Threat: Follow up to Stranded but not Alone (Dragoslava Connection) (24 page)

“This is out of left field, but do you have a relationship with your birth parents, Seth’s parents? You never talk about them.”

He shifted on the bed; the dip in the mattress tucked her tight under him. He looked down at her, satiated and glazed over. She lurched up kissing his chin. “You don’t know this but the people who stole me from my birth parents kidnapped Simone. Last year they tried to blackmail us into saying my parents gave me away freely. All my mother had to do was sign a waiver and they would let Simone go.”

“…but…”

“She refused to sign it. Seth questioned if it was because Simone was black…she wouldn’t answer him. Sergei, my birth father, convinced her to sign it, but by this time, Simone had already been tortured.”

His mother was prejudice. How could that be when these men were both into black women? And there was no mistaking the love Seth has for Simone or his daughters.

“If Seth’s prejudice, don’t tell him, because he doesn’t know yet.”

Mikhail gave a pure clean laugh. “Seth has his issues with Americans in general from being in the military, but Simone came along and things just fell into place.”

So did they
, she thought, touching a hand to his heart. “You don’t have any racial hang-ups that I’ve noticed.”

Mikhail yawned then said, “I grew up all over the world with Josef in the military, and I’ve seen my share of bigotry. I have cultural biases not ethnic prejudices.”

She shifted in his arms to look into his face. “Is that why you came up with the diversity program, to right some of the wrongs you saw in other cultures? Because you know they’re only wrong to those of us that don’t live them.”

“Sad, but true,” he agreed, and she loved his non-combative attitude toward cultural differences. People don’t change because they’re told to. They change because they see a flaw in what they believe to be true. “I’d thought about it years ago and implemented it, but after I saw Larissa’s reaction to Simone, I took a longer look at Heinemann’s and knew where the next diversity candidate would come from…America.” Mikhail slipped his gazed thoughtfully at her. “I hadn’t planned on falling in love with her.”

“I’m glad you did. And for the sake of this family, I hope your birth mother grows past her ignorance before she misses out on Seth’s beautiful family.”

“Larissa’s changed quite a bit since I met her.” Mikhail smoothed damp ringlets off her face to caress her chin in his hand. “According to Seth she stayed with them toward the end of Simone’s pregnancy while he was out of town on a job just before the girls were born.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“Structural Engineer. He’s helped on projects from America to Dubai to Italy to Asia. He hates leaving her, because sometimes it’s weeks at a time.”

“If they ever move to Austria let me know. I’ll make certain to visit sometime.”

He stared down at her skeptical. “I’ll let them know.” He touched her stomach under the covers, massaging a circle around her navel. “Do you want children, Bethany? I know what you said in the kitchen with Anya, but I’m asking.”

“There’s a lot of things I want that are family related…but I want a husband first.”

“Then children?”

“In that order,” she said without second thought.

Mikhail ran a hand down her thigh gently easing it between her legs to stroke a thumb over her clit. Bethany tensed. “You’re sore?” he asked removing his hand. “Hot tub…I’ll carry you.”

She hooked her hands behind his head when he lifted her off the bed, grabbing the blanket off the bed, traipsing outside to the wraparound deck at the back overlooking the river.

Her body melted into the hot water bubbling up under her. Sometime during the night, Bethany found herself dancing under the moonlight wrapped in Mikhail’s arms. Steam rose off the water and snow sparkled over the grounds surrounding the house.

A beautiful ending to a precious moment.

Mikhail was going for her soul.

Waiting for that cell to ring was killing him. Mikhail held his third cup of coffee to his lips, and wearing out a path in front of the counter in the chalet’s kitchen, he paced. How many more spies were in his company working for Mark? The media wanted front-page news well he was going to blast GCT all across Europe after this, suing them for endangering one of his employees. Not to mention his woman.

He had to stay calm. Not going in as Bethany’s boyfriend, screwing the mission sideways to hell, but saving her reputation in the financial world. She guarded her independence vigorously, and he respected that.

Setting the cup down he waited to see the light glowing on his cell.

Josef sat on the bar stool holding Eva draped over his shoulder. “Mark should have been my first suspect,” he admitted, brows furrowed. Nuzzling the neck of his default granddaughter, he elicited a small giggle from the bundle gripping his ears as if they were handles.

Anya pulled a jug of water from the refrigerator, setting it on the counter. “My father will be disappointed. Mark has never been close to the family, but this is unacceptable.”

“It’s going to work, son. Bethany’s willing to do this, and we all know you had no other choice if we’re going to bring this dog out into the light.”

“I know.” It didn’t make it any better knowing he’d still have to put her in the asshole’s hands first to catch him. “Bethany’s been through so much over the years. I can’t explain to you the pain she’s gone through and what she’s carried around with her all this time.”

“We know about her fear of knives,” Simone said. “But you know what that fear is, don’t you?”

“I just want her safe and for us to get on with our lives.”

“You love her don’t you, Mikhail?” Anya walked around with Zoya in her arms, rubbing her back, giving him her sly mother smile. “She loves you, you know? Yes, that girl is crazy about my Mikhail, and I can’t blame her. You’re a good man,” she said full of pride.

A cool breeze filled the air.

Seth stepped inside the back door, knocking snow off his boots on the tray. “Mikhail,” he angled a nod to the door. “Three men on the back of the barn…me and Crazy got the entrance once Mark shows.”

“I still can’t believe they went through all this to get this woman,” Crazy said shaking his head, “Money does strange things to people.”

Waiting to hear from Bethany, he rubbed the skin over one brow raw until Crazy’s voice roused him to answer. “It’s more than money. It’s status in the financial world. Bethany’s knowledge and financial intuition brings her clients top dollar. Other companies want her on their team.” Underhandedly going after her behind his back. They didn’t count on Bethany’s loyalty to Heinemann’s and her ability to forgive. “Mark is trying to lure her over to his company…and him.”

“And you?” Seth asked washing his hands, blowing a raspberry on Zoya’s neck as she struggled to get in his arms holding on to the breast pocket of his sweater. He did nothing as she gnawed on his chin, becoming her teething ring.

“I’m ready to fight to keep her. Mark’s going after the wrong man’s woman.” Tomorrow she’d wake up with an engagement ring on her finger. It was time to marry her and get on with their lives.

Crazy stretched a skullcap over his hair to cover his ears. “That’s all I need to know.”

Mikhail froze watching Seth tugging down Crazy’s collar revealing a mark on his neck. “When’d you get a tattoo? Who’s Ella?”

Crazy jerked away, smiling. “Tell me you don’t have “Sim” tattooed on your white ass somewhere. Excuse my language Simone.”

Propped on her elbow with her cheek resting on her hand she raised a brow to Seth. “Wouldn’t you think my name would be somewhere on his body?” Simone teased a warm smile tipping the corner of her mouth.

“Seth,” Anya said coming over to Simone to lean over the counter. “I find that unbelievable. You’re crazy about this woman and those girls,” she exclaimed her red curls tumbling around her shoulders.

“He got a tattoo for me, and a separate one for the girls, and it’s not on his sexy behind.”

Crazy eyed Seth as he jacked up one brow.

Seth closed a hand over the hem of his jacket and sweater scrunching them up off his back. Crazy and Mikhail ducked down holding his shirt up standing at his back.

Mikhail raised his eyes to Simone. “…You know he was doing that, Simone?”

She shook her head. “I had no idea until I saw it in the shower. It’s unique…just like him.”

“That’s wicked…bro,” Crazy said grinning.

Mikhail bumped fists with Seth.

Crazy took a second look shaking his head. “When did you have it done?”

“The month after they were born, Dmitri came out…did it personally.” Seth beamed under his words. He loved his girls more than life itself.

“Dmitri’s got wicked talent.”

“I never would have thought to put the girl’s names on either sides of your spine coming out of a holster in the shape of a gun,” Mikhail told him.

Seth rolled his sweater and jacket down. “Knowing those two little faces are waiting for me every day is a concealed weapon. You can’t bring me down. Don’t try.”

“Dang, and you don’t have Sim tattooed anyplace on you? Your arm…back, thigh anywhere?” Crazy taunted mercilessly.

“He does…sort of,” Simone smiled walking over to push the jacket and sweater up over his chest. Seven words decorated an arc over his heart.
Don't bother, my wife’s got this covered
.

“Okay that’s love,” Crazy admitted through a wide smile and slapped Seth on the back, winking at Simone.

Seth settled a heated stare on his wife across the room her face bright with love. “You find a good woman…don’t waste time, lock it down quick.”

Mikhail’s cellphone rang, and Bethany’s number filled the screen. He held a hand up quieting the room. “Bethany, you okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetie,” she told him. “Mark just called and asked if I’d meet him on the trail, like you said he would.”

“The barn, Bethany,” he forced, his blood slamming through his veins.

“I got him to switch. He wanted to meet in the far barn, but there’s too many horses that’ll get hurt if it gets ugly. We’re meeting in the tool barn.”

“Okay…”

“Where’s Greg?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay we’re on our way. And Bethany—” He looked at his family standing around and said proudly, “I love you, so be careful. I want to ask you something important later when we go for a walk.”

“Let’s hope so after what you did to me last night.”

Was he that transparent? “Oh, you think you know what I’m going to ask you?”

She became quiet. “No Khail, I don’t. And I won’t try and guess. But know this, regardless of what you ask or don’t ask…I love you.”

She loved him. He knew that. What did that mean, whether he asked or not? What have they been working toward all this time if not to get married? He let his finger glide over the ring in his pocket. He’s had the damn thing for three weeks now waiting to get her up here. And he was going to propose tonight after they busted Mark. He dragged a sigh from deep in his chest and ran a hand through his hair.

“Why are you quiet? You don’t like hearing me say I love you?”

“You’d be surprised what’ll catch a man off guard when he’s nervous.”

“Why are you nervous?”

He laughed. “You’re evil woman.”

She smiled through her words and it was a pretty sound, “No...I’m anxious, Khail.”

That surprised him. “I don’t believe that, not after this week…and last night.”

“I want this to be over Khail, so I can love you and get on with our lives.” The crinkling of a jacket being slipped on then the sound of a zipper filled the line. “When this is over I’m going to Michigan to put fresh flowers on Robert’s grave and close down those nightmares by properly saying goodbye to my brother. And until this is over I can’t.”

He understood. “We’ll drop by Michigan next month on our way to Arizona to visit your parents. You can spend some time with your mother. You’ve been worried about her since the surgery.” And he wanted them to get away for a while to give Bethany a break.

“I don’t know what to say to that, Khail, thank you.”

Although he couldn’t see her, Mikhail knew exactly what she was doing on the other end of the line. “Stop twisting your earring before your ear turns red. We’re a couple now, and if it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”

“You’re important to me.” She hesitated and he heard a mild sniffle from his woman. Love was a crazy emotion. “I better get going. Give me about ten minutes then I’ll see you down there. I love you, Khail.”

“Be careful and don’t take any unnecessary chances, Cansler. I’m watching you,” he said ending the call. Slipping his phone into his pocket, Mikhail crossed the room.

“It’s that serious, Mikhail,” Crazy asked patting him on the back as he shrugged on his jacket.

Seth said, “When you know it’s real, you don’t care who knows.”

“Let’s go catch this dog,” Mikhail urged pushing open the back door.

Her body, still deliciously sore in all the right places and would speak his name when he wasn’t around, moaned with every tentative step through the dense snow.

There would be no skiing tonight.

That was fine by her. All she wanted to do was return to the hot tub, sink into the hot water, straddle his lap, and rest her face along his swollen chest. Feel thick muscled arms enveloping over her back under the bright moonlight. While they listened to—“Love On Top”—again and again. White fluffy snow falling over the surface of the water melting the second it made contact. The heat made the evening perfect.

Now blushing, Bethany whirled around, arms out wide, feeling so much love from the memories swelling inside her soul. Unable to suppress the smile, she started singing the words, prancing through the snow like a teenager. Swaying her hips to the beat in her head, she hadn’t felt this light in months, even years. And she was tired of living in a glass box, afraid to enjoy her life. Guests waved at her as she slipped between the trees, branches sprinkling snow over her face.

Good thing the outside speakers were on and country music floated through the falling snow like a ribbon. Grinning, she moved toward the barn keeping her eyes open for Mark who was waiting for her in the loft. She’d blame the new job on her energy and spirit moving her over the snow like a drunken fairy. No one had to know she was in love… unless they looked at her huge smile.