Page 50 of The Bratva's Innocent Sold Bride
Nothing, not even the squeak of someone moving in their chair. I kicked the gate and shouted, waving my arms at the camera mounted on the roof of the security building. Then I noticed there was no light on the camera, and it didn’t follow my movements as I paced back and forth, trying to get a better look at the compound. That might not have meant anything, but it was becoming clear no one was home.
I ordered some of my men to advance, and we hoisted ourselves over the wall, expecting a hail of bullets as soon as my feet hit the ground on the other side. It was as silent as a tomb. The place was locked up tight and completely deserted. Since he’d been breaking so many of my things, I didn’t feel any compunction about smashing a window to take a look inside.
No alarms sounded, but there was always the chance of a silent alarm, so I moved fast. The building was empty, spotlessly clean. As if it were brand new, or as if someone had moved out and made sure to leave no evidence behind.
I swore as I climbed back out. This was the only place that I’d ever actually seen Anatoli at. The few local addresses that CJ was able to find in her search had already been checked out. A house in the suburbs that was occupied by a family, I would have bet everything I owned wasn’t involved, so either a decoy or a rental. A suite in a high-rise building that was vacant, and a warehouse that we had under constant surveillance, though there’d been no activity there since we set the stakeout up.
Once again, Anatoli was in the wind, out of my reach. For some reason, he’d felt the need to completely clear out the building his supposedly legitimate business was operating out of and disappear. But why? What was the bastard planning now?
Chapter 31 - CJ
After the sting of being so unceremoniously fired for no apparent reason subsided, I started to think. Pushing my feelings aside, it became clear to me that Terrence Hendricks had to be more than just a business rival.
Scrolling through my contacts, I tried to think of someone who would know anything about him, other than the superficial stuff going around on the social pages. I remembered that our secret local celebrity blogger, Dana Emerrich, had been chatting him up pretty furiously at the gala. Maybe she had something on him.
It was worth a try, and even though it was past midnight, I texted her. Not expecting a reply until morning, I got a quick shower and took Artem outside, since once he realized I was home and awake, he wasn’t going to be ignored. The back area, which we’d designated as the dog run, was fairly well lit by the lights from the house and the pool, and I could see Mat’s guards wandering out by the treeline as faint, strangely comforting shadows.
Mat’s house was on such a big piece of property, it sometimes felt very isolated. Peaceful, most of the time, but at night like this, it could be creepy all alone except for a jumpy pup who I was sure would try to defend me from any intruders after he was done cowering behind my legs.
My phone dinged, and I jumped, laughing when I made Artem jump as well. “It’s fine,” I said.
Dana must have been an insomniac, or this was when she found the time to update her website without her husband knowing about it because she already answered my question about what she knew about Terrence Hendricks.
Ugh, not much, except that he’s single! Not that it matters to us (winky face). But he’s rich and is spending money like water to get that company off the ground. Just wish anyone knew what he was doing. If they do, they’re not talking.
I sighed and shook my head at the winky face emoji she included. A dead end. There was no one else I could ask without a whole bunch of questions in return, except… No. I wouldn’t go there.
Calling for Artem to get inside, I got in bed, letting him sleep at the foot instead of closing him in his room. If Mat didn’t like it, too bad. It wasn’t like he was here to protest. I couldn’t sleep, and I finally grabbed my phone again, reluctantly placing a call to the one other person who might know something.
My father kept crazy hours, often working through the night, so it was no surprise when he answered right away.
“CJ,” he said breathlessly, launching into another round of his hollow apologies. I waited for him and then asked him coldly if he knew anything about Terrence Hendricks. “Nothing that you probably don’t,” he said regretfully. “He’s supposedly blazing a trail, but with what? You know I tried to bring him on board, but he declined the offer.”
“I think he might have criminal ties,” I said. “Do you know anything about that?”
“Why would I?” he asked, having the gall to sound offended.
“Why wouldn’t you?” I countered.
“I know what I did was wrong, but you don’t understand how desperate I was. I was trying to save the company. Our company.”
I repressed a snort. “Mat’s company now. And yes, I understand that you were routinely in the practice of setting up those scam opportunities and finally just ripped someone off who wouldn’t slink away because of who you were.”
He sucked in a shuddering breath, and I didn’t want to hear it. I was on the verge of ending the call when he gasped, “I’m working on getting you out of there. Just hang on, CJ.”
“What?” I hissed, slapping the phone back to my ear.
“I’m planning a rescue.”
“Are you crazy? That’s the worst idea you’ve ever had. Are you trying to get yourself killed?” I was horrified. Even with all the anger I still held for him, I didn’t want to see him dead because of further stupidity. “Don’t. Stop whatever you’re planning. I mean it.”
I hung up, and it was a miracle I fell asleep with this new burden added to the pack. In the morning, Mat’s side of the bed was occupied by Artem, sprawled out and making sure to leave as many of his golden hairs as possible on the crisp white sheets.
The day loomed before me like a barren dirt road that led nowhere. Over the last few days, I had been jumping out of bed, eager to get to my office and start work. I got dressed and went downstairs to feed the dog, warring with a terrible idea. Hadn’t I just told my father not to mess with Mat? So why was I considering going back to the office after he told me, very firmly, that I was done?
It didn’t seem right to leave loose ends. I should at least close down my programs and forward all the necessary passwords and instructions for my specialized software to Delta. And those were dream computers. I wasn’t going to let them rot there. The bodyguards could turn off their game shows and helpme pack them up to bring here. Maybe, just maybe, Mat would be in a mood to compromise when he got home.
My driver clinched the decision for me. It seemed that Mat had rushed out of the house so fast last night that he hadn’t given him the news that I wasn’t supposed to return to the office.
