Love in Montana

by Lexi Buchanan

  “Daily.”

  “Yuri!” Talya huffed. “How come you have only now decided to say something?”

  “That might have something to do with the fact that you have been avoiding me.” He pointedly glared at Talya. “But you are here now.”

  “I’m here now with Sylvia.” Talya pointed out, unable to disguise the animosity in her voice. She was good and pissed with the big Russian.

  “I can see that, moia liubov.”

  Sylvia hid her smile as her friend’s gaze softened with the words of love from Yuri. He knew what he was doing with Talya, and he knew how to pull her strings. She knew that her friend would be pissed later when she realized that she allowed herself to be softened up, but Sylvia loved to watch the two of them together.

  Sylvia could actually stand and listen to Yuri speak Russian all day. She’d gotten used to hearing him say, moia liubov, my love, to Talya, so that one was easy to pick out. He could be saying something really horrid, but the way he said it in his native tongue was sexy. She had no romantic thoughts about him, but the Russian language worked on her, big time.

  The two of them had also distracted her with Yuri’s comment about Eric. Had he really checked up on her? He probably had because there was no way Yuri would lie about something like that. Other stuff maybe, and she sure as hell wasn’t going there.

  But while Talya and Yuri played eye hockey, Sylvia decided it would be best if she collected the rest of her things from her locker. There wasn’t much inside, but she remembered the silly photographs she had pinned to the inside of her door. They had been taken at a fun fair with Talya. Nothing special to anyone else, but to her, they were.

  “Is it safe to go back there? I want to grab some photographs from my locker.”

  “I am sure it is safe, but to be safer, Gavriil will go with you.” He turned and called the big Russian fighter over to her, and after a few words, he indicated he was ready to go.

  “Thank you. I’ll be quick.” Sylvia let Gavriil lead her through the crowd, his large body pushed everyone back and they arrived at the dressing room in no time at all.

  Gavriil put his head inside before he deemed the room clear.

  Sylvia closed the door on him with her heart pounding in her throat. Their actions told her that the culprit hadn’t been found.

  Her nerves crackled out and made her dash to her locker. She made quick work of opening the door where she snatched the photographs, and shoved them into her purse.

  As she fastened her purse, there was a thud at the door before it opened. Her eyes widened, and her purse fell from her fingers in fear when she saw Robert, the stagehand, walk through with a sneer. Behind him, she saw Gavriil on the ground.

  Her hand covered the gasp, which left her lips at the sight and the realization that it really had been a member of the staff who’d gone after her. Because he stood before her knowing that he’d won. At least he had then, but she wouldn’t go with him without a fight. If he took her out of there, she would have to be carried, which would hopefully call attention to them.

  He took a step toward her.

  She took a step back.

  “So, you had no idea it was me?” He smiled. “I couldn’t believe Yuri didn’t find out it was me. He knows everything that goes on here, except my secret desire for you. I hid it well. But I’ve waited long enough.” He took a step forward, his eyes darting around in agitation.

  Sylvia’s heart rate wouldn’t slow down. Her palms felt damp, and fear trickled down her back and between her boobs. She knew it was fear, and she hated herself for not being stronger and sticking up for herself. But the fear was real and it kept her quiet.

  “Gavriil wasn’t going to keep me from you, but we do need to leave quickly before the shock I gave him wears off.” He stepped closer. “Are you going to come quietly or do I have to carry you?”

  She found a bit of courage from somewhere, or was it survival instinct? “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Her breathing was choppy, and it grew choppier the closer he got.

  He’d always given her the creeps but knowing what he wanted to do to her, she was scared out of her mind. She’d told herself if she ever came face-to-face with the bastard responsible for the notes that she’d give him a piece of her mind. Faced with him though, she could hardly string a sentence together.

  “I guess I’m going to have to Taser you as well because we don’t want others to know you’re leaving.”

  She pressed against her locker, cowering as she sank to the floor as he stood over her. She tried to breathe through her fear, and just when he was about to hit her with the Taser, she found strength and the ability to move from somewhere. She sprung forward and knocked him back. He stumbled but managed to right himself, which was when she saw he now had a gun in his hand.

  A roar from behind the closed door drew their attention seconds before it splintered. Gavriil stepped inside and he was angry. He’d lost the jacket, which showed his muscular build. He wasn’t known as Scorpion for nothing.

  The veins popped on his neck as his muscles flexed. He wanted blood and she didn’t think anything or anyone would be able to stop him.

  For the first time, Robert looked fearful, and as he raised the gun and pointed it at Gavriil, he pulled the trigger.

  Sylvia screamed as she saw blood start to ooze from the wound in Gavriil’s arm. She didn’t think and grabbed a boot from her locker and launched herself toward Robert without a thought of her own safety. The pointed heel stabbed into Robert over and over again as she screamed. Another shot fired seconds before Gavriil grabbed his wrist and bones crunched. The gun fell to the floor, and Robert became the one that was screaming. Gavriil closed his huge fist and punched him in the face with such force that it sent Robert into the wall where his head bounced. He dropped to the floor like a bag of potatoes.

  But that’s when Sylvia started to feel lightheaded, and the ache in her stomach, which had been a constant from her nerves, blossomed into an intense pain. It felt like a ball of fire had ripped her insides out. She looked down and saw her dress was soaked in blood.

  Gavriil cursed in Russian and yelled something she couldn’t comprehend before his arms were around her and he laid her down on the floor.

  He talked, but she couldn’t hear. She was so tired. She’d hardly slept for a week.

  Her eyes drifted open and she saw Talya hovering over her, and Yuri was there as well. All talking, but it was like they were on mute. She thought she saw Talya say Eric. Why would she mention Eric?

  “No, Eric. Please,” she mumbled, but had no clue why she said that when she missed him like crazy.

  Her tears started to fall.

  Yuri pulled Talya into his arms and Sylvia felt like she floated on water.

  It never occurred to her that she had been shot.

  Chapter Thirty

  Eric still had no clue as to what to do about his two siblings, Emelia and Dante. If Emelia was to be believed, then it changed everything, but it would shock the others who believed they were all related through blood just like he had always believed.

  He wanted to grab hold of Dante and make him listen to what Emelia overheard, to put his brother out of his misery. But would it? Dante was married to the church so even if he knew the truth, there wasn’t anything he could do. He doubted Dante would ever leave the church with how religious he grew up, or the fact that he’s dedicated his life to God.

  It was just a fucking mess!

  Regardless of what they decided to do, Eric had his own woman trouble. Through his shock, he sent the woman he loved running and that had given him sleepless nights. But, very soon, she would discover how much he loved her and wanted her back. He had to be patient while his plan came together.

  He’d been lucky when Yuri agreed to keep him in the loop about Sylvia, although he suspected he was driving the Russian crazy with his daily calls. Ramon and Sebastian had come through for him as well with a project that sure as hell was rushed. He wanted to get e
verything finished for when he headed back to Lexington to claim his woman. It killed him staying in Montana, knowing that there were bad words between them, thanks to him. He just knew that if he headed back before his surprise for Sylvia was ready, he wouldn’t be able to stay away from her.

  “You in the clouds,” Diego said, disturbing his peace.

  “What if I am?” Eric grouched, not in the mood to deal with his youngest brother. Or was he? He shook his head. Diego would still be his brother even if what Emelia overheard was the truth.

  “You still have woman trouble?” Diego dropped onto the sofa and shoved his feet on the coffee table, holes in his socks and all.

  Eric chuckled, and let his foul mood leave him. It wasn’t Diego’s fault he was suffering. He had no one to blame but himself. “I’ll get her back.”

  Because anything else wasn’t an option.

  “Confidence is all you need, bro.” Diego relaxed back into the sofa, and stared at the ceiling. “I’m full of it—”

  “Full of shit, more like,” Kasey finished the sentence for Diego with a smirk on his face. He sat at the far end of the same sofa as Diego.

  Eric loved his brothers, and missed not seeing them on a more regular basis. They were spread throughout the states, but he loved how they all called Montana home.

  “What’s Aiden up to? I thought you were both going riding.” Eric queried.

  “I’m not sure what’s up with him. He isn’t talking.” Kasey laughed. “I mean, we don’t talk like girls but I’ll be damned if I know what’s gotten into him. We walked over to the stables intending on saddling a couple of horses, and this new vet showed up to look at one of the boarded ones. One minute he was talking to me, the next he’d gone over to Dad and stood there listening to whatever the fuck she was saying.” He shook his head. “Even Dad looked surprised.”

  “What did the vet look like? Dad mentioned there was a new one in town,” Diego asked. “Perhaps I need to head over there to check out this babe.”

  “She’s plain with braces,” Kasey replied, his face void of humor.

  “Seriously?” Diego narrowed his eyes at his sibling. “You sure about that?”

  “Hmm.” Kasey rested an ankle on his knee before he offered a huge grin to Diego. “That might have been a small lie,” he volunteered. “She’s pretty and has auburn colored hair. If she didn’t wear a band to keep the hair off her face, it would curl down her back.” He grinned. “She’s cute in a country kinda way. So not Aiden’s usual type.” He frowned.

  “I think I need to meet the new vet,” Diego announced. Getting to his feet, he hesitated when the front door opened and their father entered, followed by Aiden and a woman.

  “Boys,” Dad bellowed, startling them. They were in the same room so why their dad had to shout was anyone’s guess. “Come and meet the new vet.”

  Eric looked at Aiden as he mumbled, “I have something to do. Excuse me.” He disappeared into the kitchen. Was more going on with him or had the vet ignored any advances he’d made?

  “This is Sarah O’Donnell. She’s taken over for Old George. These are my sons, Eric, Diego and Kasey.”

  They exchanged greetings with the good vet, but he caught a glimpse of a wedding band on her left hand. His brothers would be disappointed.

  An uncomfortable silence followed, so Eric asked, “O’Donnell? Is that an Irish name?”

  She smiled. “Yes, it is. My father is Irish and my mother American. I was born and raised in Wyoming.”

  “Ah, so we’ve been practically neighbors,” Kasey added with a smile.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” She smiled, and Kasey had to nudge their brother, Diego, who nearly had his tongue hanging out.

  She was a looker, all right, but married.

  “We’ll let you carry on while we go and discuss business,” their dad said, as he led Sarah toward his office.

  “Will you grow up?” Eric scowled at his brother.

  “What’d I do?” Diego complained.

  “You’re tongue was hanging out, bro,” Kasey pointed out.

  They dropped back into their seats.

  “Did you see her skin? So white, and those freckles,” Diego drooled

  “Stay the fuck away from her Diego. She’s married in case you hadn’t noticed.” Aiden left them speechless with his sharp words as he walked through and straight out the front door.

  “As though I’m going to go after her.” Diego ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck, she’s married. I don’t fuck married chicks. Ever.”

  Eric winced with his brother’s choice of words. He only hoped that Diego’s voice didn’t carry through to his father’s office, or the kitchen. He’d have Lucia on his case if it did, not to mention it would embarrass the young vet.

  “So,” Kasey started, “Fuck and chicks reminds me of yours,” he said looking at Eric.

  His brother was trying to piss him off and was going about it the correct way. Sylvia was no chick, she was the woman he loved and his brother would do well to remember that fact. He decided to ignore Kasey before he took his anger out on him. It wouldn’t take much with him dissing Sylvia.

  “Okay. You don’t have to say any shit. I’m sorry.” Kasey stood. “I’m going to find my hockey skates, and then the lake.”

  “You need to loosen up and go tell her what you feel before someone else snaps her up. She’s a gorgeous woman.” Diego interrupted as he turned the TV on and started watching a Fast and Furious movie.

  He did need to chill, but when everything was up in the air with Sylvia, he couldn’t. He just wanted his woman in his arms.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Over the past two weeks since he’d screwed up with Sylvia, Eric was finally back in Lexington. He’d always intended to come back for the woman he loved, but he’d had plans to make first. Plans that he hoped would tell Sylvia just how much she meant to him.

  He had a secret project underway, as well as a McKenzie construction crew on loan. With Yuri’s help in the beginning, he’d managed to locate and purchase the house in the country that Sylvia had set her heart on. It was surprising how quickly a sale could be final when you had the money to make a cash purchase, especially when that cash purchase was an extra ten percent on top of the listing price.

  The last photographs he’d been sent of the renovation work had arrived late last night. Not long after he’d received a call from Ramon telling him to get his ass back to Lexington because Sylvia needed him.

  His heart had been in his throat ever since, and more so because he couldn’t reach Sylvia, Talya or Yuri. He knew that Sylvia and Talya would ignore his calls, even though he had hoped otherwise. But Yuri? The first week that Sylvia had been back in Lexington, Yuri had been his only way to check up on her and the big Russian, although disgruntled and pissed, had been good enough to keep him up to date. Yuri would collect on that favor no doubt.

  So as he pulled up outside the apartment Talya and Sylvia shared, his heart was about to beat out of his chest with apprehension at what he might find. Probably why he dragged his feet up to their apartment.

  He didn’t need to knock because Talya came barreling out, and nearly knocked him on his ass.

  “Oh, it’s you,” she commented dryly, shoving out of his steadying hold. “What are you doing here?”

  “What’s wrong with Sylvia?”

  Her eyes shifted and she tried to pass him without looking at him. He reached out and stopped her.

  “Talya, please. Ramon told me that I needed to get back because Sylvia needed me. What did he mean by that?”

  “You made your choice with your words and by staying away. So I’m not answering.” She really was refusing to look at him so he stepped in front of her.

  “I love her.” He shoved his hands through his hair in frustration. “I love her, Talya. I didn’t come back straightaway because I needed her to miss me like I did her. I needed her to want to see me again when I did come to see her.” He started to pace. “But then I rea
lized I needed to use actions as well as words, and with Yuri’s help, I’ve done that. Please don’t ask me to tell you what I’ve done because I don’t want word getting back to Sylvia. Just know that I’ve done it because I want her permanently in my life because she’s everything to me.”

  “You screwed up,” she finally met his gaze.

  “I did. I had a huge shock and I didn’t think. Please, Talya,” he begged, “I really love her.”

  Talya had sympathy written all over her face. “Then you’re not going to like what I have to tell you.” She looked up at the ceiling as though she was praying. “She’s going to kill me for telling you, but you need to know that at first we all thought she didn’t want you called because of what you said in Montana. It turned out she didn’t want you called because she didn’t want you to worry about her. You see, Yuri let it slip that you’d checked up on her daily, which told her you still cared and I guess, gave her hope.”

  “Talya, I’m hearing you but I’m getting frustrated with you not telling me where she is.”

  “She’s in the hospital, and has been for about a week.”

  His heart missed a beat in his chest as fear clutched his heart.

  Hospital?

  “Hey, big guy,” Talya gripped his arm, “don’t pass out on me because I’ll have to let you fall. You know that, right?”

  He nodded.

  “Look, it all came to a head the other week in Poles, and she got shot.” She rushed on, “She’s hopefully able to come home in a couple of days. She’s doing well, Eric. Really well. But she misses you terribly. She still won’t let us call you.”

  “I need some fresh air.” He darted back downstairs and out through the door, only to drop onto the top step.

  The woman he loved had gotten shot and he’d had no idea. How could he have not known? Why does she always have to think about others before herself? If she had thought about herself then surely he would have been called. Wouldn’t he?

  He felt Talya sit beside him, and her arm went around his shoulders. “She loves you. You know that, right?”