To Russia With Love (Countermeasure Series) (46 page)

Mikhailov studied him through narrowed eyes. Under his close scrutiny, Dmitriy’s nervousness grew, his mouth dried, his stomach churned, and a thin sheen of perspiration covered his brow. He had seen the same deadly piercing gaze directed at others many times before—most never survived the encounter. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

“What have I done?!”

Mikhailov walked around the desk and stood in front of him. Before Dmitriy knew what hit him, Sergei’s fist connected with his face. He staggered under the force of the blow, his cry of pain hung in the air as his head snapped back. Blood dripped between his fingers as he nursed his face in his hands, his eye throbbing, the flesh around it swelling in angry response to the direct hit, blinding him. He cringed away from Sergei and squinted up at his uncle in shock.

“Why?!” he cried out.

“What the fuck were you thinking by leaving Ivanov alone yesterday? The guard reported your visit to the kitchen.” Mikhailov’s voice raised an octave, his expression cold and uncaring.

“But…but Uncle, I thought you said you wanted him to finish the program. He needs time to figure it out. If…if he stays in the room it saves time and he can get more done,” Dmitriy stuttered.

“Yes, idiot! And I told you to stay with him!” Mikhailov grated harshly, his patience frayed.

Dmitriy wiped the blood dripping down his chin with the back of his hand and rebutted, “You said to cater to him. And I did!”

Before Dmitriy could breathe another word, pain exploded in his gut and a scream ripped from his throat as his body collapsed around the fist that connected with his stomach. The soft Oriental rug caressed his burning face and cradled him as he lay curled in a fetal position, sobbing softly.
Please make this go away. I have done nothing wrong!
Bastard!
He sucked in big gulps of air and fought through the pain.

In the distance, a phone rang followed by his uncle’s muffled voice. “I asked not to be disturbed. This better be good.” There was a brief pause and the click of the phone dropping in the cradle.

Dmitriy glanced up at Sergei, who wore a cruel gleam of excitement in his eyes.

“Sergei. Enough. Let him go.” With a frown, Sergei stepped back.

“We have bigger fish to fry.” Mikhailov looked down at Dmitriy in disgust and continued. “And you, stupid, go get Ivanov and get back to work. Stay with him. Do not let him out of your sight, or you will be erased from my bloodline next time.”

Sergei reached down and unceremoniously grabbed Dmitriy by the arm. Jerking him to his feet, Sergei dragged him from the room and dumped him in the hall. “Move your ass!” he ordered, slamming the door closed.

The cold tile of the hallway floor soothed the heat radiating from the side of Dmitriy’s face as he lay prone on the floor. He tried to assess the damage, but the pain was just one big ball of fire. When he could function again, he dragged himself to his feet in a slow, careful motion. He braced himself with an arm against the wall, willing the lightheadedness to pass.

When he could stand unaided, he stumbled down the hallway, away from pain and toward sanctuary—the computer room. Anger and hatred fueled his every step. He cursed his uncle and the time he had wasted kissing his feet for the last few years in hopes of being acknowledged for his efforts. He detoured to the kitchen—his other sanctuary. When he walked through the archway, Tatiana gasped and rushed to his side.

“What happened?!” she cried out, helping him to a stool before running to the sink for a towel. Wetting the towel in cold water, she rushed to his side and began wiping the blood from his face, shushing him each time he flinched from her touch.

“I won’t be seeing you much today. I have to keep an eye on Ivanov. That means I will not be leaving the computer room for meals. Can you please bring us something to eat later?” He studied the curve of her cheek as she tended to him with gentle hands.

She nodded without making eye contact and replied softly. “It’s okay. I understand. You must do as you are told. I’ll fix you both something.” Then, with some hesitation, she whispered shyly, “I…I will leave my door unlocked tonight. You can slip in after the others have gone to bed.”

Dmitriy’s hand covered and held hers. Softly lifting her chin with his other hand, he urged her to meet his eyes. “Are you sure?” Stunned, all Dmitriy can do was stare into her eyes. He had waited so long for that, for those words. Tatiana nodded, her answer a soft smile. His heart soared as he eased forward and kissed her gently on the lips.

“I have to go. He is waiting for me. I will come to you later.” He gently squeezed her hand as he moved away.

Tatiana’s tenderness had taken some of the pain and discomfort from the beating, but Dmitriy’s mind still swirled with anger over the treatment he’d received from his uncle and that bastard, Sergei. More than ever, he was unsure whether he would ever earn his uncle’s approval, or if all his effort and dedication could ever compete with Sergei’s status within the Glazov.

Tatiana had been the reason he had accepted the job in Russia and the only motivation to further his cause and stay within his uncle’s good graces. Dmitriy would do anything he could to remain at the mansion and continue his pursuit of Tatiana’s love.

His hope was to wear her down and convince her to marry him. Once she agreed, they would move to Moscow and start afresh. Approaching the guest room to take on his babysitting duties, he was again filled with rage over Sergei’s treatment of him. One day he would show Sergei that brains were better than brawn.

No Fucking Way!

C
ASSANDRA’S DOCTOR HAD BEEN AS nice as she had built her up to be. Dr. O’Malley was a five-foot, four-inch ball of fire with flaming red hair, startling green eyes, a dusting of freckles across her nose, and a feisty personality to match. Her wide friendly smile was engaging and made Jessica feel comfortable right away. The day before, Dr. O’Malley had put her through every imaginable exam under the sun, and some that Jessica hadn’t even heard of. Holy Moses, the woman was an efficient tyrant. No wonder Cassandra loved her so much.

Jessica cursed. She needed to move her butt if she wanted to make her appointment to go over the results in time. She hated having to leave the warm, cozy cocoon of her bed so early, but it was the only time available on such short notice. She rolled out of her comfortable position, grumbling for having promised Cassandra she would take better care of herself. Once dressed, she grabbed her purse and jacket and headed out the door.

*****

No fucking way!
Jessica’s mind screamed and swirled with information she couldn’t quite seem to comprehend. Her ears were hot and her heart raced a mile a minute as she piled into her car. On the way home, her eyes kept straying to the paper bag and envelope on the passenger seat, and her heart did a somersault in her chest each time.

Pulling up to the curb, Jessica cut the engine and dropped her head on the steering wheel
. No fucking way!
She squeezed her eyes tightly and tried to breathe without hyperventilating. “Pull it together!” she murmured as she grabbed the things off the seat and walked on rubbery legs into the lonely house.

*****

Jessica was tearing a path through the rug in Cassandra’s living room as she paced back and forth, trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. She squeezed her eyes shut, blinking to clear the film of denial that coated them, and ran her fingers through her hair in agitation. She couldn’t wait until later to talk to Cassandra. She needed to hear her friend’s reassurances to keep her sanity in check.

Sitting at the dining room table, Jessica pulled the laptop closer and opened chat.

Cassie, let me know when you can talk.

Hold on! Give me a second.
Cassandra’s text was quick. Shortly after, a video chat request came through.

“Hey, Cassie.”

“Jessie, we’ll have to make it quick. I’m in the middle of something.” Concern flooded Cassandra’s eyes. “You look kind of pale. What happened? What did the doctor say?! Oh god, I poisoned you didn’t I? How long does it take to get sick off bad food? Was it the paella? Geez! That was a month ago. Did I leave something else in the fridge?

Jessica couldn’t help but laugh. “I wish.”

Cassandra’s eyes sharpened. “Wish what? Bad paella poisoning?”

Jessica sighed. “Yes.”

“Jessica Marie Forrester. You better start making sense, woman, or I’m shipping your ass back to the States!”

“I’m pregnant.”

“I mean, I should have cleaned out the refrigerator before I left,” Cassandra continued as Jessica waited for her friend’s brain to catch up with her ears. “Lord knows how long some of the veggies have been there. Leftovers, too—” Understanding flooded Cassandra’s eyes and her mouth dropped open. She stared at Jessica as if she too were struggling with the news. “Holy shit!”

“I don’t understand how this happened.”

Cassandra shot a droll look at Jessica. “Part A inserts into part B—”

“Shut up, Cassandra. This isn’t a joking matter,” Jessica berated her.

“I know! I know! I’m just trying to understand. I mean these things happen. Not often…but they do.”

“We were careful. Always used protect—” A shocked look snapped into place across Jessica’s face. “Oh my god. The office—”

Cassandra’s eyebrows rose. “Office? What office? My office? Eww, Jessica.” Jessica narrowed her eyes at Cassandra and her mouth snapped shut. “Sorry, Jessie. Just a little overwhelmed at the moment. Mouth taking over and foot joining it.”

“I don’t know what to do.” Jessica’s voice trembled with each word.

Her friend eyed her. “Okay. So we are pretty sure you’re pregnant. You told me you love Stephan. You still do, right?” Jessica nodded. “Okay. ‘Nough said. You
have
to tell him.” Jessica gave Cassandra a sour look. “Don’t look at me like that. You have to. It’s only fair to him. He deserves to know.”

“You didn’t see his face, Cassie.” Jessica’s voice hitched. “He was over me. If I tell him now, he’ll think I was trying to trap him. I made it no secret that I wanted him for ever after. He’ll hate me.”

Cassandra’s eyes turned from the video call and a frown creased her brow. “Shit. I have to go. Look at me, Missy.” Cassandra snared her eyes. “You need to think about this very carefully. I’m like your older sister, and, as such, I would never guide you wrong. I say you
have
to tell him.
Tell
him. No matter what, he deserves to know. We should be out of here in a couple of days, I hope. When I get there, we’ll figure out the fallout. Do not do anything crazy, okay?
Promise
me.”

Cassandra held her gaze until Jessica nodded in agreement. “Okay then. Gotta go. It’ll be okay. Hey! Does that mean I’m an auntie?” Jessica rolled her eyes at Cassandra’s excited tone. “Damn…that foot just won’t get out of the way. Bye.”

When the connection cut off, Jessica chuckled and shook her head at the force of nature that was her friend. Leave it to Cassandra to spell it as it was. To make her laugh even when she felt like she could splinter into a thousand pieces with just the hint of a breeze. She was glad that she had been able to get the whole Stephan thing off her chest and share the news.

Jessica switched the lights off and, on her way to her room, panic set in again. Her heart hammered against her ribs and her legs grew wobbly. She stumbled through the door and plopped on the edge of the bed, dropping her head between her knees. She was pregnant with the man of her dream’s child. And that scared her more than anything ever had before. She hadn’t looked at another man since she had set eyes on Stephan all those months ago. That had not been his reality.

Joy and anguish warred in her chest and wreaked havoc in her head. A sob caught in her throat as she sat up and pulled the prenatal vitamins from the bag lying on her bed. Staring blindly at the little plastic bottle, her mind reeled. How could this have happened to her? To them? Should she even tell him, like Cassandra had advised? Would he believe her, or think it was a trick to get him back? Above all, would he be happy? She’d seen the look on his face that day in the restaurant. He didn’t want a family. In that moment, she’d never felt more alone in her life.

Courtesy Visit