Page 81 of Devious Obsession
With it soaking in the sink, I get dressed in a new bra and a sweatshirt, black just in case we have any more incidents with the wine.
I think to text Artem but realize I’ve left my phone in Megan’s suite. The guys have been at their meeting a long time. I’m sure they have everything handled, but there’s a heavy sensation in my stomach. Like something isn’t right.
They’d already settled the whole problem of my conversation with Janis while I was here in Boston last time, so I don’t think there’s any more issues there. Alexander doesn’t want any part of Boston. Leaving the city to the Irish gives him more freedomin Chicago and New York, but that doesn’t mean the Irish don’t want a piece of what our family has.
My brothers and Artem will be able to handle whatever the issue with them is, but I can’t shake this heaviness in my stomach.
Something is definitely not right. I need to get back to the girls and get my phone so I can call him. Maybe once I hear his voice, I’ll feel better.
I hurry through the bedroom, out into the living room area of our suite and freeze.
Sitting on the couch with one foot propped up on the coffee table and a gun resting on his knee sits Janis.
“Hello, Elana Volkov.” He puts a hand on the gun when he notices me shift my gaze to the door. “Screaming for help will only get you killed faster.”
I couldn’t if I wanted to. My throat has clamped shut.
“What…what are you doing here? How did you get in?” If he’s threatening the guard, then he must still be out there.
A breeze from open balcony door blows the curtains, signaling his entrance.
We’re on the fifteenth floor, and he doesn’t look like Spiderman, so the question remains, but he doesn’t answer.
“Did you honestly think I was going to let some fucking little girl ruin my whole business? You go bitching to Cole, and then he tries to tell me how to conduct my own business. I don’t think so.” Grabbing the gun, he drops his foot to the floor and gets up from the couch.
“And you think killing me is going to get your business back?”
“No.” He shakes his head with a grin. “I think your brothers will give me whatever the fuck I want to get their little sister back.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I might be able to get to the door before he has a chance to grab me.
“I have men on the balcony of your brother’s room. If you give me any trouble, they’ll be going inside to kill them all.”
He slides the slide back on his Glock, loading a bullet into the chamber.
“All three of them in one room, it will be like shooting fish in a barrel.”
“We can’t just walk out of here. The guard won’t let you take me, so I don’t see how your plan is going to work.”
I stay planted as he steps toward me. I will not give him the satisfaction of chasing me. Besides, there’s nowhere to go. If he really does have men on the balcony, they’ll get inside the suite before the guards can get the door open. But if I can somehow signal to him there’s trouble, maybe he can at least get to the girls.
Janis doesn’t give me any time to come up with a plan. He strikes me hard across the head. Twinkling stars dance in my vision. My shoulder hits the ground when I fall.
“Fucking bitch.” He sounds far away.
A sharp prick to my neck is all I feel, and then there’s nothing.
“You gave O’Brien more than you needed to in order to keep the truce between us.” Ivan taps his phone alive.
After hours of dealing with the Irish in order to keep any more insults from being felt, I’m ready to get the hell out of this suit and into Elana.
“It keeps them from moving too far into Chicago,” Alexander explains as we make our way through the city and back to the hotel.
“And if they start moving into New York?” Kaz asks from the front passenger seat.
“Would you want to take Sienna back to New York so you can hold down the territory?” Alexander asks.
For a second Kaz says nothing, then turns in his seat with his brows raised.
