by F. C. Clark
‘Kate!’ Alexis tugs at my hand.
Philip lunges towards me and slaps my face.
‘Is that it, you fucking prick?’ I cough, and spit out blood.
He grabs my hair. ‘You need to learn some manners.’
‘And you need to learn not to molest and rape children, you fucking pig.’
He releases my hair and turns to Alexis. ‘What have you been saying?’
Her face is pale and filled with fear.
‘I’m waiting.’ He raises his hand.
‘Leave her alone.’ I push him. I’m furious. Then I kick the back of his knee. He buckles and falls to the ground. Just one of my husband’s 007 moves… He glares at me, his face full of fury. ‘I promised her you will never lay a finger on her again – ever.’
‘You want to die, bitch? It will be my pleasure.’ He scrambles to his feet.
‘I told you I don’t care… You’re a sick fucker. Actually, you’re a paedophile.’ I look at his entourage. ‘You know you work for a man who fucks children? I hope you’re proud of yourselves.’ I’m also hopeful some of his workers are fathers and it may spark their morals.
I look at Alexis, who has tears rolling down her cheeks. Is this the first time anyone has defended her?
My hand slips into hers. ‘Let’s go,’ I say. After all, we have nothing to lose. I either die here or with the Russians. I’ll take my chances.
Philip pulls his gun and points it at my head. ‘If you walk, I will shoot you.’
‘Go ahead. I don’t care.’ I pray he’s bluffing. I inhale possibly my last breath. I love you to the end, Luke Sutton.
Then I hear a gunshot. Alexis screams my name and pushes me down. My head makes contact with the hard ground and I feel intense pain, but also a sense of peace. I look up at the sun beaming through the trees. My eyes feel heavy.
‘Stay with me, baby,’ a voice whispers in my ear as my body shuts down.
3
Slowly, I surface. I’m in a dimly lit room, not the forest. I open my eye, painfully, and there he is. Luke. Please, God, let this be real and not a dream.
My heart pounds. It’s him – my Luke, dressed in black, sitting in a chair by my bed. He told me to stay alive and he would find me, and he did.
My entire body feels weighted down. With a huge effort I skim my hand across his dark hair. Please wake up.
‘Luke.’ My voice is barely a whisper.
Once more I touch his hair. This time he stirs and his dark eyes find me.
‘Hi,’ he whispers and gently kisses my lips. My relief is too much. Tears roll down my cheeks, and I sob.
‘Shh, it’s OK. I’ve got you.’
‘Luke, I’m sorry,’ I mutter.
‘You’re safe.’
‘But—’
‘You’re with me.’
I nod. As long as he’s with me, everything will be OK. It’s been that way from the beginning.
‘Where are we?’ I ask.
‘Kudrovo,’ he says.
‘Where?’
‘Your favourite country – Russia!’ His brow shoots up.
‘Take me home, please.’
‘You’re too weak. This hospital bed is the only place you’ll be until the doctors say otherwise.’
‘I feel like crap.’
‘You look hot!’ His smile warms my heart.
‘Argh, don’t make me laugh. Everywhere hurts.’
‘You were unconscious when I got to you, plus you’ve lost a lot of blood.’
‘Luke, I was so scared… Philip.’ I shut my eyes; just the mention of his name causes panic.
‘He’s dead.’
What? He will never touch another woman again – except I can feel him, his hands around my throat. I can’t breathe.
‘Calm down. Kate, look at me.’ Luke inhales and exhales slowly; I mirror his motion. ‘That’s it, in and out.’
Within a few seconds my breathing settles.
‘Thank you for…’ For killing the man who killed my mum.
I feel a firm grip on my other hand.
‘Katarina, no one will ever hurt you, I promise.’
Ivor! I look at Luke.
‘What’s going on?’ I never thought I would see him again, let alone hear him call me by my birth name.
‘We met Ivor’s team en route and he insisted this was the best private hospital.’ Luke’s eyes flit from mine to the man he hoped would never return to my life. ‘We were trying to reach you when Philip fired his gun. Kate, Ivor shot Philip.’
My eyes flick back to my Russian father. I prayed he was watching me – and he was.
‘The gun…’ Oh God, a memory comes flooding back. ‘Philip fired – I remember. Where is Alexis?’
Luke looks across at Ivor.
‘Where is she, Luke?’ I attempt to pull myself up from the bed ‘Ouch.’
‘Careful, you’re attached to IVs and you have stitches,’ Luke says.
‘I don’t care. Where’s Alexis?’
‘Kate, the bullet…’
‘No!’ I say.
‘Calm down. She was hit, but they managed to remove the bullet. She’s stable.’ Tenderly, Luke touches my check.
‘She’s been through so much. I need to see her.’ I try to sit up again, but it hurts too much. ‘Luke, please.’
‘Katarina, excuse me – Kate, your husband is right, you are too weak.’
‘You don’t understand – she saved me.’ Twice.
‘She’s in recovery – no one can see her yet,’ Luke says. ‘The bullet skimmed her femoral artery.’
‘This can’t be happening. That’s major, right?’ I can’t think straight.
Luke nods. ‘She’s lost a lot of blood.’
‘Give her some. Luke, you help everyone. I’m begging you to do something.’
‘She’s in the best hands. She has a rare blood type – AB negative – which hasn’t helped.’
‘Siblings.’ I close my good eye, then look at Luke. ‘Can siblings help?’
Luke’s brows knit. ‘Possibly, but she doesn’t have any. Besides, they have located some blood now.’
‘I think she does.’ I swallow. ‘Harry.’
‘Kate, you’re not making sense.’ Our dark eyes lock. ‘Talk to me.’
‘Bloody hell, my stomach really hurts.’
‘You have lacerations on both sides of your ribcage. Ivor, give me a hand.’
Ivor and Luke place their hands under my arms and lift me to a sitting position.
‘This may hurt.’
I hold my breath.
‘Is that better?’
‘Yes.’
I reach for Ivor’s hand, knowing I have to explain what happened to my mother, the love of his life.
‘Dad, I need to tell you something.’
He nods and takes my hand. It’s the first time I’ve called him ‘Dad’. His eyes gleam – with pride?
‘OK, Philip told me.’ I bite my lip and look across at Luke.
‘He raped Katenka in New York, and again in London, and—’ My words trail off. ‘He murdered her. He strangled her.’ My free hand travels to my neck with the memory of what he did to us both. ‘I’m so sorry. He took her from you – from us.’ I sob.
‘It is OK. I knew your mother would not have taken her own life.’ Ivor places his lips on my forehead. ‘Shh, it is OK, my child.’
‘But it’s not… When Alexis and I were hiding last night I kept playing back the story Philip told me, and then it hit me. The timing. I’m pretty sure Philip is Harry’s dad.’
Luke bows his head.
‘I can’t keep this from Harry… I pray he’s not her—’
‘She has to be told, or at least given the choice to find out,’ Luke says.
‘I didn’t think you would agree.’
‘This is not our decision to make, Kate,’ he says.
‘Luke, so much doesn’t add up… I can’t take much more.’
‘Please rest, Katarina. Your body needs to mend.’ Ivor tries to smile, but how can he? His wife was raped and murdered, and now he has killed a man for me.
‘Ivor’s right.’ Luke stands and runs his hand through his hair. ‘Christ, this is a mess. I need to make a call.’
‘What about my mum and dad, Luke? They need to know.’
He shakes his head. ‘Not now – one step at a time. Besides, I need to contain what happened to Philip. We’re all implicated in what went down, Kate.’
‘But he’s dead, and Harry might tell them, and what about me? How can I explain this?’
‘Calm down! First things first. I need you healthy so we can go home, OK?’
I nod.
‘I’ll go and make a phone call. Ivor, do not leave her alone, understood?’ Luke’s tone is direct. As I predicted, he remains cold towards Ivor, with a chill that will not thaw any time soon.
Ivor’s loss is clear to see. His dark eyes are sad. I wonder if there is a small part of him that feels relieved knowing his wife did not leave the world of her own accord.
‘I’m sorry about Mum.’
‘Please, this is not your fault. I have taken revenge for Katenka, and of course for you too.’
‘What happens now?’ I take a deep breath, which hurts like hell. ‘Please don’t tell me this is it, you’re going to disappear out of my life.’ I can’t cope with another year of wondering where he is.
Tenderly he strokes my face. ‘If you want me in your life, then I will stay… Your safety comes first and Luke must agree,’ he says. ‘Katarina, please sleep. I will still be here when you wake.’
‘Can you hold my hand?’ A residue of fear from the last twenty-four hours circulates through my body, but when his hand slips over mine all the security I need is right here.
I wake when I feel someone place a cuff on my arm to take my blood pressure. Luke is at my side with a doctor. They then walk to the doorway. Luke glances across at me. I know my husband, and I certainly know the look he wears when he’s holding out on me.
He returns to my side and perches on the edge of the bed. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Hungry. I need a cup of tea.’
‘Good. I’ll get you something to eat.’ Luke looks at Ivor and reluctantly leaves him alone with me.
If Ivor stays in my life, which I bloody hope he does, I now face a new battle – Sutton verses Varizin. God help me!
Ivor takes my hand.
‘I saw you at my wedding,’ I announce.
Ivor chuckles. ‘I know.’
‘Your hiding skills weren’t great.’
He smiles. ‘I am too old to hide.’ He wanted me to see him – I know that in my heart.
‘Thank you for the white rose… In the picture you gave me of your wedding day, Mum was holding the same kind of rose – is that why you left it on my pillow?’
‘Yes.’ He nods. ‘I wanted your mother to be with you.’
Tears roll down my cheeks. ‘She is – well, in my head and heart. I guess that’s all I’ll ever have.’
‘And that is all you need. Now, please rest.’
Before long Luke returns with a tray of tea and toast, which smells divine.
‘OK. Let’s sit you up.’
I nod. Luke flashes a half-hearted smile. What’s up with him? He pulls the table closer and takes the chair next to me.
‘Did you get hold of Harry?’ Just the thought of Harry’s news kills my appetite.
‘Yes. Now please eat.’
‘How was she?’
‘I spoke to Raymond, then to Harry.’
‘What did she say? I should have spoken to her.’
Luke passes me my tea. ‘Kate, please.’
My trembling hands take the cup.
‘I told her, and asked if she wanted to take a DNA test,’ Luke says.
‘God, I pray that I’m wrong.’
‘Harry agreed to the test. I’ve arranged for an appointment.’
‘And Alexis?’ I ask.
‘I need a sample of her saliva,’ he says.
‘Is she back from theatre? Did you ask her?’
‘No.’ Luke drags his chair closer.
‘No? What, to the theatre or asking?’
‘Kate, please, just eat.’
‘Isn’t that, like, breaking the law? I mean, you can’t just test her, can you?’
‘What I need is for you to eat and drink.’
I put my cup back on the tray. ‘But Harry is more important. I need to speak to her.’
‘Not now,’ Luke commands.
‘Luke, she needs me.’
‘Yes, and I need you to rest. It goes against my better judgement, but I told them both about the last twenty-four hours.’
‘What? That Philip was shot and…’
Luke nods. ‘She knows everything. I had no choice.’
‘Poor Harry. He may not be her dad, but—’
‘Eat.’ Ivor feels the need to join in. Great, just what I want: another controlling man in my life.
‘I’m not hungry, I feel sick.’
‘It’s shock,’ Luke says.
‘Can you go and see how Alexis is? Please, Luke.’
‘She’s in ICU.’
‘Crap!’
‘For observation, that’s all. Honestly, she’s incredibly lucky,’ Luke says.
‘Lucky! Luck hasn’t been on her side.’ I close my eyes for a second. ‘That’s twice she’s saved my life in twenty-four hours.’
‘I don’t want to push you, but I need to know what happened so I can come up with a cover story,’ Luke says.
‘What do you mean?’
Luke looks at Ivor. ‘Philip Cooper was shot on a hunting trip. It was an accident.’
‘Well, I guess he was hunting me, so that’s not total bullshit.’
‘Katarina!’ Ivor bellows.
Now he wants to play Dad!
‘I want you to tell me what happened, Kate. Take it slow, OK?’
‘I don’t think I can, Luke.’ I shake my head.
‘It’s just us, me and you, remember?’
‘It’s…’
‘I know it’s difficult. Just start from the beginning.’
‘OK. So I called you when Alexis turned up at Sandbanks.’
‘Because she overheard Philip say he planted the bomb at our house,’ Luke says, ‘and they planned to take you.’
I nod. ‘After they broke in at Sandbanks, I woke up on a plane.’ I run a hand through my matted hair. ‘Philip was evil, Luke, he—’
I think Luke is going to speak, but he says nothing. His mouth is a thin line.
‘Luke, this is too much for you.’
‘No, carry on,’ he says, but the tell-tale signs of him losing control are mapped across his face – alongside the fear of nearly losing me.
‘When we landed I went in a car with Philip, and Alexis followed in another. Luke, I thought I was going to – one of his men squeezed my throat…’ I touch my neck. ‘The men were—’
Luke takes my hand away from my neck. ‘You’re safe – no one will ever touch you again. Carry on.’
‘You saw the building we were taken to?’
‘Yes,’ Ivor says.
‘They tied us up in a room. I tried to get free, Luke, I tried, but…’ I take a breath.
‘I know. Did you smash the window?’ Luke asks.
‘It was the only way out, and that’s how I cut myself.’
‘Before that, what happened?’ Luke asks.
‘We were on our own for a while. Alexis was
in shock, we both were. He came to the room – I mean, Philip.’
I take a moment.
‘Go on,’ Luke says.
‘He told me what he did to Katenka. Apparently he never knew I existed until I inherited the Bagrov shares.’ I take Ivor’s hand. ‘It kills me knowing how scared Mum must have been.’
‘She is at peace,’ Ivor says.
‘But it doesn’t make sense. We’ve seen the official report Charles took from his dad’s office. I don’t know Joseph Morley or George Williams, but do you think they would lie? Alexis said maybe Philip had something on them.’
‘You know who these men are?’ Ivor asks.
‘I don’t know them, but Luke does.’
‘They are my father’s old school friends, and I know their sons. Charles is Joseph’s son – he took a copy of Katenka’s paperwork.’
‘Luke, they know something, I know they do,’ I say.
‘I have no idea why they would lie, or even if they knew Katenka. Kate, your mum was cremated, so we have no proof. All we have is paperwork and speculation,’ Luke says.
‘So they get away with it?’
‘Get away with what? Did Philip implicate either man?’
I shake my head. ‘No. He never mentioned them, and neither did I.’
‘I can dig around, but I don’t want to open up a can of worms. Philip was shot, which we all played a part in.’ Luke looks across to Ivor. ‘These two men are the elite in their industry. Joseph Morley is a judge and George Williams is a coroner. They could search for justice – and they may not find in our favour.’
‘Kate, justice has been served for Katenka. We can now be at peace,’ Ivor says. ‘Luke is right. I agree to let this lie.’
‘But Mum, what about justice for her?’ My eyes sting.
‘He is dead. She has justice – we all do.’
‘Kate,’ Luke says, ‘and then what happened?’
Although Luke changes the subject away from Katenka, I still feel justice has not been done for her.
‘After Philip told us about Katenka…’ I run my hands through my hair.
‘Then what? Tell me.’
I bite my lip. ‘I don’t think I can.’
‘Why? Because of me?’
I nod.
‘Nothing you can say will alter how much I love you.’
‘But it’s bad…’ I look at both men. ‘He – hit me – too many times to count.’