by K. J. Dahlen
He chuckled. “You’re sneaky, but cute.” He reached up and turned off the light again. Wrapping his arms around her, he settled in and asked, “Tell me about you, sweet girl.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything. Where did you go to school? Who were your friends? Did you love designing jewelry?”
Talli chuckled. “Where do I start? First off, my parents had me homeschooled. They looked into public schooling but didn’t think it was what they wanted for me. They wanted the very best and they didn’t mind paying for it. I was taught a variety of subjects that went well beyond public schools. I learned Russian from my father, French from my mother and Latin from my tutors. I passed my GED at the age of sixteen. At that point, I didn’t care about a diploma but my mother told me my father wanted me to have it. I’d already taken several courses in design and was working full time at the store. My father set things up so we had more than enough money to maintain our way of life so that wasn’t a problem but I wanted to take my father’s designs to the world and in a few years I did that. My best friend was a woman named Julie Morgan.”
“Was?”
“She died a month ago in a car accident. She was driving my car and was involved in a hit and run incident. The police never found who hit her. She died from her injuries and the accident totaled my car. The only saving grace was that my mother never knew how close to death I was. She was too sick to be told.”
Barshan frowned and the thought popped into his mind that Russell rammed into her car thinking it was her but with no proof? He didn’t know why the thought was there but he couldn’t dismiss it entirely. “Were you supposed to be with Julie that day?”
Talli nodded. “I was supposed to drive to the mall. Julie wanted to get something special for a date she had coming up but I had a call at the last minute. I told her to take my car and get what she wanted. She agreed to drop my car back off when her errand was complete. She never got to the mall that day.”
Barshan tightened his hold as she cried. Again, the thought Russell Jerome had a hand in the accident swamped his thoughts. “Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“What would happen if both you and your mother passed away? What would happen to the store?”
“Our attorney would dissolve the business and the money he received would go to a place in New York that my family has been supporting for three generations.”
“And did Russell Jerome ever know that?” Barshan frowned.
“I have no idea what he knew or didn’t know. That would have only happened if we both died. Since I’m still alive, it never came up. I don’t know what the attorney told him after my mother died. He never came when Thomas asked him to. Once he found out he wouldn’t inherit part of the business, he walked out and wouldn’t return my calls. I finally had to have Thomas tell him I wanted him out of my mother’s house.”
Barshan felt the rage growing at the other man’s actions. There was something Russell was after and he thought Talli had it. He didn’t know what it was but the man wasn’t going to stop until he had it.
In Barshan’s mind, this fact made Russell Jerome a dangerous man. But Talli belonged to him now and he would protect her from the world if he needed too. Jerome would never get close to her and he had his brothers on the job. He knew they would leave no stone unturned to find the answers he needed.
Snuggling close to her, he promised again, “I’ll keep you safe, no matter what else happens I’ll keep you safe.”
Hours later, Talli began tossing and turning again in her sleep. She was whispering something but her voice was so quiet Barshan couldn’t hear what she was saying. Wrapping his arms around her, he tried to wake her up and after a while, she opened her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she held on to Barshan as she sobbed.
When she stopped crying, Barshan kissed her forehead and asked, “What were you remembering sweetheart? What memory haunts your dreams?”
“Nothing,” she murmured.
“It must have been something, you were calling out for your father.”
“I was?” Talli started. “I don’t remember that.”
“Well you did, little one.”
Talli thought for a moment then remembered her dream. Memories of that night rushed through her mind and for the first time since it happened, she remembered everything. Things she’d forgotten since then. She remembered peeking through her own doorway and watching a man join her father in his study. She remembered her father tilting his head in reference to the other man. She could see his profile but she never did see his whole face. She could remember her father greeting the other man and kissing his hand. Why would he do that? She had no idea.
“Do you remember the night I told you about before? The night those men came to our house in the middle of the night? My father greeted a stranger in his study and bowed his head to him. He even kissed his hand. I didn’t get to see more than that before he closed the door,” Talli whispered in the dark. “Why would he do that?”
Barshan frowned. “I have no idea. What else happened before he closed the door?”
“They were speaking in Russian and I couldn’t hear it all but I think my father called the other man a prince. I thought I’d only imagined that part because Russian has no more royalty, does it?” She frowned and turned her head to look at Barshan. “Russian royalty died out in the early nineteen hundreds after they executed the last Tzar didn’t it?”
“Yes it did,” Barshan agreed. “The remaining few members fled the country and disappeared. Even today, there are only a handful of people left with royal blood. They are many times removed from the true members of the Tzar family.”
“I don’t understand. Why would this man come to my father in the middle of the night in secret?”
“I don’t know but it might tie in with what and why Russell Jerome is involved. You said he claims to be a cousin to one of the last members of the royal Russian family. There is no proof other than his claim, so it cannot be confirmed or denied. Even at the time, the royals denied ties to Nicholas.”
“My father once said the world would be a better place if no one knew about the royal family. He said they had suffered enough and would never again take their place in history. They were better off to be forgotten, as Russia would never again be the superpower it once was. He said Russians today would never bring back the dignity of the past or raise their heads again with the same pride they had when a Tzar ruled in the house of Romanov.”
Barshan had to agree with what she said. “That is very true. The Russia of today is vastly different than it was back then.”
Talli snuggled in his arms. “I don’t want to talk anymore. This is a never ending mystery and there is no one left alive to confirm or deny what happened eleven years ago. We must let the past stay in the past and think about it no more.”
Barshan hugged her close. “It may not be done little one. If the man you knew as Russell Jerome comes back, he may be looking for something he thinks your father had all those years ago.”
Talli turned in his arms. “You don’t think Russell had anything to do with my father’s murder do you? His killer has never been found.”
“I don’t know sweetheart.” He stayed quiet. “Sleep now.” He kissed her temple. “This will wait. Get some rest now.”
Talli closed her eyes and let her worries drift away. This man had that effect on her, he took away her pain, made her feel hope, made her feel safe. Then the way he stormed her body. It was heaven just like she’d said. She hoped he would keep her like he’d said but really, she didn’t believe this. Men always said things they did not mean. She would just try to stay with him until this was over, she didn’t expect anything further than that. It would be nice to dream of having a man like him. But dreams were meant to be shattered, she of all people knew this. She snuggled in his arms and fell to sleep.
CHAPTER SEVEN
In Yuri’s conference room the next morning, Barshan
brought Yuri up to date on Talli’s remembering before Ivan and Demi arrived. He’d already told Talli earlier that he would tell them about what she remembered.
After he reported what she’d told him of her family, Yuri stared at him for a moment then stepped away and ran his fingers through his hair. “Oh, my god,” he whispered. “If something like this had actually happened eleven years ago we have to ask why Rizvan would do something like that. A man like her father would not kiss any man’s ring, except Rizvan …Did he leave something with Christophe? Is it still there?” He turned his head to watch Talli. “Would she know where the item or items are held?”
“Da, I think she knows more than she is willing to tell us.” Barshan nodded. “I think she knows where the safe is hidden. She may be reluctant to reveal it because not even she knows what’s in there. And whatever is in there has been hidden away since before her father died, so it has been undisturbed for ten years. Christophe’s safe can only be opened with his or Talli’s fingerprints,” Barshan reminded his friend. “But I think this Russell person has already made at least one attempt on her life.”
“How so?” Yuri asked.
“A month ago, shortly before her mother died, Talli loaned her car to her best friend, a woman named Julie Morgan. Julie was on her way to the mall when she was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. The other driver was never found but Julie was killed. I think Russell was the driver and he killed the wrong woman.”
Yuri whistled softly. “If that’s true, she’s in danger. That would also mean the robbery the other night might not have been a fluke. Russell might have been after her again and botched the job a second time.”
“Callen stopped by last night and dropped off one of his dogs for her protection. I think even with the dog, she needs us twenty four seven. If he gets to her first, she will not survive and he has no clue about the fingerprint needed for the safe.”
“I think we need to call in Nikoli and Sergi. This is too big for just us to handle, especially if it involves the Russian royal family.” Yuri nodded as Ivan and Demi came into the room. “You can fill them in while I get a hold of Nikoli. He’ll need to call in his people as well.”
After Barshan told the others about the new wrinkles in the saga, Demi exploded. He turned to Talli. “Is this all true?”
Talli shrugged. “It is possible. We may never know the true answers. My parents are dead and there is no one left who knows what really happened that night.”
“Rizvan Dreususs is still alive.” Demi growled. “All we have to do is find him and bring him here to confirm what we think we know.”
“I have informed Nikoli Silvanic of what we think we know.” Yuri came back into the room. “He’s going to call Sergi Constantine. He’s sure Sergi will want to be here when all is revealed.”
“Da, I think I should call in my people as well,” Demi told them. “We have as much at stake as your people do in this matter.”
Yuri nodded. “We all need to remember we are working together for the common good of both groups. Barshan has claimed Talli as his own and there is nothing anyone else can do about that.”
Ivan growled. “This is unacceptable to me. I had first contact with her. She should belong to me.”
Barshan took a step toward him. His eyes blazing.
Talli stiffened in anger. “Stop this. Stop it right now. I will not be fought over like I’m some prize at a county fair. I am a person with rights and it is my choice who I belong to. If this continues, I will choose not to cooperate with either of you. This quest will end now, right here, right now.”
Demi snorted. “You won’t have a choice once Felix and Travern get here. You will cooperate or die.”
“Then the man known as Russell Jerome wins and both of your groups lose. None of us knows yet what is hidden or why it was hidden all this time. We don’t have the answers we need yet but if this continues we will never have them,” Talli reminded everyone in the room. “Barshan offered me protection and I accepted it. Now so must you. If my father put something in his hidden safe, only my fingerprint will open it now that he’s gone. If we all work together, we can get to it but if there are any problems I won’t allow that to happen and whatever is in there will remain hidden forever. From what I could see, Russell has been searching for the safe but hasn’t found it and neither will anyone else, if you force this issue. So far, we’ve worked together and shared all the information available. We can continue to do so but I will refuse if there are any problems with the new members of your organizations coming in. Think about that before you start to fight about who I belong too. Barshan may have claimed me, but only I will say if he has that right and for now, he has it.”
Demi frowned. “My people aren’t going to like this.”
Talli met his eyes with hers. “None of us like this. My father always told me to never take one side or the other, never associate with one group over the other and until now, I never have. Neither group will get what they want. I’m with Barshan not the Russian Bratva or the Ukraine mob. No one will tell me who I can associate with or not associate with. My father’s wishes will hold in this matter. No one can break his will and I will fight tooth and nail to prevent that from happening. Even when one day I marry, my husband will never have part of the shop my father created. If and when I die, the shop will be sold and the proceeds will go to a place in New York my grandfather was raised in. Maybe if my mother had told Russell about that she might still be alive. I begged her to tell him about the will but she told me he didn’t care about that. I think he did and that was why she died. I also think he had a hand in what happened to her but I can’t prove it. He made sure of that. Who knows he may have been behind my father’s death eleven years ago. I don’t know what he wants yet, but whatever it is he isn’t going to get it.” She motioned at Demi. “Call your people in but tell them to behave or they will lose everything. There may even not be anything to find but they will only know if they are willing to work with everyone.”
Demi frowned. “I’m not sure they will find that acceptable but I can try. They will insist on being present with you at all times from this moment on though. They will want to protect your person and what secrets yet to be discovered.”
Talli stiffened. “No, I feel safe with Barshan. I don’t want or need anyone else around me. I have protection twenty four seven now between him and the dog and that will be enough.”
“Dog?” Ivan sneered. “What dog?”
Talli snapped her fingers and Rugar got up from his place under the table. The dog stood as high as her waist. Every man in that room watched as Rugar stood at her side watching them as carefully as they watched him.
Demi lifted his head swinging it over to observe Barshan and asked, “You went to Callen didn’t you? That is his dog Rugar.”
Barshan nodded. “I wanted only the best for her protection.”
Ivan scoffed. “A dog is just a dog.”
Demi shook his head. “Callen Rashon only raises and trains the very best dogs. I have heard so much about him and his animals. His dogs are very much in demand. This animal will kill to protect her now. No one will be able to get close to her unless she wants them to. This dog is legendary for he is the best of the best.”
Ivan laughed briefly. “A bullet can stop him.”
Demi growled. “I suggest you don’t go anywhere near your weapon. This dog is faster than you could even think to be and he will rip your throat out before you can even get your gun clear of the holster.”
“Felix and Travern will never allow this,” Ivan insisted. “You said so yourself.”
Demi snorted. “They, like us, no longer have a choice. Barshan has locked us out of this situation.” He turned and glared at Yuri. “You knew of this didn’t you?”
Before Yuri could say anything, Talli shook her head. “No one is shut out of anything. Barshan thought only to protect me at all times. They are cooperating in every aspect with you in this matter. They are looking for t
he same answers you are.” She motioned to the phone in his hand. “Please call your people, get them on board but this fighting must stop.”
Demi moved away from the crowd and made his call. He kept his voice low but everyone could hear him and there did seem to be some conflict in his words. When he finished, he returned and there was a bead of sweat rolling down his face. He looked at Yuri and informed him, “When I called Travern to catch him up on this, he told me Felix is expected within a few hours. He was on his way for a visit anyway but as soon as he arrives, both men will come immediately. They will want to talk to Talli and get her own words for what is happening.”
Yuri nodded. “When I spoke to Nikoli earlier, he said Sergi would move his plans up to be here as soon as possible. He should be here as soon as tomorrow as well.”
Demi frowned. “Why would Sergi be coming again, so soon?”
“Both him and Misha are coming to the city to be with Misha’s daughter when she gives birth to my child,” Yuri informed him.
Demi scowled. “You have ties to Sergi and Misha Constantine? How did that happen?”
“I married a woman I didn’t realize was related to Misha when I met her,” Yuri explained. “By the time I realized it, she carried my child and I couldn’t let her go.”
Demi grinned. “And now you have to deal with those two on a regular basis? I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.” Hesitating he asked, “And did I not hear Nikoli’s son was finally returned to him? You found him after twenty years being missing? That my friend was fortune on your part.”
Yuri shook his head. “Not really, the fortune was all on my wife. She took care of the boy his whole life.”
“Gentlemen, we are forgetting one person we need to contact,” Barshan reminded them.
Yuri turned and nodded. “Da, we are, we must contact Rizvan Dreususs and get him to join us. We have questions only he can answer.”
Demi checked his watch and noted the date on the face. “It is Thursday today and he is presently in London. I can send a man to ask him to join us. He could be here as soon as Monday perhaps.” Then he looked at Yuri. “Maybe we both could send a man to retrieve him.”
