three-quarters of a million dollars?”
She had no idea, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to tell Vladimir that. Instead, she gave a dainty shrug. “It doesn’t matter what he has to pay. My lover wants me at any cost.”
“Maybe I should take you back to your father’s for a reminder of exactly what your value is.” He shook her arm until her teeth rattled. “Do you remember what it was like to be there?”
“Of course I do!” she retorted. “But if you think I’m going to be afraid of that shrunken old man, you’re clueless. I’m not that girl anymore. I am more. And there is no way I would stand there and let him berate me or hit me. Not again.”
They reached Vladimir’s car. “I hope you don’t mind attending a council meeting in that attire, because I’m sure as hell not buying you any clothes. Not after your ungrateful behavior.”
“What would that be?” She tossed her head, sending her hair tumbling over her shoulder. “My decision to choose your brother over you? Or smacking you in the head with a baseball bat?”
“I liked you better when you were sweet and agreeable,” he muttered as he shoved her into his car.
He ran around quickly and got into the driver’s side. She didn’t move while she waited. Not even to buckle her seat belt. Then she turned her head and gave him a sweet smile. “I forgot to tell you. I would rather stand naked in a room full of strangers than to wear something that you had purchased for me.”
Vladimir ground his teeth together. “You push me, woman, and you will not like the results if you go too far.”
“What?” She shook her head at him. She let him see every ounce of the disgust she felt in her expression. “You mean you might shove your way through stores without a care as to whether or not you hurt someone? Or you might wave a gun at a poor guy who’s just doing his job? Or maybe you’ll end up orchestrating the murder of a police detective. Or”—she pegged him with a sad smile—“perhaps you will murder your own father because he saw you for what you are.”
Vladimir stomped on the gas pedal. The car shot forward into the night and they left the safe house behind. Lily wondered if something in her words had actually punched through that arrogance he wore like armor. He looked off-balance somehow, as if he were feeling guilty. Though it was a stretch to believe him capable of that emotion.
It was only a short drive to Kalinka. Still, Vladimir didn’t seem as though he had brought himself back under control. His manner made Lily uneasy. He parked the car at the curb and then gripped the steering wheel in his hands.
“Are you all right, Vladimir?” She tried to be gentle this time. Maybe he just needed some compassion.
“You look different,” he blurted.
“Do I?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not trying to hide anymore.” Somehow it was so simple for her to understand now. “I was tired of being everyone’s welcome mat. I don’t have to hide and I don’t want to cower. I just want to live my life and be left alone to do so in peace.”
“Your words are ridiculous,” he told her. “Women are meant to be property. But I understand wanting independence.”
She laughed. His words didn’t even have the power to make her angry anymore. “So you think I’m ridiculous. You can go ahead and think that. I happen to think you’re insane. Are you ready to go inside and prove to them that you were meant to be the boss?”
“Yes.” He started to get out of the car.
Lily rolled her eyes. If nothing else, this was going to be entertaining. “See? Now that’s ridiculous.”
Chapter Fourteen
Nicolai watched Vladmir stride into Kalinka with Lily by his side. They’d only received word about ten minutes ago from Vasily and Georgy that Vladimir had taken her from the safe house. She looked pissed off but unharmed. For now, that was going to have to be enough.
Nicolai kept his chin high and reminded himself that he was the
She had no idea, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to tell Vladimir that. Instead, she gave a dainty shrug. “It doesn’t matter what he has to pay. My lover wants me at any cost.”
“Maybe I should take you back to your father’s for a reminder of exactly what your value is.” He shook her arm until her teeth rattled. “Do you remember what it was like to be there?”
“Of course I do!” she retorted. “But if you think I’m going to be afraid of that shrunken old man, you’re clueless. I’m not that girl anymore. I am more. And there is no way I would stand there and let him berate me or hit me. Not again.”
They reached Vladimir’s car. “I hope you don’t mind attending a council meeting in that attire, because I’m sure as hell not buying you any clothes. Not after your ungrateful behavior.”
“What would that be?” She tossed her head, sending her hair tumbling over her shoulder. “My decision to choose your brother over you? Or smacking you in the head with a baseball bat?”
“I liked you better when you were sweet and agreeable,” he muttered as he shoved her into his car.
He ran around quickly and got into the driver’s side. She didn’t move while she waited. Not even to buckle her seat belt. Then she turned her head and gave him a sweet smile. “I forgot to tell you. I would rather stand naked in a room full of strangers than to wear something that you had purchased for me.”
Vladimir ground his teeth together. “You push me, woman, and you will not like the results if you go too far.”
“What?” She shook her head at him. She let him see every ounce of the disgust she felt in her expression. “You mean you might shove your way through stores without a care as to whether or not you hurt someone? Or you might wave a gun at a poor guy who’s just doing his job? Or maybe you’ll end up orchestrating the murder of a police detective. Or”—she pegged him with a sad smile—“perhaps you will murder your own father because he saw you for what you are.”
Vladimir stomped on the gas pedal. The car shot forward into the night and they left the safe house behind. Lily wondered if something in her words had actually punched through that arrogance he wore like armor. He looked off-balance somehow, as if he were feeling guilty. Though it was a stretch to believe him capable of that emotion.
It was only a short drive to Kalinka. Still, Vladimir didn’t seem as though he had brought himself back under control. His manner made Lily uneasy. He parked the car at the curb and then gripped the steering wheel in his hands.
“Are you all right, Vladimir?” She tried to be gentle this time. Maybe he just needed some compassion.
“You look different,” he blurted.
“Do I?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not trying to hide anymore.” Somehow it was so simple for her to understand now. “I was tired of being everyone’s welcome mat. I don’t have to hide and I don’t want to cower. I just want to live my life and be left alone to do so in peace.”
“Your words are ridiculous,” he told her. “Women are meant to be property. But I understand wanting independence.”
She laughed. His words didn’t even have the power to make her angry anymore. “So you think I’m ridiculous. You can go ahead and think that. I happen to think you’re insane. Are you ready to go inside and prove to them that you were meant to be the boss?”
“Yes.” He started to get out of the car.
Lily rolled her eyes. If nothing else, this was going to be entertaining. “See? Now that’s ridiculous.”
Chapter Fourteen
Nicolai watched Vladmir stride into Kalinka with Lily by his side. They’d only received word about ten minutes ago from Vasily and Georgy that Vladimir had taken her from the safe house. She looked pissed off but unharmed. For now, that was going to have to be enough.
Nicolai kept his chin high and reminded himself that he was the
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