“If you could call him, I would appreciate it. I don’t need to go to the hospital. I’ll take the car back, it’s my responsibility,” Rurik says.
“We’ll follow you,” I offer, nodding for my men to get back into their vehicle. I join Dominic as we follow Rurik back to Alexandr’s house.
Rurik insists on entering the house through the back door rather than the front. Dominic and I follow him inside to find Anya and the housekeeper waiting for him in the kitchen. Alexandr joins us immediately. Dominic greets the older woman as Nadia.
“Do you remember what happened?” Alexandr asks as Nadia grabs a bag of ice and presses it against the bump on the back of Rurik’s head.
Rurik tells Alexandr the same story he told us. As he speaks, I watch Anya, who is hiding her grin as she watches Nadia fuss over Rurik. With everyone’s focus on Rurik, I’m able to study the girl. She has her hair tied back in a ponytail, and without makeup, she could pass for a teenager. Our eight-year agedifference seems much larger. I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with my attraction to her. Luckily, Alexandr distracts me by standing and gesturing for me to follow him.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for my family today. Our meeting was cut short. I wanted to invite you to a small dinner party I’m having here tomorrow night. I’ve invited all the men whom I’m considering. Would you be willing to attend?”
“I’d be honored,” I tell him.
“I have another favor to ask of you. Anya will need to go shopping tomorrow for a new dress; however, I don’t feel comfortable sending her without guards.”
“You don’t have men to watch her?” I ask in surprise.
Alexandr glances at Anya and then Rurik before returning his attention to me. I can see the fear and suspicion on his face. “I don’t know who to trust,” he admits. “Whoever attacked Rurik knew his routine. They were waiting for him. This wasn’t someone taking advantage of an opportunity. They knew where he would be, and they knew when Anya was getting out of rehearsal.”
I can think of several ways someone could have hijacked Rurik without inside information. Still, I can’t deny that I like the idea of being her guardian angel for the foreseeable future. She’s obviously in danger. I agree to his request without argument.
“Tell her that I’ll pick her up at ten-thirty tomorrow. We’ll go shopping, and I’ll take her out to lunch,” I say.
“Thank you,” Alexandr says.
“So, Anya was the target?” Dominic asks once we’re back in the car. I tell him about Alexandr’s request.
“It appears so. I wonder why and by whom? This is something my father would have done to coerce Alexandr.”
“Do you think your father hired someone here to kidnap Anya?”
I shrug. “Maybe. Although it is also possible that one of the other families ordered her abduction for similar reasons. Someone made certain that Alexi was taken out of commission. It isn’t a stretch to believe that the same person who orchestrated Alexi’s disappearance would want to have a second bargaining chip. I don’t like it. We need to talk to Alexi and see if he learned anything during his excursion today.”
We return to the hotel to find Alexi waiting for us in the suite.
“Did Rurik make it back to my father safely?” he asks.
I nod. “We followed Rurik home. He’s safe. He didn’t get a look at you, did he?”
Alexi shakes his head. “No, I stayed in the car while the others helped him. I didn’t want to risk it.”
“Why were you at the theater? I thought you were going to retrace your steps.”
“I did. I remember reaching the nightclub, but nothing after that. I can’t remember if I made it inside or not.”
“That doesn’t help us narrow down the suspects, does it?” Dominic states.
“What happened at the theater?” I ask.
“I wanted to see Anya. I knew she would be at the theater for the dress rehearsal. Once we sent those assholes into retreat, I separated myself from her. I got the cab and let your men help the girls.”
“I don’t think she recognized you,” I assure him. “She would have said something to her father. However, I have some questions about her friend. Have you met Skylar Prince before?”
Alexi shakes his head. “No, I’ve never heard of her. I don’t think she was friends with Anya before my abduction. Why? Is there a problem with her?”
“I don’t know. I just find it strange that she’s here and that she’s befriended Anya.”
“Who is she?” Dominic asks. “You recognized her. She seems familiar.”
