“Those are words that havebeen repeated a lot in my line of work. Time does not help. Itmakes the demons worse and soon you’re bouncing around in acushioned room. I should know. I’ve seen men, strong men, go downthat path and not come back. Now, either you go, or I toss you overmy shoulder and take you myself.”
Katya refused to beintimidated despite the foreboding image he gave off. She was surethat no one refused him anything, but she sure as heck will. Sheturned her face away to focus on something else on the far wall andraised her chin defiantly.
A woman’s screech broughtthe servants out of the various rooms leading off the main entranceas Ryan came down the stairs with Katya over his shoulder like asack of flower. “Which way is the Library?” he asked a maid, whopointed at one door with a wide-eyed expression.
“You are a beast!” Katyascreeched flailing her legs as Ryan walked toward the door that themaid indicated and opened it. She struck his back with her goodhand even though it didn’t even seem as if he noticed.
He ignored her and openedthe door. “You the Doc?” he asked an older man who stood upabruptly when he entered. He was short, small in stature and kindof reminded Ryan of the Monopoly guy, only he wore spectacles not amonocle.
“Who are—GoodLord is that MissNickolov?” The psychiatrist’s face fell in an expression ofshock.
“Yes.” He walked over tothe sofa, bent over and plunked her unceremoniously on it. Shemanaged to strike him a couple of more times followed by a glarethat could melt ice. “I am not a sack of potatoes!”
“Stay put. I’ll be rightoutside that door.” He pointed a finger in her face followed by astern look.
She bit her lip to keepfrom crying and folded her good arm across the one in the sling andrefused to look at him. If she did, she’d end up bursting intotears, and there was no way in hell she was going to show weaknessin her father’s house in front of his employees. It would onlyprove the man was right about her needing help.
He shrugged and left theroom shutting the door behind him. He stood next to the closeddoor. He intended on staying there while she spoke with thepsychiatrist. Chances were she wasn’t going to say anything, but itwas a start. Several servants passed him but he remained there withhis arms folded across his chest and his feet shoulder with apart.No one was getting in or out of that room without hispermission.
After an hour the dooropened and he stepped aside as Katya came out. She shot him a hotlook of contempt before she went by him up the stairs.
To Ryan it didn’t matterhow angry she was with him because it took the focus off of whathappened to her. If that’s how she needed to do it, then it wasfine. He leaned into the room. “Did she talk to you?”
“No, but something likethis takes time. She’s been traumatized.” The older man said as heput his notepad in his suitcase. “Are you herboyfriend?”
“Personalsecurity.”
“That makes sense then,” hesaid snapping the briefcase shut and walking by him. Then he pausedand turned back. “I’ll be back this Friday. Could you possiblyrefrain from hauling her in the room by her hair like a victoriouscaveman? She’s in a fragile place right now.”
It was obvious the man didnot approve of his methods, but hey, she showed up. “If she goes, Iwon’t.”
“She will. I don’t thinkshe wants to go through that again.”
When Ryan returned to herroom she was in the bathroom. He listened at the door for a momentand heard the shower. Satisfied, he turned and went back to hisroom to unpack closing the adjoining door to a crack to give hersome privacy. He had two large black Samsonite suitcases and onelarge polished aluminum case resting on his bed. He lifted thealuminum one off the bed and slid it underneath. Then he startedunpacking his clothing. His keen ears picked up her moving aroundher room a few minutes later. Then silence. Chances are, she wasangry with him, exhausted and retired for the night. He should dothe same. Instead, he pulled out his iPad and intended to go overthe file he’d had on her. It was encrypted, and unless you were agenius hacker, there was no way you could break into it so hewasn’t worried about bringing it with him. Besides, most of thosegeniuses were employed at his organization.
He changed into light greycotton pajama bottoms with a drawstring that hung loosely on hiships. He negated the top leaving his chest bare and sat in acomfortable chair to study the file. It was warm and he left thedoors open to the balcony liking the feel of the breeze off theocean. Every now and then his eyes went to the adjoining door. Hisexpression was unreadable, but his thoughts were veryactive.
He’d gone over the files ahundred times, but he still couldn’t get past image of firstmeeting Katya, bruised, battered and beaten. She had a lot ofpride, but you could see the damage this had done to her, not justphysically. Yes, it was to his advantage because she needed totrust someone, but something in him started to feel guilty. Hewasn’t sure before, but he was now. She was an innocent in all ofthis. He didn’t like manipulating innocents. His brother wouldn’tlike it either, certainly not to avenge his death. He sighedheavily, ran his fingers through his hair and leaned back in thechair to stare at the ceiling. In fact he could almost hearGeorgy’s voice reprimanding him. Still, Peter was a criminal, amurderer and he needed to be put down before more people, innocentpeople were killed or had their lives destroyed. “It’s not just foryou Georgy,” he spoke out loud to himself, “but for your kids andyour widow.”
It was my choice. This isnot your burden to bear.
Yes, that’s exactly what hewould say. Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was toofar now, too deep. He wasn’t leaving.
A blood curdling screamsliced
