The last few days had been exhausting. Her illness had worn her out at times. It was periodic and came and went without warning. It wasn’t the type of illness that you lay in bed with but it was draining especially when Ross had been acting up. His latest affair was taking its toll. The woman had called and bragged about her relationship with Ross and she’d spent the whole day in tears. The very idea of Alexander taking her away from all the pain had been wonderful. She’d wanted to tell him how she truly felt about him for such a long time. She’d never missed a look from him or the way he considered her needs and safety when Ross didn’t. But he was too good to be wasted on her. When she got the chance, she would leave and disappear so he would not be hampered by some misguided desire for her. The man deserved so much more. But for now, she just wanted to enjoy the feel of his arms around her. She allowed her head to fall against his shoulder and pressed her hand against the sheathed solid wall of muscle that was his chest to feel his strength protectively surrounding her. She hadn’t been held so lovingly in such a long time.
Alexander carried Scarlett down the stairs and into the entrance of the Belgravia townhouse. His security chief was holding Ross back.
“If you take her out of this house you will be making a big mistake, Deucalion. I won’t rest until I get her back. I have connections with Litvenko and Bartlett won’t let you get away with this.”
Alexander paused at the door and turned to Ross. He laughed at him.
“I worked for the EOD diffusing bombs with the damn Navy Seals, do you really think I am scared of a couple of pricks from the Russian Mafia and a London gang?”
“You will be. I guarantee it. I will get her back at any cost. You aren’t going to get in between me and my money.”
Scarlett watched Alexander narrow his gorgeous black eyes at Ross.
“I will be waiting for you,” he told Ross before turning to walk through the front door one of his security men held open.
Scarlett clung to him as he carried her out to the Bentley he had waiting. Just before he deposited her into the car, she glanced down the street of mansions to see a man in a suit walking in their direction. She immediately recognized him as the witness protection officer she had been recently working with after she had found out Ross had been to visit her father and about some of his dealings with Litvenko. She had been deliberately continuing to stay with Ross not just because he had her trapped but to feed information to the police who had promised to help her become free when she had assisted them in bringing down Litvenko and her father. She stared at the man but he showed no reaction on his face. He just nodded and walked by.
Alexander got in the car on the opposite side. She was too busy trembling and looking out of the car window at Ross who was hurling abuse at her and trying to reach her. He would have if Alexander’s security men had not held him back. Alexander calmly reached across her and put on her seatbelt. She jumped and stared at him.
“He’s going to come after me,” was all she said. “I know what he has been doing with my father and what they have cooked up between them. My father isn’t a man to be crossed.”
Alexander picked up her hand and brought it to his lips.
“Did he also tell you he was trying to get you pregnant to give your father a grandson and heir and was going to be paid handsomely for it?”
Scarlett stared at him.
“No. But he couldn’t, I take contraception…”
“He has been substituting the pill you take. You have had no protection and I am pleased to say he clearly can’t do the job.”
“Oh my God. He knew I didn’t want any children.”
“He planned to give the child and you back to your father to control.”
“I will never go back to him. This can’t be true. Ross is a monster but I never thought…”
“I’m sorry but it’s true.”
He motioned at the driver to get the car moving.
Scarlett panicked.
“I have to go back. You don’t understand.”
Alexander’s voice cracked like a whip across the air.
“I do not want to hear this anymore. You do not love him and I won’t stand for him hurting you. Wifely duty is one thing but this is ridiculous.”
Scarlett narrowed her blue eyes to sharp points and snapped, “It has nothing to do with wifely duty or my illness. I told you that to get you to back off. The reason I need to stay is because I am working for the police.”
It was Alexander’s turn to stare.
“They know Ross is setting something up with my father and wanted me to find out. It isn’t just about money. Ross has got himself involved with some of my father’s old associates. Russian Mafia. The Litvenkos. The relationship between them and my father died when my child was killed. But I know Litvenko wants to be involved again and is determined to get a slice of the pie.”
“Ross is a gambler and not a very good one. I found out he has been laundering money through one of my companies for the Litvenkos.
