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“Fine, but I can’t be too long.”
He raises his hands in defeat. “I know, I know. You have a flight to catch.”
Chapter Nine
Santos
Eset left late last night to head back home to Grozny, and the more I think about how the night went, the more I don’t like her right-hand man, Goran. I believe there is something up with him, but I’m not certain what it is. I can’t tell if it’s just that he doesn’t like me or if he has some sort of infatuation with my fiancée. He seems overprotective of her, and she said they were leaving the following morning to head back to Grozny, but then he changed it up… saying there was an issue and they’d be leaving in two hours. Sure, Ruslan could’ve needed her back home, but Eset seemed like she didn’t understand what was going on either.
Still, even though she was leaving in two hours, the two of us went to a restaurant across the street from the hotel we were both staying at and had some dessert. We had a drink as well, and the two of us chatted a bit more. The more time I spend with Eset, the more I enjoy her company. She shows me time and time again how intelligent she is, but I discovered a humorous side to her last night.
I’ve just landed in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, because my father has an estate here, and I know he’s currently in the city. So I called him to let him know I had landed and would stop by within the hour. When I spoke to him, he seemed a bit flustered, and I’ll put my money on the fact it’s because he hasn’t heard from his precious Lu. Little does he know he won’t hear anything from her ever again.
At first, I was surprised by what Eset was doing, but when I found out about everything Lu did to Amelia, too, it made sense why Eset was so driven. Lu had hurt two people who were extremely close to her, and I feel as though Eset has an immense hatred for child trafficking. When she spoke to Lu, I saw a fire in her that I’d never seen before. She was clenching her hands at her sides, her nostrils were flaring, and her skin was flushed. I’m sure in time, I’ll begin to understand what makes Eset tick, and she’ll learn the same about me.
I’m behind the wheel of my cherry red Giulia Quadrifoglio Alfa Romeo. I just purchased the car a couple of months ago, and I love it. With five hundred and five horsepower and the ability to reach sixty miles per hour in less than four seconds, I knew it was the car for me. Add in the fact there’s a race mode on the vehicle, which disables traction control and stability control, and it’s the icing on the cake. It has the top of the line of everything, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Leaving this car behind here in Mexico isn’t an option, and I have no problems getting it shipped to me. There’s only one problem, I don’t know where I’d get it shipped. Eset and I haven’t spoken about where we’re going to be living as of yet, though I’ll bet she’ll talk to me about it after I meet with my great-uncle.
I pull into my father’s private driveway and drive up to the code box. I roll down my window, input the code to gain access to his estate, and once the gates open, I pull in. I continue driving until I’m in front of his garage, roll my window up, and then get out of the vehicle.
He went all out when it came to his home here in Playa del Carmen. He purchased it before it was completed by the developer, so he was able to pick out a lot of finishing touches.
I know him so well that I’m confident he’s going to be outside somewhere. Half of his home is completely open concept since he’s right on the ocean. I go between the parts where his home meets since it’s a modern design with different sections and use the walkway until I’m back near the in-ground pool overlooking the ocean. My father has a private beach on his property and is away from the hustle and bustle the tourists bring.
“Son.” My father’s voice carries through the wind, and I turn to the right to see him in his open-air living area with a long, twenty-foot bar. Off to the left of me are wicker chairs with white cushions that he and his friends are usually lounging on, and behind that is the open-concept dining room.
I head closer to where he’s sitting on a cream-colored chair with what appears to be an iced tea in his hand. “My trip to London went exceptionally well,” I state, prepared to tell him everything I told Eset I would.
“Oh? Do tell.” He takes a sip of his tea and looks back to the bartender. “Lucas, please fix my son something to drink.”
Lucas looks over to me, waiting for me to say something. “I’ll take a Coke.”
“Just a Coke?”
I nod. “Yes, I made plans with Eset to meet in St. Moritz, Switzerland, so we can go skiing,” I add with a mischievous smile. “Father, I’d heard things about her… but I had no idea what type of woman she was. Her beauty is indescribable, and she has so much wit. Her intelligence completely blew me away, if I’m being honest. In this day and age, do you know how hard it is to find a woman who you can engage in deep conversation with? Eset isn’t some surface-level bitch like I’m used to dealing with.”
“No, son, she is not. She’s the crème de la crème, and I knew you’d be pleased with her caliber… of everything. She could’ve been a supermodel, I’m sure. You didn’t mind how frail she is?”
I shake my head. “No. You know I typically don’t go for women that thin, but Eset makes up for it in different areas.”
My father raises both of his brows. “Oh? Did things progress nicely over the past few days?” He thinks I fucked her, and I’ll let him think that.
Lucas comes up with my Coke, and I take a sip of the soda. “Thank you, Lucas.”
“You’re very welcome, sir,” Lucas states as he walks away and goes to stand back behind the bar.
“Eset has agreed to move forward with the wedding. I think she had reservations because she didn’t want to end up in a marriage with someone who didn’t appreciate her opinions. She has a strong will, and you know some men would beat that out of her.”
“Most men would want to put her in her place, so am I right in assuming you don’t?”
“I don’t see a reason to strip her will from her. She’s more valuable to me as my wife if she has her spirit intact. When men do that to women, it hardly ever helps them. I want her to be my partner and an ally, not someone who fears me.”
“Good answer, very good answer. So, has she said when the wedding will take place?”
“No, we’re supposed to be discussing it in a few days, but she did say she wanted to have it as soon as possible.”
My father cocks a brow and smiles. “Good, this is very good. After you’re married to an Umarova, half of my enemies will disappear back into the woodwork. They wouldn’t dare go against me because it would be going against you, and thus Eset. The Umarovas have been developing an even more notorious reputation over these last few months, son. This union between the two of you is going to be better than I ever thought.”
I can see the wheels spinning in his mind. He’s already thinking about how he can use my marriage to his advantage, and I would pay millions to see his face the moment he realizes my marriage won’t benefit him in the slightest.
