Eddie closed his eyes, genuinely moved by the distress he could hear in her voice. He was not unaffected by what had happened. History had repeated itself brutally, as he had always suspected it would.
“I’m sorry, Asya. I’m truly sorry.”
“The stables went up first. I was well out of there but, the blast knocked me off my feet, and then there were more, everywhere, and finally the house went up. I saw men on fire. There were blackened body parts…”
“Asya, tell me where you are.”
“I’m with Leo’s men. They’ve been looking after me. They will be there soon to pick you up. We now have your location.”
Eddie winced. “Good. I’ll be waiting.”
He had no intention of waiting, until Asya spoke again. “We have a hostage, Leo’s parting gift to us that will make a fitting tribute to our family’s demise.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see very soon, Uncle. Just be waiting where you are.”
The call ended and Eddie cursed out aloud. He tried to tell himself that he was only surmising that Asya had got hold of Lena, and if she had, it wasn’t his problem. Lena had rejected him, even when he’d tried to warn her that night. She was stubborn and irresponsible. All he had to do was discard the phone and he could be out of there, long before they arrived. It was sheer stupidity to get caught up in all this bullshit again, when he had a chance for a clean break, so why the fuck was he still standing there?
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Lena was naked and beautiful, lying asleep on her back, next to him. Dylan gently touched her breast, gliding his fingers over its softness to her nipple. He delicately teased it, feeling it stiffen and swell, tempting him to take it into his mouth. As he tried to roll towards her, he was unable to move and besieged with pain. His instincts erupted and he fought to regain his vision and sit up, only to find himself held securely in restraints.
“Lena, get out. Get out of here now.”
Someone touched his shoulder. “Master, it’s alright, you’re safe.”
Shaking his head, he turned back to look to his side, but Lena was gone. He was in bed alone and someone was staring at him. Gradually her face came into focus, with her pale skin, dark eyes and short black hair.
Dylan frowned. “Yvette?”
She was smiling joyously. “Yes, Master. Welcome back to us.”
“What’s happened to me?”
“You were badly hurt, Master,” Yvette explained “The doctor has had you on fluids, IV antibiotics and painkillers, but he couldn’t keep you sedated anymore. He said you are doing very well and assured me that you will make a full recovery with enough rest.”
“Doctor? What fucking doctor?”
“A very well paid one. Nothing has been compromised, Master. I’ve made sure of it.”
Looking about, he recognised his own room. The curtains were open, revealing a clear bright day outside. An empty IV bag hung from a pole, and he was naked in his own bed, with a sheet draped over him.
“How long?”
“It’s been five days, Master.
“Get these fucking restraints off of me.”
“I can’t, Master. They’re to keep you from moving too soon. You have injuries that still need attention and rest; three broken ribs, some second degree burns to your back, buttocks and legs, and a bullet wound in your thigh.”
He stared at her as his thoughts gathered. “I blew it up.”
“Yes, Master, you did.”
He remembered the seconds before the first explosion, Semyon running, the men panicking and his own desperate attempt to get to his safe area. Leo had probably saved his life, coming after him, giving him those last few seconds by getting between him and the fireball, before the blast had swallowed him up and thrown his charred remains through the air. Even with the blast resistant blanket, the heat had almost roasted Dylan before he had mercifully passed out.
“How did I get out?”
“Carl came back and got you out. You were already unconscious. I flew out immediately and got here three days ago, but Carl has had everything under control.”
Dylan shook his head angrily. “He could have been killed. What the fuck was he doing there? His mission was over once Mairead and those girls were out of there.”
“After he dropped Mairead off, he took a few men and went back for you.” Yvette smiled. “He apologises for disobeying you, but he is very happy he did, as are we all.”
“We’ll see how happy you all are when I get out of this fucking bed.” He yanked the restraint holding his wrist. “Take them off.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Yvette became angry and began to chide him in French. “We have not being caring for you night and day so you can undo the good we have done. I got here as soon as I could, to do the job you trained me to do, so let me do my job.”
Dylan peered at her curiously. “You really want to defy me?”
“No, Master,” she replied. “But I will if it’s for your own good, and if you want to punish me when you are healed, I will look forward to it, but for now, I have a lot to deal with and I would appreciate you not making that harder for me.”
“Harder for you? I’m trying to get out this fucking bed so I can help you.”
“I don’t need your help. I need for you to be well again.”
“Alright,” he snapped, still glaring at her. “At least, tell me what’s happened.”
“I will, if you don’t start on me again. I have been under enormous pressure and I am doing the very best I can and…”
“Yvette,” he said firmly. “I’m listening to you.”
At the end of the bed, Yvette retrieved a manila folder stuffed with papers. “I have printed all Intel we’ve gathered on everyone involved, and I’ve made a full and updated report. The girls were collected from the forest as per your instructions and are now safely recuperating at the beach house, until they’re ready to face society. Kim and Greta, have been incredible working with Emily, Sabine and Nicole, all who flew in with me especially to look after them. These young girls are very frightened, but surrounded by women who know exactly how to care for them.”
Dylan frowned. “You said Greta, so where’s Esther?”
“Greta had stolen a phone and had it on her when she came to Melanie’s house. I was only aware of this when she attempted to ring her mother. I’d already accessed Lena’s phone, as per your instruction, and was alerted to two unknown numbers in the middle of the night. One of them was coming from Melanie’s house, but I traced the other to Leo Ashrukov’s house. I rang Esther and told her. She hid Melanie and Greta in the cellar. We found them the next day, but …”
“But what?” Dylan demanded. “What happened to Esther?”
“She took the phone and ran. I assume to make them believe she was Greta. I can’t be certain, but I believe they have her.”
Dylan pulled angrily against the restraints. “Untie me now, Yvette. Fucking untie me.”
“No, Master, I won’t.”
“Yes you will,” he told her harshly. “You will do as you’re fucking told and stop this bullshit so I can find Esther.”
“I am doing what I’m told,” she yelled back at him in French. “You put me in charge of this operation and left me with the responsibility of everything if something should happen to you. Well, it has. You’re injured and I have just as much chance at finding Esther as you do, and you know that. Already, I have a team in the city and Greta tells me as much information about Leo’s men that she can. We have The Emerald Hotel under surveillance and I have Zirconia primed for any online alert. So is there something I have not done for the sister that I love with all my heart and am terrified of losing?”
Dylan softened his gaze and slowly shook his head. “No. You’ve done well, Yvette. I’m proud of you and I’m sorry. I know you are doing everything. What happened to Greta’s mother?”
Yvette wiped some tears from her eyes. “We traced her to the hospital. The taxi she was in
was hit by another car. The driver had activated a panic button but he was shot and killed by unknown assailants, and Lena was trapped in the car. They tried to pull her out, but the police got there before she could be removed.”
“Is she alright?”
“Yes, Master,” Yvette smiled. “Somehow Lena absconded from the hospital the next night and went to Melanie’s house, only to find it empty. I’d had Carl set up surveillance there to see if these men came back and that’s when he saw Lena. She was distressed and very drunk when Carl finally got to her. He asked what he should do and I thought it best that Greta not be aware of this and I… I had Carl bring her back here.”
Dylan stared at her. “Lena is here?”
“We didn’t know what to do with her. She had drunk a great deal and could barely walk. She thought Carl was you and…” Yvette bit down on her lip. “She became very angry and hit him and said many things to him, very personal things, and…”
“And so now you know who Lena is.”
“I did, the moment I saw her on camera. She’s much the same as the picture you have of her. I did not know what to do, Master, and I thought you would want her here.”
“And how has she been while here?”
Yvette frowned. “She has asked many questions and sometimes been a little demanding. She wanted alcohol and when I said we had none, she got very angry. I managed to calm her by initiating a video conference call with Greta. Since then she’s been happier.”
“Has she asked to see me?”
“No,” Yvette replied. “I hadn’t told her you were here, until this morning. She became quite upset and demanded to go home, until I told her you were hurt. Then she demanded that she sees you. Master, I think it is you who needs to talk to her.”
Dylan peered at her. “Do you?”
“Yes, Master.” Yvette nodded determinedly. “I have to be with the others to find Esther, and you still need to rest. I believe it would be beneficial for Lena if she was left to care for you.”
“And if I’m opposed to this course of action?”
“There is nothing you can do. I have spoken to the others and suggested that you are temporarily unfit for command, and I am now in that capacity. They’ve agreed, and we have removed all vehicles to keep you here, apart from the one that I will use. Once I am gone, Lena will be the one to release you. I am sorry, Master, if this is displeasing to you and I will accept my permanent expulsion from your sight once this is done.”
“Trust me, Yvette, you won’t be getting out of it that easy.” He shook his head and sighed. “Everything you said was true. You are more than capable of finding Esther and I’m deeply grateful for what you have done. I’ll do it your way and allow myself a few days to recover, but I will be expecting to be kept informed the entire time. Is that understood?”
She smiled. “Yes, Master. Now I will go and prepare Lena.”
As Yvette left the room, Dylan slumped back against the pillows, quietly cursing. It was no good trying to escape. He had fitted the nylon restraints himself and knew their strength.
Lifting his upper body ignited a deep sharp ache in his ribs, and he could feel the heat and sting of blistering burns covering his back and buttocks. Yvette had done him a kindness by keeping him sedated through the worst of it, but it didn’t help knowing Esther was out there, needing him. He had more than enough faith in Yvette, but it wasn’t her battle to fight.
And now he had another problem to contend with. Just thinking about Lena, Dylan found himself grinning and wondering what she had said to Carl. It didn’t make him happy that she’d been drinking again. It was a problem that couldn’t be treated lightly, but how was he going to be the one to help her when his own problems were far from being sorted?
Nothing would make him happier than imagining a future with Lena, but that wasn’t something he could promise her, or inspire any hope of it for her. Soon, she would come walking through that door and he had to be calm and deal with her rationally.
“Fuck,” he cursed quietly, already knowing that was never going to happen.
* * * * *
Mairead walked along the corridor, silently clutching onto James’ arm until they reached a side door, leading out into the hospital courtyard. It was unoccupied and brightly lit with a glass roof allowing a view of clouds and patches of blue sky. James opened the door for her and Mairead went straight through to a table and chairs, taking a seat.
She watched James sit down and smiled at him. “It’s nice.”
“Just let me know if you need to go back in,” James told her. “I thought a change of scenery might do you some good.”
“When can we go home?”
“When I know it’s safe first and that you’re ready to leave.”
She nodded and stared down at the table. “I’m sorry for all this.”
“Mairead.” James clasped her hand. “All I care about is you and our baby.”
“A baby I didn’t even know I was having.”
James grinned. “I can’t stop thinking about it. It was a shock at first, but now, I’m ecstatic, wondering if it’s a boy or girl. Are you sure you don’t want to know?”
She shook her head and for a while they didn’t speak again.
“I’m afraid,” Mairead suddenly whispered. “A few years ago, I only had my life to screw up. Now I have a child on the way.”
“And I’ll be right by your side.”
“You’ll be wonderful,” Mairead smiled. She looked up at him. “James, I think I’m ready to talk about what happened, at least to you.”
“Baby, you have my full attention, but only if you’re up to it.”
She nodded. “James, I’m so sorry. There’s no easy way to say this, and I know I should have told you sooner, but I’m certain Dylan is dead. I think he died in that explosion.”
James sat up and breathed out slowly. “But you can’t know that for certain.”
“No, but I was in that house, that morning, the day it went up. Asya and the others were holding me captive. Dylan exchanged his life for mine and got me out.”
James bowed his head and nodded grimly. “Then I’m eternally grateful to him, but until I hear otherwise, I’m going to hope that you’re wrong.”
“I want to be wrong, but these people were pure evil and determined to have their revenge on him. He was with them for hours before that place blew up. They would have hurt him badly.”
“Mairead,” James said gently. “I want to know what they did to you.”
She pursed her lips tightly and shook her head. “I’m not ready to talk about that.” She looked up at him. “Just know that I wasn’t raped.”
James breathed heavily and Mairead could see the pain and relief in his face. It was her turn to grip his hand. “I love you, James, and I’m so sorry that this is hurting you. I know you’ve been through your own ordeal. I didn’t want any of this. I just didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m alright,” he assured her. “You’re the one who has been battered. It’s killing me that they hurt you and if Dylan blew the fuckers up, then I am bloody grateful to him.”
“James, I really want a chance to get it right again for you and me and the baby. I want to know that you’ll forgive me, no matter what.”
He leaned closer. “Sweetheart, you’re talking as if you are to blame for this. If you had to do anything to save your life, I don’t care if you murdered the cunts yourself. You’re here with me and safe and that’s all that matters. Nothing will be held against you. I promise.”
She smiled sadly. “I’ve really wanted to make you proud of me, but I’ve made so many mistakes, and it’s always at the back of my mind that I’ll make that one mistake which will make you think less of me.”
“There is no such mistake,” he smiled. “I know our lives have been plagued with drama, and in our first few months together, you needed a little guidance, but since then, you’ve been nothing but amazing and I am bursting with pride for you. The worst mistake m
ade was when I chose to believe Adele over you. If Dylan is dead, it’s me that has to live with that, because Dylan always believed in you when I didn’t, and if he chose your life over his, then he did it because he valued you that much.”
Tears trickled down her face. “You still need to hear what I did, what happened during your time in prison.”
“You’re not ready for this. It can wait.”
“No, it can’t, because it’s haunting me. Every time I wake and remember that Dylan is dead, I want to scream, and it could have been far worse if it wasn’t for him. I should never have done anything, but something happened to me after Miller told me that you were dying. At that moment, it was like everything was dying in me too.”
“Mairead, Bevan Miller is going to pay for what he did to you.”
“Somehow, nothing mattered after that. I couldn’t feel anything, anger, fear, nothing. It was like being dead, and even when I knew you were still alive, I was certain I would never see you again, and Miller was still gunning for me. He had told all these lies to Dad, that I’d killed tourists or something. They were going to keep me under house arrest and that terrified me, knowing I wouldn’t be able to do anything, and everyone would think Miller was looking out for my welfare. He was going to do anything he could to keep you in prison and I couldn’t take it. I had to do something about it…”
James clutched her hands tighter. “Mairead, take a breath. Right now, Bevan Miller has a warrant for his arrest, and he’s under investigation for the way you were treated in his custody. Detective Cooper told me the state you were in when she came for you. That should never have happened, baby, and yes, there were many lies told to your father. Sean regrets very much how he treated you that day. Nobody would blame you for any decisions you made after all that.”
Mairead stared out at nothing. “When I knew they were going to keep me under arrest, I ran and hid, until I went to see Vanessa to get money. By then I had worked out that Sophie was the only one who could have betrayed us that day. I took Vanessa’s key to her apartment and broke in. I found out who she really was, and then I made plans… to kidnap her.”
Sins of the Master Page 66
