by Miranda Kavi
What would happen to him?
As if on cue, the “him” she had on her mind walked into the room. He saw her face. “Who was that?” he said.
She took a deep breath, debating on the truth or lies. Over inaction or action. No doubt whistle blowing on Red Bluff International would involve him, too. It could possibly hurt and expose him.
And she was a little scared of him.
“Reginald Joshua,” she finally said.
“The attorney?” he asked.
“How did you know?” she said.
“I had people watching you, only to keep you safe. I know you took a box to his office and left two and half hours later,” Dmitri said.
“I did.” She stared at the blanket on the bed, unwilling and unable to meet his eyes. “I took some documents from Red Bluff. Apparently, they are violating about every law known to man and engaging in some really bad shit.” She chucked her phone down and stared at him. “This is bad for you too, isn’t it?”
He hadn’t moved, hadn’t twitched, and hadn’t said anything.
“Yes. It could be bad, but now that I know, I can take remedial measures to protect myself. And you,” he said.
“And me?” she said. “I thought…”
“You thought I would be mad? Were you afraid?”
She dropped her head into her hands. “Yes,” she whispered.
He scooted closer to her and draped his arm over her shoulders. He put his lips very close to her ear. “You do not ever have to fear me, Sophia. I would never hurt you. Hear me now, because I can never say this again: I will protect you, even if it is bad for me.” He leaned back.
She glanced up at him, tears in her eyes. “I believe you.”
“Good.” He straightened up. “I am glad you told me the truth.” He stood from the bed. “I trust you and no one else in this life.” He turned red, then turned on his heel and practically ran from the room.
“Dmitri!” she shouted after him.
He came back in the room, waiting for her to speak.
“What are you going to do?” she said.
“What I must.” His face was dark, and he left.
She let it sit and simmer within her. She was in a royal hot mess, much of it her own doing.
She moved back to the drawers and started pulling her stuff out. She was here because she wanted to be, yes, but she was also here because she was scared. She didn’t have anywhere to go. She wouldn’t put Andrea in danger by running to her. She was most definitely not moving in.
Temporary, she told herself. Very temporary. She put her clothes back in the suitcases and dragged them to the closet. She needed to be able to leave fast.
She sat on the floor of the large walk in closet, filled with suits and dress shoes, most of them looked very expensive, the kind she saw hedge fund and venture capitalist guys wear.
She was in danger, and she brought it with her. She was, for once, thankful for her parents distance. They were safe, nearly always traveling, never home.
But Andrea. Andrea could be in danger. What if whoever knew about Sophia having the box knew about her having seeing documents, too?
She called her. “Andrea?”
“Hey, chick. What’s up?”
“Um...” Sophia didn’t know where to start. “I gave the stuff to Reginald.”
“Okay,” Andrea said. “And I’m sensing there’s more?”
“And he thinks I’m in danger. And I’m sure I am, so I’m hiding out. I wanted you to know so you could keep your distance and stay safe,” she said.
She heard a sharp intake of breath on the other line. “What do you mean, you’re sure. What’s happened? Are you okay?”
Sophia sighed. “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. It’s…better if you know less from here on out. It’s bad. Much worse than we thought. If anyone finds out you know something, you could be in danger, too.”
“Oh, wow,” Andrea breathed over the line. “Can I see you? What should I do?”
Sophia folded her legs under her. “You can’t see me right now. Please, Andrea. Be careful until I figure out what’s going on. I’m going to hire some security that Reggie recommends, for both of us.”
“What? No, you don’t need to do that,” Andrea said. “I can take care of myself.”
“No, this is my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this, and I’m sorry. It’s been about me, all about me and my shit. I’ve been a terrible friend and I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Sophia dug her toes into the plush carpet, but she didn’t cry. She was done with crying. “I’ll make this right,” she added.
“Sophia, I—” Andrea broke off, and a long silence stretched. Finally, she spoke again. “This sounds so final. I don’t like this. You’ve been through a lot and you’ve taken care of me in the past, and it’s my honor to be there for you. You’re not a burden, and you don’t need to be sorry. It’s not your fault that Red Bluff International is a scary, nasty piece of shit.”
Sophia chewed on her lower lip. “Please let me do this for you.”
“Okay, fine,” Andrea said. “But as soon as we can meet safely, I need to see your face. I won’t be able to rest until I do.”
“Okay. I understand.” Sophia nodded, even though Andrea couldn’t see her. “If...um...something happens to me or I disappear, I love you.”
“Don’t say that to me. Don’t you dare say that!” Andrea said. Her voice had risen to a more hysterical tone. “Why are you talking like this?”
“Go to Reggie, okay? Just in case.”
“I don’t like this at all. Not at all,” Andrea barked over the phone.
“Please. I’m fine. Okay? Everything is fine.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up. Sophia felt like a giant piece of shit loser friend for what she’d done. How selfish she’d been to the only person in the world who probably actually cared for her.
She spent the next few hours hiring the security company that Reggie recommended, not for her, but for Andrea. It would be around the clock and expensive, but Sophia would drain every last dollar she had to protect Andrea.
She ate Chinese takeout with Dmitri for dinner and they made love in his bed. If he noticed her still-packed suitcases, he didn’t say anything.
Chapter 21
Sophia had been back at EBCasp for a couple of weeks, going through the ridiculous motions of working, but she’d needed something to do. She never went back to Red Bluff International, and shockingly, nobody said anything. She’d called Marsha to tell her she wouldn’t come back on Fridays anymore. She pleaded with the young woman to look for work, and it sounded like Andrea had lined up a few interviews for her, too.
She’d just hung up with her realtor who’d called her to tell her of multiple showings today. He thought they’d get an offer soon.
She finished the paperwork on the latest hire and stared out the window, watching the very few people on the streets. Most of the downtown workers in Houston used the underground tunnels to move about during the day, a welcome break from the heat and humidity above ground.
She had two, third round interviews with Red Bluff’s major competitors this week. If all went well, she’d get job offers herself.
But could she take them? What would happen when Red Bluff International’s news broke? Could she ever leave Dmitri’s house? Would she ever be safe again?
She knew in her heart the answer was probably no. Not here. Not in Houston, the only home she knew. Nevertheless, she decided to go to the interviews this week and keep her options open.
Her business phone chirped.
“This is Sophia,” she said politely.
“Lyubov moya,” Dmitri said. He’d taken to calling her ‘his love’.
She shifted in her chair. They’d fallen into a routine over the past couple of weeks. Having dinner together most nights, making love, almost like a normal couple living together.
Except they weren’t. There were late night phone calls, tense faces,
strange men in and out of house, and sudden overnight business trips. There were crates stored in his garage one day and removed the next. There was an endless cycle of cell phones in his hand—he usually didn’t keep one for longer than a day or two.
And she had a feeling that he would have to leave soon.
“Hi,” she said. She warmed up, melting again. He did that to her. Made her feel soft and warm. Made her to want to forget it all.
“You were followed this morning when you went to get coffee in the tunnels. Did you know that?”
She grew cold. “No.”
“He had rope.”
She covered her eyes. “What? Jeez...what the…oh, my God.” She processed that piece of information slowly. Rope to tie her up, take her, and maybe even choke her in a dark hallway.
“Do not worry. He no longer poses a threat,” he said.
“Did he talk first?” she asked. She was a bit shocked at her own coldness.
Dmitri seemed like he was too, because he chuckled softly. “You are thinking differently now, and this is good,” he said. “No, he didn’t talk. He was well trained in...resisting.”
“Damn it. I want this to end. We can’t go on like this forever. You can’t always be there to protect me from my assassins,” she said.
Another long pause. “Perhaps I can.”
She rubbed her temples. She had no idea what to say, so she said nothing.
He spoke again, back to his cool, crisp self. “Have you heard from the lawyer?”
“Yeah.” She found a paperclip to fiddle with. “He’s waiting on a couple of investigators to get back from Liberia and South America, then he’ll be ready to move forward with bringing them down.”
“I see,” Dmitri said coolly. “Are you ready?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore.” She sighed.
This time he was silent.
“Look, I should get back to work. I’ll see you later,” she said.
“Yes, you will, my love.”
The phone line went dead.
“All right,” she said to herself, returning to the mound of paperwork she had to get through.
After she was done, she called Gram before shutting down her computer and flicking off her office light.
She walked down the long hallways, tossing casual waves to the few people still left on her floor.
Gram was waiting in the parking garage in a bright blue car. She was getting used to the cars he drove changing every few days. She had no idea where they came from, and at this point, she didn’t care.
She slid into the front seat. She didn’t bother talking to Gram, who was impassive and quiet. He had long, dark hair and grey eyes that avoided hers. They sat in bumper to bumper traffic in downtown rush hour gridlock. She leaned against the window and stared into the rear view mirror.
She missed her autonomy. She missed her car. She even missed her condo. Her old life had been boring and sad, but at least she’d been safe. Miserable, but safe.
It took them forty-five minutes to get back to the house. Gram dropped her off in the driveway, then sped off. “Nice to see you, too,” Sophia muttered as she watched him drive away.
The house was darkened and quiet when she came in, oddly so.
She dropped her purse on the hook near the front door and then walked to the kitchen. Dmitri was there, leaned against the kitchen counter, smoldering hot in slim-fit black slacks and a black button-down shirt.
He gestured behind him, so she looked.
The dining room table held a feast with wine bottles and several trays of food. Five long, red tapered candles ran the length of the table.
“Is that Kalduny?” she said. She leaned over the stuffed dumplings and breathed in the delicious scent. “Oh, my God. That smells so good. Coulibiac, too?” She admired the fish loaf, looking mouthwatering on the plain wood serving dish. “Where did you get this?”
He pushed away from the counter. “I cooked it.”
“Oh, wow. Thank you.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, smashing his body against her. “You are okay, then?”
She smiled against his chest. “I am now.”
“Really?” He leaned back, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I hope so.”
He stepped away and pulled out a chair for her. She sat down and admired the pretty floral patterned china.
He sat down, and they loaded up their plates. She dug into the food, relishing the flavors. She hadn’t had good Russian food, since, well, she was in Russia for grad school. Houston was sadly low on Russian restaurants.
After being silent for most of dinner, he suddenly spoke, “I have to leave town.”
She set her fork down. “Forever or temporarily?”
He smiled. “Not forever. Not without you. Business.”
“All right,” she said. “When will you be back?” She picked up her fork and took another bite, trying to keep her inquiry as casual as possible.
“A few days, maybe longer. I will leave in the morning.”
She didn’t answer, just continued eating her food, but inside she was upset. She was afraid. Afraid of his absence more than his presence. She was hurt, on some level, that she couldn’t go with him. She was confused as to how her life was going to play out.
If what he said was true, he was the only thing keeping her alive.
He put down his fork, scooted his chair closer to her, and rested his hand on hers. “I will leave you in good hands. I have Gram and two other men watching you, too.”
“Okay, thank you.” She shook her head. “You know, you don’t have to do this. I’m not your responsibility. I can hire my own security.”
“I know you can, but I would prefer that you not,” he said. “I will take care of you.”
“I don’t know about this.” She pulled her hand away. “I can’t keep doing this, working a pretend job, living with you, and always having to watch my back. I’ve forced you into this, and I’m not sure I even wanted that.”
His face clouded over and he pulled his hand back. He was tight from his jaw line and neck to his shoulders. Tension filled the room.
“If you do not want me, that is your decision. But there is no need to turn down my protection until I uncover and eliminate the threat,” he said.
“Fuck, Dmitri. I don’t know what I want.” She shoved her napkin on the table and pushed her chair away. “We were forced into this—whatever this is!” She shoved away from the table and paced into the kitchen. “It’s like I’m your pretend girlfriend or something. We’re playing house and pretending that we can do this, when we can’t. I’m a target, and you’re...you’re you.”
He stayed at the table, wisely giving her space. “It was not pretend for me,” he said, his voice cold.
She turned to him. “I’m sorry. That was ungrateful of me. And I have never thanked you for everything you have done. So let me do it now: thank you. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for fucking up your life for my fucked up life.”
He didn’t say anything. He was motionless, hurt carving a firm line on his mouth. His eyes would not meet hers. He stood slowly, and she felt a little wave of fear.
But he simply walked away, down the long hallway, and into their bedroom. His Bedroom. He slammed the door behind him.
She burst into tears and ran away. She ran down the long hallway into the spare bedroom. She closed the door and buried her face in the pillow on the bed. She cried until her face was swollen and her head was pounding.
Her life had become surreal and strange, but Dmitri had been the only real thing in it, as messed up as he was. She’d never understand how he could be so good to her, but so horrible to others.
She wasn’t stupid. She’d done research on him. Found he’d been suspected of supplying weapons for a bloody civil war in central Africa. Found pictures of the women and children that had been slaughtered with his weapons.
The same man also took care of her.
Kept her alive. Risked his own neck for hers. Made love to her. Gave her a home.
But they were the same man. Tell that to her heart. Tell that to her soul. Tell that to the flicker of happiness in her soul that she thought was gone forever. She burned for him, obsessed over him, felt things for him she’d never felt before. And she didn’t even know why. She just did.
She wiped off her face and stumbled into the bathroom. She used cool water to wash her face and rinse out her mouth.
She was out the door and running down the hallway before she could completely think it through. All she knew for sure was that she needed him, wanted him, cared for him. She ran into his room, where he was laying in bed, asleep, his back to her.
As she approached, he flipped over in the dark. “Sophia?” he said hoarsely. She glanced at his bedside alarm clock. It was two o’clock in the morning. She didn’t realize it had been so late.
She rushed to him, crouching in front of the bed so they were eye level. “I wasn’t pretending either,” she whispered.
He reached out his hand and gently caressed her face. “Get in here.” He pulled back the sheets and gestured for her to climb in.
She did, quickly shedding her clothes down to her panties and bra before she climbed in. As soon as she did, he was on top of her, his lips on hers, their skin contacting from toe to chest.
“Make love to me, Dmitri. I’m yours,” she whispered.
And he did. Gently sliding into her, holding her close, running his hands down her body: her breasts, her stomach, her back. He rolled them over so she was on top. He liked to watch her.
She sighed as they moved together in an even, natural rhythm. She floated on air as his eyes met hers as she rode him gently in the dark, his hand rested on her hips as he guided her movements. It wasn’t frantic or rough. It was perfect. It was different. It was sweet.
It meant something. They meant something.
They came together, clinging to each other in the dark.
Chapter 22
He was gone the next morning, but she’d expected that. She’d gotten up, gone to work, and carried on with her life.