Russian's Innocent Love (Drobilka Family Series #1) (8 page)

“You’re up early,” she commented as she leaned in to kiss him. When he tilted his head, she ended up kissing his cheek. Looking at him quizzically, she sat down across from him as he pushed the coffee press toward her. She poured a cup and sipped from it as she waited for him to speak.

“I had an early call this morning, which is why I was up. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I’ve been doing some research. I’m thinking of buying an absinthe fountain for the bar. What do you think?”

Looking at him over her cup, “I don’t know anything about it.”

“But you’ve had it?”

Sighing, “I don’t actually remember drinking it, no.”

“So, then, you don’t remember ‘Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder and the pants come off faster?’”

Looking at him with wide eyes. “It was you! How long have you known?”

“I just found out.”

“Oh Vadim, I am so sorry for my behavior that night. I had way too much to drink.”

Nodding his head politely, “Would you like to see pictures of what I found?”

Presuming he still meant the fountain, “I suppose,” Bethany replied as she reached out her hand to take the tablet from him. She gasped when she saw pictures of herself on campus, coming and going at her apartment, work, the grocery store. As she flipped through the photos, there were a couple shots of her in New York that looked like they were taken from a traffic camera. She also saw copies of police reports involving her stepfather and mother, along with photos of her at twelve. As she continued to flip through the file, she stopped when she saw the picture of her shaking Director Williams’ hand at her graduation.
Oh crap, think Bethany!

“Normally, my first response when someone betrays me is to kill them, but given that I’ve grown fond of you, I’m going to give you one chance to explain yourself. How is it that a graduate of the FBI Academy is working in my club?”

Setting the tablet back down, she looked at him. “I’m not a graduate.”

“Is that you standing on stage accepting a diploma?”

“I’m accepting an empty diploma case. I didn’t graduate. Not that I wouldn’t have wanted to, because it was a dream of mine. That or to be able to work at the UN as a translator. But when your stepfather is in prison for killing his stepson, the woman who raised me is a known marijuana grower, and your body is riddled with scars from same stepfather’s drunken abuse, not only do you get a big fat no, they’re not even polite about it.”

“Then what were you doing onstage?”

“They have a translation program that’s better than the one at Barnard, and I was able to take it. It was the closest I ever got to the Academy,” she answered mournfully.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, that’s easily fixed.” Going to her bag, she pulled out her phone and looked up the main number to the FBI. Clicking on it, she asked the operator to transfer her to Director Williams. When she reached his secretary, she explained who she was and that there was some question as to the translation program she participated in. Hoping that Williams would figure out what’s going on, she put the phone on speaker and held her breath.

“This is Director Williams.”

“Hi, sir, this is Bethany Michaels. I’m not sure if you remember me, but…”

“I remember you, Ms. Michaels, what can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, but there was some question about the translation program I participated in, and I was hoping to ask you how I would get copies of my transcripts.”

“In looking at your file, I see that you’re in graduate school at the University of Texas. The admissions office would have all that information as you would have had to provide it for admission.”

“Of course, sir, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Thank you…” before she could finish, he hung up. Disconnecting the call, she turned angry eyes toward Vadim. “Did you have any other questions?”

Vadim stared at her confused, unsure what to say. Standing up, she put her hands on her hips as she stared down at him, “I told you the first time that you had me followed that I didn’t appreciate it, and now you delve into my past when I specifically told you that I wanted it behind me. What kind of a person dredges up a person’s past?”

“Bethany, I’m sorry. You have to understand that in my line of work, I have to be careful.”

“And what exactly IS your line of work, Mr. Sannikoff, because as far as I know, you own a bar and a club.”

“It’s more than that, Malyutka. Much more. Please, sit down, let me explain.”

“I don’t think so. In fact, I’m leaving.” As she turned to retrieve her shoes, Vadim got up to follow her.

“My full name is Victor Vadimar Markman. My mother was Sannikoff, and I changed my name after my father died. And I own more than a couple clubs. Much more. Please, Malyutka. Stay.”

Shaking her head, Bethany shakily grabbed her bag, stalked to the elevator, and pushed the button. As the doors opened, she got on. Pushing the button for the lobby, she hoped to find a cab as there was no way she would use his driver again. As the doors closed, she sagged against the elevator wall.

She was sleeping with the head of the Drobilka cartel!

Part 2 coming soon!

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