With This Secret

The amusement drained from his face.

It would have been funny if Bianca weren’t involved.

“I declare no war on no one!” he blurted out aggressively. “I’m just asking for what belongs to me. For what you have taken from me.”

I took a deep breath and then released it. Slowly. Deliberately. “Where’s Sarah?”

The corners of his lips lifted in a smug smile. He kept his gaze on me as he beckoned with a big meaty hand to his men.

A few seconds later, a woman greying at the temples was roughly dragged out of the van. Her hands were tied, there was duct tape across her mouth, and her face showed bruises.

I cursed inwardly.

She was the former acting Attorney General and now, Solicitor General of the state of New York.

Once again, I couldn’t believe Bogdan’s audacity. What did he think was going to happen to him once he set her free? Or if he actually killed her. He was as mad as a hatter.

Her eyes filled with terror as she looked wildly from Bogdan to me. She began to struggle and wave her head desperately as his men started to manhandle her.

“Let her go,” I ordered.

Everyone went still. Even her. His men looked between their boss and me.

When he waved his hand, they let her go.

I immediately walked over to the woman and tore off the tape from across her lips.

“My Jacob” she cried, livid and frantic. “They have my Jacob.”

“I know.”

“Fix this or I’ll destroy every one of you. Every single one of you,” she threatened, some of the indomitable spirit that had made her rise to the top of her profession coming back to life.

“If you want to see him again, stay calm and do as you are told,” I said, and turned to Bogdan.

At the look in my eyes, he backed away a few steps. He was afraid of me, but there was an odd smile playing on his lips. I realized then all my plans were shot to pieces. I couldn’t predict what his next move would be, because he didn’t behave like a normal man would. He belonged in a mental hospital for the criminally insane.

“Don’t let him leave,” Sarah begged, grabbing my forearm. “He’s still got Jacob.”

“Take her,” Bogdan said to one of his men.

“You’re not going to let them take me again?” she pleaded with me, her eyes wild.

“He will keep Jacob, but he will let you go. Just go back out there and behave normally. I will free Jacob. That is my promise to you,” I told her.

“Remember you promised,” she said bitterly.

“I promised,” I confirmed.

Bogdan began to laugh. He made a motion towards his men, and one of the bouncer goons came forward.

Looking at me with pleading, fearful eyes, Sarah reluctantly went with him.

Both she and I knew Bogdan would set her free as she was only taken to make a statement. I turned towards Bogdan. “Where’s her grandson?”

His smile was blinding. “Clean up your house,” he said to me. “And if you happen to see what clearly doesn’t belong to you, then send it back and I’ll do the same …” He paused to see my reaction.

I remained expressionless.

“If you fail to comply, dear Prince, I will ensure that she sings, loud and clear about your family and your precious business. All your dirty dealings, the bribes she’s collected, and the bodies she’s buried for you. It will all start to stink like the shit that men pass when they are tortured to death and I will make sure that the world smells it.”

“You want to take things this far, Bogdan?”

“You’re the one who crossed the line!” he roared. “What gives you the right to interfere in my affairs? I keep trying to crack my skull on what your problem could possibly be, but I cannot think why the great Prince wants my woman. What do you want with my woman?”

I remained silent.

My silence enraged him. “You don’t know what pain is do you? Embarrassment? Loss?” He wagged his fat forefinger at me. “Well, just sit and watch, little Prince, and see just what I, Bogdan, will do. What I will drive the Solicitor General of the state of New York to do. She wants her grandson back. Yes, yes, I will give him back to her. I will return him to her piece by piece. You have three days to return the woman and pay suitable compensation for all the damage you have caused to me and my business, or else I will bury your family … and hers.”

I turned around and returned to my waiting vehicle.

10

Bianca

I paced the living room floor anxiously while waiting for Levan to come back. Outside, it was pouring with rain and crawling with heavily armed men dressed like they were part of a SWAT team. It literally felt as if I was in a war zone.