785"I really liked them," Ana said as she sat on the sofa with Christian later in the day and watched the flickering flames in the fireplace. It was raining outside—situation normal in Seattle—and while they did not need the fireplace for warmth, Ana liked to have it on when the weather was gloomy. "You said you've interviewed others, but they were the only ones who asked to meet me?"
Christian nodded. He was already inclined to offer the duo the position. A younger female on the team would be a definite advantage, and after seeing their interaction in the elevator after the interview, he was reassured that there would be no fluttering of eyelashes at him, or inappropriate overtures to Ana. His only misgiving was his inability to find anything about them whatsoever. Usually, Welch could find out a person's last meal, when they'd most recently used the toilet, and pretty much everything else from the time they'd left the cradle. But this duo? Nothing. Knowledge was power, and knowing almost nothing about these two discombobulated him. To fly so far under the radar—that there was literally no record of them anywhere—they must have some powerful connections. Which could be a plus, but also a minus.
Taylor had already stated he thought they were great hires, but shared his boss's concern that they were essentially untraceable. As a very wealthy man, it was not out of the realm of possibility that someone might try to infiltrate his life and world via his security protection, and that concerned Christian. Making up his mind, Christian leaned over to kiss Ana.
"Baby? I need to make a quick phone call. Maybe pick out a movie for when I come back?"
Knowing that Christian's phone calls could take at least an hour, Ana smiled at him and suggested she instead use his absence to make a chocolate cake. He was addicted to her choc-frosted creations, and would never turn down the opportunity to indulge. Sure, he'd have to spend an extra half-hour in the gym each morning for a week, but since Ana seemed to appreciate his more defined abs, it was a win win in his book!
"I'd marry you just for your cooking," he said, kissing Ana again before standing up and walking across to his office. Pressing a button on his phone, Taylor stepped in a moment later, Christian explaining, "I think I need to call Mazur."
It was early in the morning at Court, but Abe was used to being woken at all times of the day or night. One downfall of operating an international business in both Moroi and the human world—it was always business hours somewhere!
"Mazur," he said, doing a credible job of sounding awake and alert, despite the fact it was 7:30pm in Pennsylvania, and he had been hoping to have a bit of a lie-in after a busy 24-hours previously.
"Christian Grey," the young billionaire declared, uncharacteristically nervous.
Yes, it was arrogant, but Christian was used to being the biggest mover and shaker in pretty much any situation. Sure, there were others who had a similar net worth to him, but they knew of one-another and usually talked on an equal footing. Mazur was a different entity entirely. The man was a mystery wrapped within an enigma. While they had never met in person, Grey knew of him through mutual associates and understood his reputation as ruthless, but also a straight shooter. So, putting his pride to one side, Christian approached him man to man.
"Thank you for taking my call. I hope it is a convenient time?"
Abe smirked. He'd been expecting this.
"As good as any," he replied, not giving away that he was sitting disheveled in his bed, having been woken by the phone. "What can I do for you?"
Christian paused, carefully planning his words. "I am recently engaged," he said, smiling despite himself. "She is the most precious thing in my world, and I need her protected."
For just an instant, Christian wondered whether revealing this to a rival businessman was wise, but he knew that anyone who saw him and Ana together could tell she was his sun, and he was the one who orbited around her light.
"After our wedding, I plan to take her to Europe for a few months for our honeymoon, and I have put out feelers for additional security."
"Ahh—Belikov and Hathaway," Abe said, as though he finally understood the reason for Grey's phone call.
"Precisely," Grey agreed. "We met with them both, and I'll admit I was impressed. However, it concerns me I cannot find background information on either of them."
"You won't," Abe said with a grin. Between the hidden Moroi world and his own influence, Rose and Dimitri were essentially untraceable. "I won't disclose anything, other than to say neither of them needs to work. They have resources beyond anything you can imagine." Abe paused to let that sink in. It was as far as he was willing to go, since he was unprepared to let Grey know Rose was his little girl. And yeah—he knew enough about Grey to appreciate Rose's one day inheritance would at least equal the wealth of her potential new employer.
"Yet they work security?" Christian asked.
"It's what they've chosen to do, at least for now. I know them. I know their families. I know their training. I am not at liberty to share, however I am more than happy to vouch for the two of them and recommend them to you. There is no one on my staff, other than my right-hand man of twenty-plus years, that I would be prepared to recommend so glowingly."
"They're a couple?" Christian asked, buying time by asking a question he already knew the answer to.
"Yes. Devoted to one another. They have an almost psychic bond between them," Abe stated, smiling, thinking about his daughter. "It's one thing that makes them so effective as a guarding team."
Not that he'd had any genuine experience witnessing Rose and Dimitri guarding or sparring together, but Pavel and Janine had both commented on the uncanny connection his daughter and her lover shared, and Lord knows she'd moved heaven and earth to save him. It was something you'd encounter every now and again—guarding partners so in tune with one another they almost moved as one. And Abe begrudgingly admitted to himself that as long as Rose was happy, he would be, too.
"There's not much else I can tell you," Abe continued, "other than that if someone was the most precious person in my life, I'd hire Belikov and Hathaway to protect them."
A resounding recommendation, despite the lack of details, Christian decided.
"Thank you for your time," he said. "I appreciate the information you've been able to share. I'll call the pair and offer them a spot on the honeymoon security team."
"I don't think you'll regret it," Abe said confidently. "If you and your bride have a spare afternoon while you're in Europe, let me know. I'm always interested in new business connections, and I'd be happy to show you a few local hidden treasures," Abe said cheekily. It never hurt to put another iron into the fire—besides which, it might give him a chance to check in with his girl and her paramour.
"The death penalty?" Christian checked, unsurprised yet still devastated.
"I'm afraid so," Queen Ariana said, regarding the young Ozera Lord and the Dragomir Princess as they sat before her. As previously decided, she'd waited for them to return from Russia to LeHigh to visit and deliver the news to them in person. "With it being regicide, and intentionally attempting to frame another…" Ariana trailed off.
"We understand," Lissa said, stepping in while grasping her boyfriend's hand. They'd privately discussed it and had known this was the most likely outcome. Yet it didn't hurt any less hearing the ultimate decision.
"It will be as humane as possible. Your Aunt will be given a choice of options…"
Christian held his hand up, stopping the Queen. He didn't want to know the particulars of how his last close family member's life would end. Appreciating that was not information he wanted to know, Ariana composed herself, her heart breaking for the lost-looking young man in front of her.
"If you wish to come to Court to say your farewells, I can arrange for that to happen privately." There was no need to spell it out—Tasha's actions, once known, would further besmirch the already tainted Ozera name. There was no value in dragging Christian down alongside his Aunt via a public visit to say goodbye.
Lissa looked at Christian, trying to get a read on what he wanted to do. She'd support him, either way, but it had been a topic of conversation between them, should the worst eventuate, and he'd yet to make a final decision.
Putting a hand over his eyes in an attempt to disguise his tears, Christian finally muttered, "I'd like to remember the way she was before all this. Before she lost her mind. There is nothing she can say that will give me any comfort, so I'd rather write her a letter to say my farewell."
"I can make sure that is delivered before the sentence is enacted," Ariana promised, her heart aching for the young man in front of her who'd endured so much thanks to his parents, and now his Aunt.
Lissa smiled in appreciation. "It might be some time before we return to Court," she said softly, discretely letting Ariana know the couple intended to ride out the initial shit-storm in the human world. With several years of university yet to complete, it was a valid excuse, and Ariana could appreciate why the duo might want to avoid the hot-bed of Moroi gossip until the initial outrage blew over.
"Let me know if I can help in any way," she said, standing and nodding to the Royal Guardians who had accompanied her on her trip. "I'll be in touch," she concluded, looking to Lissa. They both understood what she meant. Ariana would contact the Dragomir Princess once Natasha had gone to meet her maker.
"It's done," Janine declared, walking into the Seattle suite's salon where Rose and Dimitri had been watching cable. Something new to both of them, they were enjoying binge-watching series. Normally, there might have been confusion about what she meant, but Janine's somber expression made it clear what she was referring to.
"So soon?" Rose gasped. She knew the new Queen had intended to visit Liss and Sparky to deliver the verdict in person, but she'd thought Moroi justice would be a little slower to carry out justice.
Janine shook her head as she regarded her daughter and Belikov. "Christian chose not to see his aunt before her demise. Apparently, he sent a letter with his farewell. Since it was already approved, the Royal Council announced Tasha Ozera's guilt at the same time as the news of her demise."
"Do I want to know how?" Rose muttered to her mother, disturbed despite the circumstances.
Janine looked at Belikov carefully. While he was undeniably devoted to her daughter, at one time Tasha had been a close friend to him. She sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding the truth. It was the talk of Court, so there was no chance of concealing it.
"She understood what was going to happen and accepted her fate. She did not want to know when or how. They told her she'd have a few days, so those who wanted to say farewell could come visit. But since no one wanted to, she passed away peacefully in her sleep last night thanks to an odourless gas. The witnesses said she did not suffer, she just slipped away."
The kindest possible ending. Rose was still sure her father had been there to witness Tasha's last breath.
"I'm sorry," Rose whispered, turning to her man. "I know this is a loss for you."
"Not a loss," he said, grasping Rose's hands in his own. "At one time, I thought Tasha was a friend to me. Maybe back then she was? But anyone who frames the woman I love for murder is no friend of mine. I don't forgive her, neither can I mourn her. As far as I am concerned, she's just someone I used to know."
Rose nodded softly, not doubting Dimitri's words, yet knowing her man would eventually need to grieve the closest link he'd had left to his best friend Ivan. But she was prepared to help him through that.
"I should probably message Lissa," Rose said apologetically, kissing her man before standing up and leaving the room. Dimitri remained on the sofa, looking a little shell-shocked.
"It's always hard losing someone," Janine said sagely, reflecting on her many years of losing colleagues and friends. "And it doesn't get easier."
Dimitri turned his eyes to the diminutive red head seated across from him.
"She hurt the woman I love!" Belikov barked, almost viciously.
"The woman I love, too," Janine placated. "It is ok to mourn, though. At one point, Ozera was a friend to you and a link to your former charge. So mourn the loss from back then, even if her more recent actions make her demise a relief. If it helps, maybe consider her similar to a turned Strigoi? Same body, same face, some of the same memories, but entirely different motivations."
This caused Dimitri to stop and reconsider. He was still far from forgiving himself for all he did as Strigoi, but putting what Natasha did into that perspective gave him a level of peace. Janine's words made him feel it was ok to mourn the camaraderie they'd once shared, while deploring the monster she'd become. He could mourn one while still despising the other. But if he could do that, did that mean Rose…
"It's different for you and Rosemarie, though," Janine said, her keen eyes interpreting the facial expressions crossing her daughter's lover's face. "Tasha made her choices. Your soul was stolen."
It was the closest Janine was prepared to come to forgive her likely soon to be son-in-law for all the ruin he'd brought to Rosemarie's door. But he loved her, and she undoubtedly loved him. Standing in their way seemed cruel and pointless. Other than falling in love with her seventeen-year-old daughter, the guy was faultless. Literally the epitome of everything meritorious in a son, son-in-law, Guardian.
NO she did not like it, but perhaps Abe had a point. Even with all he'd put her through, Rosemarie loved the oversized Russian Guardian, and she could do a lot worse. Still—Janine vowed to spend the next few days before they accepted a human guarding position putting the fear of Vlad into him!