Reckless (Benson Security 1)

“He wasn’t a politician, he was a businessman, based in Dubai, I think. I’m pretty sure he was French. Yes, he definitely spoke French. I remember meeting him at lunch one day, at the club, and thinking that the French accent wasn’t sexy on some men.”

Callum nodded at Elle who began typing furiously at her laptop.

“Think hard,” Joe said. “Can you give us a name? A business? Tell us what he looked like? Anything at all, no matter how small or insignificant.”

“He was fit. Obviously worked out. Middle aged, I think. There was grey at his temples.” She paused then let out a gush of air. “I can’t remember a name. I’m s

orry, that’s all I can remember about him. There was nothing remarkable. Nothing that stood out.”

“Okay.” Joe ran a hand over his face. “Can you remember what happened after Katrina was taken from the room. What did the man do then?”

“Yes, I remember this, because I stumbled and Durand caught me before I fell. He held me a little too long and I looked over to see if my husband noticed. Rudi had his head together with the Frenchman, whispering. Then they shook hands and Rudi patted him on the back. He was grinning widely, the way he did when things went well for him. After the man strode away, I thought I saw Rudi put something in his pocket. At that point he noticed me and ordered his men to escort me to our suite. I didn’t see the Frenchman after that.”

Callum looked over to Elle, who shook her head. There wasn’t enough information for her to search.

“That’s it, Joe,” Hope said. “That’s all I remember right now. I’m sorry it isn’t more.”

“Don’t be, honey. You did good,” Joe said, but his eyes were on Dimitri’s tension-filled body. “We really appreciate it. If you remember anything else, call us, no matter what time it is. Okay?”

“Yes.” The woman sounded tired. Worn out.

“And Hope?” Callum stepped towards the phone. “Call a friend to stay with you. You are not to feel guilty about any of the decisions you made while with Abramovich. Make sure your friend keeps you occupied. Get your mind off this for a while. Understood?” It was a series of orders barked out by a commander to his subordinate.

“Understood.” There was a smile in her voice.

“Okay then.” Callum reached across the table and pressed the button to end the call.

The room was silent. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. All eyes were on Dimitri. Slowly, he opened his eyes, uncurled from his position and flexed his hands. He reached behind him for his fallen chair. Megan thought he intended to straighten it. She jerked in her seat when he threw it at the wall, smashing it to pieces. Then without a word, he strode from the room.

“Poor sod,” Ryan said as they watched Dimitri leave.

“Joe,” Callum said. “Go after him. Keep an eye on him.”

“I’ll do it.” Megan stood. The guys looked sceptical. “Chill, guys. I can be sensitive.”

She ignored the looks of patent disbelief and went in search of Dimitri.

She found him in one of the unfinished offices on the second floor. The room was dark and he’d slid down the wall to sit on the floor beside the window. She paused as she watched him. His hands were clasped behind his head and his eyes were closed. Every muscle in his body radiated tension. There may as well have been a neon sign above his head with the words “back off” on it.

Megan had never been one to pay attention to signs. Without a word she crossed the room and slid down the wall to sit beside him. She brought her knees up to her chest and cuddled them to her body. Dimitri didn’t acknowledge her presence in any way, and that was fine. Megan was content to sit beside him and offer her silent support while he worked out his inner turmoil alone. She stared out into the cloud-covered sky as she listened to the rain fight with the traffic noise on the street below. It was strangely peaceful. A temporary cocoon against the horrors that pressed in on them.

“I wish she could have given us a name.” Dimitri sounded hoarse, as though he’d been crying when she knew he hadn’t.

There was nothing she could say. They all wished they’d been given a lead to follow. Instead, all they’d been given was the horrid confirmation that Katrina had indeed been sold into slavery. Megan’s stomach roiled just thinking those words.

“She never even had a boyfriend.” Dimitri’s eyes were on the dull sky. “Not someone serious anyway. She joined that purity for marriage group. She told me she was saving herself for her wedding night. And I told her, there are some topics a brother didn’t want to discuss with his sister. Right at the top of the list is her sex life.” His fingers dug into the back of his neck. “She started a blog about it. She said it was important to get different voices out there, for people to know that all sorts of choices were normal.”

He fell silent. He didn’t need to say anything else. The dreadfulness of it wasn’t lost on Megan. His sister’s first sexual experience hadn’t been on her wedding night. It hadn’t even been at the hands of someone who loved her. It was just one of the many things stolen from her, along with her freedom.

“She won’t be the same.” It was a tight declaration, filled with agony that made Megan want to pour herself out in an attempt to soothe him. “Even if we manage to get her back. She won’t be the same. You can’t live through something like this and not change. She was always so freaking hopeful, naive even. That will be gone now.”

Megan leaned her head against his shoulder and stayed silent. There was nothing she could even think to say that would lessen his burden. There were no reassuring words, no promises, that would help. All she could do was use her presence to let him know she shared his pain.

After a long moment, Dimitri shifted. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight to his side. Together they watched the rain fall down on London.

Chapter Nine

Megan didn’t know how long she’d spent sitting with Dimitri, but by the time Joe came to get him for a meeting with Callum, night had fallen. Something subtle had shifted between them in the hours they’d sat in silence. Megan was very aware of the dull throb of pain Dimitri carried around with him every minute of every day. It was a pain that spoke to the heart of her and connected them in ways she couldn’t understand. It also made her long for her own sister.