by Raven Rivers
Bethany shrugged. “I like Mishka better.”
“Again, why? He barely speaks English. Stanford Sullivan is American, like you. He came highly recommended. He has experience protecting women. He has a certain skill set.”
She huffed out an exasperated breath. “He’s a creeper. He stares at my chest when he talks to me. There is something about him that sets off every warning bell in my head. Mishka is nice, respectful, and sweet. He looks strong enough to pick up my vehicle with me in it and run away fast. I feel safer with him. If I have to be around another man all day long every day, I want it to be someone I’m comfortable with. Can’t you just give me this one? Please.”
Valisy nodded, still wearing the blank expression she was coming to recognize as his professional look. “Most women avoid him. I thought you would be offended by his lack of proper English, his heavy scarring, and his rough manners.”
Bethany laughed. “I noticed all that, but I don’t care about those things. He has a niceness about him that I really like. He also worships the ground you walk on. If I have to listen to him quote you one more time, I might break down in fits of giggles.” She imitated his gruff voice. “Valisy says you are to be called wife of Valisy. Valisy says always carry your phone. Valisy says better to be safe than sorry. Valisy says don’t trouble the people you protect…”
Valisy held up one hand. “Enough, my sweet. If you are so taken with him, then you can keep him. Dimitri will be furious, but I feel better with you having a Russian protector anyway.”
Bethany squealed with delight. “Great. Now I have new Valisy saying for Mishka. He’ll be so happy.”
“Well now, if you are intent on pleasing Mishka tomorrow, how about pleasing me tonight?”
Bethany smiled at his gentle teasing. “Mishka’s easy to please. Toss him a cupcake here and there and share a Valisy saying or two, and he’s happy as a clam. You are a little more complicated. What would it take to make you happy, my fresh-off-the- assembly-line husband?
“You are a bit of a flirt. That is fine with me, as long as you remember who you belong to.”
“I won’t forget. How about you? I hear all the women love some Valisy. Is that true?”
“Other women no longer interest me.”
“Just so you know, infidelity is a deal breaker for me. If you have sex with anyone else, we’re through.”
“You’re not joking anymore. I can tell by the tone of your voice and the look on your face.”
“Been burned before. Forgave the stupid bastard and he turned right around and did it again. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Understood. Now that we have sucked all the romance out of the evening, would you like to get out of the house and have some fun?”
She nodded.
“I’ll clean up if you want to change into something appropriate to club in.”
“Thanks.”
Bethany presented herself twenty minutes later wearing a tiny red spaghetti strapped dress. The skirt flared out around her thighs. She pared it with matching stockings and dress flats. Valisy whistled as she twirled around for his inspection. “Don’t ever call yourself a mousy accountant again. You are beautiful.”
She teased him back. “Well, I have to look like something that belongs on the arm of a gorgeous man like you.”
“When Timur paired us, I thought he might be overreaching. Now, I’m certain of it.”
“Are you always so sweet?”
“For you? Yes. Come, let us get out of here before I lose the battle I’m waging to keep from throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you to the bedroom.”
She giggled. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Chapter 10
Night Out on the Town
~ Bethany ~
They began at a posh nightclub owned by Timur. Strangely enough, Timur was enjoying the evening tucked away in a private corner of the club. His sitting area was elevated slightly to give him a view of the entire bar. The music was modern and loud. It didn’t seem to Bethany like a place Timur would frequent. Valisy steered her directly to Timur’s perch. He smiled as he saw them coming. “Valisy and Miss Bethany, welcome. Bethany, you are beautiful as always.”
“Well, where did this charming silver fox come from? Good thing I didn’t see you first, or Valisy would have lost out.”
“It’s not nice to tease an old man, Bethany. If you keep saying things like that, I might just take back the gift I have given Valisy and keep it all for myself.”
Bethany feigned shock. “I’m sorry. I think you got that the wrong way around. You didn’t give me to him. You gave him to me. I say no take backs.”
“Growing fond of him, are you?”
“I wasn’t all that thrilled when he laid down the security law for me this morning, but I got my choice of protectors, so I can’t complain.”
“So the American is acceptable to you, then.”
“Nope, I traded him for the big Russian. I can’t shake the feeling that Stan is bad news. He seems vaguely familiar, but I can’t place him.”
Timur glanced at Valisy. “Don’t worry. I pulled him already.”
Timur asked casually. “Do you think he may be DEA?”
Bethany wrung her hands in her lap. “DEA or a serial killer. Who knows? He’s just creepy.”
“That’s all behind you now. Go. Dance. Enjoy yourselves. Don’t sit with an old man.”
Bethany held out her hand to him. “Come dance one dance with me. Make me happy.”
The older man looked panicked. “I have never danced before.”
She pulled him reluctantly to his feet. “Come on, you’re never too old to dance. We can knock something off your bucket list.”
He looked confused as they hit the floor. A slow song came on. Bethany could feel the tension ebb out of his body.
“Slow dancing, I can manage.”
“You can do anything you set your mind to.”
“So positive. I think you are going to be good for us, little Bethany. We have been needing a woman’s touch. If things really work out between you and Valisy, maybe you can help me find matches for the rest of my men. I don’t want them to grow old alone, like me.”
Bethany was taken aback. “I might consider that, but it will have to be more of a covert operation. No more bull in a china shop tactics, okay?
“I see what you mean. We will be stealthy next time.”
Bethany had to smile. “You know, you’re a good dancer. Why don’t you have your own woman?”
To her surprise, the older man blushed as he stammered to provide an answer. “Well, Miss Bethany…not many women want older men. Then there is the issue of me being in the line of work I am. I do put in some long hours, which means I’m rarely at home.” A mischievous gleam flashed in his eye as he continued speaking. “Well…I have been thinking of getting a cat. I think that would be more to my liking.”
Bethany responded agreeably. “That’s actually a fantastic idea. Cats don’t care when you come and go. They just lie around all day, waiting for someone to come and scratch behind their ears. You have to be careful with cats. They tend to scratch your furniture right up.”
He looked pleased, as if a little property damage somehow sealed the deal. “It’s settled, then. How does one procure such an amazing creature?”
“I have a neighbor whose cat is having kittens in a couple of weeks. I’ll call you when they arrive.”
A light tapping on his shoulder told Timur his dance was over.
Valisy joked, “You seem to be enamored with every Russian man except your husband today. First it was Mishka, now it is Timur. When do I get a turn?
“You’re in a class by yourself. As my husband, you get attention of a more intimate and specialized nature.”
Valisy pulled her tighter into his grasp. Her arms slid up his around his neck. He lifted her slightly and their lips met. Bethany didn’t know how long her feet dangled in the air as they kissed, but when the kiss en
ded, they found themselves in a throng of people dancing to a fast song. Valisy guided her across the floor to a secluded spot. Safely ensconced in the booth, they continued kissing like teenagers. The man had some hot lips, and Bethany literally couldn’t get enough of them. The moment was interrupted by a giddy female voice. “Valisy, I didn’t see you here. What will you have?”
Bethany glanced up to see Dina. She was dressed in the scant uniform of a waitress. She looked absolutely fabulous. Her eyes got big when she saw Bethany.
“Dina, you look great. How are you doing?”
The woman smiled warmly. “Wonderful. You and Valisy? I never would have guessed.” She rolled her eyes to indicate she remembered Bethany saying he was the handsome one.
Bethany stammered, “Well, heck…it was kind of sudden.”
Valisy interjected smoothly. “Dina, I would like to formally introduce you to my wife, Bethany Robertson, now Bethany…”
The woman looked crestfallen as she glanced down at Bethany’s ring finger. “I see. Congratulations.” She turned on her heel and walked briskly away.
Bethany looked at Valisy with her mouth hanging open. He slid out of the booth and followed after the blonde.
Draj slammed into the booth beside Bethany and bumped his hip against hers. “Get used to that, Bethany. There are going to be a lot of disappointed women out there now that Valisy is off the market.”
“Well, pray tell, how many is he going to go chasing after to console in their moment of grief?”
Dimitri slid into the booth beside Draj. “No telling how many. The man has shitty taste in women.”
“Thanks a lot. Don’t hold back on account of my feelings, just tell it to me straight.”
Draj laughed. “He’s not saying you are a shitty choice. Timur chose you for him. He’s saying all Valisy’s choices before he ended up with you were shitty. That little tart is the worst of them, by the way.”
“Look, I’m not hanging around here waiting on him to get finished dating. Can I get a ride home?”
Dimitri responded, “Whatever you want. We can even stay the night and let you work off some of the frustration if you like.”
Draj elbowed him. “Don’t be like that. She doesn’t know you’re joking.”
He leaned over to her and spoke clearly. “I’m just joking. I promise.”
She couldn’t contain a giggle. “Thanks, big guy. I’ll know for next time.”
Bethany kept thinking her cell phone would ring when Valisy didn’t find her at the bar. It didn’t all the way home.
Dimitri’s rang just as he was pulling back into the club from dropping her off. It was Valisy’s voice and it sounded panicked.
***
~ Valisy ~
“Have you seen Bethany? She was at the Broadway, now she’s missing.”
“How long have you been looking?”
“I just came back to the table and found her gone.”
“You know something, Valisy? You are a shitty husband. Draj and I found her after you left her to go chasing after that piece of shit, Dina. She asked us to take her home. Said something about not waiting around for you to finish dating or some shit. You just took your new bride out for a night on the town and then left her on her own for a fucking hour to chase after some whore. You’ll be lucky to still have a wife when you get home. You really don’t deserve her, I hope you know that.”
“Screw you, Dimitri.”
Valisy was at her door inside twenty minutes. He knocked. She didn’t answer. He knocked again. No answer. After about a half hour, he decided to sleep in his car. If he went any other place, she would suspect he went back to Dina. That he would not have.
He lay cramped in his backseat, thinking of what a stupid mistake he had made. Dina had been his friend for over twenty years. They drank together, lived together, and even fought together. Yeah, they did sleep together at one time. That was a long time ago. He never would have thought in a million years she would be so upset that he finally got married. She had really lost her mind when she saw his grandmother’s ring on Bethany’s finger. That ring was his most prized possession. The fact that he gave it to Bethany communicated volumes about his hopes for their future together. It had taken a bit to calm Dina down. Time had gotten away from him. Now he was kind of screwed.
He could feel his dream of Bethany falling head over heels in love with him slipping away, and fuck all if he knew what to do about it. Tossing and turning all night left his neck in a perpetual cramp. He was just about to get out and knock on the door again when he saw a familiar car pull into her driveway. What the hell was Steiv doing visiting his wife at zero dark thirty in the morning? She must have been expecting him, because she answered the door promptly with a smile on her face.
Chapter 11
Whores and All
~ Bethany ~
Steiv adjusted his glasses as Bethany slid a mug of hot coffee in front of him. “Bethany, what can I do for you? You look like hell by the way. Married life must not be agreeing with you.”
“Thanks a bunch for that. My ego really needed that gut punch about now.”
“What’s up? If Valisy has done anything to you, you were wise to call me instead of the police. We take care of our own problems internally, if you know what I mean.”
“I wanted to ask you a question.”
“Shoot.”
“When I asked you why you gave Dina your key after you said she was manipulative and untrustworthy, you said I didn’t understand people very well. What did you mean by that?”
He stared at her with something akin to total confusion on his face. “She was at rock bottom, living on the streets, turning tricks to eat. I gave her a chance to have a clean bed, shower, and food for free. She may be a worthless piece of shit, but she’s not stupid enough to screw that up. Even she can hold it together for a couple of days if she has to in order to survive. In any other circumstances, I wouldn’t trust her any further than I could throw her.”
“What did you mean when you told her not to mess up the only good thing in your life?”
“What’s with all the personal questions?”
“Just please answer the question. I need to know.”
“Dina emigrated here with us over ten years ago. She has been hanging around and sponging off us whenever she loses her job for years. She’s stolen from us, played us against each other to the point we were tearing each other up, and repeatedly screwed up any chance we ever got to have a real relationship. I just wanted her to know I wasn’t playing that game anymore. Sylvika loves me and I love her. I was giving her fair warning not to mess with that. She is just stupid enough to need to be told that.”
“Out of the ten of you, who still coddles her?”
Steiv jerked to his feet. “I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I now see where all this is coming from. If you have questions about Dina and your husband, ask Valisy.”
“I really don’t need to. You just answered my question.”
He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. “I’ll do what I can to keep her out of your hair.”
“It’s not my hair that I’m worried about.”
He gave her and exasperated expression.
“Don’t worry. I know you can’t interfere between her and Valisy. Let Timur know I’m opting out of this arrangement. I’ll wait the year, but once the time runs out, I’m gone.”
A brooding voice came from the door. “So that’s how you think this is how it’s going to go?”
“How did you get in here?”
“Though you wouldn’t open the door for me last night, you thoughtlessly left it unlocked today. I’m your husband. I live here. Remember?”
“Get out.”
“You know, Bethany, I getting tired of hearing that.”
“I really don’t care. Get your shit and get out. Oh wait, I forgot, you don’t have any stuff here. Makes it so much easier to leave when you never really moved in, don’t you think?”
&nbs
p; “I’m taking a shower, and then we’ll talk.”
Steiv stood up. “The lady asked you to leave. Be a gentleman and accommodate the request.”
Valisy’s voice steeled. “Steiv, leave, so I don’t have to break you. You know that Timur hates it when we fight.”
“Turn your stupid ass around and find someplace else to shower. Don’t come back here without an invitation. If you can’t find it in your heart to respect your wife’s wishes, I’ll be calling everyone in for a little intervention. Bethany is your wife. She’s not some whore you get to order around. Get your head screwed on straight before you blow the only good thing in your life.”
Valisy growled his displeasure as he stomped out of the house. Steiv followed him without another word.
Mishka entered with breakfast as they were leaving. “Valisy says I should stay here round the clock till you call him back.”
“You know something, Mishka? I really don’t give a rat’s ass what Valisy has to say. Make yourself comfortable. Have some breakfast. I’ll join you in few minutes.”
As soon as she left, Mishka pulled out his cell phone and texted Draj. What is wrong with Bethany? She is very sad.
Draj texted back one word. Dina.
Mishka squeezed his phone till it broke as a single tear slid down his face.
Bethany came back with her makeup touched up and every hair in place. She smiled sweetly at Mishka. “Now where were we? Breakfast, then a jog in the park, what do you think?”
Mishka nodded and laid his damaged cell phone down on the table. Bethany texted Draj. Don’t know what happened, but Mishka needs a new cell phone.
Draj texted back. Roger that.
Chapter 12
Cats and Other Evil Doers
~ Bethany ~
