“Thank god those men showed up when they did. Strange that Americans saved us. I wonder what they were doing there? Did they look like ballet enthusiasts to you?”
Skylar snorts out a laugh. “I don’t think so. There was something familiar about them. Or at least the two Americans,” Skylar muses.
“You know them? Because the third one seemed familiar to me, but I can’t place him. Something about his voice,” I trail off, then have an idea. Leaning forward, I question the driver. “Did you know the man who hailed this taxi?”
He shakes his head, but doesn’t speak.
“How did he pay?”
“Cash,” the man barks out.
“And you’re certain you don’t recognize him? Because I think he’s Russian.”
“Nyet.”
Knowing I won’t get anything more from him, I lean back and turn to face Skylar. “I need to tell my father about this. I don’t know what happened to my driver, Rurik. I didn’t see the car, did you?”
Skylar shakes her head. “I hope he’s okay. Can you call him?”
“Good idea,” I say, taking out my phone and searching for him. When I place the call, the phone rings, but then flips over to voicemail. I leave him a message, explaining that I took a cab home, just in case he got tied up in traffic or something equally innocuous.
Skylar and I exit the cab after thanking the driver. He assured us that our protector provided more than enough for the trip. We dash into the house, and I head straight for my father’s study. Without knocking, I burst inside and rush over to him.
“Father, someone just tried to kidnap us,” I cry out before realizing that he’s not alone.
The two men sitting across from him rise from their seats. The blonde man has me sucking in my breath because at first glance, I think it’s my brother. However, on closer inspection, I realize that he resembles Alexi, but it isn’t him.
“What happened?” the darker of the two asks. He’s incredibly handsome with black hair framing an angular face. The clipped beard makes him look both elegant and rugged. His eyes set off a flutter in my belly. They’re blue, but not the blue of a warm sky. No. His eyes are the color of blue you’d find in the coldest layer of ice. However, instead of making me feel cold, I feel my body heat up. He’s magnificent.
“I’m sorry, Father,” I should have knocked. “I forgot you were having company for lunch.”
“It’s alright, now tell us what happened?”
The men move so Skylar and I can take the seats they vacated. The dark-haired man moves behind the desk to join my father, while the blonde-haired man stands behind us.
“Skylar and I were leaving the theater. I was looking for Rurik, but I didn’t see the car before two men grabbed us,” I say, glancing at Skylar in case she wanted to add something to the discussion. “They were pulling us toward a van when we managed to fight them off. However, two more men exited the van and came for us. That’s when three Americans arrived and fought them off for us.”
“Americans?” the dark man asks.
I shrug. “Two of them were Americans. I think the third might have been Russian. He had a heavy accent.”
I see the man share a look with his friend, but I ignore them when my father speaks to me. “What happened to Rurik? What happened to him?”
“I don’t know. I tried calling him, but I got his voicemail.”
My father picks up his phone and makes a call. I assume he’s calling Rurik. I glance at the dark man to find him studying me.
“Are you alright? Do either of you need anything? Tea? Water? I can get you something.”
“I’ll go,” says the man behind us. I hear the door open and shut.
“My apologies, I should introduce myself,” he says. “My name is Vladimir Zoloth, and the man who just left is my friend, Dominic Stoya.” He offers his hand to me, so I shake it.
“I’m Anya. Anya Stepanova. This is my friend, Skylar Prince.”
Vladimir turns his attention to Skylar, who is staring open-mouthed at Vladimir.
“Problem?” Vladimir asks her.
