“By nineteen Karlicov decided it was important for you to learn to defend yourself and to be able to survive and escape in an emergency,” Boian said to her and everyone.
“I was more than ready,” she stated firmly then smirked as she recalled first seeing him and feeling intimidated but also interested.
“You had your moments, Nalia,” Boian added.
“That’s amazing. That you two met years ago and that Karlicov chose you, Team 13 to find Nalia, and protect her,” Aspen added with a smile.
“Like I said, thirteen has been a very unlucky number for me,” Nalia said.
“Actually, it’s pretty interesting that you bring up the number thirteen. As I recall, we found you exactly thirteen weeks after you escaped from Vincent’s hold, and it was on the 13th of the month,” Chatham said with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“I was also shot on that day, and was forced to kill four men in order to survive,” she stated firmly.
“Perhaps in that moment when they found you and brought you into their safety that it was a change in luck for you, Nalia. A positive step in the right direction and to freedom,” Zin now added to the conversation.
Nalia was silent as she looked at the men.
“Speaking of the situation, what else do you know about Raymond, Nalia?” Winter asked, changing the subject. Nalia noticed that Aspen seemed disappointed. She was pushing for Team 13, as they were called, to be more than just Nalia’s bodyguards. However, Nalia wasn’t stupid. She saw this for what it was. Not a story with a happy ending like Aspen’s and her men who once saw her as a baby sister. No, this was a means to an end, and an unknown future for Nalia who would be alone and abandoned.
She looked at Winter, who was indeed a very attractive man just like the others on his team. She swallowed softly.
“I don’t know much, just that my mom thought he was stable, reliable and safe. I suppose it was the better route to go than to continue and lust for my father, a man who wouldn’t reciprocate that love. But then again, look where it got her,” she said straight faced.
“Raymond definitely covered his tracks well. After investigating him we believe Scarlapetti and he had dealings about a year before he married your mother.”
“Raymond said he worked her over to get to the point of trusting him. He showed no remorse, no emotion but an expression of a man on a mission when he shot my mother in the head.”
“Jesus,” Dusty whispered and Aspen covered Nalia’s hand with hers.
“I’m so sorry, Nalia,” Aspen said. Nalia felt her eyes tear up but she quickly pulled her hand from Aspen’s and went straight faced again.
“Raymond got what he deserved. Crazy thing is, my mother wound up in danger anyway, despite Karlicov’s belief that he was protecting her by staying away from her. Pretty ironic, don’t you think?” she asked. Everyone was straight faced.
“I think we should start cooking up those steaks. What do you say, Storm?” Cosivan interrupted. His command and control of the situation was obvious as everyone stood up and Weston and York helped Aspen stand. Nalia noticed how Weston kept a hand over her belly. Aspen caught her expression and smiled.
“I just found out a few days ago that we’re expecting.”
Nalia smiled. “Really? Oh my God, that is wonderful. Congratulations,” she said to her and Aspen took her hand and squeezed it. She walked with her and Weston and York followed them out of the living room.
“You can have it all, Nalia, despite their fears and insecurities as well as your own. It’s fate the way you all have come together in a time of fear and dire need to have some sort of connection and reason for existence. Mark my words, thirteen is indeed your lucky number,” Aspen said.
Nalia looked straight ahead and saw everyone working together to prepare for dinner. Even that wasn’t something she was used to. Maybe Aspen had a point, but right now, Nalia’s lack of trust and belief in happiness wasn’t budging.
* * * *
“What’s standing in the way? Karlicov? Nicolai? You need some sort of permission, or acceptance? Because I can tell you right now, Cosivan, that woman is interested in you and your team and you’re interested in her,” Storm said to Cosivan.
Cosivan clenched his teeth. “We don’t need fucking permission, it just isn’t smart. Not now, not when she’s in the danger she is. Hell, Storm, she hasn’t even spoken to us about how things happened and what Scarlapetti said and did to her. We only found out about Raymond shooting her mother in front of her just now, like you heard her say. The shit she went through, I can’t even imagine. She’s vulnerable right now. You heard what she said. She killed four men, and we know from the trail of blood in her path to freedom that she killed more than that.”
“Damn,” Storm said aloud and glanced back toward the house. Cosivan followed his line of sight and could see Nalia in the kitchen with Aspen and the others.
“Let me ask you something. Do all of you want her, and I mean want her and not just for fun,” Storm asked him. Cosivan squinted at his friend and held a firm expression.
“Okay then. Don’t be stupid. We were idiots with Aspen. We treated her like a sister as we watched her live a life, get flirted with and touched by other men and then be threatened by very bad men. We could have lost her a second time. Now look at us. We’re made men. We’re soldiers, and in about nine fucking months, fathers.”
“What?” Cosivan asked and Storm nodded then took a slug from his bottle of Bud.
“Yup. Just found out a few days ago. We’re fucking doing it all, man. We can protect her, our family, one another, together and have all the things we never had or only dreamt about. So what that she’s Karlicov’s daughter? He chose you guys because he knew Nalia would trust you. He isn’t stupid. Maybe he’s even smarter than the six of you,” Storm said and raised one of his eyebrows up in challenge.
“You think he wants us to make her our woman?”
“I think he knows that her safety, her existence will always be in jeopardy and danger because she’s his daughter. He knows what happened to Danella. He left her to avoid her being in danger and still she wound up dead because of him. If you care for Nalia then see where it leads. If you’re unsure then continue to deny anything is going on. The last thing you want to do is break her heart and make her feel more alone than she already does right now.”
“Alone? She has all of us here with her, protecting her.”
“Cosivan, she lost her mother, thought she lost her father, and doesn’t even know what Karlicov’s intentions are once this is over. There’s nothing concrete that she can count on right now but those survival skills Boian taught her. She needs more. We all do,” Storm told him and Cosivan nodded his head.
Chapter 5
“We’re not going to find her. Not now. She took out several men on her own and disappeared into thin air. It’s obvious we underestimated her abilities,” Romeo Lapella said to Vincent.
Vincent ran his hand along his jaw. They were sitting by the bar on the patio in a private estate along the beach in Florida. He had been lying low but then his associates guaranteed his safety and security as he told them what his intentions were. To take ownership of prime realty in Chicago as well as the casino businesses there and further south. There was enough money and business to spread out amongst various crime families, but he didn’t want the fucking Russians getting their hands on anything.
“All I can think of was that Karlicov had her trained, or she isn’t alone but has guards.”
“She wasn’t seen with anyone. Our sources that night a month ago proved for several days she was alone in that trailer. She’s the daughter of that fucking dirty Russian sick bastard. He taught her everything,” Romeo said and took a sip from his mixed drink.
“I don’t give a fuck how long we have to wait. I will get my hands on her. How about Karlicov? Any means of getting to him to finish the job?”
“Not happening. He’s highly covered and Nicolai has sent out some
threats of his own.”
Scarlapetti widened his eyes. “He’s threatening me? That dumb fuck doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. Our family’s been around long before those dirty fucks started moving in on our businesses. Damn fucking micks screwed things up years ago by sharing shit with them and giving up territory. All this ‘play nice’ shit to keep the cops off everyone’s asses. Fuck that and fuck them. Figure something out, Romeo. I want her in my possession. I’m willing to wait. I can be a patient man. When she steps back into Chicago or someplace accessible, grab her. The window of opportunity will be small. Make sure the men know what she’s capable of. I don’t care if she’s beaten and almost broken. Just bring her to me, alive. I don’t want to accept Cornikup’s help. He’ll want Nalia for himself,” Vincent said to him.
“Why does Cornikup want Nalia? He’s hardly even involved in any business in the States anymore. All his ties are in Russia and the Ukraine.”
“I think it’s personal and goes way back between him, Nicolai and Karlicov. My need for revenge is more recent. I no longer have my brother and cousin because of Karlicov. I won’t rest until I take away the only thing he has left and cares about. His daughter. Do whatever is necessary. I want her, and I won’t stop until she is in my possession.”
* * * *
Boian sat beside her on the couch. He couldn’t get the fact that she witnessed her mom’s murder out of his head. He felt the need to be here for her despite feeling the conflict of what he and the others really wanted. To make her their woman. She sat next to him, ripped jeans, pale blue t-shirt with a V neckline that exposed the deep cleavage to her abundant breasts. She smelled incredible, too. He leaned a little closer.
“What you told us all last night, about Raymond and what he did, it stuck with me.” He placed his hand over her thigh. “That must have been terrible for you. What made you go to the house anyway?” he asked her.
She swallowed hard as Chatham walked into the room. He brought in a couple of bottles of water then took the seat next to her other side.
“My father told me to run and to not trust anyone. Vincent knew Raymond and I foolishly thought that he wasn’t part of the plan to take me. I felt the need to get to him and my mom and warn them. I guess I didn’t think fast enough or put together what my gut warned me about at the restaurant where I first met Vincent.”
“What do you mean?” Chatham asked her. She looked at him and then away from both of them.
“We were celebrating at the restaurant, Raymond, Mom and I when Vincent paid for our dinner. He had his eyes on me immediately and every ounce of me felt on guard, yet, I knew that sensation. When a man shows interest and his eyes roam over a woman’s body. I blew it off as another guy flirting with me,” she said and Boian felt his jaw tighten. He hated to think about men wanting her but she was sexy and attractive.
“He came over to the table, Raymond introduced him as a business associate, and then he stood next to me and really focused on me. Anyway, when he left Raymond pushed me about dating, marrying a man as perfect and wealthy as Vincent and that was what any father would hope for his daughter.”
“What?” Chatham asked, squinting at her.
“I was so pissed off, you have no idea. I gave him an attitude and went to use the ladies’ room. He never asked me anything about my love life, about dating or anything, so why now? I should have known it was like some sort of plan. I mean if I was stupid and went all gaga over Vincent’s good looks and sexy style plus him being wealthy, then God knows where I would be right now,” she said.
Boian didn’t want to think about that, or about how Vincent Scarlapetti could have gotten his hands on her, manipulated her, and taken her to his bed willingly. He felt even more responsible for her and for not pushing about his feelings sooner and instead being a good soldier and hiding them.
“How exactly did it go down? How did you figure something was wrong?” Chatham asked her.
“My friend called to hang out and meet down the street. I had just come out of the ladies’ room and these guys had blocked my path earlier. I recognized them from the car later when Vincent forced me at gun point. I knew they were carrying, saw their weapons, but still was being stupid. Like why would any of that matter or have anything to do with me? So when I came out of the bathroom, Vincent guided me, used the guys bothering me earlier as an excuse to escort me to my parents. I made the excuse about leaving and hanging out with friends and the next thing I know Vincent is offering to walk me and I’m refusing. Then he’s pressing a gun against my side and I’m forced into the SUV.”
“The same men were in there that you saw in the restaurant?” Chatham asked.
“Yes, and when Vincent told me what he wanted and I tried to resist, they showed their guns and held me down.”
“Held you down?” Boian asked, teeth clenched. She lowered her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter now. I was shocked at the things he said, and disgusted and frustrated that I couldn’t stop him from kissing me and touching me and telling me exactly what he planned on doing to me.” She sat forward and Chatham and Boian reached for her, but she leaned against Chatham. Boian felt his gut clench. She was purposely keeping him away from her because she thought he didn’t care about her in that way. Hell, he was in fucking love with her.
“That must have been pretty scary. How the hell did you escape?” Chatham asked.
“We arrived at some building in a parking garage, and when they opened the door and we started getting out, shots were fired. The one guy went down, and as I turned I heard more shots and I shoved against Vincent, slammed my forearm into his throat, and ran. As I saw where the shots were coming from I saw my father and he was shot,” she said and Chatham caressed her arm as he held her close.
“My father told me to run and to trust no one, and that’s what I did.”
“So you ran to your mom’s house?” Boian asked.
She looked at him and sat up straighter.
“I wanted to warn Raymond and her about his friend Vincent.” She looked away from them.
“What happened next, Nalia?” Chatham asked her.
She shook her head and stood up.
“No, I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t need to talk about it,” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly.
“Nalia, it might help to talk about it,” Boian said to her. He never wanted her to feel such pain. To see Raymond kill her mother, and then to have to fight for her life.
Chatham leaned forward and then Boian saw Dusty enter the room.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his eyes squinting with concern over Nalia. They all cared so much about her.
“Nothing. What are you doing? Maybe we can see what’s for lunch,” she said and held on to Dusty’s arm and walked with him out of the room. Dusty looked at Boian and Chatham and Boian nodded, letting him know it was okay. They left the room.
“Damn, she’s hurting,” Chatham said and stood up.
“She pulled away from me and went to you,” Boian said, standing now, too.
“She’s upset, and obviously pissed off because you keep pushing her away. It’s getting to the point where none of us want to push her away. We have to make a decision,” Chatham said to him.
“Something has to give. I’m losing the ability to resist her.”
* * * *
Nalia was losing her mind. The days passed where they each would touch her, give a hug good morning, or just give her a hug because they thought she needed it. It was so damn frustrating she held on to Cosivan a few seconds longer and even rubbed her breasts against his chest to try and get some sort of reaction. She felt like an absolute idiot. Maybe they really didn’t feel the attraction she had for them.
This morning she was sitting next to Viktor on the couch and slowly eased her hand over his hand and he got all tense and then made an excuse to walk away. Following that Dusty was making a sandwich in the kitchen and he slid his hand along her waist and
she pressed her ass back and felt his hard erection. He practically jumped to the other side of the table like she had a disease. She was so annoyed.
They were babying her one minute and then the next keeping their distance. She was getting antsy and when she opened the door to go outside a minute, two doors opened and Dusty and Viktor came out in a huff.
“What are you doing?” Viktor asked her in that tone of his. He had that little bit of Russian accent that came out when he was angry or on edge. She only recently picked up on it and she wondered if he usually hid it but was kind of off his game being stuck here like this.
“Getting some fresh air,” she replied.
“Well, tell us first, and one of us can sit out here with you,” Dusty added, crossing his arms in front of his chest and staring at her.
She exhaled in annoyance.
“When can we leave the house? You know, go for a walk, a ride, maybe a run?” she asked, feeling that loss of not being able to work out every day. She loved running and exercising, lifting weights and challenging her body. Doing the push-ups and sit-ups, even with the stitches aching, wasn’t enough.
“There’s a weight room down in the basement. Everything you need is in there. A treadmill, elliptical, a speed bike with the TV so you can participate in live spin classes,” Dusty told her. She rolled her eyes at him.
They had all been being kind of testy with her lately. Since the other night when Aspen and her men came to visit. In fact, Aspen was supposed to negotiate a little shopping trip. She assured they would be safe and even suggested a disguise as precaution for Nalia. She smirked to herself. The men weren’t too thrilled with that at all.
She felt their eyes on her and then realized she wasn’t enjoying this. She felt caged in. She turned to look at Viktor and Dusty.
“There’s nothing like running outdoors. Can’t we do that? I mean do any of you work out?” she asked and then felt her cheeks warm as both very fit, muscular sexy men raised an eyebrow at her. “You know what I mean. Run?” she asked.
The American Soldier Collection 13: Her Lucky Number Thirteen (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 7
