His superiors wanted himfor another reason. Peter had political connections deep enough toget his hands on that file. It was dangerous having a man likePeter have ties that deep in powerful circles.
After Peter got wind of hisfile, he was on a plane forty-eight hours later. Returning to Miamiwhere his brother was murdered, did not make it a pleasing trip. Atleast the flight gave him time to get his emotions back undercontrol. He would not ruin this by showing the man any crack in hisexterior.
He was met at the airportby one of his drivers; big, Russian, and ugly, and wearing anexpensive suit. It didn’t change that the guy was a thug. Just athug that made money. He was holding a card with his name. Ryan wasjust going to get a car, but apparently Peter wanted eyes on himfrom the time he landed. Well, he had a luxurious ride in a veryexpensive limousine, but he wouldn’t be fooled by the man’s wealth.He had a purpose.
Several men met him at thefront door and unloaded his luggage. Apparently, the decision wasmade. He was hired. Yet, here he was still stretching out theintroduction when Ryan wanted to get started, but the man was doinghis best to try and read him. Again, useless.
“I’m only letting you knowthis because she will not be so receptive to you. I’d go myself,but as I said she will not see me yet,” Peter continued.
“I understand,” Ryan said.It seemed an appropriate thing to say even though he didn’t meanit.
His phone rang and henodded toward Ivan again. “Get him settled.”
“Yes sir,” Ivan saidevenly. “This way Mr. Casey.” Ivan opened the door with one handand handed him back his guns with the other.
Ryan holstered his weaponsunder his suit jacket and glanced back at Peter who was nowspeaking on the phone with his back to them. He was dismissed aseasily as his affection for his family. That was a man who demandedloyalty and having a family gave the preface that he was normal.Ryan doubted very much that he knew what love for family was. Itjust wasn’t good for his image that someone could take hisdaughters so easily. He turned away grinding his teeth together tobite back the anger and hate he felt welling up in himagain.
When Ryan walked into thehospital an hour later and inquired about Katya Nickolov the womanat the desk took a moment to answer him. He knew what he lookedlike to the opposite sex and was arrogant about it. It helped himin his line of work on many occasions. However, he never lethimself get distracted to the point where it got in the way of ajob especially when there was so much at risk for him beingfocused. “Miss Katya Nickolov?” he repeated a little moreclipped.
She snapped her jaw shut.“Oh, yes, of course—sorry.” She quickly typed the name in thecomputer with her cheeks starting to pink up. “Do you haveID?”
Ryan pulled out his walletand showed her his driver’s license. His name must’ve been on thelist of visitors because a few minutes later he was being led to aprivate room. “I also need to find another exit out of here. Myclient needs to avoid the reporters.”
“Oh, of course.” She toldhim the location of the staff door.
“Thank you,” he answeredpolitely and then he called the driver and told him where to parkthe car.
“I can show you after youget Mrs. Nickolov,” she said eagerly.
“I’ll be fine. Where’s herroom?”
The nurse jumped up. “I’llshow you.” She grinned.
Twice the nurse glancedover her shoulder and gave him a small flirtatious smile. Heignored it. He didn’t have time for this. In fact, it justirritated him. She didn’t even have to show him where KatyaNickolov was. He could read the numbers on the door himself forfuck sakes.
Two of Peter’s men stoodguard outside. They stepped aside when they saw him. One of themspeaking on his phone and nodding when he set his eyes on him.“He’s here now.” He reached over and opened the door. Obviouslythey were alerted to who he was. The nurse gave them an unsure lookand waved her arm toward the open doorway of the room asking ifthere was anything else she could do. Her eyes told him thatstatement meant anything. He mumbled ‘no thanks’ and went inpretending not to see her disappointment.
He stopped suddenly whenhe entered the hospital room. He wasn’t prepared for the womansitting alone in a chair looking out the window. He’d seen plentyof photographs of her and knew she was exceedingly beautiful, butwhat he saw now shocked him. Even though he’d been trained to keepwhat little conscience, and emotions he had, out of a job, hisinsides heated up in anger. There were no photographs of her sinceher recovery, just the blurry distant footage of her being taken tothe hospital in a stretcher, and it was obvious why. The torturethat she endured days ago, was still physically blatant. Heactually stilled his breath looking at her. He may have done hisshare of killing over the years, but never women and children. In fact,he’d never raised a hand to a woman in his life. How some men coulddo that just made them cowards.
She spoke without takingher eyes from the window. “My father sent you, or you wouldn’t havemade it past the two mindless idiots.”
It wasn’t phrased inquestion but he felt the need to respond. “Yes ma’am.” Her voicewas calm, but there was an underlying tone. She was angry and hadevery right to be. There was a nudge of respect towards her atthose words. Anyone who’d been through what she
