Davyd didn't say a word. He didn't have to. Royal knew that if it were up to him, she would not get out of the house today.
"Would you like a cup of coffee?" Royal asked, finally trying to calm her bear of a bodyguard.
"I've already had two cups this morning."
"Have another with me. I want to talk to you."
"Alright. Pour me another," he passed her his mug.
Royal took the cup with a polite smile and ran her hand through Anya's hair.
"Mommy, didn't you say that we could go to Disneyworld some day?" Anya asked.
"Someday, darling."
"Why not now?"
"Because papa and I don't go to the states," Royal said, pouring Davyd's cup of coffee. She turned with her back to both of them, opened the capsules and dumped them into his cup. She looked back and smiled to make sure no one was looking. They were not.
Why would they not trust me, Royal thought to herself.
"Anya, honey, are you finished eating?" Royal asked.
"Yes," Anya answered.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, ma'am," Anya said with a smile.
"Well then run into the great room and sit there while I talk big talk with Davyd."
Anya got up and ran out with Davyd's eyes following her as she did. Royal quickly fixed the other cup of coffee with creamer and sugar and returned to the table.
She sat down across from him and put her hands on her cheeks.
"You watch that girl like a hawk," she observed.
"I have to watch both of you like hawk. You're both always up to something. Speaking of which, what are you so happy about today?" Davyd asked, sipping his coffee.
"I wouldn't say that I am so much happy as I am eager."
"About what?"
"I was hoping you could tell me what Dmitry and Anatoly are doing in Sochi." She fluttered her long lashes and gave a sarcastic grin.
Her charm didn't work.
"Why didn't you ask them?" David grunted.
"So they could lie to me," she smirked. "When I can ask you and get the truth, why bother?"
"I don't know what they're doing in Sochi," he said yawning.
"Has he returned to the Vory?" she asked seriously.
Davyd frowned. "No."
"I don't believe you."
"Then ask him."
Davyd said something in Russian under his breath and pulled at the collar of his polo. "Is it hot in here to you, or is it just me?"
"It's warm," Royal said, scooting away from her seat. She eyed him. Was it already working? "Lets go into the study, I want to show you something I found that made me think that Dmitry was going back," she said.
Davyd's pensive lips curved around his words. "Now listen to me, Royal, you know better than to snoop."
"I wasn't snooping," she said calmly. "Just… come with me. Goodness, you look peaked."
"I feel faint." He looked down at his empty coffee cup. "Did you put something in my cup?
"Don't be ridiculous. Who do I look like to you, Victoria?"
Davyd growled. "Sorry, dear. Were all on edge lately."
"That's okay. Here. Let me help you." Royal went and helped him up, guided him to the great room, over to his favorite recliner and sat him down.
Before she could go and get a towel to wipe his sweaty forehead, he had passed out.
Anya walked over to Davyd and pulled on his large fingers to wake him as he lay unconscious in the chair.
"Why is he sleeping again already?" Anya looked up at her mother with bright blue eyes. Royal thought of Ivan but worked past it.
"He's tired, honey. Now stay in here until Brigitte gets here. She's going to watch you until Mommy and Daddy get back."
"Where are you and Daddy going?"
She knew better than to tell her daughter the truth. Anya would just tell Davyd when he woke.
"Mommys going to town for the garden," she said cleverly.
"Can I go?"
"No. Stay here and watch Davyd."
"Okay."
Royal went to the DVD player, put on an animated movie and left her daughter on the couch.
By the time that she got to her study, she heard footsteps down the hall.
She peaked out quickly. It was Brigitte and Victoria. She opened the door and waved them in.
"Hurry," she ordered, looking down the hallway to make sure that no one had seen them. They ran into the office and closed the door behind them.
"Brigitte, when I've gone, run to the security room and get rid of the footage from this morning. Watch Anya and wait for us to call. If Dmitry calls, tell him that I'm on in the garden with the gardeners again and have plans to be on the land all day."
"Oui, Madame," Brigitte said, confused but willing to help.
"Victoria, how long will David be out?" Royal asked.
"It's hard to say, but it'll be a while," Victoria whispered.
Royal shook her head. "Briggy, when Davyd wakes up, tell him that he must have gotten sick. Wash the cups out in the kitchen; make sure there is no evidence. He won't call Dmitry until he's certain that he can't find me. Tell him that I was out in the garden and then I left and went into the town for flowers. I'm leaving my cell phone here. Tell him, I must have forgotten it."
"What if he… " Brigitte worried.
"Tell him you don't know anything else. He'll believe you. It's damned near true."
"Alright," Brigitte said with her hands clasped together. "Good Luck."
"Thanks. And thank you for your help. I couldn't do this without you. Victoria, wed better go, quickly," Royal said, taking a deep breath. "Lets pray that this works."
They grabbed the bags and headed towards the garage.
Chapter 20
Dmitry and Anatoly arrived in Sochi to a large entourage of
