What did it say?
Why did it bring tears to Talya’s eyes?
Her friend on occasion, could be frustrating and now was one of those times. It involved her so she was entitled to view the damn thing.
Feeling her temper rise, she marched over to Yuri and snatched the note from his fingers before he had chance to hold on to it.
“Please don’t read that,” Talya begged.
Yuri took Talya’s hand into his and pulled her close. He looked to be whispering something to her, probably words of love.
Ignoring the couple in front of her, she inhaled and exhaled before she let her eyes travel over the note in her hands. It was from him, otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such a reaction to it.
My dearest Sylvia,
You are the love of my heart, and we’re going to be together soon. You must know this. We can’t be separated for much longer.
The man I saw kissing you will not get the chance again because you belong to me.
I love you and, in death, we will be joined.
All my love,
xoxox
Her hands shook, and tears slid down her face. What did he mean? ‘In death we will be joined.’ Did he intend to kill her?
The tears came harder as she felt Talya wrap her up in her arms. Sylvia held on and cried. Her body shook with her sobs. So much so that Yuri pried Sylvia off Talya and picked her up in his strong arms. “I take you home.”
“Gavriil,” he yelled. The door burst open and both men came barreling through the door as though the place was on fire.
“Yuri?” they questioned.
“You are coming with me. Stay close and do not let Talya out of your sight. Maxim, keep an eye on the place, and close early. Announce that more staff have gone down with the flu, and that Poles will be closed until next Friday.”
Even through her sobs, Sylvia heard the surprise in Maxim’s voice. Yuri had never closed Poles before, so she couldn’t blame him for being surprised.
“Consider it done.”
Yuri dashed through to the back of the club and out the heavy door. Talya followed behind them, her hand clutched by Sylvia. She didn’t let go until they all climbed into Yuri’s SUV.
* * * * *
Although she felt shaky, the tears had stopped before they’d reached her and Talya’s apartment. Yuri refused to leave them, and let Talya look after her. She thought the Russian was shaken as much as Talya had been over the words in the note. She also suspected that he was angry because another note had been found in her locker.
She asked something that had started to swirl in her mind, “You don’t think someone who works there is behind the notes, do you?”
Yuri raised his head. “That is the conclusion that I am coming to. I do not wish to think of this, but it is the only explanation. I go to a great deal of trouble to keep real names from stage names. The man called you Sylvia in the note.”
She swiped at a wayward tear, and looked at Talya.
“Do you want me to call Eric?” she offered.
Having Eric’s arms around her would make her feel better, but he’d be angry that she’d gone against her promise. “Not now.”
Talya frowned.
“I’ll call him later.” Eric would be calling her before he crashed for the night anyway and she dreaded having to tell him what happened.