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Now that I’ve had a few days to settle in, I see it, and I hope she was only unrested because of me being gone. She has no other reasons to not get good rest, and I’ll hold her close to me every night if I have to. Above all else, I want to make sure she’s okay. She has gone above and beyond my wildest expectations, and I promise to take care of her the way she’s taking care of me. I doubt she even sees it, but I do, and I take note of it.
The plane landed about an hour ago, and we immediately headed back to the hotel suite I’d rented. I still have a bit of time left on the rental, but I plan to extend it for a couple more months. Eventually, I’d like to head back to Grozny, but there are things I need to tidy up here in Atlanta before that can happen. One of which is my meeting with Jordan Steele. He met with me a few weeks back to secure an arms deal. His supplier’s run short as of late, and they need product they can sell and transport. We were supposed to arrange an official meeting to test the products, but my capture delayed said meeting. Since I’m back, I’ll have to get that sorted.
“Ruslan, I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be out in ten or fifteen minutes, okay?” Amelia says as she heads for the bathroom attached to the master bedroom.
“Take your time. We’re in no rush, but I’d like to take you out in a couple of hours.”
Amelia’s lips curl upward, and she nods. “Okay, maybe I’ll curl my hair then.” She gives me a wink and walks out of sight.
My phone went missing when I was taken, so Danill got me a new one when we were in Grozny. I had it encrypted so no one could get access to the important information on it, but we have people who work with my family who can completely shut down phones. I had that done in the event it was given to my stepfather. The last thing I want him to know is what I’m up to or what plans I’m putting in motion.
I unlock my new phone and pull up Jordan Steele’s contact. Amelia should be a little while, so this should give me some time to have a short conversation with Jordan. I tap the green call button and bring the phone to my ear. It rings a few times before he finally answers.
“Hello?”
“Jordan, it’s Ruslan. I apologize for my delay.” I’m unsure what I’m going to tell Jordan right now, but I debate telling him a good bit. The more allies I have on my side, the better.
“Apologies aren’t necessary. I heard about your disappearance and am glad to hear from you. Are you back in Atlanta?”
“Yes, I am. I want to get our meeting back on schedule. We’ve had enough of a delay.”
“Perfect. How about we schedule something for a few days from now? My schedule is a bit packed for the week, but this is a high priority for my family,” Jordan tells me, and I imagine it is. Hopefully, he hasn’t lost too much money due to my incapacitation.
“That sounds great. Text me with a date, time, and location when you’re free. I’ll make sure I’m there with the products,” I tell Jordan, and we say our goodbyes.
Now all I want to do is go out with Amelia for a little bit. We both need to take in some familiar scenery, and Atlanta has been a lovely place to stay. Truthfully, I don’t know if I’ll want to go back to Grozny after this is all over.
Chapter Nine
Amelia
Ruslan and I had such a long flight home. I didn’t think he’d want to do something after just getting back, so when he said he wanted to go back out, I was a bit surprised. Still, he’s been cooped up for so long in that place. I can understand why he wants to get out of the house. There were probably times when he wondered if he would ever see daylight again.
I took a much-needed shower, blow-dried my hair, and even curled it like I told Ruslan I was going to do. I had some clothes here in his hotel suite because he told me to bring some a few weeks back just so I’d have something to change into. It’s still a bit hot out, so I opt to wear a pair of shorts and a baby blue, sleeveless polka dot shirt. The curls I added to my hair shape my face beautifully, and I only put on a bit of makeup. I go a little heavy on the mascara, though, but that’s okay. I really want my eyes to pop while I’m out with Ruslan.
I walk into the living area, and he’s still in his suit. Why he insists on wearing them all the time is beyond me. The only time he wore something remotely comfortable was the day Lom and Danill brought him back home. Otherwise, he was in suit pants and a dress shirt.
“I’m ready to go whenever you are,” I say to Ruslan, and he rises from the couch. I watch the way he stands and recall how he struggled the first couple of days he was back. Now, his strength is returning, and he’s been eating heavier meals. I think he’ll be back to his normal physique in no time.
“Then let’s go. I don’t want to do anything too crazy, but there’s a park across the street, and I figured we could take a walk around it.” It’s obvious to me he wants to build his strength back as quickly as possible. I’m glad he includes me on these little walks. I think it’s not only great for his activity level but also for the two of us to bond more.
“That sounds great,” I tell him, and we walk toward the elevator. In about five minutes, we’re outside, walking across the street, and Danill is in tow behind us. He’s about forty feet in the rear, enough to step in if needed but not so close that he can hear every word we say.
Ruslan and I walk in the park for a few minutes in silence, simply taking in the scenery. The grass is the greenest I’ve ever seen, and flowers of many different colors cascade around the park. The path we walk on is made up of sand-colored cement, and it meanders all throughout the area. The paths even weave in and out of each other, so if someone wanted to walk up to the fountain in the center, they could.
On the outskirts of the park, they’ve added a track for runners. Some are by themselves with earphones in, while others are moms pushing strollers alongside their friends. Right about now, I revel in how peaceful it is being back home. For so long, I was terrified for Ruslan. But it was more than just fear for him. I had my own fears as well because without him, what would’ve become of me?
The truth is, I don’t know. I’m not sure if the Steele family would automatically assume I had some sort of hand in Ruslan’s disappearance, just as they originally thought I was the one to steal that money out of the safe during my interview. They could believe the common denominator is me, but I don’t have to worry about those silly things. It doesn’t matter at all because I’m here with Ruslan right now, and he’s okay.
Ruslan wraps his arm around my waist and holds my hip firmly. It’s something so small, but it shows me he’s growing attached. I don’t know if he realizes it yet, but I’ve grown quite fond of him as well. He terrified me in the beginning because of his nature and commitment to finding answers. I’ve learned that Ruslan isn’t a monster I should fear. He’s the monster in my corner, so others should fear him.
“Come sit with me for a few minutes,” Ruslan says to break the silence, and just as he speaks, my phone starts to ring in my back pocket.
I fish my phone out and bring it to my ear without even looking at the caller ID. “Hello?”
“Amelia, are you able to work tonight? I know Britton was supposed to cover for you, but she’s called out,” Gregor, my boss at Illusion, tells me.
It’s Friday night, so it’s technically my night to work. Ruslan shouldn’t have a problem with it, and even if he did, we’d be having a conversation about that. Our agreement was that I’d work Fridays through Sundays, and the rest of the week, I’d be his.
