Page 94 of Claim Me
We’d been strapped as a family, every penny going to the mortgage on the hotel or the renovation efforts. While Daddyhad tried to keep the financial problems from both Charlie and me, I’d sensed long before they’d been in a tough place.
Maybe I should have thought more of the fact they could suddenly afford to go on a trip of a lifetime, making purchases that they would never have considered before. I’d simply believed Marengo was finally doing well enough to allow them to enjoy life for a change.
What a fool I’d been, lost in my own dream while pretending everything was just fine.
Everyone had shielded me. Why? Because they hadn’t thought I could handle the truth? I was partially deaf, not sick. Not dying. Another wave of sadness tore through me much like the lust had the night before. Seeing the financials provided by the corporation’s accountant had provided so many reminders, dreams my parents had formed and lost.
The bottom red line wasn’t the worst of everything. Seeing the huge sum of money dropped into the corporation’s bank account less than two weeks before they’d died was the killing blow for the day.
And it was early.
“It’s not as desperate as it looks,” Kazimir said from across the room. “I’m going to write Vladimir a check and be done with him. He can like it or not, but the business will be concluded.”
The attorney was expected at any moment and I wasn’t certain at this point what there was left to say or deal with.
I had a trust fund, not large by any means, but enough that I could pay off some debt and return to the orchestra. Then whatwould happen to Marengo? The subject hadn’t been discussed. There were too many balls in the air.
“Men like Vladimir Popov don’t take no for an answer. Do they?” When he didn’t answer right away, I shook my head. “You don’t need to tell me.” Another wave of electric sensations pulsed through me as he walked closer, bending down in front of me. When he took my hand, I almost pulled it away, but as always, his hold was too firm. He took a few seconds to rub his thumb against my palm. The move was calming. When he brought my fingers to his lips, a moan escaped.
“No, he won’t, Marissa, but they certainly won’t be allowed to take what they want. You’ll need to trust me on that.”
“Are you going to be with me every night and every day?”
My question left him pained. “You’ll have constant security.”
“Such a fabulous way to live the rest of my life,” I tossed out. I pulled my hand free. “Then why bother paying him? Why lose the money?”
“Because Marengo is a business and a loan was provided. As with any contract, the terms must be met. However, extortion is something else.”
“I don’t need to fully understand the difference in traditional business activities and the unscrupulous ones involving the mafia. I read. I watch television.”
He was smirking. I was beginning to wonder if the man ever relaxed. He’d donned another suit early that morning. I was beginning to think he was a vampire. He rarely slept and I’d caught him in a chair that he’d turned around to face the door watching it in the dark with the lights off.
At least he’d removed his tie and had rolled up his sleeves, but he was pacing the floor, just as angry as he’d been the evening before.
“Things have changed.” He was laughing as if this was so easy for him to deal with. Meanwhile, I was sweating, my pulse continued to skyrocket and I was nauseated just thinking about the possibilities.
“I was thinking. With what you told me, why not have Popov arrested instead?” Maybe it was a crazy idea, but starting a war wasn’t good for anyone.
As soon as I asked the question, he frowned, but his eyebrows were raised as he studied me. As if he hadn’t thought of the notion before. Maybe I could play this dangerous game. “Not a bad idea. Risky, but there would be an interesting twist in the scenario.”
An interesting twist? He was taking this lightly. “But he’d retaliate. Right?”
“Likely but we can handle whatever form of revenge he would decide to toss out.”
Sighing, I tossed the papers on the table. Yes, I needed to understand what I’d been given, but it was all too overwhelming. “You’re still worried about me.”
“Of course I am.” When he turned his head, I gripped his jaw for a change, forcing him to look me in the eyes.
“I’m not a child and not nearly as vulnerable as you think I am. Don’t keep me in the dark about anything.”
“Fair enough and I’m not trying to. You deserve to hear the truth. My concern is that I allowed Popov and his son to see howmuch I care about you. That will make me seem weak. It will give Popov not only a reason to believe he can get what he wants with ease, but also a way of using you against me and my family. Mikhail made it perfectly clear we are a force to be reckoned with.”
“And he’ll do everything in his power to try and take down the great Dmitriyev Empire.”
His eyes twinkled. “You have been reading and learning. Maybe too much. Billions of dollars are at stake.”
“Then take him down where it hurts. His product.”
