“Yes,” I told him. “Just be honest, Sergei. Don’t lie to her and you’ll earn points.” I smiled encouragingly.
“I’m surprised you are giving me pointers considering I kidnapped you,” he retorted.
I was surprised too. After learning about his role in my kidnapping, I wasn’t sure if I was doing Scarlett a favor or disservice. All I was certain about was that I was doing this for Scarlett and Scarlett alone. I knew without a doubt, she would learn sooner or later that Sergei was the one that kidnapped me. And if or when her family found out, he’d be in some deep shit.
“You talk too much,” I replied gruffy. “I can’t forgive you for valuing a life so little to give me to Boris’ men knowing what they were capable of, ”I uttered, then added in a cackled voice. “But revenge will be sweet, Sergei. Trust me on that.”
He laughed out loud, then leaned over to kiss my cheek. “I like you, princess. And I will count on you paying me back. I deserve nothing less.”
I couldn’t understand his way of thinking. Maybe it was their harsh upbringing. Or maybe it was just Sergei. He got into the car, and we waved goodbye.
“I’m going to head out too,” Nikolai said once the car was out of sight.
The two men embraced each other. “Be safe, brother. Don’t take unnecessary risks,” Dimitry advised. There was a look exchanged between two men but my instinct was telling me it had nothing to do with me or my girlfriends. So I pretended I didn’t see it. If they wanted to tell me, they would.
Quick nod, then Nikolai faced me.
“Thank you again, Nikolai.” I’d never be able to thank him enough for everything he had done for me.
“No thanks needed,” he responded. “Take care of my brother.”
Of course, what came to my mind was a completely inappropriate image and I felt heat creep up my neck. As if he knew exactly what I was thinking, Nikolai chuckled softly, then hugged me.
“It can be that way too,” he teased low.
Gees, was I that easy to read?
He left for the airport, leaving Dimitry and me alone with the group of men who would be our escort. There was a strange thrill that shot through my body thinking about being alone with Dimitry for days and weeks on, possibly months.
“Want to wait a little bit or get going now?” Dimitry asked.
Glancing at him, I wondered how was it possible it seemed like I'd known him for a lot longer than just three days. “We might as well go. We’ll get there sooner.”
He agreed and issued the order in Russian to the men. The vehicles were all loaded already so it only took five minutes to leave our shelter and move on to the next location.
“It will be just you and me in the car. Are you good with that?”
Hell, yeah.“Yes, that’s fine.”
He told me earlier we’d drive three hours to the private airport and then we’d take a three hour flight to Naryan-Mar, a little port town on the Pechora River. Dimitry had a place an hour outside of town, right on the river.
As we left the cabin behind us, there was a car behind us and one in front of us with our security detail. Dimitry was behind the wheel and glancing at him, he looked completely in his element. Dangerous situations didn’t faze him at all. It made sense considering how he and his brother’s grew up and being part of a crime organization.
“You are used to these situations. Does it ever get nerve racking for you?”
I wanted to find out a little bit more about him. I had this intense attraction to him, but also this comfort and safety when I was around him. I had never been comfortable enough around strangers. But within a short amount of time, he was no longer a stranger.
“No, not really. Should it?”
“Well, these intense, fast moving, life and death situations are not really a normal part of the day for most people.”
“It has been a few years since I’ve been in those but yes, guess you could say I am used to it.”
“You seem to handle all this without any of it worrying you.”
Of course, I didn’t know how to handle it. It would be a moment where I’d call my family or my security protection.
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”