“But why try to kill you?”
“I think it was because I sided with my mother and brother once I learned the truth, and I interfered when he kidnapped my mother and her twin daughters. If it weren’t for Dixie, I’d probably be dead.”
“Dixie?”
“My mother’s boyfriend. Dixie is his road name. He’s a member of my brother’s motorcycle club, the Demon Dawgs. My brother, Hex, is the President of the New Orleans Chapter.”
“The Demon Dawgs? Yes, I’ve heard of them. Their President is Dante, he’s the son of Angela Westbrook. I’ve met her at several events; she’s a formidable woman.”
“I’ve heard,” I reply.
“Your father was attempting a power play, yes?” Alexandr asks, studying me.
“I believe that was his intention. He’s often said he wants control of the entire Eastern Seaboard. He had planned to attend your party and make the request. I think he hoped that you would grant him his request if Dimitri and Ivan were both dead.”
“You killed him without first learning his plan. Why? I would think you would have wanted to learn everything so you could build upon it. Or do you not want something from me?”
“I want to keep New Orleans as my territory. I would like to control all of the Gulf of Mexico, but I plan on earning that position. My father’s plan was not something I wanted to pursue. I would rather work with Ivan and Dimitri rather than take over their territory. I didn’t bother to learn my father’s plan, because the means he was using to achieve that plan were not palatable to me.”
“What were his means?”
“He was bringing you a gift. That gift consisted of my mother and my half-sisters. My mother has the gift, as do my sisters. Their gifts work differently, but my father thought you would consider his request if he offered them to you.”
Alexandr scowls as he pushes away from his desk. “He planned on giving me women? What kind of man did he think I was? Is that what you think?” Alexandr roars the last question as he swivels to glare at me.
I don’t flinch in the face of Alexandr’s anger. “I would not be here if I thought you were that type of man. I came here to tell you of his plans and to explain why I killed him instead of handing him over to you.”
Alexandr relaxes as he circles the desk to retake his seat. “I’m glad you realize that I would not have accepted your father’s gift. The very idea that he would think I would be okay with him kidnapping your mother and sisters and then transporting them to Russia as if they were his property shocks me.”
I study the man across from me and consider his words. While he appears to be honest about his feelings regarding my father’s obscene gift, I wonder if he’s truly appalled. After all, he is offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man whom he selects to take over for Alexi. I open my mouth to question him, but the door flies open to allow two women to enter.
“Father, someone just tried to kidnap us.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ANYA
My training kicks when the van door opens. If I let him get me inside it, I’ll likely die. Bending backwards, I let my body go limp. I may be petite, but I’m also all muscle. My dead weight angled away from the man makes it impossible for him to continue carrying me. He stumbles, which gives me the distraction I need. I purposely tangle my legs with his, tripping him. He releases me as he braces for a fall. Using all my strength, I kick my attacker in the crotch with a développé Madame Volkov would be proud of. The man screams in pain as he clutches his abused nether region.
Spinning, I find Skylar effortlessly manhandling her attacker. The blood dripping down his face tells a story. A noise behind me draws my attention back to the van. Two men jump out, ready to help their friends. However, before they can reach us, three men rush into view: grunts and the sound of flesh beating on flesh echo in the enclosed space. Our attackers push our saviors away and jump into the van. The van speeds away while our rescuers check that we’re okay.
“I’ll call for a cab,” one says before he moves toward the street. He speaks in English, but with a heavy Russian accent. There’s something familiar about his voice, but he keeps his face turned away.
“Are you two alright?” one asks. He’s handsome, with black hair and chocolate-brown eyes. His accent tells me that he’s American.
“We’re fine. Thank you for helping us,” Skylar says, narrowing her eyes at the men. “You’re Americans. Southern.”
The man next to me laughs. “We are. I recognize you. You’re Skylar Prince. What are you doing in Russia?”
“Filming. I didn’t catch your names,” Skylar says.
“We didn’t give them,” the man next to me says before turning his attention to me. “You’re Anya Stepanova.”
The way he’s looking at me and the fact that he knows my name have me stiffening. But before I can question him, the two men are rushing us toward the taxi that their friend has procured. My rescuer helps me inside, just as the third man gives the driver directions to my home. How did he know my address? Once again, I’m struck by how familiar his voice sounds. Leaning forward, I try to see his face, but he turns away from me. All I manage to make out is a white-blonde beard.
“What the hell just happened?” Skylar explodes, heaving a sigh as she leans back in the seat.
“Someone just tried to kidnap us. Who do you think they were after? Me or you?”
Skylar shrugs. “Could have been both of us. I don’t know.”
