His Christmas Cookie

My mother stays quietly on the bench, and I know she won’t give me the information. She’s a heartless woman with no redeeming qualities, and I’m glad to be rid of her. She doesn’t even bother to look up at me as I rush past her and beyond the security guards.

When we’re outside the church, there’s more security with several black SUVs parked all around. I’m surprised when I look over and see my father sitting on a nearby bench with two security guards on either side of him.

“Wait,” Miller says and grabs my arm. He walks over to where our father is sitting, and I follow him.

“Why are you here?” I ask because we have no time to waste.

“I came to warn you.” His voice is scratchy, like he doesn't use it very often.

“Where is she?” My jaw tightens as he looks up me with bloodshot eyes and a face that’s drained of color and life. Once he was a strong man that I feared, and now he’s broken and frail.

“I was not a good father,” he admits, his Russian still perfect. “I’m dying, and I wish to end this life knowing that I did something right.” He looks down at his hands. “She’s in the carriage house.”

“Thank you,” I say, and he nods but doesn’t look up at me as Miller grabs me by the arm and we race to the car.

I don’t look back at him or regret how our lives have split. I’m only thankful that he was able to do something right, and it was the one thing that meant the most. Now we just have to find Cookie before it’s too late.

It can't be too late.Chapter 13CookieI gasp and sit up as I come to. My hand goes to my arm where I felt the prick of a needle before I passed out. It was the same as when they kidnapped me.

When I look around, I see Nathan sitting on the love seat while I’m laid out on the couch. He turns his head to look my way, then picks up the remote and turns off the TV.

He’s in a pair of jeans and a wrinkled polo with the collar popped up. He’s such a frat boy, and I can’t understand why I ever liked him. It’s probably because my friends said I should try dating and that it would be fun. Yeah, this is a barrel of fun.

“I didn't know you were such a feisty thing.”

I look down at my hands to see my knuckles are red. I lost it, and I don’t remember anything after hitting her and then the needle going into my arm. I hated that she was in her wedding dress, knowing she was on her way to see Frost.

Frost is mine. Even if I was running from him he’s still mine. I don’t care if that’s crazy; it’s the truth. He’ll look as bad as Chel if he marries her thinking he can save me.

“I would have put my money on Chel. She’s pretty strong and spends a couple hours in the gym a day.” His eyebrows furrow. “But you do weigh more.”

He’s really thinking this through, and it irritates me. Who spends hours in the gym and why am I thinking about this right now?

“Where are we?” I look around the house. It’s cute but small and still reeks of money.

“Think it’s like the guest house or something,” he answers, and I throw my legs over the side of the couch.

Nathan stands, and I have a feeling it’s only him and me in the house. I look down at my clothes and everything looks in place.

“I didn't touch you,” he snaps, and I jerk my head up to meet his eyes.

How did I ever date this man? Here I am making Frost chase me around when he’s always been so good to me. Then you have Nathan here, who I openly went on dates with. I am truly terrible at choosing men. “You’ve still got a little time before you’re all mine.” He smirks and my stomach rolls.

“He’s not going to marry her,” I blurt out, and I think it’s mostly to reassure myself.

“I don’t give a shit one way or the other.”

“You should.” I let out a humorless laugh. “Their mother is crazy, but she’s a Ranov. While she might be pure evil, I think everyone can agree Ranovs do whatever it takes to get what they want. Hence her crazy idea that this could possibly work.” It takes a certain level of crazy to think this is all going to go to plan.

Nathan takes a step toward me, and I jump up from the sofa and run to the other side. I need as much space as possible between us. I grip the back of the couch when a dizzy spell hits me. The lingering drugs are slowly fading from my system. Nathan runs toward me, jumps on the couch, and starts to climb over. His foot hits the top, and it catches as he falls flat on the floor.