‘What would you like to drink?’ she croaked. ‘I can offer tea, coffee, beer or wine. I don’t have anything stronger.’ The men used to drink whisky or vodka with Tony, sitting in the room he used as his study, planning and plotting their moves while she ferried snacks, drinks and ice and made sure she had hot food ready if they suddenly wanted to eat.
‘Wine. Thank you.’ Lucas nodded to Branko and he followed her to the kitchen and watched while she found glasses and opened the cupboard where her small collection of wine was stored.
‘White or red?’ she asked tersely.
‘Red.’
She handed Branko a bottle of Merlot, poured mixed nuts into a bowl and strode with glasses and snacks ahead of him to where Lucas sat waiting. Just like the old days. Serving Tony’s mates, except this was her house and these weren’t her mates. If she gave this slug a toehold in her life she’d never get rid of him. Perhaps it was already too late.
Branko opened the wine and poured for himself and Lucas. She’d brought two glasses.
‘None for you?’ he asked.
She shook her head. ‘I was getting ready for bed.’
‘It’s only nine thirty, Maja. The night is young. Get her a glass,’ he said to Branko. The blank eyes swivelled her way.
‘What do you want, Lucas?’
‘Sit down.’ It was an order.
She stayed where she was. ‘What do you want? This is my house and you have no hold over me. You never did.’ It sounded braver than she was, but she’d changed more than her name and he needed to realise.
‘Now, now, now. Calm down. What are you going to do, Maja? Throw me out?’ That unnerving high-pitched giggle made her grind her teeth.
Branko returned with another glass. He smiled when he saw Lucas laughing. Slimy worm. Tony barely gave him the time of day, now he thought he was moving up in the world.
Branko handed her a full glass of red. She walked across and set it on the bookshelf.
Lucas raised his glass. ‘Here’s to old friends and the ones we’ve lost.’
‘To old friends,’ said Branko.
‘Drink, Maja,’ said Lucas. ‘The least you can do is toast your husband. The father of your son,’ he added.
Lara picked up the glass. ‘To friends,’ she said and took a tiny sip.
‘How is your boy?’
‘He’s fine.’ The wine soured in her mouth.
‘Can we see him? Does he look like his father? Or does he look like someone else?’
An eyebrow lifted. Lara glared at him.
‘You wouldn’t dare say that if Tony was here,’ she hissed.
‘Unfortunately for you, he’s not,’ said Branko. He smirked and swallowed half his wine in one gulp.
‘I think she feels she’s fortunate that he’s not,’ said Lucas. ‘Don’t you, Maja?’
‘He bashed me,’ she said. ‘He was a bully, but I didn’t want him dead. Did you?’
He held her eyes for a moment. ‘I think we’re all better off without Tony.’
‘I bet.’
‘Can we see your boy?’
‘He’s asleep.’
‘We’ll be very quiet.’ Lucas was suddenly on his feet with Branko beside him. ‘Show us his room.’
‘I’d rather not disturb him.’ Her voice faltered.
‘We won’t disturb him. Not unless you do something silly.’
Two pairs of eyes bored into her. She moistened her lips, turned silently and led them across the hall to Petey’s room. The door was ajar and she pushed it open with a trembling hand then moved to stand guard beside the bed. If either of them so much as breathed on him she’d fight them. Her fingers curled and uncurled by her sides, her jaw clamped so tight it ached, air rasped through her lungs, loud in the quiet dimness of the room.
A shaft of light from the hall shone a path to the bed. Lucas walked across and stared down at her sleeping baby. Her treasure, her life.
‘Looks like you,’ he said softly. ‘Dark hair.’
‘Tony was dark too,’ she said.
Lucas glanced around the room then back at Petey. ‘Nice kid.’
He moved to the door and Lara followed on weak legs, heart thudding. She pulled the door shut softly and exhaled the breath she’d inadvertently been holding, head swimming with relief.
Lucas resumed his place on the couch and poured more wine. ‘Did you think I’d harm your boy, Maja? I’m not a monster.’ Again the blank eyes stared at her, assessing. ‘I like children. Your boy needs a father.’
‘He’s fine with me.’
‘I’m sure he is but a boy needs a father. So he doesn’t grow up soft.’
What was he hinting? She glanced at Branko, lounging against the wall by the door. He’d made no secret of his attraction to her. Did Lucas want her to accept, or even marry, Branko? Why on earth would they dream that up?
‘He’ll be fine,’ she repeated.
‘I think you need a new husband to care for your son and protect you. Your policeman boyfriend will never marry you, not in a million years, not with your background. He’ll take what he wants and disappear just like the other one did. You should stay with your own kind, Maja.’
‘My own kind? And who would that be? Branko?’ She spat the name out like poison. In her peripheral vision he jerked straight. She steeled herself for a blow that didn’t come.
‘No, not Branko. He’s had his chance. Me. You should marry me.’
‘You?’ She nearly laughed it was such a preposterous, outrageous suggestion, but the look on his face froze any amusement into solid chunks of ice which lodged in her belly.
‘I can look after you very well.’
‘But I don’t need looking after!’ Marry Lucas? She’d known him for the couple of years of her marriage but he’d never shown any interest in her. In fact, he’d ignored her most of the time which suited her just fine. Wasn’t there a girlfriend? They’d been together for several years. ‘What happened to Irene?’
‘I moved on and so should you. You have a number of lucrative assets that need proper administration but you don’t have the education or the ability to take care of your finances.’
So that’s what he was after.
‘You don’t want to marry me, you want my money.’
‘Tony’s money.’
‘What on earth makes you think I’d hand anything over to you, let alone marry you? It’s insane.’
‘I’m sorry you feel like that.’
‘All the accounts were in my name. The properties were sold to buy this place and I’ve had good financial advice. Thank you for the offer but there’s nothing here for you.’ And what made him think he was a financial genius? Because he was a man?
‘What about the other account though, Maja? You’re forgetting that one, the offshore one. Did your advisor know about that? Does that feature in your tax returns? Where did that money come from?’
‘There is no offshore account.’ How did he know? She nearly screamed it at him. No-one knew about that except Tony. And Ivan. And Lucas?
‘You know as well as I do there is. Tony had more than one. He wasn’t big on paying tax. Now what I’m thinking is I have more right to that money than you ever did. I helped him earn it.’ His voice took on an edge she recognised. Harsh, greedy, ruthless. ‘You were a worthless piece of trash and without Tony you’re less than nothing.’
‘In that case why do you want to marry me?’ She kept her voice level, curious; no telling how violent Lucas would become, but she doubted Branko would hit her.
‘As my wife what’s yours is mine.’
‘What do you think I have?’ she asked, genuinely curious. ‘I had two bank accounts and three properties, which I sold. Most of that sale money went on this place.’ There was the offshore account for Petey’s future but Lucas said Tony had more than one. If he did she didn’t know about them.
‘Maja, don’t play dumber than you are.’
‘I can’t tell you anything.’ Deny it, deny it, deny i
t. He’s fishing, he knows nothing.
‘Can’t or won’t?’
‘Can’t because I don’t know anything about offshore accounts.’
‘Maja, you don’t understand — think of your son.’ That honed steel edge cut through the air between them and disabled her. She couldn’t speak. Her mouth moved but no sounds emerged. Thoughts fell through her mind like snowflakes, floating out of reach and dissolving before she could grasp one.
The phone started ringing. She’d left it in the kitchen. Nick!
‘Let it ring.’
‘It’ll wake Petey.’
‘I don’t think so.’ Lucas drew in a deep breath and exhaled. His tone changed, back to the earlier one. ‘I’m offering you a deal, Maja. You can marry me in which case I protect you and handle your affairs for you and make sure the offshore account is maintained for your boy’s future — because Tony set it up for him, didn’t he? And he had to give you access as well in case something happened to him. He didn’t do that for your benefit, he did it for his son. The way you’re going now you’ll lose the lot.’
Lara’s mouth opened and closed but still no words. She swallowed.
‘Do you really think that cop will sit back and let his girlfriend operate a bank account full of the proceeds of crime? How long can you keep that secret?’
‘And if I don’t marry you?’ she blurted. It was impossible, a nightmare.
‘Accidents do happen, I’m afraid. You should know that. Your father died most unexpectedly and they never found the culprit. Pathetic really, the police. They hardly bother investigating when it’s people like us.’ He shook his head.
‘You wouldn’t hurt Petey, you said so.’
‘Not personally no, but I can’t prevent accidents and I can’t answer for every person out there. And you could have an accident. What would happen to your boy then? Marry me, give me what I want and he’ll be well cared for.’
She pressed her palms to her cheeks, shaking her head. ‘You’re mad,’ she whispered. ‘Crazy. I wouldn’t marry you in a million years.’
Lucas nodded to Branko and he slipped from the room.
‘No!’ Lara shrieked and took a step but Lucas was off the couch, his bulky body blocking her and his fat fingers claw-like on her arm. A heavy cologne punched into her nose. The same as Tony’s. She shuddered as memories slammed home. Violent, painful memories.
A moment later Branko reappeared with Petey in his arms, the curly head lolling in sleep against his shoulder.
‘Put him down,’ she hissed.
‘That’s entirely up to you,’ said Lucas, his mouth menacingly close to her face. ‘All you have to do is say yes.’ The smell of Tony swirled around her.
‘All right, yes, I’ll do anything. Okay, yes, marry, yes.’ Words bubbled out in an incoherent tangle. ‘Put him back in bed, Branko, please. Please.’ Tears spilled down her cheeks. ‘Please,’ she whispered.
Petey stirred but Branko patted his back and murmured, ‘Ssshhh.’
‘Well that’s nice but I don’t think you really mean it. Never mind. Petey can come with me until we’re married, just to make sure.’ Lucas turned to Branko. ‘Put him in the car.’
‘You can’t,’ she screamed as Branko left.
Petey’s voice rose in a wail from outside then the door closed and the sound faded. She tugged frantically to free her arm but Lucas twisted her wrist, locking her elbow so she couldn’t move. She gasped as a shaft of pain shot up into her shoulder, her knees buckled to relieve the pressure.
‘I have, my dear.’
‘But he’ll be terrified without me. He’ll panic. You can’t look after him, he’s still a baby.’
‘He’ll learn to toughen up.’
At her shriek of despair he said calmly, ‘I’ll take good care of him. Don’t worry. I have someone waiting in the car. Branko’s friend, Donna.’
‘You came prepared to steal my baby?’ What sort of woman would go along with a kidnapping?
‘I knew you’d need an incentive to agree to my proposition.’ A car horn tooted. Lucas gave her wrist an extra little twist to bring her to a crouch. ‘Don’t tell anyone about this, Maja. Especially not your boyfriend. Remember, accidents happen.’
He released her arm and she sagged to the floor.
‘It’ll take a month before we can marry,’ she whimpered. ‘You can’t keep him from me for a month.’
‘You can move in with me anytime but for now perhaps you should pack a bag for him. Some clothes, toys? I don’t know.’
Lara scrambled to her feet and ran for the front door but Lucas snaked out an arm and grabbed her again.
‘Right then. No bag. I’ll be in touch.’
‘I’ll give you the account number and password. Anything. Just bring him back,’ she screamed.
‘You can certainly do that Maja, but I like the idea of marrying you now I’ve seen you again. Very sexy. I’d like a bit of what Tony had. He never appreciated you properly.’
He drew her close and pressed his mouth on hers, forcing her lips apart with his tongue for a sickening moment then shoved her back into the living room where she collided with a chair. By the time she’d regained her balance the front door had slammed and by the time she wrenched the door open, the car was racing away down the street, a pale blur.
Lara leapt down the steps and sprinted across the lawn, one thought in her head. Her baby. Petey. Save Petey. The tail-lights were still in view a block away. She pounded down the middle of the road, panting and sobbing. A car passed her going the other way but she ignored the honk from the driver and kept on running, eyes fixed on the faint red lights disappearing up ahead. A car pulled across from the right, blocking her sight then a van roared past her from behind, horn blowing furiously. She veered to the side onto the footpath but kept running. Caught a glimpse way up ahead of a white square backed car and forced herself to go faster. It stopped at the T-junction. A car pulled in behind them then another. The traffic moved and they were all gone. Turned the corner. Gone. Petey was gone.
Lara stopped, breath coming in heaving gasps, staring in vain at the traffic crossing the junction a block and a half ahead. Had they turned left or right? She raised shaking hands to wipe her face, grimacing as bile rose in her throat at the memory of those thin cruel lips on hers. A wail of despair rose from the depths of her soul and she sagged, trembling against the fence next to the path.
Chapter 20
Ivan strode along the dimly lit corridor with a tiny smile of welcome.
‘Anything wrong, Nick?’
Nick pulled him away from Paula’s desk and said in a low voice, ‘I just called Lara and she didn’t answer.’
‘So?’
‘She was expecting me to call and tell her what happened here.’
‘It’s late, she’s asleep.’
Nick shook his head. ‘No, she said ring regardless of the time. She wanted to know how we got on. It’s important to her.’
The smile left Ivan’s mouth. ‘What are you saying?’
‘I’m worried about this Lucas character. I think we should go over there. Together.’
‘You want my protection?’
‘No. I want you there if it turns out this guy has paid her a visit. She’ll talk to you.’
Ivan turned. ‘Paula, I have to go out. I’m not sure how long I’ll be. Tell Mark to take over.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Do you have your car?’ He was already halfway down the steps to the street.
‘No. Taxi.’
‘We’ll take mine,’ Ivan said. ‘It’s a five minute walk.’
Nick hurried beside him, panting after half a block. Both brother and sister could move at a cracking pace when they chose.
‘Five minutes at a jog,’ he muttered.
‘You should do some exercise.’
‘That’s what Lara said.’
But Ivan was right. His apartment block was very close with parking underneath. Minutes later Nick belted up beside
Ivan, who was behind the wheel of a late model BMW sports model.
‘Nice car.’
‘Yep.’ He flung Nick a glance. ‘All legal and paid for.’
‘I have no doubt.’
Ivan drove with confident precision. He didn’t speed but he cut a very fine line. Nick didn’t care, the faster they arrived at Lara’s the better. And if she was perfectly safe and laughed at him for his panic, too bad. He’d rather that than something else.
‘Tell me what Lucas might be after.’
Ivan braked for a red light. ‘Lara owned a bit of property and cash when Tony died.’
‘Yes, I know. Do you think he might be after that?’
‘It’s possible. I’ve no idea how much she has but it would have to be a substantial amount for him to bother.’
‘Could it be something else?’
‘Like what?’
‘Her?’
He’d tossed it in without seriously considering it might be true but Ivan hesitated before he said, ‘I know Branko always had the hots for her. Our father sent him packing when she was about sixteen because he had a bigger goal in mind for her.’
‘My God. What did she think of Branko?’
‘Couldn’t stand him, still can’t.’
Nick nodded. Exactly what he thought but nice to have it confirmed. ‘What about Lucas?’
‘I don’t know. She was Tony’s property when she and Lucas first met so he wouldn’t have said or done anything. After Tony died, he went into hiding. So did Lara. Maybe he didn’t know where she was until now.’
‘So you think he could want her rather than what she owns?’
‘They come as a package deal, Nick, wouldn’t you say?’
Nick ground his teeth at the callousness but Ivan was right. These people had a whole different moral ground. No, a whole different set of ethics over which they laid their peculiar moral framework. What was acceptable behaviour in the majority of civilisations didn’t work with them. Killing was acceptable, stealing was acceptable, bashing up women was acceptable, dealing drugs was acceptable. Regarding a woman as a piece of property was also acceptable. She’d been Tony Petrovic’s property, now she was up for grabs.
‘Maybe in your world. I’d say Lara and Petey come as a package deal. What she owns is hers.’
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