Page 23 of Demetri
Silence hangs between us briefly before Jake asks his next question; one I knew he would get around to asking soon enough. "You claimin' her?" I can hear the smile in his tone.
"I claimed her the moment I laid eyes on her two years ago," I confess to a man I consider to be a friend.
He chuckles. "About damn time."
"I have some business to take care of," I tell Jake. "I'll be in touch. One of my bodyguards, Sasha, along with two other men, are going with Glory. I hope you can provide them with a place to stay?"
"You got it."
"Thank you," I tell him just as Glory reappears.
"Anytime, brother." Jake hangs up.
"I know this makes me sound like one of those clingy bitches, but will you be returning to Chicago after you sort out your business here?" Glory stops in front of me.
She is not going to like the next words I have to say. "I won't be joining you in Chicago." Her face falls. "I'm sending you to stay with Grace in Polson."
Her hand flies in the air between us. "Hold up. Polson?"
"Yes. I've already called and talked with Jake. He and the rest of The Kings are expecting you." Sasha walks down the stairs and out the front door with Glory's suitcase in his hand. "Ready?"
"Do I have a choice in the matter?"
"No," I tell her.
"Then why even ask? You're doing a bang-up job making all my decisions for me." Glory storms out the door into the chill of the night.
Victor steps beside me. "She is a feisty woman."
"That she is."
Fifteen minutes later,we've arrived at the tarmac. We sit unmoving as the car idles in place. Seeming to have calmed down since leaving the house, Glory lifts her hand, cupping my cheek. "You think this threat is serious enough for you to send me to Montana; surrounded by a bunch of sexy bikers?" I sense my woman is trying to get a rise out of me.
"Everyone knows you are mine,Krasivaya." I bring her palm to my lips, kissing it. "Let's go."
Opening the door, we exit the car. I tug on Glory's arm as we stop at the steps that lead up to the plane and pull her close. "Trust me?"
"I do."
"Good." I kiss her long and hard, leaving both of us breathless by the time we break our connection. "I'll be back for you."
"You'd better." Glory gives my lips one last kiss before walking up the steps and into the plane. Sasha is the last to board. Stepping back, I wait by the car, watching the plane taxi down the runway. I don't move until they disappear amongst the gray clouds in the night sky.
"Any word?" I ask Victor who stands beside the car, smoking a cigarette.
"Nothing."
"Take me to the shipyard." I pull the car door open.
Victor flicks what's left of his cigarette to the ground, snubbing it out with the toe of his shoe. "You think this guy may know something?"
"We'll find out soon enough. Let's go," I order.
Loose gravel crunchesbeneath the tires as we enter the furthest end of the shipping yard, just near the river, stopping a few yards in front of three cargo containers. Climbing out of the car, I walk toward the middle container where one of my men is standing. With a nod, he opens the heavy door.
An amber glow is cast inside of the nine by forty-foot cube from a small bulb hanging from the roof. Seated in a chair up against the wall, his hands, and feet bound together is the man accused of stealing from me. Per my request, he hasn't been touched. His eyes are trained on me as I drag a chair across the floor. Spinning it around, I straddle the seat. Reaching into the pocket of my suit, I pull out a pack of cigarettes, shake one from the package, then offer our guest one. Sweat beads on his forehead and slides down the sides of his face as he shakes his head. Victor leans in, striking a lighter. I take a few tokes until the end of the cigarette burns a bright red. Propping my arms on the back of the chair, I take a long drag. "Who's your boss?" I ask him as smoke plumes between us.
"Fuck you." He spits at my feet. "You will kill me anyway, so I'm not telling you shit."
