I see the concern return in Lada’s eyes.
“I have found a bigger and better place for you.”
“Why?” Lada cries out.
I hear the fear of abandonment in her voice and force a gentle smile to ease her misgivings. “More girls coming, Lada, and this place isn’t big enough to house all of them.”
She pulls back from me. “Are you going to be there, too?”
“There are so many girls who still need help. My job is to rescue them.” I put my hands on her small shoulders and stare deep into her eyes. “And, it’s your job to heal.”
Her bottom lip trembles. “So, you are leaving us?”
Lada’s question pulls at my heart.
“No. You are always here with me,” I assure her, pressing my hand against my chest. “But, to do my job, I must go.”
“Did I do something wrong?” she whimpers.
“Of course not.” I wrap my arms around her. “All four of you make me proud.”
The others walk up, and I open my arms to include them.
“Don’t go,” one of the girls whispers.
I close my eyes, forcing down my sorrow.
I hate that I have to do this.
Needing them to understand the reason, I explain, “What I’m doing puts you in danger, and I refuse to let anyone hurt you.”
“But you’ll come visit us,” Lada states, rather than asks.
I know my answer will hurt her.
“I can’t, Lada. Not if I want to protect you.”
Tears start to fall down her cheeks.
I lift her chin. “Every time you see a new girl walk through the door in the new place, you’ll know I’m there.”
She lets out a sob.
It’s hard to leave them because I know the difficult road they face.
I look at all four girls. “You don’t know how important you are to me.”
I hope they understand I’m doing this to protect them.
I brought a camera with me, and I hand it to one of the staff members in the room. “Would you take a picture of us?”
Wiping away Lada’s tears, I tell her, “I need you to smile for me.”
Getting down on one knee, I have the girls gather around and say proudly, “You are a part of my family now.” I stare into the lens of the camera, expressing my deep feelings for them in my gaze.
I plan to send a framed photo to each of them. I hope the picture will remind the girls I am always near and I care, even if they can’t see me.
Precipice
The instant I step out of the vehicle at the airport, reporters mob me. My men create a protective shield around me, but nothing stops some of the reporters from trying to shove microphones in my face.
They shout insulting questions that make my blood boil, but rather than show my rage, I cower away from the cameras.
I know the role I must play.
Still, I am unprepared when I see Andrev waiting for me, surrounded by a separate group of reporters who are hounding him. I tell my men to bring him to me and make a path for him to join my circle.
I yell above the din surrounding us, “What are you doing here?”
Andrev puts his hand on my shoulder and leans next to my ear. “I wanted to let you know I will check in with Titov. If there is anything I can do to help while you are gone, I will.”
Tears come to my eyes at this unexpected sendoff, and I can’t hold back the emotion when I tell him, “Thank you, Andrev.”
Looking around at the throng of reporters, he says, “You are doing the right thing, Anton. It’s important to focus on yourself right now. This is craziness.”
“Do you want to come with me?” I joke.
He snorts. “If I didn’t have a family, I would.”
I clasp his shoulder. “Take good care of your family and give them my best.”
He smiles. “I will, brother.”
I hug him and watch as some of my men escort him safely away from the madness. For the first time in my life, I’ve had a taste of what it’s like to be part of the family.
I have not informed Thane I am coming and show up outside his office at the same time of day I normally call him from Russia. As I look at the building where he works, I reach for my phone and dial him.
“Moy droog, what do you say to dropping everything and spending today with me?”
He chuckles. “As always, you call me just as I’m beginning my work day. Much as I’d enjoy it, I can’t afford the time off to travel.”
“You always give me the same excuse. Work, work, work.”
“What can I say? This is my reality.”
“What about tonight?”
“Sorry. I’ve started the Dominant Training course at the Center. I’m completely booked for weeks.”
“You will have to tell me more about this Dominant Training class.”
“I’ll be happy to, but not right now.”
I chuckle. “We’ll talk later, then.” I hang up, tuck the phone in my pocket, and cross the street to the building.
After speaking to the receptionist, I walk into the office and search through the maze of cubicles until I find his.
“Are you ready to talk, moy droog?”
Thane spins in his chair and stares at me in shock.
“Is that a no, then?”
Thane immediately stands up and walks over, clasping my hand tightly. “I can’t believe you’re standing in front of me.”
“Live and in the flesh.”
He grins. “Why?”
I glance around the office and shake my head.
His smile suddenly fades. “Let me speak to my boss.”
A few minutes later, he returns and announces, “I’m free for the rest of the day.” Thane turns off his computer and grabs his jacket. “Where to?”
“The beach, moy droog.”
He places his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
I insist he leave his car at work and ride with me. When he gets into my vehicle and sees the other men, he frowns. “Why so many guards?”
I simply shrug.
Thane settles in his seat, glancing at me with concern.
During the drive, I stare out the window at the palm trees lining the street. “I have missed these trees.”
“Pretty much nothing has changed since you left. Same weather, same palm trees, same smog.”
I chuckle. “That’s why I like the beach. The ocean is always changing.”
Thane nods, smiling slightly.
“When was the last time you’ve been to the beach, comrade?”
He snorts. “It’s been a while.”
“You realize without me in your life, you have none.”
He chuckles but keeps glancing at my men, clearly worried.
After the driver parks, I get out of the vehicle and tell the guards to walk behind us. Thane joins me as I take a stroll along the beach, breathing in the fresh ocean air.
Having waited long enough, he asks, “What’s happened, Durov?”
“Before I tell you, let’s have a drink.” I change direction and start walking toward the beach house.
Thane laughs when he suddenly realizes where we are. “Did you buy the place?”
I grin at the house I stayed at during college. “I have too many memories tied up here to let it go.”