With This Secret

“What?”

He shrugged. “You didn’t really believe my father would give you a family heirloom, did you? It’s just a tracker.”

I took it off and gave it to him.

He started walking towards the warehouse.

“Let’s go,” Levan said and we got into the vehicle and drove off.

51

Levan

Three hours later, Bianca’s dad was out of surgery, and she was so tired she managed to knock off to sleep on the second bed I had ordered to be put into her father’s room.

Leaving two of my men outside the room, I drove to the marine terminal of Port Newark. Upon arrival, I was greeted by an entourage of four SUV’s and five of our men awaiting me.

Viktor immediately ran up to me and pulled open my door. Then he began to lead the way towards the specific container amidst the thousands arrayed on the port.

“What’s his state?” I asked.

“He’s nearly out. Boss did quite the number on him.”

“Where is Maxim?”

“Waiting,” he answered.

I arrived at the container to find it surrounded by more silent guards in the shadows. The moonlight up above was more than enough to illuminate the sight of my brother standing nearby with his phone pressed to his ear.

I went into the container.

Bogdan was on the ground … unmoving and nearly unrecognizable. He looked mangled, his face swollen, and his eyes shut tight. There was a pool of blood under him. I frowned. With a dark look at Maxim, I bent down and pressed two fingers to his neck. I released a breath of relief when I confirmed he was still alive.

I turned to Maxim and waited for him to get off the phone.

He ended the call and came in. “They’ve got Sarah’s grandson. He was hiding him in some trailer park in Connecticut. Luckily, they fed him well and he only has a couple of bruises, so he should be fine after a little while.”

“Good,” I said.

“Well, little brother. Looks like you’re in the clear now. I’ll get rid of him and you can forget any of this ever happened.”

“Don’t lay your hands on him again,” I said, with a tremor in my voice. “He’s mine from here on out.”

Maxim’s chuckle was dark. “Why, Levan, that’s not like you at all. What happened to forgive and forget?”

“He doesn’t deserve a quick death …” I growled.

‘‘Well, that is true but whilst I know you want to finish him and I am sure you would, I can’t let you, I’m afraid. I don’t want this piece of shit to stain the new life you are about to embark on.’’

His words pained me more than he knew and I didn’t want to listen. ‘‘It’s not right, Maxim, I caused all this not you.’’

‘‘Remember your vineyards? You’ve done all this to keep your woman so that’s what’s ahead for you. This is not you, little brother. Go now to Bianca and leave me to finish this.’’

I stared at him and eventually accepted that he was right. I looked down at that pile of dung at my feet.

With a deafening grunt, thick with all the trouble he had caused me, I kicked his ribcage.

A choking sob sounded from his throat, and he made a coughing, gurgling sound. “Oh, Lord, forgive me my sins,” he begged hoarsely.

The prayer sent a fresh surge of fury into my body. He wanted forgiveness? What of all the women he had made suffer? I put my hand out and an iron pole was placed in it. I swung it into him, my roars of fury ringing out into the night air.

Then I was finished. I turned away from the past and to thoughts of Bianca.

I returned to the hospital, opened the door, and Bianca lunged to a sitting position to see who it was.

Her father was still unconscious as I walked up to her and sat on the bed next to her. I pulled her into my arms.

She threw her arms around me, and held tightly onto me.

I could feel, without needing to hear her speak, her desire, her desperation to have me with her. “I’m here,” I assured her. “I’m here, baby.” I got onto the bed and pulled her to my chest so she could rest against me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” I apologized. “I’m sorry I let him hurt you. I’m so very sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said immediately. “I wanted to go. I wanted to help you and Dad. Even if he had raped me, it wouldn’t have been your fault.”

Everything in me stilled. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what had happened to her. I brushed my hand up and down her back. “It didn’t happen. You’re safe now. Bogdan is no longer.”

She pulled away to look into my eyes. “Is he dead?”

“Not yet, but he will be soon. Very soon.”

She rested her head back on my chest. “My dad saved me. He sacrificed himself to save me,” she said sadly. “Maybe, in his own way, he loves me.”