The Masterful Russian (The Masterful Series)

by Cordelia Gregory

  Botelli stood up and made her way to a chair at the other end of the room next to a small ornate dining table where Antonia’s clothes and personal belongings had been neatly folded and placed there. She rummaged inside Antonia’s stylish designer black bag and retrieved the key.

  “I will get one of our agents to retrieve it. Thank you for your help, Ms King. We have been chasing this slippery eel for a long time and hopefully now we can bring him in and put an end to his violence. I will keep you informed of our progress. In the meantime, get comfortable. Until we have Aalam you are in protective custody.”

  “No, no way. I am not staying here. I have to find the girls.”

  Botelli made her way across the carpet to the bed calling someone on her mobile.

  “Issue a worldwide notice for Aalam Hashem. Tell them we hope to identify the bombers soon. I will get some artist descriptions done and then circulated. A terrorist attack is imminent. Make sure every country realizes the importance of raising their terror alert status and takes the necessary precautions and agents are out in the field chasing all the leads we have.”

  She closed the phone and turned to look down at Antonia.

  “You will stay here. Until we get that phone working you are the only lead we have on Aalam El Hashem. We also need you to help us find Adalina. Maybe you can convince her to give herself up. Agent Malinov, if she tries to move tie her to the bed,” she snapped.

  Gabriel raised an eyebrow and watched Botelli leave the room. Antonia growled with frustration and lay back on her pillows defeated.

  She spent the rest of the day being asked to give descriptions of the men she had seen coming out of Aalam’s tent and any personal details she could give about the young boys who had lived near her. Then she had to help an artist depict their likeness. It filled her with sadness mentioning their names. They had been such a caring loving family and now their parents, uncles and aunts would be disappointed and hurt by their actions.

  By morning, despite all the help she had given the United Global Defence team, they could not find the boys in the camp. They had disappeared and, worst of all, their mother and father had been murdered. Aalam’s phone was also proving problematic in getting it to work and there was no progress in locating Adalina and her Mafia connections. She was no longer staying with her family. Antonia was going to scream if she had to stay in bed any longer.

  She hadn’t been able to sleep all night for nightmares and worry over what was happening to the girls. Gabriel Malinov had stayed with her until midnight chatting to her, rarely leaving her side and making damn sure she didn’t dare leave her bed. She knew better than to attempt that now. Every time she moved her butt hurt. Then he had been relieved from his duty by a woman who sat and read a book for most of the night. But for once she was alone.

  Antonia lay tapping her fingers on top of her stomach wondering if she should chance it. Maybe find a way out through the window and somehow get herself off the island and back to chasing Adalina down. She thought about all the women Morelli had allowed to be taken by the Mafia.

  There was no need to guess the fate of the women. They would have been taken to work in brothels and used for cyber-sex websites. The white slave trade was alive and well and had now seen a new source of income in the refugee camps. They had to be stopped.

  Feeling a little stronger than yesterday and energized by the warm sun pouring in through the tall windows, the journalist decided to make a move. She carefully lifted off the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. Slowly she lowered herself to the floor and began to make her way to the suitcase one of the agents had brought from her hotel room in London.

  To her relief there was a small bathroom at the side of the room. She pulled her suitcase up and wheeled it across the floor to the bathroom where she took a nice hot shower.

  Antonia felt safe with the door locked. That horrible Botelli woman and the handsome agent, couldn’t stop her now. Hopefully, nobody would come in and stop her break for freedom. Dressed with her blonde hair piled up on the back of her head, secured by an ornate clip, she listened at the door to make sure no one was there before unlocking it.

  So far so good. No one was there to stop her. Now for the window and finding a way to escape the island. Antonia tried to open the old window but it was proving a difficult task. She succeeded in getting it a small way up but it was stuck. It didn’t matter because she wasn’t going to get any further. She hadn’t even heard anyone come in the room before two strong arms gently took hold of her waist and pulled her backwards.

  “And where do you think you are going?” Gabriel asked in his seductive deep voice.

  Antonia gave a surprised shriek and tried to move away but he held her against his body. She hadn’t expected to be able to feel anything for a man again but the strong muscle wall behind her made her feel safe and aroused.

  She’d always put herself in dangerous situations for a story and for a second time she was paying the price. Every man who had come into the room had made her feel tense and on edge apart from Mr. Malinov. Maybe it was because he had already proved he could be trusted. Or maybe it was simply because he had impressed her by putting his life on the line to protect her.

  Whatever it was, she couldn’t help feeling safe against him. He made her feel so small and fragile in his hold and to her surprise submissive after her spanking over his knee. She didn’t feel threatened or restrained in his arms, just safe. It was hard not to sink into it and just curl up in his embrace and allow him to protect her again. But her scolding inner voice was to rebuke her.

  Get yourself together. What would he see in you anyway? You’ve been raped and are damaged goods.

  She closed her eyes fighting to keep the tears at bay. There was such anger and ferocity in her inner voice it shook her. It left her feeling pathetic and hopeless. She glanced in the long mirror at the other end of the room catching a glimpse of her image. A strong feeling of anger and contempt washed over her. She was angry at herself for having allowed herself to be attacked. Now that inner voice she’d fought hard to contain and soften towards herself was stronger than ever. This part of herself blamed her for all the hurt and now it wanted to punish her for it.

  “I hate you,” it whispered.

  Antonia tried to move away from Gabriel in response but he held her still.

  “I have to get out of here. Nothing is happening. I know Adalina will know something. I have to find her,” she told him trying to struggle free.

  “Going it alone will get you killed. I know it is frustrating. I would rather be out there as well but until we get that phone working or get any new information we have nothing to go on.”

  He was so close she could feel his breath caress her neck.

  “Come on, you need to be lying down.”

  “I don’t want to lie down again.”

  “Sorry you don’t have any choice in the matter,” he said with humour in his tone.

  Before she knew what was happening, he was slipping an arm under her legs and lifting her up easily into his arms.

  “I am just going to get up again,” she snapped.

  “And I will just keep putting you back to bed,” he said matter of factly.

  He laid her down on top of the bed in her clothes but she was quick to sit up again. Gabriel grinned and put his arms either side of her on the raised hospital bed to stop her getting up.

  “Remember, how I spanked you yesterday? That was before I knew what had happened to you. Now I will simply strip you naked and tie you down and force you to rest,” he said huskily. “Do you want me to do it?”

  He smiled but there was menace behind his eyes and she knew if she continued to push him he would do it without hesitation. But what was more disturbing was how it made her feel damp between her thighs.

  Yet she still said, “Why don’t you try and see what happens to you?”

  Gabriel’s fathomless black eyes widened as did that sexy wicked smile he always gave her but at first, he s
aid nothing, just leaned in closer. His closeness made her heart beat a little faster and again she was surprised it wasn’t from fear but a gentle flutter of excitement.

  He won’t want you.

  He surprised her by caressing his fingertips down across her throat where the bruising was almost faded. She watched him study her lips while he continued to soothe her pain with his comforting cool fingers as they played along her bruising.

  “I haven’t met a woman like you before,” he said. “You are very brave.”

  He tucked his fingers underneath her chin and tilted it upwards. Antonia held her breath.

  “But there is one thing you have to learn. I am in charge and you have to start doing as you’re told,” he whispered into her ear, his voice betraying a little bit more of his sexy Russian accent, his breath causing a shiver of delight to transmute through her body. “If you move again, I will remove my belt, flip you over on this bed, pull down your trousers and your panties and whip your adorable bare peachy bottom until you understand.”

  She gave a shocked gasp feeling her cheeks warm and that dampness begin to strengthen and flood her pussy. She opened her mouth to speak, to offer a retort but his lips brushed hers gently, carefully. The touch was magnetic and the loss was immediately felt when he removed them. She stared at him in silence communicating her need for him to kiss her again through her eyes.

  She wanted him to prove she could still be wanted after being raped. Unbelievably she felt responsive to his strong male dominating nature. Antonia wanted him to take control of her whether she liked it or not and prove that nasty voice inside her was wrong. He held her gaze and then swept both of his hands around her face and pulled her closer. He kissed her lightly once more before probing his tongue deep inside her mouth. Her heart leapt glad it could feel something for a man other than fear and distrust.

  An intoxicating smell of lime and basil swirled around her from his cologne making her feel heady. His hands weaved their way through her hair holding her to him. She responded strongly winding her arms around his neck.

  It was all a delicious dream until he started to lie her back down in the bed and intensify his kiss as though to take it further. Antonia’s hand shot out and pushed at his chest.

  “No, no, I can’t.”

  An overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia swept over her. An invisible weight was crushing her. Memories of Aalam’s attack entered her mind and plagued her. Her hands were trying to push Gabriel away but he was already moving back from her. She sat up trying to calm another panic attack. She wanted to cry and crawl away with embarrassment. The tears came and this time she couldn’t stop them flowing.

  “I am sorry. So sorry. I should have known,” he said softly with heavy remorse.

  Gabriel didn’t appear to know which way to turn. He ran his hands through his hair and then looked directly at her. He took steps towards her and then backed off again. Now she felt even worse for making him feel uncomfortable.

  “No, I am sorry. It’s just when I lay down, I couldn’t breathe and I was right back there.”

  He nodded.

  “Not that you provoked that in me I just…”

  Shut up. Shut up.

  He nodded again and tried to smile.

  “Relax, I understand.”

  He took the neatly folded handkerchief from his dark grey front suit pocket and extended his arm to give it to her from a safe distance. It made her feel like a leper even though it was obvious he was considering her feelings and keeping his distance.

  “Thank you,” she said dabbing at her face with it.

  Gabriel Malinov folded his hands in front of him where she could see them and patiently waited for her to finish wiping her tears away. He looked immaculate and sexy in his suit and she felt ashamed at making him feel awkward. She was waiting for him to say, “It will not happen again.” But to her relief he said nothing to dash her hope of him ever trying again.

  “How about you get some more rest and I…”

  Gabriel cut his sentence short when the sound of an explosion rocked the Palazzo. It was so strong Antonia had to hold on to the ends of the bed to keep herself from falling. He staggered forward and caught hold of the bed to steady himself when another shook the building. His mobile rang. Botelli’s voice was loud down the other end enough for the journalist to hear everything.

  “Get her out. Two suicide bombs have just gone off in St Mark’s Square and the island is being attacked. Take her to the Paris office.”

  Antonia stared at him with terror-stricken eyes.

  “I’m on it.”

  He slipped the mobile back in his inside pocket and took hold of Antonia’s waist to lower her to the floor forgetting the idea of keeping his distance.

  “We have to go,” he said reaching inside his suit jacket for his weapon when she was standing on the floor.

  She nodded feeling her anxiety pound loudly in her chest and adrenaline force her into action. She fastened her silver-grey trouser suit jacket and picked up her bag. She slung it across her body.

  They both stopped when they heard the sound of gunfire outside. Gabriel immediately moved in front of her and caught hold of her arm.

  “Stay behind me and do everything I tell you,” he commanded.

  Antonia nodded and let him lead her to the door. She rubbed her thumb along the leather strap of her bag waiting for him to give the okay to move. He cracked open the door and peered out.

  “There is no one up here yet. Let’s go,” he said quietly. “Keep silent.”

  Again, she nodded and followed closely behind. She hadn’t realized just how grand the Palazzo really was until she stepped outside of the room. The first-floor corridor was covered in white and brown marble. All of the walls were decorated with frescos of angels and cherubs dancing around women and men in Renaissance dress in the heavens. The door to her room and the others were marked by white pillars in a neo-palladian style entrance making her present surroundings a stark contrast to those in The Hole.

  Machine gun fire in the house could be heard downstairs.

  “Stay here,” Gabriel instructed heading for the elaborate wide stone staircase.

  Antonia stood still and didn’t move. She bit her lip hearing more gunfire as Gabriel moved silently down the stairs.

  Suddenly he reappeared and motioned with his hand to follow him. Eventually she joined him on the stairs. Not once had he shown any impatience with her. She resumed her position behind him and followed him down the stone steps. The gunfire got louder. Two agents were rushing along the ground floor corridor to outside. They both held large rifles. She’d seen them before. They were G36s by Heckler & Koch.

  They were just at the bottom of the stairs when there was a high-pitched whistling sound. Gabriel pushed her down to a crouch position on the stairs and leaned over to cover her body. Instinctively Antonia sheltered her head with her hands underneath him. She would never forget what she saw next.

  A small rocket from a portable launcher screeched through the corridor on the ground floor to explode in the wall. Her protector held her against him so tight she thought she would never be able to let out the breath she was holding. The whole building groaned and shook with force. Everything began to fall around them. Part of the ceiling came crashing down around them. Plaster, brick and mortar showered Gabriel as he protectively curled over her body and kept her free from further injury. Antonia clung to him until it was over and prayed the rest of the building wouldn’t come down on top of them both.

  Someone started screaming in pain. There were so many voices crying out for help. The urge to go to them and help was strong but Gabriel wasn’t letting her go anywhere.

  It was morning but the dust circulating in the building made the whole place dark. The need to cough consumed her but she was frightened to. Dust filled her throat and lungs. She could hear the roar of fire somewhere. But Gabriel was pulling her up. Keeping her close to his side he helped her over the rubble.

  “
I need you to move as fast as you can.”

  “Okay. I am right behind you. I won’t let you down,” she reassured him.

  He surprised her by taking hold of her hand and virtually dragging her behind him. She made sure she kept up with his fast pace despite the pain it caused. The adrenaline was pumping so fast around her veins it facilitated faster movement and started to dull the pain.

  He was taking her to the back of the Palazzo. They rushed over fallen debris. There were two bodies littering the hallway. One of them was the young nurse who had been looking after her. There was no time to feel anything, only to concentrate on surviving.

  Antonia was forced to stumble over the fallen parts of the broken building. Faces from the remnants of similar frescos on the wall upstairs stared up at her as she coughed and spluttered through the falling dust trying her best to keep up with the Russian agent. They entered a large dining room that had clearly been used as a conference room. It was still intact but nobody was there. Antonia guessed all of the agents were outside fighting off the attack. Or at least she hoped they were.

  Then there was another high-pitched whistling sound. Antonia held her breath.

  Chapter 10

  Malinov tossed two of the chairs from the dining table to one side and lifted Antonia up against him. He threw her like a rag doll under the table and crawled underneath with her. The rocket whistled over the table as he drew her into his arms and curved his body over her small form pulling her close into his chest again. For the first time in his life, he shook against the person he was trying to protect. Protecting Antonia was beginning to feel like more than an assignment.

  The whistling sound ended when the rocket hit the back wall and exploded. It felt like the whole world was caving in around them. The building shook violently and he was terrified this time the whole building was about to come down around them and bury them alive. He gasped for breath feeling the idea of dying from suffocation horrific and remembering how that had nearly happened on a previous assignment when he’d been sure he wasn’t going to come out alive.