Loving the Czar (The Blakemore Files Book 6)

by Olivia Gaines

  Eduardo’s sentry watched her walk up the stairs, her handful of butt looking perfect in the baggy jeans. It was still an uncertainty of who the woman was to his boss, but she had already made an impact on the boys. It did not escape his notice that even as she held the two youngest children in her arms, she took care to engage the older two. The niños were open with her and not guarded as they were with anyone else who entered Seňor Delgado’s home. This, to him, said a great deal about the character of the woman. Once she reached the landing, she turned and waved to him before disappearing around the corner to enter her quarters. Tonda was furious at himself for waving back to her. She was challenging his discipline and that was unacceptable, but he liked her. He couldn’t help it.

  “Tonda?” Eduardo called to him. “Have you seen Dr. Dobbins?”

  He was jolted from his thoughts. “Si, Jeffe, she went to her room.”

  “Thank you,” Eduardo responded as the kids swarmed him with a plethora of questions. I will check on her later.

  Before he knew it, four hours had passed and she had missed lunch. It was nearing the dinner hour. Eduardo climbed the stairs slowly reaching her door and tapping lightly on the wood.

  “Dr. Dobbins?” He called but no answer. The door was not locked as he turned it to peer inside her room. His breath was caught in his throat.

  She was asleep on top of the covers with the pillow jammed between her knees, a light coverlet covering her body. In her arms Angel was sleeping peacefully. Micah was sprawled across the bottom of the bed and Andres was napping on the couch. The only one not in the room was Yuńior, who had snuck up behind his father.

  “I am sorry Poppa, but Angel wanted a story, then Micah wanted one. Andres supposedly was staying to make sure they didn’t get unruly...” Yuńior told him.

  “And you Mijo?”

  “I had chores to attend to before we leave tomorrow,” he said flatly. He cut his eyes sideways to peer at his father. “Will she be here when we return on Friday Poppa?”

  “I think so. She is not scheduled to return home until Saturday,” he told his son.

  Yuńior shrugged his shoulders, “I think we should all return home with her...you know to make sure she is safe and all...”

  “I will take that into consideration,” Eduardo told him. The thing to him was, she is home. This was the only place she needed to stay. As he had done the day before, he used his index finger to tickle the bottom of her foot.

  “I’m awake,” she told him, her eyes still closed.

  Eduardo wasn’t sure what he wanted to say and could not find a logical reason for waking her other than he wanted to gaze into her eyes, as she talked to him. “You missed lunch and barely ate breakfast. I can’t have you become ill on my watch,” he said standing still observing his children cuddle even closer to her once she moved an inch to the left.

  Ryanne stretched lazily, extending her five foot seven frame. “...and silly me was thinking you woke me because you were missing my charm and dazzling intellect.”

  “I miss you every minute you are not at my side,” he said softly.

  Yuńior looked at his father. “That was pretty good.”

  “Glad you approve,” he mumbled under his breath, frowning at his first born.

  “Well, the lady approves, and I am ready to finish the day,” she said as she swung her legs around slowly to hang off the bed. Angel whimpering at the sudden loss of warmth from Ryanne’s body, rolled over to climb back in her arms.

  Micah, still sprawled across the bottom of the bed, sheepishly asked, “Where are you going Mama?”

  Rising from the side of the bed, she carried Angel and placed the child in his father’s arms. “I am going to wash the sleep off me and then find something to eat,” she said. To Eduardo she asked, “Do we dress for dinner?”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Do you desire to take your evening meal undressed? To be naked as your brother likes to sleep?”

  “No, I am asking is dinner formal, or is a pair of slacks suitable?”

  “Ahhh!” He said smiling, “It will only be us with a simple meal and family time afterwards. The children leave for school tomorrow after the noon day meal.”

  Ryanne had never thought to ask before, “Where do they go to school?”

  “Argentina,” he told her.

  So far away. “Even Angel?”

  “Yes, he and Micah attend the same school as does Andres and Yuńior attend the same school,” Eduardo told her. His eyes watched her closely as her gaze went around the room looking at each child.

  The corners of her lips curled into a brief smile, “Good enough. I will only be a few minutes and then I will be downstairs.”

  Angel of course did not want to leave Ryanne without another kiss. Micah didn’t want to be left out. She gave Yuńior a wink and mussed the hair on Andres’ head as he walked past her. “I want my bra back young man, no taking it to school to sell to your friends!” she told him as Andres flashed her a toothy smile. He was a handsome kid with eyes that sparkled full of mischief.

  “And me, what smidgen of affection do I get Dr. Dobbins?” he asked her.

  Two steps forward were taken squeezing the child in between them. Ryanne placed her hand over his heart, “Mine.”

  “Always,” he said with a coy smile as he turned to leave with his brood. It had only been twenty-four hours. It was the best twenty-four hours he had spent in a very long time. He liked having Ryanne in his home. He had to find a way to convince her to make it permanent.

  Ryanne was experiencing a similar thought. After only twenty-four hours, she could not see leaving her makeshift family. She winced as she made her way to the bathroom. The soreness from the horseback ride had set in. Her body was not happy with her, she would definitely need to soak before the weekend was over.

  Chapter 11. Getting Buttered Up

  The evening supper was a quiet affair with dinner miraculously appearing on the dining room table. The dishes were simple white ceramic plates with Sangria being served to the adults and a sweet fruity concoction to the children. Ryanne sat in silence observing Eduardo’s interaction with his children. It impressed her how he gave each his undivided attention no matter how large or minute the topic was which required their father’s attention. Even Angel, who was often distracted by the rice or sweet drink in his cup, had something to add to the conversation.

  “Dr. Dobbins, do you have anything you care to add to the discussion?” he asked with interest as he watched her push food around on her plate. “Are you not hungry?”

  “I am enjoying the conversation and company,” she told him as she forked some of the spicy rice into her mouth. She nearly choked the first time she took a bite and the pork was rather gamey for her liking. The vegetables, she managed to get down but she abstained from the wine. Every detail he noticed, watching her as if he were cataloging her actions.

  As the meal ended, Micah begged for a song from his father, who agreed to do only one for them before he sent the children upstairs for baths before bed. Ryanne noticed the baby grand and inquired if it were tuned.

  “It is - do you play Dr. Dobbins?”

  “I do. Math and music...the two kind of go hand in hand,” she said as she walked over to the beautiful instrument and took a seat on the bench. “What would you like to play for the children?”

  “Yuńior, please go and get my acoustic guitar.” Eduardo thought for a minute as he pondered which song to play. Guitar now in hand, he strummed a few notes, and looked to Ryanne. She had an amazingly good ear. He played a few more chords and she joined in, playing a beautiful accompaniment to his notes.

  Tonda leaned against the wall and watched how with such ease the lady was able to pick up on the notes and follow along, even when El Jeffe changed chords. They are making beautiful music together. The song ended with Eduardo watching Ryanne’s eyes. She in turn bowed her head and gave him a round of applause. The children loved it. The piano had not been played in the home in many years a
lthough the instrument was kept in perfect tune.

  Eduardo rose and clapped his hands three times. “Bed time, niños.”

  Amidst much grumbling, whining and one near temper tantrum, the children begrudgingly went up the stairs. Ryanne’s fingers lovingly caressed the keys as she closed the lid to cover the ivories. “Goodnight, Seňor Delgado, Thank you for a lovely day.”

  Eduardo remained on the ottoman where he had previously perched himself to play his guitar, he watched her touch Tonda’s arm as she bid his guard a goodnight as well. She climbed the stairs slowly. The way she moved told him she was sore from the horseback ride. It saddened him that they would not be able to couple tonight, but it did not deter him from wanting her.

  In the privacy of her room, she stripped down and showered away the remnants of last night and the dust of the day. The water peppered her face while her hands massaged her tender breasts. Eduardo was an aggressive lover. Uncertainty filled the plethora of thoughts that centered around the bruises on her inner thighs. Were these from him or that damned horse? Either way, pride roamed through her body as she recalled how she had handled everything that came at her that day with grace.

  Four kids?

  Micah calling me Mama?

  Angel is a sweetheart.

  The other two are warming up to me. Maybe....

  She heard a tap at the bathroom door. “One minute please,” she called out. The large bath towel swaddled her body. Thinking better of the circumstance if it were one of the kids, she grabbed her night gown and pulled it over her damp body. The robe was on the bed so she held the towel in front of her breasts and opened the bath door.

  Eduardo stood on the opposite side, also freshly showered. “I was coming to check on you, to see if you required any assistance?”

  “I am okay,” she told him as she reached for her bathrobe. “I am a bit sore from the horseback ride today.”

  “I was thinking along the same thoughts...that you would be too tender to receive me tonight,” he said as he touched a wet strand of her hair.

  Ryanne blinked furiously as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. “Oh! Receive you...” She blushed at the implication. “I figured since we couldn’t ...you know, that I would sleep in here tonight.”

  Eduardo had moved closer as she spoke, removing the bathrobe from her hand and throwing it on the bed. “You shall sleep with me.”

  “Even if I can’t receive you?” she asked.

  His fingers cupped her chin as he lowered his head to plant a feather light kiss upon her lips. “Ryanne making love with you is amazing, but sleeping next to you is a wondrous thing. I also love waking up to you.”

  “You are trying to butter me up...I know what you are doing.”

  “I don’t understand this term...but I have butter if that is your type of thing...will it help with the tenderness?”

  “Oh Dear Lord! Never mind, let’s just go to bed, I am beat,” she told him.

  “Did I misunderstand? You North Americans have so many sayings, it is hard to keep up sometimes,” he told her as she drug him to his bedroom.

  She had very little to say as she pulled back the covers and slid into bed. Eduardo joined her and snuggled up close. His left leg draped over her thighs as his arm squeezed her body close to his. “Mine,” he whispered into her shoulder before he dozed off to sleep.

  Trepidation filled her as she listened to the even breathing of the man who had walked into her life and turned it upside down. Mine. The niggling feeling of the piano sitting there untouched for who knows how many years bothered her.

  Was the instrument something the children’s mother played?

  Nothing is random. The way he said mine sounded permanent. The fearful thought was no longer would she be able to leave when the time came but replaced with a new fear of could she leave...if he would allow her to do so.

  Cuidad Victoria, Mexico

  Elizondo Renteria was furious. It had been nearly four months and nothing had been done to that little bastard who cut off his favorite son’s head and sent it to Mexico in a box. He could not even give his son a decent burial until the rest of his body arrived home. It was beyond his comprehension why the cartel hadn’t sanctioned Eduardo Delgado for such a heinous infraction. Their silly rules. Since Mateo was a bastard child, the rules of murdering a cartel leader’s family member did not apply.

  He killed my favorite son!

  I may not be able to retaliate by taking his life, but I can take the joy from his every day existence.

  “Domino,” he called his right hand man into his office. “What is the latest word on the woman?”

  Domino, a swarthy, deep complexioned man, had an unsavory appearance of a Juarista in a good suit. “Seňor, she boarded his private plane on Friday and flew into his estate. The return flight plan is for Saturday. Should we station men to blow the plane out of the sky?”

  “No, I am thinking of something far more sinister,” Elizondo said to Domino. “Fuel my plane, we are headed to Argentina for a meeting.” He picked up the phone on his desk and entered the number of Miguelito Castanza, head of the Argentina Cartel. He often protected Eduardo since the man was his nephew. It mattered little to him. A congress of cartel leaders would be convened next week to ask some very hard questions of Eduardo Delgado. It was also time to elect a new leader of the syndicate. Elizondo was certain it was his time to lead. Under his direction the cartels would flourish, vanquish their enemies and run the world’s markets on opiates.

  It only took one phone call to get this ball rolling. “Hola, Miguelito....”

  Chapter 12. Chicken, Waffles and What is That?

  Ryanne woke to an empty bed and a very quiet room. There were no children and no Eduardo. In the background she could hear the chiming of the church bells in the village and it was 11 am. I overslept. Although her head was sitting up, the rest of her body ached with a fierceness that brought tears to her eyes. Every muscle in her figure moaned in protest. Her thighs burned like the muscles had been soaked in liquid ghost peppers. A loud groan rolled off her lips as she drug her body from the bed.

  It had been two days but she hadn’t seen a housekeeper or a cook. There was food prepared and the beds were made not to mention there wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere in the house, but she hadn’t seen anyone. What she needed was a long soak. The guest room she stayed in had only a standing shower. A light tap was made on Eduardo’s bathroom door, but he wasn’t inside. There is no tub in here either.

  Disappointed, she quickly made the bed and slipped through the pocket door into the guest room. Her body felt sticky from Eduardo sleeping so close all night making her sweat. The warm waters from the shower was started as the small bath steamed up and she stepped under the head allowing the droplets to hit her aching shoulders and back. Once dressed she grabbed her laptop and cell phone. She made her way down the stairs to an empty house, or so she thought when she made her way into the kitchen to find a matronly woman plucking two chickens.

  “Buenas,” Ryanne said to the woman.

  “Good afternoon,” the lady responded.

  “I am Dr. Dobbins, a guest of Seňor Delgado’s,” she said hoping the woman would give her a clue as to who she was.

  “I know who you are Doctora.”

  “This house is amazing, and I imagine it is a lot of work to keep clean. I was hoping to meet whomever was the housekeeper to say thank you, and that I would be gone by Saturday,” she said softly.

  The woman continued to pluck the feathers from the two birds. Ryanne didn’t know what to make of it. “I hope I won’t be in your way if I make myself some tea and toast,” she said to the back of the woman’s head.

  The silence between them was deafening as Ryanne toasted bread, spread on some jam while she waited for the kettle to sing. Suddenly the woman began to scream as blood gushed from her fingers. Ryanne ran to her side, grabbing a cloth to stop the bleeding. She also picked up the severed fingers from the sink.

  How
in the hell had she managed to cut off her fingers?

  “Who do I call for help?” Ryanne asked the woman.

  “Out the door, the gardener, he is my husband...” she whispered.

  “Press on the cloth while I run out the back door,” Ryanne told her. She bolted for the back entry and found a man with a bag of bird seed. “Ayudame por favor,” She told him as the man dropped the bag and took off running behind Ryanne.

  “Margherit!” he shouted as he helped the woman out the back door.

  “Wait,” Ryanne called after them. She grabbed ice from the freezer and placed the two fingers in a plastic container on ice to give to the man.

  Ryanne looked at the bloody mess in the sink. The saving grace was that the blood was all on one side of the sink and had not contaminated the chicken. The half plucked birds were placed in a bowl while she cleared away the blood and chicken feathers. Evidently this was supposed to be dinner.

  I have no idea what she was planning to cook.

  I have never plucked a chicken but I assume you keep pulling until the feathers are out.

  It took a bit of work, but the birds were de-feathered. Ryanne looked about the spotless kitchen which was a mixture of old world and modern conveniences. Andres had joked about her making fried chicken. Why the hell not, at least if I cook, the food won’t be riddled with peppers and too spicy. She found the equivalent of sweet potatoes and peeled and diced those putting them on to boil. The idea of some biscuits with honey to go with the fried chicken and sweet potato soufflé sounded delicious as she rummaged through the huge pantry to locate something green to go with the starchy food. All of the food on Las Tierras Verdes was hand-picked so she was uncertain which green vegetables grew here. Luckily she located some peas and began to shell those and get them into a pot. She checked the clock and it was nearing 1:30 and all the food was done.