His Contract, page 13
She nods. “You’re always welcome, si...Will.”
“Well, I best be headed back to the city. It’s a drive from here.” He walks toward me and I let him pass before I follow him to the door.
He stops at it and rests his hand on the knob. He sighs and turns to me. “Son, I’m not an idiot.”
I tilt my head to the side and frown at him, even though my heart thuds in my ears. “I never said you were, sir.”
“It smells like sex in there and she looks fucked to hell and back. What the hell were you thinking.”
I stand straighter. I was half expecting this. “I wasn’t, sir. It happened.”
He looks me dead in the eye. “Are you going to let it happen again?”
Is there a point in lying to him? He’ll see through it. He’s the one who taught me how to lie.
I brace myself for the inevitable punch that’s going to happen. My nose just stopped hurting, but I guess we’re going for round two. “I want it to, after she has time to settle, I’m going to talk to her father. I know it breaks the promise, I don’t care. You can disown me, it won’t stop me from pursuing her. I’ll make my own way. I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
He sighs and he raises his hand, instead of punching me, he lays it on my shoulder. “Honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised. Anyone with a brain cell can see you two have chemistry, and when I left here, I had a feeling something might happen. I’m too old to be angry over a promise made so long ago. In fact, I had a thing with Juliet back in the day, it was just for fun, we never planned on taking it to a serious level, so no one found out. But had I been in love with her I would’ve told everyone to fuck off.
My eyes widen. Juliet Kotov was Michail’s twin sister. She’s lived through six husbands and is working on securing her seventh who is twenty years her junior. “I think you dodged a bullet with that one, but it’s not like that with Josie. I don’t want this to be a fling we take to our graves.”
He nods. “Well, Michail has always been the uptight one when it comes to that promise, so if he doesn’t kill you with his bare hands, then I give you my blessing to see where it goes.”
A smile pulls at my lips. I hadn’t expected this from him. I expected him to lose his shit, that he warned me, or that they’ve been driving home the Bancrofts can’t mix with Kotov promise for as long as I can remember. “Thank you, dad. I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect this from you. I thought you would flip your shit.”
He laughs and rubs at one of his eyes. “Like I said, I’m getting too old to care about that kind of thing. She’s not blood, she’s of age, you can do whatever the hell you two want as long as you’re happy. But her father can never find out about what actually happened. She has to stick to the story that Sacha took her.”
I nod. “I know. I’ll make sure she has a story to give him matches with what we came up with and the evidence we send him.”
With a nod and not another word he leaves to go to his Ford Mustang, a gift he bought himself when he hit his midlife crisis a few years back.
I watch him go and then close the door. My heart won’t stop racing. I still can’t believe that I got his blessing to date, Josie. I hadn’t been expecting this. All this time I thought he would bring hellfire down on me for even toying with the idea of being with her. My mother won’t care. She’s never cared about that kind of thing, but then she wasn’t born a Bancroft. She married into it, so the promise wasn’t drilled into her skull at every event.
I turn to go back to the room, but stop at the kitchenette and pick up the gun. I put it back in its place and sigh. I’m glad he didn’t press me about that. I don’t know what kind of lie I would’ve come up with, nor do I ever want to tell him the truth of how low I got after he was so accepting of it. He never needs to know what point I got to mentally. I just wish he had told me a long time ago that he didn’t care.
If I had known the truth I would’ve pursued her a long time ago.
With the gun safely out of sight but where I can get to it fast if something happens, I head back to the room. She sits on the edge of the bed. “I heard what he said to you. He doesn’t care if we’re together.”
I nod and smile. Going to her I pick her up and hug her tight. “Now, all we have to do is win over your father.”
I set her back down and kiss her. I run a hand over her hair and lean down to press my forehead to hers. “I love you.”
She reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Sixteen
Josie
I sit at the table with Cason as we eat our last meal in this cabin together. I’m sad we won’t get to spend as much time together as I thought we would be able to, but I’m glad my feelings are finally known to him and that he returns them.
“So, tell me the story again, we have to make sure your father believes it and he doesn’t question you about it later on.”
I push the roast beef around the plate. “Sacha found out about the security cameras and used them against me to lure me there and find out what he was doing. I was foolish and didn’t go without calling him first because I didn’t think that Sacha would try to hurt me. He kept me somewhere dark for two days, and I could hear him speak Russian with another man but couldn’t make out what was said. The next thing I know he’s carting me through the airport, having paid off several TSA agents to let us through right away, while he threatened to kill my whole family to keep me in line.”
He nods, taking a bite of meat. “Good. Then what happened?”
“We get there and I learn they’re wanting to sell me into sex trafficking. I tried to fight Sacha, and I didn’t know who the other man was but he had black hair with white streaks. They subdued me with more threats about what they would do to my mother. After two days, their buyer didn’t show, and you showed up in his stead. You killed Sacha but the other man got away while you were making sure if I was alright. We took the first flight back to New York and didn’t land until two hours before you dropped me off.”
Cason reaches across the table for my hand. “This is going to work, he’ll never learn of what really happened. I or one of my brothers will have to go kill his competitor, but don’t worry. He’s an evil man involved in sex trafficking. We would’ve taken him out by now, but he’s one of those red flags I was telling you about. We’ll figure out how to get rid of him. I doubt your father will stop at nothing once he learns of the story to take him down or destroy his business from the inside out.”
Knowing that he’s not a good man helps make me feel less horrible, but I don’t think any of this will ever get easy. “I know, but do we have to be apart for three weeks? I don’t want to be away from you that long. Can’t I just hide out at your house since your dad doesn’t care?”
He shakes his head. “No, he’ll more than likely be watching both of us. We need to let enough time pass for him to calm down. Perhaps talk about me and me saving you. Maybe he won’t be shocked that you fell in love with me after I saved you. If he’s willing to break your heart over a promise for some rule, then we’ll figure something out. But as painful as it is, we should keep our distance from one another until we’re ready to strike. If he’s still full of rage, there will be no getting through to him. I’ve known your father long enough to know there’s no reasoning with him when he’s mad even if the reason is dead. If he has me go after Petrov, I could be gone for a week or more anyway.”
I bite my lip. “And I can’t text you? What if we got burner phones? Speaking of phones, where is mine?”
Cason lifts his hand to rub at the back of his neck and doesn’t look me in the eye. “I had to destroy it so it wouldn’t be tracked. I’m sorry. I’m going to get you another one when we get into town. As for a burner phone, if his spies come back saying you’re using two phones, and trust me they’ll know, they’ll say something to him. He’s more paranoid than you think. He might think you turned spy on him for the cops. I know he loves you, but I’m certain he loves himself more.”
I can’t fight him there. “I’ve always felt like my father would give me a copy of the world but keep the original for himself.”
His eyes soften as he rubs soothing circles into my hand. “It’s going to be tough, especially since we just got each other. But after a few weeks we can share a lifetime together if you’ll have me.”
My mind takes a minute to process what he’s implying. “Do you mean you want to marry me?”
He nods. “This isn’t a proposal though. That will happen when you least expect it.”
I have to be grinning like a fool. I jump from my chair and tackle him to the ground. “Of course I will!”
I straddle his waist. “If we have to be apart for weeks, then I want to have all the sex we can fit in before we have to go to bed.”
He laughs. “Well, we can go another round, but I want you to be able to walk straight tomorrow once I return you to your father.”
I wiggle my ass against his cock through his sweats. “And don’t worry about the phone. My father owns a tech company, remember. I’m sure he’ll only want me to have one from his company. It’ll make sense if I show up without a phone anyway.”
He laughs and nods. “I guess you’re right. It would be better if you showed up with nothing. You know he probably has the phones he gives you bugged right? That’s another reason we should keep our distance, because I know if I’m around you, I’m going to want to do and say things that would make him want to castrate me.”
I frown. Well, that’s a disturbing thought. “If he has been, then he probably knows of the crush I have on you. Ensley and I talk about you all the time. After you save me, it might not be a shock at all, and if he thinks I lured you in, then he can’t fault you for that.” I lean down and kiss him long and hard, while moving my ass over him. “Now shut up and fuck me.”
* * *
Before I know it, we’re back in the city. We went to the airport and Will let us in through an underground tunnel. I don’t know how he knew about it or how he got us in, but it’s clear Cason’s family is way more cunning than I ever thought they were. Like spies, but they don’t work for an agency.
He has us come out the gate from a nonstop flight from Moscow. That way, if my father checks things he sees us arrive. We’ve roughed up the clothes I went missing in, because there’s no way I would wear Rosalie’s style clothes, and my father might know that. I told Cason I doubt he would but he told me not to doubt how observant he is.
Now, we’ve driven from the airport to my family’s estate. I know my parents are inside waiting for me. Everything was planned out so well by his father, the only way this could be messed up is if I let something slip. For Cason’s sake, I can’t let that happen.
“I’m certain we’re being watched right now, but I want you to know that I care about you.”
We’d agreed not to say I love you once we got here. Him saying he cares about me isn’t that big of a deal. My father knows that we grew up together and I’m close to Cason.
“I care about you, too. Thank you for saving me.” I said it for the possible eavesdroppers, but in a way, I do feel like he saved me; he saved me from a life of loneliness and pining, and I think I did the same for him.
Getting out of Cason’s truck, we head up the drive to the mansion I called home in my youth. I haven’t lived here since I was seventeen, and I don’t plan to ever again. Before we can even make it to the set of giant double doors, they open by the hands of our butler and my mother rushes out sobbing as she takes me into her arms and holds me close.
“My baby! My baby!” She pulls back for a second, her tears stilling. “Let me look at you. Are you okay? What are you wearing? You look too skinny.” Her wailing doesn’t stop as she pulls me into another hug,
I don’t think I lost weight while I was with Cason, and before this she liked to remind me I needed to lose five more pounds to look fantastic. I pat her on the back. “Mom, I’m fine. It’s just been a long week. I promise. Can you let me go? I can’t breathe.”
“Vera, let her go. You’re going to break one of her ribs with how tight you’re hugging her.” My father appears in the doorway. One hand shoved into the pocket of his dress pants. Ever the one to look formal even in his house.
My mother turns on him. “You be quiet, Michail Dimitri Kotov! I’m still livid with you. This is your fault! They took my baby because of you!”
My father stares at her with bored eyes and he sighs. “Come inside all of you. There’s business at hand.”
My mother doesn’t let me go as she pulls me into a side hug and holds me tight with her arm. I glance over at Cason, but he motions for me to go ahead of him. It’s not like we can walk in holding hands anyway.
We enter the house and my father leads the way to the foyer. This season it’s decked out in pinks, yellows, and blues to welcome in spring. My mother changes everything in the house according to the time of year. I suppose I don’t blame her. She’s never worked, so she doesn’t have much to do other than decorating. I wish she would open a business designing for people. I think my father would let her, he let me open a bakery, but she’s too shy to put herself out there like that. If she did one bad job and it got out, she would think her reputation is ruined.
My brother, Dimtri stands at the bar cart, a glass of something in his hands. I frown, he’s been drinking more lately. It’s something new, and I haven’t been able to get a chance alone with him to figure out what’s going on.
My mother pulls me over to the long, red, and I’m sure vintage sofa with gold accents and sits me down. “Dimitri come over here. I want to know both my babies are here and safe.”
He sighs. “Mom, I’m twenty-eight. And I’m right here and fine. She looks fine, too.”
“Dimitri, come sit, now!”
I wince. Her tone is giving me flashbacks of when she would force us to attend church on Sundays and Dimitri would do something to piss her off.
He sighs, downs more of his drink, and comes to sit on the other side of her. Cason moves to stand near the couch, but he doesn’t sit, and my father stands near him.
My heart thunders in my ears. We practiced so much last night There’s no way I’m going to mess any of this up. I don’t even know if he’ll question me on what happened in front of Cason.
“Would you like a drink, Cason?” he asks as he gestures to the bar cart.
Cason shakes his head. “It’s only ten in the morning, sir, and I’m feeling a bit tired from the lack of sleep. I still need to drive home after this.”
My father nods and hums. “I’ll make this quick then so you can be on your way. I put a reward out for my daughter and you brought her back safe. I’m a man of my word, even if you weren’t around to hear it. Here is twenty-five-thousand in cash.”
He hands over three stacks of bills. I blink. I may have grown up rich, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much money in cash in my life.
Cason shakes his head. “I can’t take that, sir. Call it a favor since we’re family. Josie is like a sister to me. I would save her no matter what.”
Dimitri scoffs and mumbles something about me being like his sister his ass into his drink as he takes another gulp. My mother and I glare at him.
My father picks up Cason’s hand and presses the cash into it. “Take it, I insist. I’m not going to argue with you on this one. Do with it what you will. It’s cash after all. And I’ll be by your office later to discuss the other issue at hand unless you got both of them?”
He shakes his head. “No, sir. Sacha was the only one.”
“Good riddance!” My mother yells and I stare at her wide-eyed. She’s never been one to be outspoken like that. She knows he’s dead, right?
“Well, set our usual meeting time aside for tomorrow. I’ll let you get some rest so you can work tomorrow on a clear head. Thank you for your work in saving my daughter.”
Cason nods. “Of course, sir.” His gaze goes to us and he nods. “I hope you have a good day, ladies, Dimitri.”
Dimitri waves and stands to pour more himself more of his drink.
I frown. I know he can’t kiss me goodbye, but I was hoping for more than that. It’s going to be a long couple of weeks. I won’t even know how long it will be until he shows back up. God, I hope he’s safe while going after a man who had no part in my kidnapping.
Chapter Seventeen
Cason
Fifteen days, twelve hours, and six minutes. That’s how long I’ve had to be away from her. I was in town for a couple of days after dropping her off with her father. But I stayed away from the bakery. After Dimitri’s comment, I didn’t want to do anything that would anger the beast further.
I stowed the cash away for when I return. Once he finds out I want to be with my daughter and marry her, I’ll give it back. I’ve had time to think it over while tracking Petrov all around the globe, and I want to tell him everything. The truth of what happened. I can’t marry his daughter knowing I deceived him like that. It’s not an honorable thing to do. I won’t be a good husband if our relationship starts with lies to her family.
Killing Petrov, one of his main enemies, and making it look like an accident will hopefully put me in his good graces enough that he doesn’t have me killed. He’ll have to know killing me would ruin Josie, but I hope for that instance he’ll put her desires over his to have me murdered.
I won’t know until that comes. I’ve finally tracked Petrov down to a little house in Malta Italy. He thought he covered his tracks well, using aliases and disguises. The Bancrofts have been studying him for years so that we would know how to handle him when the time would come to kill him. And watching him over the last two weeks, I’ve learned even more of how he functions and throws the money around that he gets from his working girls. The man has never earned a cent of his money, it all comes from the women he enslaves. They never see any of the money that’s passed around because of them, and it makes me sick.
