Page 19 of Bound by Blood

Addison shrugged. “I asked for Tyson’s help when the psychologists threatened to sue Daniel. Daniel doesn’t even know that Tyson knows. I highly doubt Tyson told Claudia. He’s almost as protective of his friendship with Daniel as he is of her.”

Laney murmured her understanding.

Addison continued. “The next one was actually really good. An older woman and a musician, she was very patient with him. I think she reminded him a little of me, which helped.”

“What happened?”

“She wanted to talk about his childhood,” Addison said with a sigh.

Laney made a face. “Is she still alive?”

“I think her resemblance to me saved her life, but she’s definitely not in the picture any more. And things just went downhill from there. The next one was so terrified of Daniel and whatever he divulged during their single session that he threw up on his own desk and cried. I actually think he shut down his practice and went on an extended vacation. I made Daniel transfer a bunch of money into the guy’s account and promise to apologize if he ever comes back. Daniel assures me the man won’t want to see him again. I assured Daniel that if he doesn’t apologize then he won’t be hearing the sound of wedding bells.”

“What was his reply?” Laney asked curiously, though she knew exactly what her boss would say to his woman.

Addison’s lips twitched in amusement though she tried to look annoyed. “My caveman said, and I quote ‘fucking throw you over my shoulder and marry your pain in the ass, whether you like it or not’.”

They both laughed at the imitation of Daniel’s gruff mannerisms.

Addison smiled toward Laney. “He hasn’t refused to stop trying therapy. I think he sees the value in talking to someone, especially about his childhood trauma. It’s just a matter of time before we find someone who’s sensitive and patient enough to be able to handle my homicidal, possessive man.”

Laney nodded and looked down at the quilt they were sitting on, her expression growing serious. She was glad Addison couldn’t see her. Images of her own childhood flashed through her brain before she could stop them. The blood and the beatings. The pain and the darkness. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She understood Daniel in a way others perhaps could not. The need to kill, to purge and to separate from oneself. She envied him the peace he found with Addison Sterling.

“I don’t want you to go,” Addison burst out. “I feel like you’re safe here where we can watch over you. All of us. I know you’re in trouble and I just know it’ll find you overseas where we can’t help you. I know you’ll have Boris, but he has his own trouble. I don’t know if he can keep you safe.” Anxiety laced Addison’s voice and her fingers played restlessly across the top of the quilt.

Laney’s eyes flickered over Addison and a pain tugged in her chest. She didn’t want to leave her friend. “I must go, Addison Sterling. I wouldn’t go if I didn’t have a very good reason.”

Addison nodded slowly and let out a long sigh before saying, “I know.”

Laney smiled sadly. “You may hug me now if you want.”

Addison laughed. “Wow, I’m so privileged! I didn’t even have to beg for one like Claudia.”

Reaching out blindly she met Laney halfway across the bed. They embraced each other tightly for a few moments.

“There’s someone very special I want you to meet some day,” Laney whispered, wiping her tears on Addison’s cardigan.

Addison nodded, hugging Laney close. There were tears in her voice as she replied, “I look forward to that day.”

Laney jumped and snapped back to reality as Boris’ hand came down on her shoulder. She focused on the two men in front of her and shook off the memory of her emotional goodbye with her friend. Boris was studying her face with an expression of concern. She wondered what she revealed to him. She was too like her mother in that way. Dropping her eyes, she reached for her bag, but he lifted it from her hands and began following the captain.

Laney trailed after them, staring around curiously. She wanted to explore her very first cargo transport ship and see what it was all about. Despite growing up in the heart of the Yakuza she was really quite sheltered. Except for the times when she was sent out on assignment, she spent her time at the compound training herself into lethal precision. The United States was the furthest place she’d been except for her early childhood spent in Britain. But those memories were faded now.

“This will be your cabin,” Oleg was saying to Boris, which brought Laney’s attention back to the two men. She wanted to ask where her cabin would be, but they were again speaking in rapid Russian.

Finally, Oleg finished speaking, turned on his heel and walked away. Laney opened her mouth to call after him but Boris pulled her by the arm into the room, using his strength to maneuver her easily over the threshold. He slammed the door shut behind her and locked it.

The click echoed in the small room, sounding eerily significant to her ears. She crossed her arms and glared at him. He ignored her and tossed their bags on the tidily made up bed. It was larger than a single, but smaller than a queen. Probably as wide as Boris himself. Laney forced her eyes away from the too small bed and looked around the cabin. It was nicer than she thought a cargo ship cabin would be. The room sported a couch curving around the corner wall with a small table in front of it. There was also a small desk with a tiny chair that Boris’ massive frame would most definitely not be able to make use of. There was another door in the room, which probably led to a washroom.

“Nice room,” Laney observed in a neutral voice. “Where’s mine?”

Boris turned and looked at her, a wolfish grin curving his lips. “This is it,moykotenok.”

She nodded. “Fine. Then where’s your room?”

He approached her, backing her into the corner next to the door. A sudden rumbling made Laney jump and look around. The ship shook and shuddered under her feet. She reached out and placed her hand against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. They were leaving the dock. Her chance to leave the ship and Boris was about to sail away. He stalked closer.

Laney reached under her jacket and pulled her gun. She pointed it at him. The grin didn’t slip from his lips, but it twisted, becoming slightly more feral. He continued stalking toward her.

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