“I’m meeting Marlen,” I say, holding my head high and pushing my shoulders back to stand tall and strong. Did I overhear something I wasn’t supposed to? It’s not like I heard much. And what I did hear doesn’t make sense on its own.Heshouldn’t be this defensive. Not unless he’s worried about what I heard because he was up to no good.
Bardil stands over me, his face clouded with rage. “If you say anything to Marlen about that phone call, I’ll make you disappear where no one can find you. Not your family, not my brother… no one. Do you understand?”
“I… I… I understand,” I stammer, shocked by his aggression, but also realizing that he’sclearlyhiding something. The more I play into his threats and let him think I’m too scared to disobey them, the safer I’ll be. The truth is, I’m terrified of the look in his eye. I suddenly have no doubt he would hurt me if he had half the chance. But that doesn’t mean I’d keep secrets for him.
I wish I’d heard more of the call.
I stare up at Bardil. His eyes are colder than his brother’s.
Even Simon treats me with respect and is kind and gentle toward me. Bardil is the only one who harbors so much hatred. And it’s not even towardme,so to speak. It’s toward the Abashins and my brothers, for a personal issue between them. But he’s comfortable carrying that hatred over to my family name. Toanyonewho carries it.
It’s blind hatred. Cold and heartless and dangerous.
“Do you understand me, girl?” he hisses, still standing too close to me. His fists are clenched, and he seems agitated and jumpy. Unpredictable.
“I understand, Bardil, I understand,” I stammer, averting my eyes and pressing my lips together with worry. I knit my brows and let fear play over my face.
He seems satisfied with my response and takes a step back. He seems like the kind of man who turns into a wildanimal when he feels trapped or back into a corner. I have to make him think he’s in charge of the situation in every way.
Bardil glares at me one last time, then storms from the office. I stare at the phone he slammed down, wondering who he was speaking to and what it was about.
What did he say? Can I even remember?
Something about it being too soon to start something new, and about his brothers catching on…
Through the one-way glass, I see Bardil downstairs, talking to the workers.
I don’t have any desire to bump into him again, so instead of waiting here for Marlen, I decide to head back home and see him at dinner.
If Bardil is hanging around the warehouse today, it won’t be pleasant, and Marlen will probably need to focus on his work, not on me.
I shouldn’t have come here.
Sighing, I hurry out of the office, closing the door behind me. Leaving the warehouse, I find the guard standing outside the car, leaning against the door.
“Are you staying?” he asks, pushing away from the car to stand straight as I walk toward him.
“Actually, no, you can take me home rather. Marlen isn’t here yet, and I don’t know how long he’s going to be, so it’s better to head home.”
He tugs the back door open for me, and I slide onto the seat. He closes it and climbs into the front to start the car. “I can call him and find out where he is if you like?”
“It’s ok. I don’t want to disturb him,” I smile.
The guard pulls out onto the road and turns back toward home. Maybe I’ll cook him something for dinner. Or make a nice dessert. I can do something special for him, seeing as my surprise visit didn’t go as planned.
Maybe you shouldn’t be worried about surprise visits and rather be more focused on what just happened with Bardil.
I chew at my bottom lip, worried, because the last time I tried to talk to Marlen about Bardil, it didn’t exactly go well.
Perhaps talking to Marlen isn’t the answer. Not until I have some kind of evidence. If I approach him with nothing more than a story about a weird phone call and my own suspicion, he’s going to take his brother’s side again. It’s my word against Bardil’s, and Bardil is his family.
I need something solid. I need to know what really happened that night of Bardil’s party.
If Bardil is up to no good, it will eventually affect Marlen.AndI want to clear my family’s name. I have more than one reason to seek the truth.
Chapter 19 - Marlen
Instead of going to the warehouse as planned, I was called into a more pressing emergency that required my presence. I sent Bardil to handle the packing of that important delivery. I know my guys will get it right; I just want full reassurance on this delivery to avoid any issues. Better safe than sorry. Bardil argued that I was being too controlling and he didn’t need to go there, but in the end, he gave in and promised me he would.
