Melting Point

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “Nyet.”

  “We need her! The only way we can control him is if we use her as leverage.”

  “What about the other granddaughters?”

  “They are too far away, and we are running out of time.”

  “They are in Vegas.”

  “When did you learn this?” she asked.

  “A few minutes ago.”

  “Get them! Bring them here.”

  “It might be a problem. They are at the hospital.”

  “Why?”

  “There was an accident.”

  Sonya swore again. “I don’t care what you have to do. Get them!” Sonya’s footsteps passed by the closet door. “Without them, Nikolai can’t be controlled. He will turn everyone against me.”

  “Does he still have sway amongst the leaders?”

  Sonya laughed. “He could take down Russia if he wanted to. The only thing he values is his family. Without them, we’re dead.”

  “I will go.”

  The door clicked closed and a glass object crashed against the closet door. Sonya screamed an oath, cursing Nikolai.

  Liam didn’t like the conversation he’d just overheard. A puzzle piece dangled in front of him, but he wasn’t sure how it fit. He had a bad feeling it had to do with Morgan and her sisters. But who was Nikolai? Were they speaking of Walter? And how did he wield enough power to take down not only Sonya but Russia? He imagined the frail, aging man he had met at Brennan, but it just didn’t make sense.

  Sonya was searching for something. Drawers opened and slammed shut. Liam feared she might come to the closet next, but then the bedroom door clicked open and closed.

  “Is she gone?” Morgan whispered.

  Liam pressed his ear against the door. “I think so.”

  He had wanted to bring Morgan to the hospital, but was now wary. If Sonya’s thugs went to the hospital to pick up Nikolai’s granddaughters, they were bound to run into them. That’s if they could escape. They still had to deal with the guards.

  Liam quickly searched Sonya’s closet for a shirt he could wear. He should have known she wouldn’t have anything suitable for his size, but it was worth a shot. Right before he gave up, he found one tucked in the back. It was his. Why did she keep it? There was nothing special about the shirt, just a faded blue cotton T-shirt. He had given it to her to wear after Trace had jumped out of the hedges and startled her. She had fallen into the pool with an impressive splash.

  “What’s wrong?” Morgan asked.

  Liam slipped the shirt over his head, finding it snugger than before. “Nothing.” He wouldn’t look further into the past, not over a simple shirt. He’d known he’d ended things badly with Sonya, he just didn’t realize how badly. If he thought it would make things better, he’d apologize as he had countless times before. But nothing he said could change the past, nor did he feel remorse for his choice. Now, he had to think about Morgan.

  Liam swiped a blouse for Morgan. “Time to go, angel.”

  They had a small chance at escape. But time was running out, and Morgan needed a doctor. Plus, there were several hospitals in Las Vegas. What were the chances of them going to the same one as the guards?

  He tried to squelch the mathematical odds that took over a corner of his mind.

  Chapter 22

  Morgan crept down the long upstairs hallway behind Liam. She was sure they’d be spotted at any moment, but the hall was eerily quiet. Liam stopped at the top of the stairs.

  “I don’t hear anything,” Morgan whispered. “Where did everyone go?”

  “I don’t know, angel. But I have a feeling something big is about to happen. We have to get out now.”

  “But Trace and Reed —”

  “I promise to come back for them. Right now, you need a doctor. Besides, Sonya is more interested in Nikolai than Trace and Reed.”

  Morgan looked around her. “Even us, it seems.”

  Liam took a cautionary step down. Morgan followed until they reached the bottom. Still, no one came, no sounds were heard. It seemed too easy. In fact, she wondered if they could walk out the front door and straight to her truck without an altercation. Liam must have had the same thought because he took her hand and hurried to the main entrance. Still, no one stopped them. She was almost giddy with a mix of relief and anxiety.

  A sound off the main foyer caught their attention. Someone was running.

  “In here.” Liam pointed to a room off to the side. They raced into a small sitting room and hid behind a delicate couch.

  Morgan recognized the footsteps that were drawing near. It had to be Dmitri. She listened closely, hoping he’d pass by. It seemed as though he might, but then he stopped at the open door. She could see his boots from under the couch.

  “Morgan,” he said. “You are here. Come out.”

  There was no way she’d follow his order, but as he came closer, she knew she had to. He’d find her and punish her. But maybe if she went to him, he wouldn’t find Liam.

  Morgan shrugged off Liam’s hand and stood, pushing Liam back to the floor as he tried to stand with her. However, she pushed too hard and he fell back with an umph.

  “Tell boyfriend to come out.”

  Her first reaction was to say no and then to argue the title of boyfriend. How silly to think of a label right now. But one glance at Liam, who stared back questioningly, made her forget her words for a moment. Was he considering it as well?

  So, instead of arguing over a point neither of them were ready for, she said, “No.”

  Liam, however, stood next to her, his hand resting on her lower back. She should have known he wouldn’t sit idly by. He was both frustrating and wonderful.

  “If you want to save friends, you come with me,” Dmitri said.

  Both Morgan and Liam stared at him. What was he up to? He didn’t threaten or point his gun.

  “What are you up to?” Morgan finally asked.

  “It is time,” he said. “Nikolai Pavlovich is coming.”

  “Who is Nikolai, and why do I care?” she asked.

  “The leaders are worried he will return to power.”

  “Including Sonya?”

  “Most of all Sonya.”

  “What about you?” Morgan asked skeptically. “Are you worried?”

  Dmitri genuinely smiled for the first time since Morgan had known him. “Nikolai has many men on retainer. He knew this day would come. I go to his side now.”

  “How do we fit into this?”

  His smile grew, making Morgan even more nervous. “You will see.”

  “She needs a doctor,” Liam interrupted, pointing to her side.

  “Let me see,” Dmitri said, removing Morgan’s hand from where she kept the silk. “Nothing but scratch.”

  “She’s losing blood,” Liam said.

  Dmitri frowned. “All right, all right. But we get your men on the way. Marik is waiting.”

  “What men?” Liam asked.

  “I think he means Trace and Reed.”

  “Oh.” A confused expression crossed Liam’s face. “Seriously, why are you helping us?”

  “I do not help you. Only Nikolai.”

  Morgan shook her head. Nothing made sense. It hadn’t for a long time. But she wouldn’t argue with Dmitri. If he wanted to help, she’d accept. She would not, however, trust him.

  And who was Nikolai Pavlovich?

  Dmitri pulled his gun. “We are ready.”

  Without another word, he left. Morgan and Liam looked at each other for a confused moment before following Dmitri. Would he be their ticket out?

  “I don’t trust him,” Liam whispered as they raced to keep up.

  “I don’t either.”

  “Then why are we following him?”

  “Because he said he’d get Trace and Reed.”

  Liam groaned but didn’t say another word.

  Dmitri stopped at a door on the far side in the opposite wing. He flung the door open, aimed, and fired two shots.

  Morgan screamed
.

  * * *

  When Piper gazed down at the man lying unconscious in the hospital bed, sorrow filled her heart. It had been Van that followed them. He was hurt because of them. Piper touched his forehead near a gash that traveled down the side of his face, missing his eye, thankfully.

  “He’ll be okay,” Greer said from the doorway. “You’ve been watching him for hours. Why don’t you take a nap?”

  “No.” She was not going to leave his side. Why did he follow them? Why couldn’t he have stayed at home?

  Greer set her hand on Piper’s shoulder. “At least sit down. You’re starting to sway.”

  Was she? She had thought it was the room. “Why did he follow us?”

  “He was probably worried about you.”

  “Me?” When Greer didn’t respond, her shoulders sunk. She knew why he’d followed her. It was because she’d always be like a baby sister to him. She should be flattered that he thought enough to be concerned for her safety, but she wanted so much more. And now look at him.

  Greer tilted her head to the side, studying Van. “He’ll be even more handsome now.”

  “Why do you say that?” He’d always be handsome to her, but at the moment, Piper could only see the bruises and cuts.

  “He’s going to have a scar right there,” Greer said, pointing to the gash that had been stitched. “With his long hair and motorcycle, he’ll be like catnip.”

  Greer was right. She was always right. And it was hopeless for Piper to even consider herself in the running anymore. Van would only hate her for landing him in a hospital.

  “I should’ve recognized him,” Piper said.

  “How? I didn’t recognize him either. He has a black motorcycle and wears black leather. It’s not like that stands out as unique.”

  Piper sat on the edge of the bed near Van, knowing she’d get kicked off as soon as a nurse saw her. All she wanted to do was crawl in next to him and drift off to sleep.

  “What should we do about Grandpa?” Greer asked, snapping Piper from her thoughts.

  “Nothing, I guess.” Piper shrugged. “It’s not like we know where he is. And he obviously doesn’t want our help. It was stupid for us to come.”

  “So, we give up?”

  “What else can we do?”

  Greer sighed and plunked down into the chair next to the bed. “Some help we are.”

  Yeah, some help. If Piper could restart the previous day, there’d be plenty of things she’d do differently, including being nicer to Van. Just because he thought of her as nothing but a sister didn’t mean it was right for her to be angry with him. She also wouldn’t have let Grandpa walk away so easily after dropping a bomb on them. No, she would have tied him to a chair and demanded explanations.

  “Was that Morgan’s voice?” Greer asked, walking to the door. “It is. Morgan is here.”

  Piper jumped off the bed and hurried over in time to see Morgan disappear behind a blue curtain. “What’s she doing here?”

  “Liam is here too,” Greer pointed to the man at a nurses’ station. “Let’s ask him.”

  They both rushed over, nearly knocking him over in their hurry.

  “Is Morgan okay?” Piper asked.

  “Why hasn’t she been answering her phone?” Greer demanded. “And why is she bleeding?”

  * * *

  It took Liam a few moments to process what the honey-haired girls were asking. He’d been solely focused on getting Morgan to the ER and Dmitri off his back. Dmitri seemed to be overly helpful, and it made Liam nervous.

  Christ, the man had actually shot the guards holding Trace and Reed. Shot them in the head mid-sentence! Liam was positive Dmitri was going to turn the gun on him and Morgan. Instead, he uncuffed Trace, Reed, and Marik, and then walked out the door as if he didn’t have a care in the world; as if shooting people in the head and splattering their brains all over the wall was a normal occurrence.

  Whoever this Nikolai Pavlovich was, he’d turned Dmitri’s allegiance. He gunned down any of Sonya’s men who tried to stop them.

  The girls looked expectantly at him, Greer nearly hostile, but he didn’t even know where to begin.

  “Morgan is okay,” Liam finally said. “She needs stitches.”

  “What did you do to her?” Greer crossed her arms.

  “Leave him alone,” Piper said. “He wouldn’t have hurt Morgan.”

  Actually, he did, but he wasn’t going to tell Greer that. He felt bad enough without her clobbering him on top of it.

  “We had a problem at the Ivanovich mansion,” he said. “But it seems we have a mysterious savior.”

  “Who?” Piper asked.

  “Nikolai Pavlovich,” Liam grumbled. “Just his name seemed to open doors and cause men to lose their heads.” Liam winced. That was not what he’d meant, but the image was still there. The look on Trace’s face as he got the brunt of the splatter would have been comical had it not been so horribly wrong and disgusting.

  “Grandpa?” Both Greer and Piper looked at each other.

  “What do you mean, ‘grandpa’?”

  They both looked at each other again.

  “Listen, if there is something I should know, tell me now,” Liam said. “Morgan and I have been locked up, forced to work, and tried to escape, only to be found by a trigger-happy Russian. So if you have something of importance, I want to know.”

  “Piper, why don’t you check on Van. I’ll fill in Liam.”

  “Van is here too?” Liam looked around. “Did everyone come?”

  Piper shook her head. “He followed us and there was an accident.”

  “Is everyone okay?” Liam asked, allowing the conversation to veer for a moment. It was important to know who was here and what kind of liability they posed. Not that Liam could say or do anything one way or the other since he seemed to be the biggest liability here, but it was good to know and account for everyone. He knew they weren’t in the clear, not by a long shot.

  On the way to the hospital, Dmitri had filled Liam and Morgan in on the leaders’ gathering. There were to be over a dozen high-ranking businessmen and politicians with ties to the thieves in law. Nikolai was to make an appearance. From what Dmitri explained, the floor was about to fall out from under them all. There had been attempts on Nikolai’s life before, but no one had been successful yet.

  When Reed had pressed Dmitri as to why he sided with Nikolai, the answer was hardly reassuring. But as both Dmitri and Nikolai were thieves in law, the answer didn’t matter. They were tied by a code, one that Sonya didn’t adhere to.

  “Van is a little banged up and is asleep right now,” Piper said. “But Greer and I are okay.”

  “Is anyone else in Vegas I need to know about?” he asked.

  “Only Grandpa,” Greer said.

  “But we can’t find him.” A worry line marred Piper’s brow.

  “Why is he here?” Liam asked.

  “He just told us . . .” Piper glanced at Greer, tears beginning to form. She shook her head and turned away. “I’ll go check on Van.”

  Liam watched as Piper quickly walked away.

  Greer sighed. “Can I trust you to keep a secret?”

  “Of course.”

  “We just found out that Grandpa wasn’t born Walter Brennan. He’s Nikolai Pavlovich. He told us before he left last night.”

  “He’s Nikolai Pavlovich?” Liam tried not to choke. “He’s the one everyone is afraid of?”

  Greer frowned. “Who is afraid of him?”

  Liam ignored the question. “What else did he tell you?”

  She frowned again. “I can’t really be sure. When he told us his real name and then showed us his tattoos, my mind seemed to blank. I just remember that he was going after Morgan to end this once and for all. I don’t think he had realized she’d taken over the Vegas business when Dad died.”

  “But she was always going to Vegas. How did he not know?”

  Greer shrugged. “We still have clients in Vegas. I think Gran
dpa just didn’t want to deal with it. He said something about trying to get away from it all. Maybe he just wanted to stay ignorant.”

  “Then what changed?”

  Greer shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe he finally couldn’t turn his back on the situation any longer. He did say he changed his name because he wanted nothing to do with his Russian past. But sometimes a past doesn’t always stay where it should.”

  “Then we have a problem. Your grandfather is going to start a war with the bratva leaders. Dmitri has sided with him and said Nikolai has retainers at the ready.”

  “What should we do?”

  Liam shook his head. “You and Piper will go back home.”

  She crossed her arms. “Not likely.”

  “Fine,” he sighed, not having the patience to argue. “But at least get Piper to go back home.”

  “She’ll stay with Van.” Greer eyed Liam. “Now, what are we going to do?”

  “We wait for Morgan.” And then he would ditch them here and meet up with Dmitri, Reed, and Trace at the designated spot.

  “And then?” Greer prompted.

  “And then nothing.”

  “What about Grandpa?”

  “You mean Nikolai Pavlovich, the notorious vor who dangerous men are afraid of? I think he’ll be fine on his own.”

  Greer glared. “Morgan will never forgive you if something happens to him.”

  “And I will never forgive myself if something happens to her.”

  Greer tapped her fingers against her still-crossed arms, assessing him. “You like her.”

  When Liam didn’t say anything since it wasn’t Greer’s business, nor did his feelings for Morgan seem as tame as “like,” Greer seemed to take his silence as a reason to keep prodding. She tilted her head to the side as if she could see him better. Maybe she could. The look in her eyes was frighteningly clear.

  “You love her.”

  Liam didn’t want to announce he loved Morgan in a hospital, nor was Greer the right person to say it to first, but it seemed like an insult to deny it.

  Greer didn’t push or prod like he thought she would. She just smiled and said, “I’d say welcome to the family, but . . .” Greer smiled. “I guess we have our issues like all families, maybe a little bit more than others.”