by Lee Kilraine
“Would you excuse us, Lisa?” Kaz pulled Mira back into the diner’s kitchen, introduced her to the owners, Dave and Lu, and then placed a call to Quinn.
His brother agreed to send Rojas over for a drive-by to check on where the guy was. The last thing Kaz wanted to do was exit the diner with Mira while the man sat in the parking lot watching for her. After a terse conversation, he hung up and talked with Lu and Dave about the best technique for making a good quinoa. He knew Mira was in shock when she stood quietly by his side darting quick glances out the back window.
Kaz stayed calm for Mira’s sake, but his mind was already compiling his list of internet searches to dig into her ex. Ten minutes later, after Lu had shared her curried quinoa recipe with Kaz, Quinn called back and said it was quiet out front.
“Thanks for the recipe, Lu. Dave, be seeing you. Mira, you ready?” Even though he was anxious to get Mira tucked back safely in his house and start his search, Kaz stopped at the counter and had Renee box up their pie. He knew Mira, and when the shock wore off he was sure she’d need pie.
The incident clarified one other important item. He was no longer in the market for a date. He wasn’t willing to examine what he felt for Mira too closely, but he didn’t need to. It wouldn’t be fair to date Lisa knowing his whole being was otherwise engaged.
Chapter Twenty-one
The next evening Mira poked her head into Kaz’s office to find him muttering to himself at his computer. She hadn’t seen much of him since they’d returned from the diner yesterday afternoon. Even though they’d eaten dinner in the kitchen together, he’d been preoccupied, eaten quickly, and disappeared after a quick apology. He’d been distracted ever since they’d seen Ivan’s guy in the diner.
Mira had to admit seeing Ivan’s guy had been a shock to her system. But once she’d gotten over it, she could look at it logically. Nothing had changed really. She’d already known Ivan was still stalking her after his phone message. The fact that he’d tracked her location wasn’t a surprise either. He’d done that three times before. In fact, she was learning, because this time it had taken him much longer to find her than the others. She was going to grab on to that.
It was possible if she had known about the phone, she’d still be hidden from him. The good thing was, now that she knew about a phone acting like a broadcast beacon sending out a signal to anyone looking, she wouldn’t make that mistake again. She remembered she’d also logged into her Facebook account when she’d talked to Gwen. She knew that was a mistake now too. Thanks to Kaz, she could avoid making a lot of mistakes like that. Her chances of keeping her whereabouts from Ivan were better now than before she’d met him.
“Kaz, it’s time to go.”
“Go where?” He didn’t even glance up from his keyboard, just kept typing away.
“We’ve got the self-defense class at the 24/7 tonight. Remember? The one you’re teaching?”
“Sorry. I must have been in the zone. I didn’t realize it was so late.” His hands lifted from the keyboard and he flicked his eyes to his computer screen. He’d finally found a lead that might offer up information on Mira’s ex. For an average businessman, he wasn’t leaving much of a digital trail to follow. Unless he was a tech guy, that raised a red flag for him. He’d wait until he had something concrete before mentioning it to Mira. “I might have found a thread to pull on.”
“I’m not sure I want to hear that, but we’ve got to go. The thread will still be there waiting when we get back from class.”
“You’re right. Let’s go.” He sighed and stood up from his desk. “The self-defense classes are equally as important for you as any information I can dig up.”
“Hey, are you mocking me because I’m having trouble getting some of the moves?”
“I told you, Mira, I never mock.” He grabbed his keys off the hall table and they headed out to his truck and into town to the gym. “You’re doing fine. You’ll get it. Some women think they can’t be forceful or violent, but I’m telling you, everyone has the potential. Finding it and learning to tap it might be what saves you one day.”
“I’m trying. I am. It’s just that I tense up and freeze when it comes to hitting someone. I can’t imagine having to do it.”
“We can always try virtual reality. Letting you simulate a situation in which you have to use force to escape. Or some meditation to find what makes you angry. Then we could give you images to help you harness that anger when it’s time to go into defensive moves.”
“I’ll try whatever. For tonight I’m going to picture the face of Ivan’s goon because it’s fresh in my mind. He was always a jerk to me.”
“Let’s see if it works. Tonight channel your inner Rambo or Rocky.”
“I think I’ll go for my inner Buffy or Xena. I think they can kick serious butt as much as your dudes.”
He winked at her. “Absolutely.”
* * *
Well, Mira tried. In her defense, she wasn’t the only woman in the class having a hard time. Part of the problem, as Kaz and Hawk explained to the class, was that due to the size differences, women simply couldn’t very often put enough power behind a punch to stop an attacker. Simple physics.
That was why self-defense emphasized aiming for those vulnerable spots: testicles, throat, nose, and eyes. It took much less strength and generally stopped a man in his tracks when striking those spots. And that was the goal: to incapacitate the attack to stop it in progress and allow enough time to escape or get help.
Mira understood it. It made perfect sense. But somewhere between knowing what and why she needed to hurt another human being and the actual hurting, her mind and body both seized up.
It was another full class. Obviously, women were concerned for their safety and wanted to be more prepared to protect themselves. There was also the social aspect of the classes. Even though they took the class seriously—well, maybe not Barbara—there was lots of gossip and laughter flying around the room.
And possibly the biggest draw for the class were the two very hot instructors. Very hot and very single. So along with the gossip and the laughter, there was also a lot of perfume, batting eyelashes, and very cute outfits with a hint of cleavage. Whatever. Ever since they’d made love, Mira had lost her enthusiasm in helping Kaz with his dating life.
Which she’d admit was catty of her, but he didn’t need her help. Women threw themselves at him like salmon leaping out of the water during spawning season. He’d pay attention when he cared enough. Like Lisa. He’d sure seemed to pay attention to Lisa yesterday.
“All right, we’re giving an impromptu test tonight. Anyone who passes gets a coupon for a free cupcake from Aunt Marie’s Bakery.” Hawk waved the coupons in the air before sticking them back onto his clipboard. “Who wants to go first?”
Oh, boy. Because no one else raised her hand, Mira did. Might as well get her turn out of the way.
Kaz stood forward to take her on. “Show me what you’ve got, Mira.”
She turned her back on him and he took his position with his arm wrapped around her upper shoulders, the other down low on her hips, and she realized she’d made a big mistake. She should have asked to work with Hawk.
The problem was, this was the first self-defense lesson since they’d made love, and as much as she’d confidently announced that it wouldn’t change anything, it did. When his strong arms wrapped around her, she had an instant flashback to that moonlit night, both their limbs entwined in a delicious knot of heat and passion.
She must have frozen because Kaz leaned forward and whispered, “You can go ahead anytime now.”
His deep voice in her ear recalled private whispers in the dark and sent a rush of heat down low in her abdomen. “Push the fear aside, Mira.”
Fear. Desire. Whatever emotion she was steeped in, she needed to focus. Push the fear aside. Focus. She grabbed his wrist with her left hand, accidentally scratching his inner wrist.
“Keep going.”
She threw a high elbow i
nto his throat, only she missed and hit his pectoral muscle instead and a tingly pain shot from her elbow down to her fingers. “Ow, dammit.”
Not willing to give up, she spun and sent her knee into his nuts as hard as she could, only she hit the inside of his thigh instead, forcing a grunt out of him. “Sorry!”
She hesitated with her hand strike to his nose, and before she knew it, he had her down on the ground, his body covering hers. She lay under him, immobilized and vulnerable, as he gazed into her eyes.
Hawk walked over and leaned down to look at them. “No cupcake for you tonight, Mira.”
“Dammit.”
“Next time don’t apologize.” Kaz pushed up and off her, then extended a hand to help her up. “Don’t hesitate. Keep going and keep striking at your attacker. That pause gave me my opening.”
She slammed her hands on her hips, closed her eyes, and blew out a breath. Why couldn’t she get this? Granted she’d never been athletic, but if she could learn all the Elvis moves, why couldn’t she learn this?
Kaz’s warm hand slid onto the nape of her neck and he pulled her into his chest. “You’ll get it. You will. Every time you try it, your brain and body are forming connections and muscle memories so if you ever really need it, it’ll take over. Trust me.”
“Trust you?” It was so tempting to wrap her arms around Kaz’s strong body and never let go. Or become a pilot fish to his shark and let him lead the way through the stormy seas of her life while she stayed safe by clinging to his side. “Are you sure?”
“Ninety-nine point nine percent.”
“That’s pretty sure. That almost sounds like I deserve a cupcake.”
When his laugh rumbled in her ear, she remembered she still had her head on his chest. She pulled out of his arms with a quick step back and let him get back to helping Hawk.
Eventually, after everyone had tested, they moved on to another defensive move and split off into pairs to practice for ten minutes before the class wrapped up.
After class Mira talked Kaz into stopping at the diner because the bakery was closed. “Kaz, don’t I deserve a piece of pie because I volunteered to go first? I put myself out there to get the ball rolling.”
“Okay, but if you don’t mind, let’s get it to go. I want to get back to my computer.”
They entered the diner, bypassing the tables for the front center counter and the small display case with the desserts.
She really shouldn’t love the warm hand he’d placed at the small of her back as they entered. But oh she really did. It made her feel petite—which she wasn’t—and connected. Like they were an actual couple. Mira’s breath hitched at the idea. Couplehood had never worked for her because she could never get past the trust part.
Renee stood behind the sit-down counter, watching a small portable TV crammed onto a shelf where the plates usually sat. Half the ladies from the self-defense class were gathered around, elbows on the counter, watching along with her.
Mira studied the pie selection, eyeing a slice of banana cream. She raised her eyebrows at Kaz and he grinned and shook his head. What was the point of living if you didn’t eat pie? His loss and more pie for her. “Renee, could we—”
All the women shushed her. “Give me one minute, hon. Mauricio’s about to hand out the last rose of the season.”
The women leaned forward waiting eagerly to hear.
Kaz leaned over and whispered, “What’s going on?”
Mira glanced at the TV before focusing on the pies again. “Looks like the season finale of The Bachelor. Hey, is the key lime any good?”
“Yes. You don’t watch this show?”
She shrugged and leaned over the case to get a look at the pie in the back row. “I haven’t had a TV or cable for almost a year, but it’s not really my thing anyway.”
A round of groans rose up from the women, and they all began chattering and rehashing the end.
Mira leaned over to Kaz. “Sounds like an unpopular choice.”
“Your turn to choose.” Kaz tipped his head to the case, placing his hand on her back as Renee came over to take their order. “Pick your poison.”
“What’ll it be, hon? I hope you pick better than Mauricio just did.” She glanced back at the TV with a frown.
“I can’t decide between a slice of the banana cream or the key lime.” She bit her thumbnail as she looked between the two pieces. “What do you think, Renee?”
“Uh, sugar, I think you should look up. You’re on TV.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Mira’s head whipped up to the television and sure enough, a photo of her took up the whole screen with her name and vital statistics running along in a ticker tape at the bottom of the screen. “What the hell?”
“Turn it up, Renee,” Kaz said, his voice sharp and abrupt.
“The missing person’s report was filed by the woman’s boyfriend. She hasn’t been heard from since being fired from her last known job in Tallahassee two months ago. Mirabel Díaz has long auburn hair and green eyes. She is twenty-nine years old, five foot five inches tall, and weighs one hundred forty pounds. It is possible she’s in either Charlotte or Greensboro, North Carolina.”
The photo cut off as the station switched to a press conference. Ivan stood in front of a bank of microphones. “Please, if anyone has seen her . . . or Mirabel, if you’re listening—please, come back. I’m worried about you. Or call. Let me know you’re safe.”
“Ex-girlfriend.” Mira was suddenly in touch with the anger she’d been unable to harness a half hour earlier. And that was before the second bomb dropped. Ivan kept talking into the microphones and went on to suggest she’d stolen money from him before she’d disappeared. What? What the hell was he talking about? An icy current shot out, starting at the top of her head and down through each part of her body, every muscle, and every cell in a cascade of fear.
The feel of Kaz’s warm hand on her forearm was a shock to her chilled skin.
“Mira, does your ex have any nicknames you know about?”
She closed her eyes to pull herself together. Calm down and think. “Yes, yes he does. A few times one of his friends called him ‘Crazy Ivan.’”
“Shit.” Kaz pinched the bridge of his nose. “That isn’t good.”
“Why? What does that mean?”
“Oh, just that your ex is Crazy Ivan Prostakov, a member of the Russian Mafia.”
* * *
By the time she was sitting in Kaz’s kitchen, it was all beginning to sink in.
The man she knew as Ivan Prosser was Crazy Ivan Prostakov, a member of the Russian Mafia. Turned out no matter how many times she ran it through her head, it didn’t make it any less crazy.
“The Russian Mafia? How do you know?”
“That thread I was pulling . . . Before we left for the gym I had the first pop on a search I’d been running on the surname Prosser, with any link to public records that might have a Russian or Ukrainian connection. Things like real estate deals, tax records, birth and death certificates. I need to find a few more connections, but it’s him.”
“That settles it. I’m back to the theory that I’m a horrible judge of character.” She went light-headed as the knowledge washed over her. This was no different from how badly she’d read all her other exes. “How could I have missed that I was dating a criminal?”
“Why should you have known? In fact, some career criminals are chameleons; they’re slick. They’re often highly intelligent, charming, and persuasive.”
Ivan had been all of that. Thinking back, it was his intelligence that had first attracted her. Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. The man was disgustingly good-looking. She shook her head. “People should come with warning labels. Like prescription drugs. Warning: This human is prone to breaking the law and psychotic urges. Stop dating this human if any of these side effects appear: stalking, illegal behavior, lying to authority, or insanity.
“I’ve wasted a year of my life. No, that’s not exactly correct; Ivan
Prostakov stole a year of my life. Granted it was due to my own misjudgment and gullibility, but the results are the same. It’s like I’m right back where I started a year ago.”
Kaz shook his head. “No, you’re not. Don’t forget that when you met Prostakov, you said yourself your subconscious was choosing the wrong men to avoid committed relationships. You may not have known this guy was a criminal, but you knew he was wrong for you. And you were smart enough to run from him.”
“Then why don’t I feel very smart?” She smacked her hand on the counter.
“Mira, what you did by listening to your gut and leaving him was smart and brave and one of the most difficult things to do. I know. Remember the friend I told you about who went through this too?”
Mira nodded.
“She tried to run. She really did, but in the end she stayed and he killed her.” The muscles in Kaz’s jaw clenched as his gaze held hers with a fierce intensity. “Leaving is hard so give yourself credit.”
“I’m sorry about your friend.” She needed to pull it together. A pity party wasn’t going to help. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I should be counting my blessings and figuring out my next step. I’ve got to be honest: I’m scared.”
“Nothing’s changed, Mira.” Kaz slid a cup of some herbal tea in front of her. “Everything you’ve been learning is still everything you need to stay safe. Knowing who he is doesn’t change that.”
“Everything’s changed.” Mira’s thoughts were spinning out of control. She wrapped her hands around the mug, seeking comfort from its warmth. “I mean, I can’t try to reclaim my life if it means endangering people I love.”
Her breath hitched in her throat, the emptiness already settling into her chest. Oh God. She and Vivian had just reconnected and she didn’t want to lose her again.
“I’m not sure I can face running again either. It was so very lonely, but I can’t think of any other way. That’s the worst. The isolation. Not having anyone familiar to talk to.”
Kaz spun her around on her stool and sat in front of her, pulling her in close with her knees within the V of his. “First, I’m going to get online and check into this, okay? I’m not without resources. Did I ever mention I used to work with the government?”
