patient as he nervously paced. “Female, twenty-nine years old, pregnant.”

  Dmitri's head shot up. “Pregnant?”

  Jeff just looked at him and continued talking to the doctor. “I don't know, first trimester.”

  Hearing that Jessica was pregnant, Dmitri cursed. He thought back on the times she was throwing up at the house and belatedly made the connection. Between the stress of whatever caused her to come to Jeff's, the pregnancy, and actually having to come to Jeff's, she probably hadn't been able to keep anything down.

  “Make sure he brings an IV and fluids,” Dmitri said. “She is likely severely dehydrated and probably malnourished.”

  Jeff passed along the order to his doctor who assured him he would be there within thirty minutes.

  “Let's move her to a bed,” Dmitri suggested.

  Dmitri lifted her up off the floor and carried her into the nearest bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed and ordered everyone out of the room. Only Jeff remained behind, refusing to leave his daughter's side.

  Dmitri tried to rouse her. He said her name and shook her. She moaned and mumbled something about not having enough money. Neither he nor Jeff knew what she was talking about. She mumbled some more and called out for Michael before going still again.

  “She's going to be OK, right?” Jeff asked, looking for some reassurance.

  “Once she gets some fluids, she should recover,” Dmitri answered.

  “What about the baby?”

  Dmitri didn't know how to answer that one. He was concerned for the health of the baby. For all he knew, she may have already lost it.

  Dmitri shook his head. “I don't know.”

  Jeff was ready to come out of his skin pacing the room as they waited for the doctor to arrive.

  Ivan knocked on the door and opened it.

  “What is it?” Dmitri asked in Russian.

  “Ana is hysterical. She wants to see her mom. Timur wants to know if she can come in as long as she's quiet.”

  Dmitri pondered the request for a minute. Jessica's vitals were stable and she looked like she was just sleeping. He decided if it would calm Tatiana down to see her mother then it would probably be alright. He told Ivan to bring her.

  A minute later, Ivan and Timur escorted Tatiana into the room. She was trying so hard not to be loud but still whimpered when she saw Jessica lying in the bed. Dmitri was sitting in a chair next to her.

  “She's just sleeping,” Dmitri assured her. He held out his arms and she walked to him. He gently guided her closer to the bed. “Look at her chest,” he told her. “Do you see her breathing?”

  Tatiana watched Jessica's chest move up and down and her fears were finally quieted. Feeling that Dmitri was going to take care of her mom also made her feel more at ease. She knew her parents trusted Dmitri and she began to feel she could trust him too.

  “Everything is going to be OK, Ana.” Dmitri tenderly stroked her hair. “Would you like to lie down with her?”

  She looked at him and readily nodded. Dmitri stood and lifted her up and onto the bed on the other side of Jessica. Tatiana curled up next to her and put her tiny hand on Jessica's. She closed her eyes and breathed a heavy sigh as her body began to relax.

  Jeff observed their interactions from the far corner of the room. Though he didn't know what they were saying to Tatiana, he could tell by their tone and her reaction that they were kind and reassuring. He watched Tatiana with the fascination of a grandparent seeing their grandchild for the first time. Though she was not his biological granddaughter, he felt a connection to her through Jessica. Jessica loved Tatiana like she was her own flesh and blood and as far as Jeff was concerned, Tatiana was his granddaughter.

  A short time later the doctor arrived and James brought him to the room. He stepped inside carrying a large duffel bag. He was average height with thinning silver hair, brown eyes, and glasses. Ivan, Timur, and the bodyguards huddled near the doorway to see what was happening.

  Dmitri moved away from the bed to make room for the doctor. Jeff moved closer and hovered anxiously by the foot of the bed. The doctor set his bag on the bed and quickly unzipped the top. He pulled out a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer to check her blood pressure.

  Dmitri went around to the other side of the bed and pulled on Tatiana's arm. She resisted.

  “Ana, the doctor needs to check on your mom,” Dmitri said to her in Russian.

  He tugged on her arm again but this time she let him pull her away. He took her in his arms and held her as the doctor checked Jessica's blood pressure.

  “Can I assume there are no other women here?” the doctor asked.

  “No,” Jeff answered. “It's just her.”

  The doctor frowned and looked at the group of men standing around. “I'm going to politely ask you all to leave then.”

  “I'm not leaving,” Dmitri said firmly. “I have medical training. I can help.” He looked back at Ivan and Timur. “Wait outside.”

  They obediently vacated the room taking along Jeff's bodyguards. The doctor wanted to object to Dmitri's continued presence but got the distinct feeling Dmitri would not comply. There was an air about him that made the doctor too afraid to ask again. He turned to Jeff instead.

  “Is she related to you?” he asked.

  “No,” Jeff lied.

  “Then I'm going to ask you to step outside while I examine her,” he requested nervously.

  “Not a chance,” Jeff replied. “I'm the one paying you so I'll stay right here.”

  “If you don't leave, I'll have my men remove you,” Dmitri then said.

  Jeff glared at him with the hatred of a vegan in a slaughterhouse. “You'll do no such thing.�
��

  “You and I both know she would not want you here,” Dmitri replied. “And I think you know my men could easily take yours so I suggest you step outside like the doctor asked.”

  Jeff couldn't believe the audacity of Dmitri to speak to him like that. If he hadn't been holding his granddaughter, Jeff would have tried to kill him. The doctor was flabbergasted by the way Dmitri spoke to Jeff. He had been Jeff's personal doctor for many years and knew him well enough to know that people who spoke to Jeff like that didn't live for very long.

  The tension in the room was so thick you couldn't cut it with a chainsaw. Tatiana wasn't unaffected. She clung tighter to Dmitri for comfort. In turn, he wrapped his arms securely around her and stroked her hair as he stared Jeff down.

  Without another word Jeff stormed out of the room. Dmitri turned to the doctor who looked like he might be needing medical attention himself.

  “Please,” Dmitri said calmly. “Can you check on her now?”

  The doctor nodded and swallowed. “Yes, of course. But it might be best for the child to wait outside as well.”

  Dmitri spoke again to her in Russian. “Ana, you need to wait outside for a minute while the doctor takes care of your mother.”

  “No,” she protested, not wanting to leave her mother's side.

  “I'm going to give you to Timur. He will take you to get something to eat. I want you to do that for me. I need to take care of you or your mother will be very upset with me when she wakes up.”

  “I want to stay with Mommy,” Tatiana began to cry.

  “It will only be a few minutes,” Dmitri assured her. “Get something to eat with Timur and by the time you're done, you may come back in. Can you please do that for me?”

  With a big frown and tears running down her cheeks, Tatiana nodded her head, agreeing to do as he asked. He kissed her forehead and told her he was proud of her. He opened the door and handed her off to Timur with instructions to get her some food.

  Tatiana rested her head on Timur's shoulder as he walked her towards the kitchen. She felt worried and afraid. Though he was frantically trying to come up with something, Timur didn't know what to say to her. He had nieces and nephews her age that he hardly saw because he was always working. He had no children of his own though given better circumstances he would've liked some.

  “I'm sorry all of this is happening to you, Ana,” was all he could think to say.

  “Is my mom going to be OK?” she replied.

  “I think your mom is just really tired, Ana. I think she'll be fine.”

  “You promise?” she asked as they stepped into the kitchen.

  Timur sighed and sat her on the counter. He looked into her big brown eyes that just stared right back at him, pleading for reassurance. He didn't want to tell her everything would be fine because he just didn't know if that was true.

  “I believe she will be just fine, Ana,” he repeated.

  “You didn't promise,” she observed.

  “What do you want to eat?” He changed the subject.

  “I'm not hungry,” she declared with a pout.

  “What's your favorite food?”

  “Do you want some pancakes?” Jeff's voice entered the room just before he did. He walked over to them stopping just a few feet away. He hesitated to come any closer. “Blueberry pancakes are your favorite, aren't they?”

  Tatiana didn't know how to respond to Jeff. She didn't know him and could sense that no one really liked him.

  “Have you ever had them with real maple syrup?” he asked, not allowing her demeanor to deter him.

  She eventually nodded her head yes.

  “Do you like maple syrup?”

  She nodded again.

  “Blueberry pancakes then, with maple syrup?” Jeff asked.

  “OK,” she faintly replied.

  Jeff pulled out his phone and texted his butler with the request.

  “James will be right here to make that for you,” Jeff informed them. “Do you like to swim, Ana?”

  Tatiana nodded again while eying Jeff suspiciously.

  “There is a pool out back. Did you see it?” Without waiting for her to respond, he continued, “Come, take a look.” Jeff began to lead the way to the pool even though Timur and Tatiana showed no signs they would follow. As Jeff left the room, Timur decided not to fight it. He picked up Tatiana and brought her along to see the pool.

  They came to a large sunroom that overlooked the sculpted in-ground pool and hot tub. Though it was nighttime, the area was well lit with decorative lamps and pool lights. The water was pristine. A stone waterfall graced the far end of the pool adding to the relaxing ambiance.

  “It's heated,” Jeff told Tatiana as she sat on Timur's hip looking out the window. “Maybe tomorrow you can go swimming?” he offered. “Did you bring a bathing suit?”

  Tatiana shook her head no and then buried her face in Timur's shoulder. She didn't want to talk anymore, she just wanted to see her mom again.

  “Tomorrow, I will send someone out to get you a bathing suit,” Jeff said. “When your mom is feeling better, I'm sure she would love to swim with you.”

  Tatiana lifted her head from Timur. “How do you know my mom?”

  Jeff wasn't prepared for the question. He was stumped. He wanted to tell her that he was Jessica's father and that made him her grandfather, but Michael's words kept ringing through his head. “Please refrain from pissing her off and adding to her stress.”

  Jeff knew if he told Tatiana that, Jessica would have a complete meltdown. So rather than lie to her, Jeff decided not to answer her at all.

  “Your pancakes should be ready,” he said. He then turned and walked away.

  Timur wasn't sure how to react during the whole event. He didn't want to be stuck answering the question either, so he quickly tried to redirect her attention.

  “Are you ready to eat?” he asked.

  Tatiana was less than thrilled. She was hungry but food wasn't her primary concern. Still, she let Timur bring her back to the kitchen where James was busy cooking her food. Timur sat her on a stool at a large granite island and she watched James put the finishing touches on her pancakes. He placed the plate in front of her with a smile. Jeff had never had a child in his home before and James was delighted to be serving such an adorable guest.

  “Can I get you anything else?” James asked.

  Tatiana shook her head, appearing unable to decide if she was happy or sad.

  “If there is anything you need or want. You just ask me. OK?”

  She nodded her head and ever so politely said, “Thank you.”

  “You're quite welcome,” James happily replied.

  Chapter 18

  Jinx woke in a dark room. Her hands were bound behind her back, her feet to the legs of the chair she sat in. She felt cold concrete beneath her bare feet. She lifted her head still feeling drugged and out of it.

  “Hello, Jasmine,” a voice came out of the darkness.

  “Who are you?” she asked in a fog. There was a slight accent in his voice, but with the drugs she was having a hard time placing it.

  “I could be the man who lets you go free, or the man who takes your life. It's up to you,” he replied as he flicked on a light.

  The light blinded her. She tried to look at who was in the room with her but could hardly keep her eyes open. “What do you want from me?”

  “The truth.”

  Her eyes still were still adjusting to the light and she could see only the boots of the man sitting in front of her. She tried to swallow, but her mouth felt like it was filled with cotton balls. “The sky is blue, the ocean is deep, there is no air in space. … Should I keep going?”

  “Cute.” The man smirked though there was no way she could have seen it.

  He was not a handsome man. His brown hair was cut so short he was almost bald. His skin was leathery and scarred. His was strong and fit but even then his body reflected the rough life he had lived.

  He came closer to
her and held up a syringe. “Maybe this will make you more cooperative.”

  She could do little to stop it. She felt the pinch in her arm followed by a burning that continued to grow in intensity. As the drug traveled through her veins, so did the pain.

  “What did you give me?” she asked as the pain became ever greater and she feared it wouldn't stop.

  “It's experimental,” he replied cheerfully. “Do you like it?”

  “It hurts.”

  “Yes. It's supposed to.”

  “Why are you doing this to me?” Her body began to shake and though she fought hard not to cry, tears defiantly welled and eventually overflowed.

  “You can save yourself from a second dose if you tell me what I want to know.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I want to know where your friends, the Cailens, are.”

  “I don't know where they are.”

  “Of course you do. Now are you going to tell me or do I need to give you a second dose?”

  At this point, Jinx could no longer hold back from crying. The pain was overwhelming. She knew she couldn't tell them where Jessica was. And she really didn't know where Josh and Michael were. A second injection of that horrible drug was inevitable. She didn't know how she would be able to stand the pain. Just one dose had left her in unbearable agony.

  “I'll let you think about it for a while,” he said before leaving her alone in the room.

  It felt like an eternity passed. It could have been hours or only minutes as Jinx's perception of time was clouded by the excruciating pain she was in. The pain had just started to subside when the door opened and she was confronted with the same ugly face of her tormentor.

  “Have you made a decision?” he asked.

  She felt weak and sick to her stomach. Her heart raced at the thought of another injection but still she held her ground. “I don't know where they are.”

  “Come on, you can tell me. They'll never know it was you,” he reasoned.

  “I'll know it was me,” she replied with contempt. Her fear transitioned into anger and determination not to give in. “Besides that, I don't know.”

  He heard the change in her voice and knew he was in for a long night.