by Cora Blu
“You’re important to me.” She hesitated and he heard a mild sniffle from his woman. Love was a crazy emotion. “I better get going. Give me about ten minutes then I’ll see you down there. I love you, Khail.”
“Be careful and don’t take any unnecessary chances, Cansler. I’m watching you,” he said ending the call. Slipping his phone into his pocket, Mikhail crossed the room.
“It’s that serious, Mikhail,” Crazy asked patting him on the back as he shrugged on his jacket.
Seth said, “When you know it’s real, you don’t care who knows.”
“Let’s go catch this dog,” Mikhail urged pushing open the back door.
Chapter 21
Bethany
Her body, still deliciously sore in all the right places and would speak his name when he wasn’t around, moaned with every tentative step through the dense snow.
There would be no skiing tonight.
That was fine by her. All she wanted to do was return to the hot tub, sink into the hot water, straddle his lap, and rest her face along his swollen chest. Feel thick muscled arms enveloping over her back under the bright moonlight. While they listened to—“Love On Top”—again and again. White fluffy snow falling over the surface of the water melting the second it made contact. The heat made the evening perfect.
Now blushing, Bethany whirled around, arms out wide, feeling so much love from the memories swelling inside her soul. Unable to suppress the smile, she started singing the words, prancing through the snow like a teenager. Swaying her hips to the beat in her head, she hadn’t felt this light in months, even years. And she was tired of living in a glass box, afraid to enjoy her life. Guests waved at her as she slipped between the trees, branches sprinkling snow over her face.
Good thing the outside speakers were on and country music floated through the falling snow like a ribbon. Grinning, she moved toward the barn keeping her eyes open for Mark who was waiting for her in the loft. She’d blame the new job on her energy and spirit moving her over the snow like a drunken fairy. No one had to know she was in love… unless they looked at her huge smile.
Bethany slowed her steps to an easy shrug down the trail between the trees to the barn at the back of the grounds.
Tucking her hands in her pockets, was the only thing she could do to keep from staring at her ring finger. The notion that Mikhail felt anxious about asking her screamed adorable. Dancing her feet through the snow, she kicked up sprays of white crystals with the tips of her boots.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. He might ask you to move in with him down in the valley or go on a trip. No one said a question had to be a proposal. If it was not a proposal, this was going to be embarrassing.
She couldn’t focus on that right now, the guys would be down in the barn soon, and she had to go through with this meeting with Mark.
Something rustled in the trees to her right. Stepping back, she tipped her head around trying to see what… fur and gleaming eyes….
A bear!
Instant terror jerked her forward to tear down the path. Tree bark tore at her gloves as she grasped the trunks, steadying herself to keep from smacking into a tree. Her legs pumping manically through the snow, taking her down the path to the shanty.
She looked over her shoulder, hearing moans and growls. A small ball of fur scurried down the tree’s trunk, its nails scratching down the bark, echoing around her as she ran full out dodging tree branches, using her arms as a battering ram. She sucked in gulps of air, burning her throat, but kept running.
Adrenaline burned in her thighs with each pump of her arms carrying her screaming to the shanty with the light on inside.
Snarling, the bear charged.
She jerked back and ran to the left as it growled. Swiping at her leg, it lunged for her, and she fell. The bear rolled over her, tearing her jacket, and rolled down the little berm to the ravine followed by a splash. That was the river. He must’ve fallen in.
She didn’t wait to see which way he ran. Screaming she got to her feet, and slammed into the door banging her fists in wild punches.
“Open the door—open the door, hurry up, a bear’s out here, please open the door!” She was going to die, she was going to die, and she was going to die a bloody death.
The door opened and large hands closed round her elbow dragging her inside, just as she saw the bear rounding the shanty. The door closed and Mark stood watching her and her jaw dropped.
“What are you doing here?” Darting a glance around the room, she waved her hand around in the air. “And there’s a bear running around out there.” Rambling she braced her hands on her knees catching her breath. Why was he there?
Mark pulled back the curtains, darting looks out through the pane of glass looking from left to right.
She stuttered, “That bah—bah—bear’s running around out there.”
He looked around then back to her as if he being there was normal.
He’d said something, yet she couldn’t understand over the manic thrumming of her pulse pounding in her ears. Her breath came in short ragged pants, and she held a hand to her heart certain it was about to explode from her chest, kneeling on the hard floor. All she could manage was to lay her forehead on the floor and attempt to calm herself through long even controlled breaths.
“Was it a small cub maybe?” he asked slower this time, getting closer to her on the floor.
His cologne assaulted her senses and her mouth went slack…Mikhail’s wore that scent. The rag in the cabinet around her face must have been Mark’s. He had the man holding her in the cabinet.
Stay calm he could kill her for knowing he’s behind all of this. Covering her nose with her jacket, panic sent every German word she’d ever learned to fall out of her mouth, in choppy spurts. “Yeah, they found the bear locked it up yesterday…must have gotten out again,” she stuttered. “It ripped my jacket,” she uttered forcing herself to remain calm. “I guess,” It hadn’t worked. “I guess it thought I had food on me.”
He sat down beside her thigh rubbing a hand gently over her back. “There’s a domestic cub that got lose from the neighbor on the other side of the river. They announced it a few days ago. He probably thought you were playing and bears can smell food five miles away. It must have smelled Mrs. Shamocherny’s cooking,” he grinned…sort of.
“Well I wasn’t.” Sweat dripping down her face made it difficult to see him clearly. “What are you doing here?” She scooted toward the door getting away from his caress. Daring a look around the small shanty confirmed that they were alone, something Mikhail warned her not to do. Not after what they’d heard in the loft.
Mark touched her hand. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Why are you in Greg’s shanty?” Did he know she told Greg he could take the rest of the evening off?
“I sent you a text to meet me here. The barn had too many guests, and I didn’t think you wanted to explain our meeting.” He frowned. “When I saw Greg leaving his shanty I asked to use it.”
“And he said okay, just like that? My guard let another person tell him not to guard me?”
“I told him it was business. What’s wrong?”
“He didn’t think that was strange?”
He tilted his head to stare at her, green eyes gone icy, behind his lenses. “Why are you questioning me? I’ve always been on your side. What has Mikhail told you?”
He was suspicious. She back peddled toward the potbelly stove; tired of the whole dance routine they were doing. “Okay, let’s cut to the chase. You’re GCT Holdings aren’t you? You had your people call me. Is taking me from Mikhail that important to you? I’m not the only person bringing in top dollar in the firm.”
He raked a stare down her body adding to her discomfort. “He’s adopted…I’m blood. That should have been my company and you mine…”
Bethany shot up her hand shaking it through the air; she had no time for word games. “This fight is with Hans Heinemann’s not Mikhail or me.”
&n
bsp; He grinned and the devil in his personality emerged wearing an open silk shirt with a gold chain draped over a hairy chest. Everything he professed he wasn’t. “There’s a lot of fire in you, Bethany Cansler. Mikhail doesn’t appreciate what he has. Does he know how special you are? I need you in my company to take it to the top.”
“Step away from the door Mark,” she barked, pissed that she hadn’t seen him using her.
“You and I would make an unstoppable financial couple. Mikhail’s just using you to get to the top. I actually love you.”
Nausea beat at her throat pain at her mind with his staggering words.
She had to get out.
Now!
She gripped her hand firmly around the solid handle of the metal poker propped against the potbelly stove, ready to strike.
“If you loved me, as you claim, why send those men to harass me, so I’d show you gratitude and leave Heinemann’s to partner up with you?” Terror ate at her spine. “Who’s using me now Mark?”
His face darkened, fingers balled beside his thigh. “Who told you that? Mikhail?” He spat the name like venom from a cobra. “A year ago he wanted nothing to do with running the company? Now you’re here bringing in all the publicity, and he’s ready to apologize for being an ass to you and take over with you by his side.” He cocked an incredulous look. “You’re smarter than that Bethany. He doesn’t want the woman you are, just the value you add to his name and Heinemann’s.” The bulge in his jeans grew. Bile rose in her throat at the hint of him becoming aroused. “There’s a place at GCT Holdings by my side waiting for you. All you have to do is say yes, and we can go. Go start over and leave this behind.”
Satan wore glasses, had green eyes, and was a step-uncle to her fiancé.
“Why not just present me with an offer to leave Heinemann’s while Mikhail and I were apart?”
“The same reason why I want you, you’re loyalty to Heinemann’s is attractive.”
“Why would I trust you now? You’ve lied to me all this time, knowing you wanted me to leave. How do I trust you any more than you say I shouldn’t trust Mikhail?”
His cynical laugh grated on her nerves. “I lied to protect you. He lied because he can’t keep his cock in his pants long enough to see the amazing woman in his arms. And as far as Glenda…keep your friends close, and in a headlock, because they know where you sleep.” He stepped closer. “How do you think I got into your condo to take that ridiculous lingerie Mikhail bought you? I’d seen it on the console behind your sofa in your condo…you never wore it. You hated it too,” he said with more certainty of her taste than Mikhail had.
How long had he been watching her?
She thought about Mikhail’s words in the loft. Things were going to get worse because money was involved. It’s always centered on money when things go sideways and the humanity turns on itself.
People were turning on one another left and right and if she went back to America who would they blame it on? She let his accusation roll through her brain and she had no reason to suspect Glenda…yet.
“If you don’t believe me about Mikhail, think about this. Without the threat and your numbers, why is Mikhail trying to get back in your life now? With your life on the line, I would have taken you away until the person was caught, not exposed you to more danger. Why hadn’t Glenda told the polizei that I had been with her in your condo?”
“You’re a sick man.” And a pervert sat a blink behind that man just waiting for an opportunity to surface.
He came closer. “You don’t find it ironic, the media’s reporting you’re going through a nasty divorce and all of a sudden the wealthy, Mikhail Shamochernyi keeps his supposed wife from divorcing him by saving her from a stalker? Mikhail comes out on top again with you on your back,” he snarled. “He’s got you snowed, using you to save his reputation in the eye of the media of course.”
Why was she listening to this mess? Backing away, feet from the bed in the next room, there was no other exit other than the front door…or window.
Through the worn curtains, the glow of flashlights lit the trees. And she knew they were searching for the bear. They had to have heard her when she screamed outside.
She needed to get their attention. Flexing her fingers around the fire poker in her grip, Bethany hurled it threw the window. Glass shattered over the floor, the curtains billowing in and out. Mark leapt for her pinning her to the wall a hand over her mouth. Punching at his face, she screamed, kneeing him in the groin. He folded over, and she shoved past him going for the door.
Come on, somebody had to hear her screaming.
He grabbed her jacket, slung her to the floor, crawling up over her, his heavy body pressing her down.
Bethany banged her fist against the wood door, pain reverberating down her arm.
His hand slapped over her hand pulling it away from the door. She couldn’t shove him off. Fighting him holding her down, she worked her hand between them.
His eyes bulged when she got a handful of his groin and twisted until he was red and writhing. Groaning, he angled off, but locked onto her ankle with one hand.
“I supported you when they said you were just a piece of ass passed around to Mikhail’s cronies.”
“Get off me! You sick dog.”
“You went to Mikhail, but when you were in trouble you came to me.”
She could see his cold green eyes peering at her over her shoulder his breath on her neck. He shook his head, the hair longer than it had been when they arrived. He was insane.
She struggled to get to the fireplace, Mark’s too heavy body pinning her to the floor.
“You lied to me,” he growled, rolling her over on her back, his hands closed over her waistband tugging her toward him, dragging her across the floor.
Her jacket bunching under her had the zipper pinching her throat. She was clawing at the strangling sensation.
She couldn’t let him get her pants off, slamming her foot into the back of his thigh. She pounded until his grip loosened.
“Help me!”
Mark jerked her back by the ankle, twisting her leg. She had to turn over feeling as if he would break it off. Something cold and hard pressed at her ribcage under her sweater.
No one had to tell her to stop fighting. The gun muzzle was enough warning. He crawled up her body his heavy body trapping her to the floor, the muzzle of the gun pressing against her kidneys.
Acids churned in her stomach, sending a foul taste into her mouth as she fought for every breath. Mark’s breath came in heavy slugs as well.
Hand trembling, she wiped it under her nose and steadied her voice. “What do you want from me?” she begged, angry she sounded weak. She was pissed that he had the gall to attack her when she’d gone to him as a friend and confided in him her doubts of staying in Austria. He’d used it against her. “I don’t have anything of value.” Outside of her life, and she wasn’t giving that up without a fight
She had to do something. Shoving her thumb into the center of his eyes, the slippery resistance pushed back, and he howled in pain, writhing over her while grabbing his face.
Fighting from under his weight Bethany scrambled to her feet. Lunging for the door, slipping on the rug, she knocked over the pottery vase.
The vase cracked around the lip sending large shards of pottery scattering. She grabbed a large chunk swinging it at Mark’s hands dragging her across the floor.
The raw edge caught Mark along the temple, blood leaching out down his face. He kept coming for her.
Kicking, she hit his face hoping the crack sound was his nose breaking. He fell over cursing, gripping his bloody nose. Her body hummed with pain.
The sound of a snowmobile’s engine in the distance gave her hope they were still in the area outside.
If they were searching for her, she had to get the door open and scream her head off. She fought to hold on to the doorknob and unlock the deadbolt at the same time.
Finally, it pulled free of the frame
and opened.
One pull.
It opened.
Cold air slapped the scream from her mouth as the door slammed inches from her face, cutting off her voice. Mark’s big hand splayed against the door. His body locking her to the door.
Hard thuds rent the air as her back was shoved into the door then he slung her across the room. Her feet hit the table when her back made painful contact with the arm of the sofa to bounce to the floor
Grunting she felt dizzy as she searched for her bearings, the room spinning, and locked onto the stone of the fire hearth.
Make noise. Make noise. Make some damn noise girl, screamed through her mind.
She shoved her foot out making the coffee table crash to the floor the empty water glass crashed on the stone tile, and she reached for a shard of broken glass. Mark grabbed a chunk of her air, dragging her across the floor to the door where he peeked out the broken window. Her scalp burned.
His diabolical smile trailed possessively down her body through her jacket, the heat penetrated her skin leaving it sensitive to the air coming through the window.
She trembled more with anger than fear or chill.
“They’re gone…looking for the bear, so let’s get out of here.”
All the adages of never allowing an attacker to take you to a second location fed into her will to live and fight.
“Let go!” she screamed as loud as she could, praying he lied about them being gone and heard her in there fighting for her life.
“Stop fighting!” he shouted in her ear, the echo rang through her head like the Liberty bell being struck between her ears. He worked at something in his hands bringing it up over her stomach. She froze. No mistaking the hard press of a gun muzzle jabbed to her breast.
“Be still—” A rag came over her face. Clawing at the cloth, she tried not to inhale, but that was impossible. She had to breathe or pass out. But whatever it was didn’t take long to make her lightheaded. Her lashes felt heavy, and she strained to hold them open.