by Sienna Mynx
“Nyet! You deal with me. You are not worthy of a face to face with father. Not yet. Though you pack a helluva punch!” Yegor touched his jaw. “I am sorry for last night. The ambush. My boys aren’t used to seeing me take a....”
“Beating?” Tarek corrected.
Yegor put up his hands. “You caught me by surprise. Da, you proved yourself. And now because of our actions we are connected. I can trust you.”
Tarek remembered those men being alive, barely, before he blacked out. He didn’t kill them. But he was just as responsible as Yegor. And the blood-bond he forged today was one his weakling brother would never make.
He stood and extended his hand. Yegor stood and extended his. “If you ever want to know about the Russia you left behind. Call me. All you have to do is ask.”
Tarek wasn’t sure of his offer, but nodded all the same. He left Yegor’s office to find his woman unharmed. And for the first time he saw her as such. She smiled for him and put her arm around his waist. He allowed her assistance. He trusted her help. He was learning to trust her.
12.
Two Weeks Earlier -
“Mr. Marshall, we’ve been waiting,” Nancy greeted him with a polite smile. He passed her by. She marched at his side, keeping in step with his stride. The woman was older, in her late sixties, and the only one on staff he would meet with. The doctors shared all their updates on his father’s condition through Nancy.”
“Your brothers have contacted two senior members of the hospital board. They are demanding to see your father, and his medical records,” she said. “We tried to reach you while you were away. I wasn’t sure if we should proceed so we suggested they get a court order. You of course can approve a visit if you wish.”
“No,” he replied.
“It’s not an unreasonable request sir...” she began. “Your father is doing much better.”
“Is my answer a problem?” Tarek stopped.
“Ah, no Mr. Marshall. Not unless they get a court order, then... well, it could be out of our hands.”
“They won’t,” Tarek said and pushed the door open to his father’s room. Nancy, the administrator in the therapeutic health facility joined him. He glanced back at her. “Anything else Nancy?”
“I thought you might want to know that he’s making progress. Two days ago, he spoke. And just today he lifted his left hand.”
“Is that all?” he repeated.
“It’s wonderful news Mr. Marshall. We feared total paralysis after the stroke. I... well if you need me I will...”
“I won’t need you,” he said.
The woman nodded and smiled, then, she discreetly left the room. Tarek removed his Stetson. Most men in Texas owned a hat. Some like him preferred this one. He set his hat down on the bed in the room. His father wasn’t in it. At some point someone had helped the old fuck out of the bed, and wheeled him in his chair next to the window, unless his legs suddenly began to work like his hand.
“How goes it Pops?” Tarek asked.
Alek Marshall didn’t utter a sound. And Tarek wasn’t expecting a response, though the news of his progress disappointed him. He’d rather his old man sat in that chair and drooled, as he did since the stroke. Tarek walked over to his side.
The old man was still. Tarek let his gaze drop to his father. He stepped in front of the old guy and blocked the view of the window. The only movement his father owned was his eyes. They were aware. And when they focused on Tarek, he saw nothing but contempt. It’s what was left between them.
“Excuse the way I look. I had a bit of an accident while I was away. I’m better now.”
His father said nothing.
“I’ve met Yegor Kovalevsky,” he said. “It’s only a matter time before I am introduced to his father.”
Tarek leaned forward. “How do you feel about that? Me getting close to the Kovalevsky’s? Our companies doing business together again.”
Tarek’s father right eye twitched. His lips began to tremble as if he fought to speak.
“It’s happening old man. Just like I told you it would. Before I destroy everything you ever cared about. I’m going to get everything that is mine. And I’m going to make you watch.”
A small tear of drool dropped from his father’s bottom lip. It was connected to a long strand of saliva that landed on his lap. Tarek patted the old man on his shoulder. “Dale is up to his old tricks. He met with the board without either of us. Shut down the Campos Basin project. No worries Pops. I got a plan. Afterall I learned to play this game from you.”
Satisfied that his father’s misery was complete, Tarek left him seated there, plucked up his Stetson from the bed, situated it on his head and walked out.
13.
Kassidy was nervous. She kept turning her cup of coffee and glancing up to the door each time a person stepped through. It had been three weeks since she last saw Daniel and he was pissed.
Her phone buzzed across the table and she nearly jumped from her skin. She picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” Tarek asked.
“Meeting a friend for brunch,” she said. She glanced out the window of the cafe and saw Daniel’s car arrive.
“How about dinner?”
“Ah, okay, I can cook for us.”
“That sounds nice. How was your first day?” Tarek asked.
She smiled. “It was okay. Mostly paperwork. Tomorrow will you show me around the office.”
“Yeah, tomorrow. See you tonight.”
“Bye Tarek.”
Kassidy ended the call just as Daniel approached. He wore a deep scowl of anger. The man could never mask his emotions. She was just relieved he didn’t bring that witch Carmen with him.
She stood and hugged him. He kissed her cheek as he always did when they met and sat down.
“I’m pissed.”
“I know. I can explain,” she said.
“Hi, can I get you something to drink?” the waitress asked.
“Coffee black, and a muffin,” Daniel mumbled.
“Sure, we have blueberry, bran, banana and...”
“Surprise me!” Daniel cut her off.
The woman looked shocked. Kassidy tried to offer an apologetic smile before the waitress turned and walked away.
“That was rude.”
“Rude? How about disappearing on me for over two weeks. Three fucking weeks.”
“Things happened fast. I had so little control, I just couldn’t reach you.”
“Bullshit! This is what you do Kassidy. Change the rules or make them up as you go along. I thought you were ready. Committed to our cause. But I don’t know what the fuck you are doing!”
“That’s enough!” Kassidy said. “Don’t preach down to me like I’m one of your worshippers. We both agreed that this would not be an easy job. That it would take work for me to gain Tarek’s trust. And you know what I have. I don’t have to check in with you every fucking minute like some school girl. I’m a grown woman.”
Daniel fumed. He sat back and glared. Kassidy could swear she saw his glasses fog up from the steam over his redden face.
“Here you are,” the waitress said. Neither she nor Daniel spoke. They continued to stare at each other. The waitress turned and left.
“Here’s how it happened. He showed up at my place and...”
“We’re done.” Daniel announced.
“What?”
“I can’t trust you. I don’t know what the fuck you think this is, but if you don’t work for me, then you work for you. So we’re done.”
“You’re making a mistake Daniel.”
He chuckled. “Carmen called it. She said you didn’t give a shit about the oceans, or the environment. She said you were playing me. And that’s how I feel. Played.”
“Does this look like me playing you?” She pushed her a USB drive. He stared at it while she spoke. “On that is the proposal to push LuxeOil out of Deadhorse Alaska and move in MGS in. I was there. Three men died. I don’
t know how, or why but their dead. And it is all about a Russian family named Kovalevsky and their company that wants drilling in Alaska.”
“You saying the Kovlevsky’s murdered someone?”
“I’m saying there is something big coming Daniel. Really big. And you can break it. But the only way you get this intel is through me. Tarek trusts me now. I started working there today. I am at his side. This is what you wanted.”
Daniel frowned. “And what do you want?”
“To expose the Marshalls. You know that.”
“If people are dead Kassidy you are getting in far too deep.”
“I know. But I can handle it. I have dinner plans with him tonight. Tarek trusts me.”
“I don’t like it.”
Kassidy sighed. “What don’t you like.”
“The way you say his name. You aren’t developing feelings for him?”
Kassidy frowned. “No. He is responsible for the death of my family. If not him, then his family. Trust me I don’t have feelings for him. I am going to get us what we need. I just need you to support me.”
Daniel picked up the USB. He looked at it and then her. “Okay. Let me have a look at it. Let’s see.”
“There’s something else. Something you have to understand and agree too.”
“What is it?”
“After today we can’t see each other anymore. Tarek has been digging in my background. I intend to convince him to stop. But he’s got in his head that I’m working for his brother. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. We won’t meet. For a little while. Until things cool off. And I know he fully trusts me.”
“How do I keep contact with you?”
“I’ll use the dark web. Send you a message there. Okay? Agreed?”
Daniel looked to the thumb drive and then to her. “And you’re fully committed to seeing this through? On my team?”
“Yes. I’m on the winning team. I promise,” she smiled.
“Deal.”
Chapter 9
Present –
The detective tapped his pen on the desk. Tap-tap-tap-tip-tap-tap it went. The repetitive beat was like a hammer to her skull. Kassidy dropped her face into her hands. She tried to concentrate on breathing. There were different truths to the story, hers, Tarek’s, the Marshalls, and Daniel. Which one would paint her less guilty? Which one should she tell? She glanced up at the detective. He was focused on writing on his little notepad. The other detective stood in the corner propped up by his shoulder.
“So you were working to get information on Tarek Marshall, and his dirty business deals of his family?” Detective Grason asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“And you went to Deadhorse to meet with people about a new contract?” The detective asked.
“Yes,” she answered.
“What were the names of these people?”
She knew she couldn’t dare give the truthful answer. “I don’t know their names. I wasn’t included in that meeting. I told you was I kept in a room away from the discussions.”
“The name Yegor Kovalevsky ring a bell?”
She shook her head no.
“This meeting happened before Tarek Marshall kidnapped you? Six months ago. And you don’t remember names, places, dates?”
“I’m sorry. I’m tired, I haven’t slept. Can I have a glass of water please?” Kassidy asked.
The detective in the corner left the room. She cleared her throat. Detective Grason stared at her as if he expected her lies to continue. Kassidy knew she had to give these officers something. Men were dead. But what could she say that would keep her from ending up the same way?
“After four months me and Mr. Marshall were no longer seeing each other. He ended things. I was just an employee. A Program Manager.”
“But you said you were a... ah,” The detective flipped through his notes. “You said you were a solution architect.”
“I was promoted into another department away from Mr. Marshall,” Kassidy said.
“Just like that, he dumps you?”
“It’s how he is, what he does. He makes decisions, just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “It’s not... uncommon for men like him.”
“I think the dead bodies we have say different,” Detective Grason said. “I think that was pre-meditated.”
“How? We didn’t create the storm that trapped us there. We didn’t force that man to drive all those miles to come kill us. Any of it. I didn’t do that. I... he... we didn’t do it.”
Detective Carter returned with a paper cup of water. She accepted it and drank the water down with two swallows. She was so eternally thirsty she almost asked for another. She could tell the kindness from the detectives came at a price. Quid pro quo.
“Continue,” Grason prodded.
She wiped at her tears. When she saw her hand was shaking she put it back down on her lap. She was mentally stronger until she saw Tarek strapped to that chair like that. The only thing that she could truly see were his eyes. And there was so much rage in his eyes it rocked her to her core. Every time she thought of what happened at the ranch, she felt the urge to scream bubble up to her throat. She kept sucking in deep breaths.
“Tell it again. Tell me what you did for Tarek Marshall. Tell me why you were kidnapped. Tell me why he killed those men?” Grason slammed his fist down on the table. “More importantly, I want you to tell me who Yegor Kovalevsky is to the Marshalls.”
“I...”
“You’re in a lot of trouble Kassandra. Do you understand? So far you haven’t given us anything to explain what we found at that ranch. I can’t help you if you aren’t honest with me.”
Kassidy nodded. “I know. I know. I’ll tell you what I know, I swear.”
14.
Six Months After Deadhorse Alaska -
The bickering amongst the senior executives died to a murmur. Kassidy had been in tough meetings before, but this one was rife with tension. She looked up from her laptop and locked eyes with the man they all served, Tarek Marshall. He met her stare and then cut his gaze over to the person speaking.
After the horror show in Deadhorse they flew to Anchorage for him to recover. Tarek never said it to her, but she knew he couldn’t return home looking like a train wreck victim. It took two weeks before the bruising and swelling healed. He slept for many of those days, and the others they watched television or talked over his ideas for Deadhorse. In the short spans of the four months that followed she’d completely forgotten her vendetta against him. Kassidy worked days in the office at his side and spent nights in his bed exploring every pleasure imaginable between a man and woman. It was always her place, never his. She said she understood. Part of her did. Tarek was exciting, he made his own rules. He didn’t explain himself. The mystery is what she liked most about him.
Kassidy became even more domestic. She’d cook for him. They’d watch football, basketball, any sport on ESPN between making love and talking about anything under the sun. Anything but their pasts. Tarek never questioned her about her childhood and she never offered any truths. A few times she had wanted too, but something always held her back. No matter how close they became the trust was never there.
And then one night he woke, got up from her bed and began to dress. She asked him why he was leaving so early. He announced that their relationship was over. He said he was leaving for South America and didn’t know when he’d return.
She feared he’d learned her secret schemes with Daniel. Or even worse her connection to his past. She actually humbled herself low enough to plead for him to reconsider smashing her heart. But he was cold and dismissive. Tarek told her she still had her job with his company. He expected her to do it well. But she would be transferred out from under him. When she confessed that she loved him he became angry. And when she refused to let him leave he said the one thing that changed everything. He looked her in the eye and said he was done.
And then he was gone.
The fucking bastard made her cry. An
d soon she understood how broken and desperate Clarissa must have felt when he dumped her. She’d been a fool. An idiot. She’d fallen for the man that destroyed her life and let him destroy her heart all over again.
But not anymore. Kassidy was focused. And she had been a bad girl since he was gone.
Tarek Marshall’s return had set the office into a tailspin. Everyone wanted to impress and over compensate for their failures in their departments. Kassidy chewed on the back of her pen and watched Tarek as he watched the show.
Bill Havarti, the senior corporate attorney, voice silenced the room. Hell, Kassidy didn’t think anyone breathed... The entire room was riveted by Bill’s assessment of their program. After all its Bill’s approval with the boards that kept them all employed.
“I’ve heard enough. We’re done,” Tarek Marshall said.
“Tarek, there are things we need to discuss,” Havarti interjected.
“We’ll discuss when I’m ready. Ms. Brown. You stay behind.”
“Good luck, Angela,” Velva whispered to her as she pushed back in her chair and left with the others. Tarek never requested a closed door meeting with her. However, he hadn’t been in the office after he broke things off with her. This was the first time they were alone together. And being alone with him was the last thing she wanted or needed.
“Do you know why I asked you to stay?” he asked while he scanning the contracts Bill Havarti put before him.
“No,” she said softly.
Tarek Marshall removed his glasses and eventually his gaze lifted to her. He hadn't so much as sent her a text message in months, and now he stared at her as if they were in the afterglow. Kassidy hated him for the rejection. She hated herself too.
“I wanted to call you. To explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain,” she said.
“There were things I had to attend too. I couldn’t let you get involved. It was best we end it so...”
“I’m over it.” Kassidy said. Tarek’s soft stare hardened. He looked at her as if confused. She made sure to maintain her glare at him. “I’m glad you ended it. I was never really interested in being your girlfriend. I wanted a job. And I got it.”