Her Russian Returns (Brie's Submission Book 15) Read online

  “Mrs. Bennett, I love an All-American breakfast.”

  “Funny, that’s just what Thane said a minute ago.” She looked at Brie. “Honey, don’t you start these men off with a good breakfast?”

  Brie had a half-smile on her face, trying not to laugh.

  “What’s so funny, Brianna?” her father demanded.

  “I made Sir a breakfast similar to this the first morning we were together.”

  “And?”

  “He refused to eat it.”

  Her father shook his head, chuckling. “You never were much of a cook. Took after me.”

  “I’m sure you’ve gotten much better since then,” Marcy exclaimed, putting a fresh pile of eggs on the serving plate. “Your husband was so sweet just now, telling me that the tomato was the perfect complement to the meal.”

  Brie stuffed her mouth with eggs, trying not to laugh.

  Rytsar told her mother, “Sometime I will have to share with you a traditional Russian breakfast.”

  Marcy sat down and served herself, asking him, “What do you typically eat in Russia?”

  “I enjoy a stack of syrniki, buttered bread with a thick slice of kolbasa, and a shot of vodka to start off my day.”

  Marcy smiled. “Sounds interesting, Mr. Durov.”

  Bill looked at him critically. “You drink in the morning?”

  “I jest,” Rytsar grinned, spooning another helping of eggs.

  Brie smiled at her father. “I’m glad you came, Daddy.”

  For the first time since their arrival, her father’s expression softened. He paused for a moment and said, “I’m glad too, Brianna.”

  Brie got up and walked over to him, giving her father a hug.

  Marcy smiled at Rytsar. “Isn’t it amazing what a good breakfast can do?”

  With a full stomach and three hours of sleep, Rytsar headed back out. He took pleasure in knowing that Lilly was hungry and exhausted.

  He pulled his car up to the van and got out to speak with Nick.

  “I can take it from here for the next couple of hours. Do what I did and get some rest.” He looked in the direction of the garage that Lilly was taking refuge in. “How is she doing?”

  Nick smiled. “We’ve kept her active. She’s probably curled up in there trying to sleep.”

  “Good. It’s time she had a nightmare.”

  “You good, then?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “We’ll meet you at the abandoned hotel when you give us the word.”

  Rytsar laughed. “It will be glorious.”

  He watched the van leave.

  Locking his car, Rytsar started walking toward the garage. Glancing around the neighborhood, he noticed men and women scurrying off to work, oblivious to him and the evil so near them.

  Rytsar quietly entered through the side door and looked around the dark garage, giving himself time to let his eyes adjust. He could hear her steady breathing. It let him know she was sound asleep.

  He took off his boots and placed them next to the door before moving quietly toward the sound.

  Rytsar found Lilly curled up in a corner of the garage, huddled between mechanic tools and a stack of tires. Her hair was still short, but her fingernails had grown since he had last seen her. He’d have Nick take care of that.

  It looked like she was suffering from a bad dream, because her eyes kept darting back and forth wildly.

  He just stared at her, not in any hurry.

  Rytsar knew that her body was on high alert and sensed his presence. It wouldn’t be long before her brain signaled her to open her eyes and she realized the danger she was in.

  He purposely stood to the left so she would have a path to escape. The entire day would be devoted to her running from him.

  There was no rest for the wicked—literally.

  Lilly’s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she didn’t move, then she turned her head and her mouth opened in a silent scream.

  “Welcome to your nightmare.”

  She threw a terrified glance at the door. When he started toward her, she scrambled to her feet and ran.

  Rytsar walked over to collect his boots, putting them on slowly. He then wiped his fingerprints off the handle of the door before leaving. There was no need to hurry since he could track her.

  Like a true nightmare, he would keep coming for her.

  The next time they met up, Lilly had laid in wait for him, wanting to smash him with a baseball bat she’d stolen along the way. He easily grabbed it from her and stared at the beast, bouncing the end of it against his palm.

  “Where do you want me to hit you first?”

  A group of joggers ran past, giving Lilly an audience. She screamed, getting their attention before she turned and ran.

  Rytsar didn’t move as they approached.

  “What’s going on here?” one of them asked, looking at the bat in his hand.

  Rytsar laughed. “I have no idea. That crazy woman tried to hit me with it, and when I tried to stop her, she screamed and ran.”

  The men looked at him doubtfully as they surrounded him.

  “He’s telling the truth,” a withered old man said, limping up to the group. “I saw it all from my porch.” He looked at Rytsar excitedly. “She was waiting for someone to happen by like a black widow waiting for a fly.”

  The men’s anger toward Rytsar suddenly shifted to one of concern.

  “We better call the cops,” one of them said, pulling out his phone.

  “Yes, we should,” Rytsar agreed. As soon as their attention was directed elsewhere, he slipped away unseen and continued his pursuit.

  Rytsar smiled to himself. Lilly had no idea that each time she ran, she was moving closer and closer to her extraction point.

  Wiping his fingerprints off the bat, Rytsar slung it into a yard covered with children’s toys, hoping someone would be able to get some use out of it.

  As he started in the direction of the vacant motel, Rytsar chuckled.

  She would run there, a convenient place to hide among the outcasts of society, hoping there would be safety in numbers.

  He was obvious in his approach, wanting Lilly to hear him as he checked each room as he went down the line. He wanted her to dread the sound of his footsteps as he drew closer, and to experience the terror when the mind realizes escape is impossible.

  He’d known that feeling. Tatianna had known that feeling. Now the beast would know it.

  Rytsar saw Nick standing by, ready to snatch her when she ran.

  Slowly opening the door, he heard the frightened whimpers of several of LA’s homeless huddled together. The stench of human bodies and feces filled the room. A perfect place for Lilly.

  He walked over to a soiled sleeping bag that seemed to have been thrown carelessly into the corner. His lips twitched as he walked over to it. He took a corner of it and lifted it up slowly.

  “Boo.”

  Lilly screeched, looking to the others for help.

  No one moved.

  Understanding there was no rescue to be had, she started for the window. Rytsar was right behind her, grabbing at her as she dove headfirst through the broken window.

  Rytsar stood next to the window frame and watched as she made a beeline across the parking lot. The white van sped towards her, blocking her path. Before she could react, the door swung open and she was dragged inside, kicking and screaming, just before it sped away.

  He nodded, pleased.

  Turning toward the huddled group, Rytsar walked up to them.

  “Please don’t hurt us.”

  Digging into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet and handed them all the cash he had. “Find a way home.”

  Rytsar met Wallace at the center the next night. Lilly’s extended travel was coming to an end, and her reeducation would formally begin.

  “I’m relieved things went so well,” Wallace confessed as they waited.

  Rytsar shrugged. “As long as you know what you are doing, and have the right peo
ple in place, it is never a problem.”

  Wallace smirked.

  “Where is your informant?”

  “She’ll be here any moment.”

  “She understands what she must do?”

  “Without question.”

  Rytsar furrowed his brow. “Who is she?”

  Wallace pointed to a car pulling up. “That’s her now. I’ll let her introduce herself.”

  Rytsar watched with interest as the car pulled up and the lights were turned off. He was shocked to see Mary Wilson, the long-legged blonde, exit the car.

  “Miss Wilson,” he stated as she walked up.

  “Rytsar?” she said in surprise, obviously shocked to see him.

  She turned her gazed to Wallace and stopped midstep, crying, “Faelan, what happened to you?”

  He frowned. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Mary rushed to him. “Doesn’t matter? Don’t tell me it doesn’t matter. Just look at you…” She stared at his eye patch in horror.

  “I’m fine,” he insisted.

  “You’re not fine. Oh, my God, your beautiful face,” she whimpered, tears coming to her eyes.

  Wallace stepped back from her. “I don’t need pity.”

  Rytsar spoke up. “Miss Wilson, you never mourn the battle scars of a hero.”

  Mary looked Rytsar over, seeming to notice for the first time the terrible condition he was in, as well.

  Her face turned white, the blood draining from it, as she turned back to Wallace. “You almost died, didn’t you?”

  Wallace said nothing.

  “He is a hero,” Rytsar repeated firmly.

  Mary looked at Wallace, shaking her head in disbelief. “Baby…is there anything I can do for you?”

  “First, don’t ever call me baby again, or Faelan, or any name other than Wallace,” he replied.

  She seemed hurt by his words, but asked him, “What else do you want me to do?”

  “Do the job you came here to do. That’s all I need from you.”

  “But, Fae—” She paused, stopping herself. Tears ran down her cheeks as she cried, “I almost lost you.”

  He snorted, shaking his head. “Let’s focus on the task at hand. It’s the only thing that’s relevant.”

  “Do you know what you need to do, Miss Wilson?” Rytsar demanded.

  She dragged her gaze from Wallace to meet his. “Yes, I understand perfectly.”

  “Good. I think it’s best if you go to your room now and get comfortable. Lilly will be arriving in fifteen minutes.”

  Mary glanced back at Wallace, an unmistakable look of grief on her face.

  “Now, Miss Wilson,” Rytsar ordered.

  She left them standing there in silence.

  Once she was inside, Rytsar turned on him. “Why on earth did you pick her?”

  Wallace answered confidently, “She’s the best person for the job. I wasn’t about to let our past history compromise Brie’s safety. Mary can be ruthless, so she will understand Lilly, but she is also fiercely loyal to Brie. There is no other person I would trust to do this.”

  “How do you intend to make your working relationship function?”

  “It’s simple. She’ll report to you. There will be no further need for us to communicate.”

  Rytsar sighed. “I don’t care for this complication.”

  “It’s only a complication if we make it one. I don’t intend to.”

  “Who else knows about Mary?” Rytsar asked.

  “Just Stephanie and a few of the staff who need to be involved. Keeping her identity secret is of utmost importance. She’s taking a huge risk to help Brie.”

  Rytsar nodded. “Da, she is.”

  “Here they come,” Wallace announced, looking at his watch as the vehicle approached. “It looks like they’re a few minutes early.”

  Both Rytsar and Wallace stood in silence as the van stopped and a hooded Lilly was dragged out of the van.

  Rytsar could smell the fear on her, and smiled.

  She was marched past them, having no idea they were watching. They followed the men inside and walked down to the basement to watch as she was led into the room. A heavy collar was placed around her neck and locked with a key. It was attached to a short chain, allowing for minimal movement. She would be kept chained except for the times she was allowed out to work.

  “Where am I? What do you want from me?” she cried.

  When the men didn’t answer her, she resorted to bribes, then threats. But as they headed for the door, Lilly begged piteously, “Have mercy! Please, have mercy on me. I’m an American.”

  It disgusted Rytsar that she felt she deserved any mercy when she had so callously sentenced Brie to far worse.

  The door was shut and the line of locks slid into place. There was no possibility of escape. Lilly would either be changed by this place or become lost in the prison of her own hellish mind.

  Rytsar allowed everyone else to leave while he stayed behind.

  After the halls had quieted down and Lilly stopped screaming, Mary’s quiet voice, tinged with a Middle Eastern accent, hesitantly called out from the other side of the wall. “New girl…can you hear me?”

  Rytsar smiled.

  A new set of games had begun.

  Mos-cow

  Rytsar returned to Thane’s apartment, exhausted but extremely satisfied. He was lusting for a long, uninterrupted sleep.

  But as the elevator door opened to Thane’s floor, he swore he heard the sounds of a party coming from their apartment. As he was attempting to unlock the door, it opened up and he was startled to find Lea standing before him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve been begging to visit Brie for weeks now, and Thane finally gave me the okay.”

  She stepped aside to let him enter.

  Rytsar felt a mix of emotions, seeing Lea again. He walked past her to see a very happy Brie.

  “Can you believe she came for a quick visit?”

  “A welcomed distraction,” Thane said from the couch, sitting there dressed in a suit. Rytsar felt a surge of elation seeing his comrade looking like his old self. Even though he knew Thane still could not walk without assistance, this illusion was most welcomed.

  “I must say, Rytsar, you’re looking ruggedly handsome these days,” Lea told him, pressing her impressive breasts against his chest as she hugged him.

  “You mean royally jacked up,” he corrected.

  “Oh, no, a man with battle wounds is always sexy, in my book,” she replied with a flirtatious smile. She turned to Brie and said, “I saved a Russian joke just for this moment.”

  Brie groaned, shaking her head but smiling at her friend just the same.

  Lea turned to Thane and asked, “Where do Russians get their milk?”

  Looking at Rytsar, she smiled brightly and answered, “From a Mos-cow.”

  Lea burst out in peals of laughter.

  Brie bumped her hip. “Yep, that is one of the worst ones yet.”

  “What do you think of my little joke, Rytsar?” Lea asked.

  “You know how I feel about your jokes, mishka.”

  “You love them so much you can’t get enough?”

  “Nyet.”

  She stuck out her bottom lip. “Really?”

  “Is there any reason you would feel uncomfortable with me right now?” he asked her.

  Lea’s eyes grew wide, suddenly realizing that he knew. “I…I—”

  Rytsar put his arm around her and turned Lea to face the other two, not wanting to mar this moment with a talk that should be taking place in private. “Let’s celebrate this gathering of good friends.”

  Brie clapped her hands and grabbed Lea’s wrist. “Do you want to feel the baby kick?”

  Lea got a terrified look on her face, but closed her eyes and let Brie place her hand on her stomach. It only took a few moments before Lea’s eyes popped open and she snatched her hand away.

  “Oh, my gosh, that’s so weird!”

  �
��It’s not weird. It’s totally normal,” Brie insisted.

  Lea raised her eyebrows. “I’m sorry, girlfriend, but that’s seriously freaky.”

  Thane spoke up. “Keep in mind, my dear, that Ms. Taylor hasn’t seen you since the honeymoon. Your pregnancy has just been a concept in her head, not a reality.”

  “Sir Davis is right,” Lea agreed. “But it’s not only that. Feeling your stomach move like an alien’s inside there is…”

  Rytsar came over and placed his hand on Brie’s stomach. The moment he felt moye solntse move, he grinned. “It’s a beautiful miracle.”

  Lea gave him a half-grin. “Fine, it’s a creepy but beautiful miracle.”

  They all sat down together as Brie and Thane shared the events that had occurred since the crash. Rytsar tried to listen, but his eyelids felt heavy, and he struggled to concentrate.

  “It looks like you seriously need some sleep, Rytsar,” Lea commented.

  “I agree,” Thane said. “If you don’t mind, old friend, I need help to bed. Then you can retire and get the rest you need.”

  “Not a problem at all, comrade.”

  He helped Thane to his feet and took most of his weight as Thane leaned against him. The pain in his ribs was excruciating, but he bore it without complaint as Thane took slow steps back to the bedroom. Once he had his friend situated in bed, Rytsar bid them all goodnight and retired to his room.

  As he was undressing, he heard a knock on his door.

  “Rytsar?”

  “Yes, Ms. Taylor.”

  “I know you’re tired, but do you mind if we talk for just a minute?”

  Naked, he slipped under the covers and told her, “You may come in.”

  Lea walked inside, shutting the door behind her. She moved over to the bed but sat on the corner near his feet.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  Her expression turned to one of concern and fear. “I’ve really tried to keep my cool tonight, but I’ve been sick with worry, completely terrified for you ever since you were abducted.”

  “Well, there was reason to be,” he answered simply.

  She picked at the material of the comforter nervously. “I know Mistress Clark went there to rescue you.”

  “She did,” he answered coolly.

  Lea met his gaze. “I assume she told you about the two of us.”