by TJ Hamilton
Tatiana looks to me. I give her a fraction of a smile to tell her she’s okay now. Luka rushes over and Tatiana says something to him and wraps her arms around his neck.
After an hour, Tench runs through the door with Toni behind him. The moment I see him, I spring to my feet and throw my arms around him.
“Thank God you’re alright. I panicked at the thought of losing you,” he says as he grips around me.
I feel safe the moment I’m in his arms. That thought alone has so many levels of fucked up going on inside my head, but I hold onto him just as tightly as he does me. I don’t want to let him go.
“Come on. Let’s get back home,” Tench says, and I nod. “No I mean let’s go home, home. We’re leaving for Australia in two hours.”
I look at him and smile on the outside, but on this inside my head runs through a checklist of the things I need to do before we leave. How am I going to rescue all the girls they’re selling before then?
“What about your business?” I ask Tench.
“I wanted out of this business a long time ago, and this is the exact excuse I need to get out of it now. I’ve cancelled all business from Russia.” He runs his hand through my hair. “Plus, we’ve got the future to think about now. I want to leave all of this for a chance at happiness.”
I stare at him. That’s it? He’s not going to ship those girls? And I’m supposed to believe that?
Tench loosens out of our embrace and turns Luka and puts his arm around him. “I’m sorry I’ve listened to Dima and not to you all along. I see you’re a good kid.” Tench smiles at Tatiana. “And I see that you can have a good future ahead of you. I want you to run everything within Russia for me from now on, but we are revoking all of Dima’s operations. I want nothing to do with that shipment he was sending to Australia. Make sure all the property goes back to where it belongs. If Misha wants it, he can do it himself. Let’s see how far he gets.” He slaps Luka on the shoulder and holds his hand out for me.
“Tatiana, please come and see us in Sydney. I know my future wife would love it.” Tench smiles.
I look to Tatiana and feel my heart sink. This is too soon. She’s leaving my life as quick as she came into it. I don’t want to say goodbye right now. I feel the tears welling in my eyes.
“Don’t cry. You’re going to make me cry,” she splutters.
I hug my friend as tight as I can. I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. What if I want to stay with Tench now that he’s not committing these atrocities toward young girls? What would the agency do to me then? The agency will still arrest him for all the prior crimes. One of which I was a witness to. I just want happiness, is that worth everything I have believed in?
I hold Tatiana out in front of me. “Promise me that you will go and do that last thing we were going to do here together,” I stare at her and hope she understands that I want her to go to the girls at Dima’s and rescue them. “and think of me when you’re there. Then come to see me as soon as you can, Tia.” I kiss her on the cheek and whisper softly into her ear, “Rescue them.”
“I promise, Mia,” she says and squeezes my hand in an unwritten agreement between us.
Our hands slip away from one another as I follow Tench out the door. Tatiana cradles back into Luka and blows a teary kiss to me before she buries onto him and cries.
Her demon is gone and he will never hurt her again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Why did Tatiana call you Mia?” Tench asks in the car ride to the hotel. “And you called her Tia?”
“That’s what they called us in ballet school.”
It’s not a lie, for once.
He grins. “I like it. It suits you.”
Tench leaves the hotel room to pick up some vodka and Beluga caviar to take home with us. I rush over to the Diamond of Love necklace in my room and stick a dot onto the back of my ear.
“Simon ... Liz ... Are you there?” I speak into the diamond.
“Sissy. It’s Simon. It’s all right. We know about Mei-Mei. We’ve heard everything. We’ve got her here in custody and are taking her back to China. Her government doesn’t take too kindly to their own siding with the Russians. We’ll see you in Sydney. I’ll send Charlie around to pick you up.”
I sigh with relief. “Okay. See you in Sydney.”
“See you soon.” He signs off with our signature goodbye to each other.
I breathe in our fresh Australian air the moment I get off the plane. Even with the smell of aviation fuel and rubber on the tarmac of the airport, it still smells like home.
The drive back to Tench’s mansion feels right, too. I look down at my ring as my hand rests on my jeans. I want to have a life with Tench. He’s shown me a side to him that I want to be a part of. And if he’s not involved in hard-core crimes, then why can’t I just choose to be with him?
The guys at the front gate all wave as we pull into Tench’s compound. We’re home, and I feel safe now. When we pull up at the front door, I inhale and exhale loudly.
“Mmmmm … home.” I smile.
Tench grins and leans over to kiss me. “You stole my thoughts.”
“You stole my heart,” I say back and kiss him before I acknowledge what I’ve actually just said. When I say that to Tench now, I mean it. Not like before, when it was part of my role. And it’s scaring the hell out of me.
I’m so torn about everything right now. Tench changed the game when he said he was ceasing all his business in Russia for a chance at happiness with me. This is more than anyone’s ever done for me before, Nick included.
I hold Tench’s hand all the way into the mansion. When we get inside, it finally dawns on me that if I choose to stay with Tench, then I would be losing my brother, my twin. I’d lose a piece of me.
“Let’s go out for dinner tonight, gorgeous. Let’s celebrate being home again.” Tench raises my hand and kisses his ring on my finger.
“Do you think you could get us into the chef’s table at Aria restaurant?”
“Is my name Joe Tench?” He laughs.
He calls out to Toni and asks him to organise everything for us as he holds my hand and pulls me up the stairs like a horny teenager. I follow him up the staircase to his bedroom. No one actually needs to know my true feelings for Tench, do they? As long as my brother believes I’m just here for the agency, I can surely stretch this out until Tench proves that he’s choosing a different path now. This suits me perfectly too. I can just enjoy my life with Tench without judgement from anyone. This is simply business as usual.
We peel the clothes from our bodies and watch each other as every layer strips away. I love watching Tench. His European skin shimmers and makes me just want to run my fingertips all over it. He can’t take the torture of me standing naked in front of him either, and he races over to me and scoops me into his embrace. He lifts me up with ease and I wrap my legs around him and grip onto his waist. Our mouths find each other’s easily and I just want to drink in every ounce of him.
He walks with me around him into the bathroom and pulls the lever on both sides of the shower. The shower space instantly steams up. Tench pushes me against the wall. I tense from the icy-cold marble on my back, and Tench finds the wetness below and slams into me. I moan in pleasure and smile.
“I remember the shower.” I grin.
Tench doesn’t reply. He continues to push himself in and out of me with solid movements. My body reacts with an instant buzz.
“Fuck Joe, I’m gonna …”
I don’t get to finish the sentence when I start to reach the peak in my climax already. Tench stops and drops me to the ground and snatches himself out of me. My body screams for him to come back and finish the job. I pulse all over and rub the wet hair from my face to see him. He spins me around and bends me over in front of him, and drives himself inside me again. My legs buckle but Tench grabs around my stomach just in time and pulls me back into him. I groan in absolute ecstasy. I feel him swell just before he lets out a roar. He pul
ls me harshly back into him and empties himself inside me. I love this feeling … because I love Tench.
A beautiful red Ferrari is parked and waiting out the front of the mansion for us to go to dinner in. It’s magnificent. I haven’t seen this car before.
“Ah, thanks, Toni. I haven’t driven this baby yet.” Tench smiles.
“She’s a beauty. Is it new?”
Tench nods. “She arrived in just before we left for Russia. It’s the latest model F-twelve Berlinetta. She has a six thousand, two hundred and sixty-two cc V-twelve engine with direct injection, seven hundred and twenty-nine horsepower, and can go zero to a hundred in three point one seconds.” Tench beams with pride. “Did you want to drive it, gorgeous?” He waves his hand out.
I shake my head and chuckle. “Thanks, but you drive it. It’s your baby.”
Little does he know, I only just started driving again. When Nick gave me his car. A ball of guilt sits in my throat.
Toni opens the passenger door for me and I sink down into the seat. The interior is handsome in a light-tan leather. It smells amazing. The seat sits snuggly around me and Tench gets in and the engine kicks in with the press of a button. I smile. I’m beginning to see why Tench loves sports cars so much. We throttle down the driveway and weave around the streets towards the city centre.
Tench pulls up at the front of Aria restaurant in front of the Opera House. He gets out and walks around to open my door. I take his hand and step out, looking up the street to see Nick’s apartment building right next door to where we are. I take a breath. If Nick didn’t die, this would’ve been an easier decision to make. I had my life set. I was getting Tench put away for everything he’d done, and I was going to live my life with Nick somewhere away from here, this country, where no one can find us. It was a simple equation.
Now, everything’s messed up. I’m in love with the guy I’m supposed to be targeting, and I don’t know how to get out of this.
A flash of light and the sound of shutters startle me and my concerns quickly drift off. Tench holds his hand out towards the photographer who is trying to get the shot of us together. The restaurant must’ve tipped him off. Are we really that interesting that paparazzi want to get photos of us all the time?
Tench grabs my hand and leads me into Aria. The lone paparazzo continues to snap away until we’re through the doors. We walk upstairs and are greeted by the hostess at the reception. The smells wafting out of the restaurant are already making my stomach dance with excitement. A box of jingling glassware comes towards us in the arms of a very short person. A head pops around the box. “’Scuse me.” I hear a familiar voice.
“Charlie?”
The jingling stops and Charlie shoves the box on the countertop and leaps at me.
“Oh my God, you’re home! Holy shit I’ve missed you.” He holds onto me.
I squeeze him so tight. He’s one person who I know will be excited for me. Charlie never judges me, no matter what.
I see Tench smiling from over Charlie’s shoulder and I smile back to him. “Charlie, I have some news.” I hold him out and grin.
He immediately picks up my left hand and stares at the enormous black diamond on my finger.
“I knew it! You two,” he squeals and hugs Tench.
Tench chuckles and hugs him back, and smiles over at me. “Thanks, Charlie. I couldn’t have done it without your help.” He smiles.
“Pardon?” I frown.
Charlie shrugs and rolls his eyes. “Well, who else would help him pick out the perfect ring for you?”
I stare at Tench with surprise once again. This all feels so right.
“Why don’t you join us for dinner, Charlie? We’re just here at the chef’s table.” Tench points to the door next to the reception desk.
“Oh no, I don’t want to intrude. Thanks anyway, Joe.” He smiles.
“Charlie, you’re not saying no! I haven’t seen you for almost two weeks. I want to tell you all about our trip.” I smile. “Plus, you might as well help us with setting a date, seeing as you will be my wedding co-ordinator.” I wink.
“Okay, twist my arm, then,” he says. “Let me grab my stuff downstairs so I can make notes. This is going to be huge.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I wake up with Tench draped around me. This has become a habit that I don’t want to break.
Tench seems the most relaxed that I’ve ever seen him. This is right. Our wedding plans last night with Charlie just cemented my feelings for Tench. Tench wants our wedding in November, on his late mother’s birthday. I thought that was a touching idea, and it gives me six solid months to plan everything. Tench wants it here, at the mansion.
Tench’s arm twists around me and I smile to myself. He has six months to prove to my brother that he’s out of any criminal dealings now. My brother needs to pay me the respect of happiness that I deserve.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” Tench whispers from behind me.
I roll over and meet his gaze. Between the sheets, our naked bodies instantly react to one another and I’m soon on top of Tench, riding in the exact definition of a good morning.
I meet Tench down in the kitchen for breakfast after I have a shower. Mrs Oktar beams the biggest smile as I walk in.
“Oh, darling girl. Come here. Let me see this ring.” She rushes round to me.
I hold my hand out to her and she studies it for a moment. She frowns and looks up at me and across to Tench. “It is very beautiful, but why a black diamond? In my country, black signifies mourning. You’re not in mourning; you should be at the happiest time in your life.” She laughs.
“This has special meaning to us.” Tench tries to pacify her unmentioned disapproval.
I nod to agree with Tench.
“Come and have some breakfast, Miranda. I’ve prepared you all your favourites this morning.”
The marble island is set up beautifully. All the finest silverware has been laid out with crisp white napkins and crystal champagne flutes for us. An enormous platter of fruit is spread out in front of the settings with pastries and pancakes. Mrs Oktar has outdone herself today.
Still, my mind won’t allow me to relax and relish in this breakfast feast, there’s one thing I need to do today that has been playing on my mind for a while.
“Joe. There is someone special that you need to meet,” I say as I pick out pieces of fruit and a croissant.
“Yes?” Joe answers.
“My cat, Flossy. I want to go back to my place and bring her here, if that’s okay with you?”
Tench frowns. “Unfortunately I’ve never been too much of a cat person.”
I feel my anger rising. This is not what I wanted to hear.
“But I would love for your cat to come here.” He forces a smile out.
Leaving Tench to tend to business, as he always puts it, I get into the elevator at my apartment building and swipe the card to unlock access to my floor. Tench admitting to me that he doesn’t like cats has thrown me, and I can’t seem to shake it. I step out onto the foyer of my floor and race for my apartment. I push the door open and find Simon and Liz stroking Flossy on the couch. I look at my old cat in Simon’s arms and see she’s suddenly aged.
“Flossy?” I call her and scoop my little friend up and nuzzle into her fur. “I have been the worst pet owner.” I plead for forgiveness.
Simon gets up and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Mia. I have some bad news,” he says gently.
“What? What’s wrong?” I can see he’s visibly upset. His face looks pale and his eyes don’t have their usual spark. “What’s happened, Simon?”
I reach out and he hugs me tight.
“It’s Mum.” I hear him sniff.
He doesn’t need to say anymore. I know already that my mum is dead.
It’s strange; even with Simon as upset as he is, I don’t shed a single tear. To me, my mum died years ago. But Simon was a lot closer with her than I was. I just found it too hard to forgive her when she blew everyth
ing our father worked hard for on booze, and through her selfishness, I eventually went into a downwards spiral that ended in prostitution.
My brother never knew a lot of the things I later learnt about my mother. My father found her in bed with someone, and this stranger wasn’t her only affair. She ruined marriages and had affairs with her friend’s husbands, who all kept her drinking habit afloat with their money.
Simon finally speaks. “It was horrible, Mi. We had to go to her place to ID her body. I can’t believe the way she lived. If I had known she was living like that all this time, I would’ve done something about it! The complex she lived in stank of stale piss and was full of drug dealers and junkies. It was putrid.” He clenches his fists in frustration. “Her tiny dump of a place with filthy. There were cockroaches all over her mattress on the floor, and it stank. There were dishes piled up in a kitchen that looked like it hadn’t been used for years.
“She messed herself just before she died. Her boyfriend, who was some toothless junkie, said she kept getting up to go to the toilet all night until he found her dead, in a pile of her own shit. Mia, our beautiful mum! We abandoned her.”
“No Simon. She abandoned us. We did everything we could to help her. I have sent her money, I know you sent her money, and we both know how much of Dad’s money she went through. She had a problem, Simon. She always did. Money only made things worse for her. I’m sorry, Brother, but she died a long time ago.”
I gather Flossy’s things and start putting them in her basket to take back to Tench’s.
“Before you go, Mia, there’s some new intel in on Tench. We intercepted a conversation between Toni and Miss Stephanie. That shipment of girls left Russia the day before we did.”
“But Tench told me he had abandoned all further dealings in Russia?” I’m confused.