by Box Set
I want to tell him that I was nervous, that he didn't need to drug me because if Maksim said so, I would have come with him, but I won't get any more out of him. So I put the car in gear and pull out of the wide driveway, between tall electric gates that open on command.
I fleetingly wonder if he is using me to get back at Maksim. It doesn't feel like he is. The way he looks at me and kisses me...I feel like he genuinely likes me. But perhaps I'm just green to men of his standards.
I don't know.
He really confuses me.
———
We don't talk much on the drive to West Sussex, other than Charlie telling me, “Take a left, get off on that highway, turn right.” We just watch the city landscape change to farming fields and acres of flourishing green land packed with sheep. I suppose there isn't much to say, really. He got what he wanted last night, and I'm safe from his sexual desires for a while.
It takes about two hours for us to arrive at our destination, but we arrive when the Albanians expect us at two o'clock on the dot.
“Let me do all the talking,” Charlie says, tucking a gun into the back of his jeans.
“Do you think I'm stupid?” He should know by now that I don't usually speak unless spoken to. I only talk back to him. I just now ponder over why I have the guts to do that.
“What is it?” he asks.
“Nothing.” I shake it off.
“Blaire...” he elongates my name. “If I ask you a question, I expect you to answer me.”
I sigh, blinking down, then back up at him. “I'm just wondering why I talk back to you when I wouldn't dream of doing it to anyone else.”
Sitting back, he grips the handbrake, and watches me in quiet muse.
“Maybe because I don't order your silence. Maybe you feel comfortable around me.”
I laugh mordantly. “Comfortable? Really?”
“Well, as you said”—he shrugs with one shoulder—“apart from me, you wouldn’t dream of speaking before being spoken to, yet, you've never questioned yourself with me.”
The idea isn't lost on me. Staring at him staring at me, I mull it over, annoyed that he might be right. Even at Rumo's poker game, I indulged Charlie. I spoke to him, and I lied to Maksim when he asked what Charlie and I had talked about after I bested James. I've never lied to Maksim before. I've never spoken to anyone like I do Charlie, and I don't even know him.
“Don't think about it too much.” Charlie's raspy voice breaks through the silence. “I like that you prefer this rather than the obedient dog Maksim has trained you to be.”
“How do you know I prefer this?”
“Don't you?” He raises his eyebrows, locking us in a moment.
I can't tell if he's manipulating me or not. I just can't read Charlie.
“You're trying to get in my head,” I say through gritted teeth.
“No, Señorita,” he says softly, looking between my eyes. “I just want to know you, that's all.”
“Why though?” I ask with clear frustration. “Why do you even want me? You could have any woman you want. A woman who doesn't resist you,” I add with sarcasm.
“You'll soon give into wanting me too. It's the law of attraction.”
It's like he just slapped me across the face. I will admit that I do fancy him. I just hate how he makes me feel.
“That doesn't explain why you're doing this to me.” I peer down at myself, mystified, then back up at him. “I'm not your type. Not like those girls at Maksim's party. I'm not what you want, not really.” I go on and on. Don't ask where my audacity has come from, but I just can't seem to stop the verbal diarrhea. I need to know why.
Reaching over, Charlie flicks down the sun visor and opens the mirror. I scowl between him and my haunting reflection.
“What?” I say, still scowling.
He looks at me in mocking fondness, as if he knows I don't get his point, then climbs out of the car before I have a chance to ask anything more.
“Charlie, Iisos Khristos.” I huff out, tensing my fists.
He rounds the car and opens my door for me, just as he did the first night I met him. I don't think about the gesture. I slide out of the car, wishing he'd give me a straight fucking answer.
He won't though, of course. Charlie is nothing if not calculating. I feel he wants me to work out everything on my own.
Seven black SUVs with heavily tinted windows pull up around us. I grab Charlie's arm to keep him near and reach for my gun, thinking this is a setup.
“Relax. They’re my men.” Charlie closes his hand over mine, and strokes over my knuckles with his thumb, warming me from the outside in. “I don't go anywhere without backup.”
I snatch my hand back, trying to evade the way he makes me feel.
“C'mon,” he says, nodding at the mansion before us. It’s all smooth white walls and tall sash windows.
I walk with Charlie toward the house, peering up at him from the side. He carries himself with pure confidence, strolling onward like he owns the world and everything in it, his handsome face as impassive as ever.
We reach the bottom of the porch, and he catches me staring. A huge smile spreads across his face.
“Ready?” he says.
In a bit of a fluster at being caught ogling, I blink away and focus on the stone steps in front of us. “Yeah, I'm ready.”
Charlie's hand hovers on the low of my back as we pace up the porch steps together.
“If anything goes down,” he says, something untrusting flashing through his eyes, “make sure you don't fucking shoot me.”
“I know how to use a gun, Charlie.” I sound offended because I am. He gives me no credit for my skills. “Believe me, I've never shot anyone I didn't mean to.”
“Just make sure.” He knocks on the door, and an unfamiliar face greets us.
14
Charlie shakes hands with a guy he addresses as Robert. He's as tall as he is wide, standing there in the doorway draped in a long black coat.
Remaining in the background, I observe the situation, listening to every word they exchange with extra awareness. I need to know why the Albanians have a beef with Maksim, and then I can find a clean solution to how we can avoid a war.
Tatiana doesn’t like unnecessary conflicts.
“I appreciate you agreeing to see me,” Charlie says, withdrawing his hand. “I understand the situation is tense.”
“No. Thank you for coming on Maksim's behalf.” Robert's accent is thick and cold, like his eerie brown eyes. “I'm not sure we would have been able to resist killing him otherwise.”
My defensive instincts buzz in my veins. No one is killing Maksim on my watch.
I glance between Charlie and Robert with careful scrutiny, while my hand twitches for my gun.
“Do you have a picture of her?” Charlie says, and I frown, trying to read between the lines. “I see no point in pissing around.”
I rake through my mind for who this her could be. The only conclusion I come to is she must be the Albanian girl Maksim and his friends fucked at the Prince's party. It's too much of a coincidence.
“No. I agree,” Robert says. Peeling open his coat, he pulls out a tiny photo and passes it to Charlie. “She was very beautiful. As you can imagine, my anger is quite justified.”
Charlie doesn't bother studying the photo. He proffers it to me, of all people. I don't take it. I don't even look at it. I scowl up at Charlie, wondering why he's trying to show it to me.
“Do you recognize her?” He raises his eyebrows at me, gesturing with the photo. “The girl in the picture.”
“Why are you showing that to me?” I ask softly, beyond confused. If it is the girl I'm thinking of, then he knows what she looks like.
“Just answer the question, Blaire,” he whispers, though I can feel the urgency under his voice.
He pushes my hair back over my shoulder, trying to create intimacy between us. My eyes flicker to Robert, then back to Charlie, who is watching me like a hawk.
Charlie faces Robert and tells him that I am, shoving one hand in his jeans pocket. “And she's good. I've seen her in action.”
“Oh, I don't doubt that,” Robert drawls, his cold gaze journeying up and down my small frame. “I've heard great things about you, girl.”
I analyze him as he analyzes me. He's got blood on his hands. I can tell from his icy, gangster-like exterior, puffed out chest, and hard-life wearing expression on his face.
He doesn't scare me. I've ended men greater and more dangerous than him.
“I've also heard of your silence.” He laughs, giving Charlie this sultry look, flashing coffee stained teeth. “Is she on offer in exchange for the girl who was taken from me? Because I'd be more than happy to forget about all the bad blood for her.” Smiling down at me, he adds, “She's pretty.”
I don't react to his smuttiness. I remain as impassive as ever.
“Blaire isn't on offer.” Charlie's tone leaves no room for negotiations, nor does his body language as he steps in front of me. “As we agreed, if Blaire confirms that this is the girl Maksim and his friends fucked-up, you'll tell me how much she was worth and I'll ensure she's paid for in full.”
“What?!” I shout without thinking. This can't be right. I had to bargain with Charlie so he'd let me come to this meeting, and now I'm to identify someone? And, he fucking knows what that girl looks like, so why does he need me to identify her?
Charlie glances over his shoulder at me. It takes every ounce of will I have not to attack him. How dare he try to turn me against my master like this.
“Her name is Arjana.” Robert confirms that it is the girl from the party. “She is worth half a million euros to me, for she was a virgin with Palestinian blood.”
“That's fair enough,” Charlie says, nodding a few times. He then pivots to me, holding up the photo again. “Do you recognize her?”
I don't look at the photo. I give him this wolfish glare, on the verge of ripping his head off.
“Blaire?” he says my name gravely, walking into me, lifting the photo so I can't avoid seeing it. “Do. You. Recognize. Her?”
My jaw ticks, as I glance at her. Arjana is wearing a green Oxford college uniform, her dark hair pinned back. She looks very content in this image, hugging what looks like a bunch of school folders. Her big brown eyes are innocent, and her smile is wide, pretty, and carefree.
My throat is so tight that I can barely breathe.
“If you don't answer me,” Charlie says under his breath, his eyes flittering between mine, “I can't sort this out.”
I swallow, standing my ground of silence. I won't do this to Maksim. I won't betray him.
Briefly shutting his eyes, Charlie sighs, then he turns to Robert. “She won't answer. Trust me on that.”
“Thing is”—Robert shrugs—“we can't take Blaire's silence as a yes or a no. Everyone is aware of her loyalty to Maksim. Everyone is aware that she won't talk without his permission. And I need to know who took Arjana from me. I need to know who has her, so I can get her back.”
So, Robert doesn't know Charlie took her.
I don't know what to do. In any normal situation, I'd end Robert and be done with the bother, but I'm not sure Maksim wants that to happen.
Charlie pulls out his phone and tells me to call Maksim, to ask for permission to speak to Robert. “Make it concise,” he says.
I refrain from taking the phone, clenching my fists. I can't speak to Maksim in front of these two. They could overhear.
“I'll pay you the half a million,” I blurt out to Robert. “I'm not saying I know that girl or that I don't. I'm just agreeing to pay the debt.”
Silence.
Robert is surveying me with curious eyes. I can feel them on my face.
“Why would you pay a debt that doesn't belong to you, girl?” Robert comes out of the house and prowls toward me.
“I won't have this looming over Maksim,” I say, wary that he's still coming at me.
One more step...if he takes one more step, I'll tear him to pieces. Then Charlie for lying his way out of knowing Arjana.
Before I can say or do anything, Charlie meets Robert chest to chest, acting as a barrier between us both. “Not another step.”
Smelling war in the air, I pull out my gun and hold it beside my leg. I glance around the front yard, rapidly tucking my hair behind my ears so I can scan our situation. Charlie's flock of men are standing outside their cars. They’re dressed in black combat outfits, hands clasping machine guns over their laps. Their attention is focused on us by the front doors, emotionless eyes studying the state of affairs.
It makes me feel a little better to know that we have backup if we need it.
I focus back on Charlie and Robert.
“I need to speak to Blaire,” Robert says eventually, his eyes narrowed in on Charlie. “I need to look into her eyes and find the truth.”
“She won't say anything more than offering to pay the debt.”
Robert tries to walk up to me but Charlie sidesteps him, and then again.
“Leave her alone or we're gonna have a problem,” Charlie says. “That's not a warning.”
“I can't leave this alone.” Robert presses his hands together, like he's praying or something, “I want to see the girl's eyes when I ask if she knows Arjana.”
Charlie grabs his gun from the back of his jeans and slips back the top hammer. Robert reaches in his coat.
“I wouldn't,” Charlie says, gesturing out, “there are over thirty of my men and one of you.”
“That's because you warned me there would be consequences if I had my security detail!” Robert is red with fury, snapping, “I only came alone because I know you are a man of your word. You said there would be no trouble!”
My heart is in my throat. I'm not scared, just nervous. I don't know what to do. Yeah, I'm not Charlie's greatest fan, but I won't stand back and watch him get shot, not after he's clearly watching out for me.
Robert is visibly conflicted, a thoughtful expression on his face as he stares at Charlie. He's not sure whether to press Charlie or not. In all honesty, I'm not sure if I ever should, either. There’s something formidable about him.
“You need to stop this,” Charlie says coolly. “Don't start something I'll have to finish. Just take the money and let this be over with.”
“I need to know who has Arjana,” Robert snaps, the veins in his neck contracting. “I can't just let this go. I had her for barely two hours before someone came into my house and stole her. Someone invaded my personal space! I can’t just let that go, Charlie.”
“That's irrelevant to me,” Charlie says, and he warns, “If you start a conflict with Maksim, I'll be on his side.”
“What?!” Robert's face lights up with shock. “Why would you side with that scumbag? He's the reason you did a stretch in a Russian jail!”
My mouth drops open. Charlie went to jail because of Maksim? What the fuck? Why?
Charlie cocks his head. “Let's just say, I've got other interests when it comes to Maksim now.”
Robert pulls his eyebrows together and looks down at me, then back at Charlie.
Charlie nods, and I sense he's grinning.
It all ends pretty quickly from there, which baffles me completely. Charlie says that Maksim will pay within the month. “Any longer, and I'll call you.”
Robert lets out a steely breath, obviously pissed off with the outcome. “Looks like I have no other choice but to accept that offer then, do I?”
I hide my gun away before anyone sees it, wondering how the hell I'm going to tell Maksim about what's happened here today. He needs to know.
“Trust that I'll find out what happened to your girl,” Charlie says, shoving his gun in the back of his jeans before fixing his t-shirt to cover it. “Anyone who was involved will suffer my wrath, as a favor to you for trusting I'll d
eal with the situation.” Reaching back, he grabs one of my hands and entwines our fingers together. My stomach flips, mostly with anxiety from touching him, but also with a dollop of embarrassment that he's holding my hand in front of Robert. His grip is firm yet gentle, his hand completely covering mine.
“We'll be off now, Robert. Take care, and I'll speak to you very soon.” Forcing me down the porch steps, Charlie leads me back to his car.
Robert says a curt goodbye from a distance, and then I hear the front doors close with a loud crash.
I cannot believe how easily people back down from Charlie. I don't know why. He isn't any different from all the other underworld elites. Or is he? Maybe Maksim didn't tell me the full story about him. Charlie does refuse to address Maksim in the proper manner and gets no reprove from anyone.
Charlie puts his lips on my ear, and whispers, “You did well, Blaire.”
“Huh?” I say, screwing up my face.
Opening the car door for me, he puts me in the passenger seat and plugs in my seatbelt. I briefly wonder why he isn't letting me drive us back to his house, but I don't really care.
“What do you mean, ‘I did well’?”
He smiles sneakily at me, and my eyes enlarge. Did he just use my loyalty to Maksim to his advantage?
He clicks my door shut, jogs around the car, and jumps into the driver's seat, firing up the engine. I vaguely see all his men piling into their cars, but I'm not really paying attention.
I turn to face Charlie, gripping the edge of my chair. “Did you just use me?”
“Not exactly,” Charlie says, a stupid, naive expression on his face. “I knew you wouldn't say anything about Maksim without his consent. Actually, I was banking on it.”
I'm stunned, and I know I look it. Yes, I'm glad he's taken care of Maksim's problem with the Albanians, but I can't say I'm happy about the way he used me. He could have told me what the plan was. I'm not an idiot. I would have followed suit.
Putting the car in gear, Charlie pulls down the driveway, between the arsenal of SUVs that follow us out.
“Why did you just pretend you've never seen that girl, Arjana, before?” I ask, striving to keep my cool so I can get the answers I need.
