The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(126)

She watched in confusion as Vadim tied a roped to the edge of the balcony. She was about to protest saying there was no way she could climb down a rope from a third story balcony, but then she realized that he didn't intend for her to. Next, using a rope or something similar, Maria couldn't tell for certain, he secured her to his body.

“Hold on to me, Maria,” he said as he lifted both of them onto the rail.

Maria squeezed her eyes shut feeling light headed. She had never been a fan a heights. She clung to him holding on as tight as she could. Using his strength and skills, he had developed over the course of his career Vadim quickly scaled down the rope.

Vadim made quick work of unattaching them, but she still clung to him even as their getaway car pulled up. He opened the back door and lifted her quickly inside the car. She scooted over quickly and half pulled Vadim inside with her. The wheels screeched as the car pulled away before Vadim even managed to close the door.

Maria's whole body was trembling and she couldn't find the words to ask the important questions. Had he killed that man? Were others still following them? Perhaps, most importantly, where the hell were they going?

“You're alright,” Vadim whispered to her softly as he reached across her and fastened her seat belt. He took her shoes from her and slipped them onto her feet and strung her purse strap over her shoulder. She clutched the bag and took his hand. Entwining their fingers, she clung to him for dear life.

In the front of the car, there were two men. From what she could see of their pale skin, Maria figured both must be Russian as well. The driver didn't look armed, but then again most people wouldn't assume that Vadim was either. The man in the passenger seat held an assault rifle. The sight of such arms made her feel dizzy.

“Vadim, I think I'm going to faint,” she whispered.

“No, you're alright,” he said and squeezed her hand gently for reassurance.

Maria didn't remember most of the flight and the conversation between Vadim and his comrades was undecipherable to her. Their thick accents sounded harsh in comparison to Vadim's. His voice lulled her to sleep, brushing against her wounded fears, and the scars life had left upon her.

Sometime later, she awoke in an airport with Vadim carrying her onto a plane. She wanted to ask him where they were going, because her passport was still at home tucked away in her delicate drawer, but exhaustion overtook her before she could speak. Her dreams were filled with thick Russian accents and the gentle lulling motion that reminded her of the sailboat her father had when she was younger.

“Vadim?” she startled awake sometime later. “Where are we?”

“Over halfway to Venice.”

“Venice?” she asked pushing herself to the edge of her seat. She looked around and realized they had to be on a private jet. It was much to cozy and too empty to be a commercial plane.

“What were you expecting me to say Moscow?” Vadim laughed.

“No, I … my passport?”

“It's in your purse,” Vadim said nodding to the bag sitting next to her. “I put it in there while you were taking a shower. The first lesson of safety is to be ready for everything.”

“Is this your plane?”

“Yes, it's my jet,” Vadim nodded.

“Why Venice?”

“I have friends there and it is a beautiful city.”

“What happened back at the apartment?”

“It goes without saying that we or I should say, you were attack. The poor bastard was surprised to see me. Robert Edmund won't be a problem for long. Either he lacks a research team or has an overly stupid one.”

Maria had to suppress a giggle that threatened to bubble over her lips. Things were serious, but Vadim's nonchalant talk of the situation entertained her. On a darker side it made her wonder just how many times had he found himself in a similar situation?

“Can I ask you a question, a personal question?”

“I don't see why not,” Vadim grinned reclining easily in his seat and stretching his long legs out before him. “I've went through your underwear drawer to find your passport. I concede that I do owe you some answers.”

Maria blushed at the thought of Vadim searching through her underwear and bras. Had his fingers brushed against each of them or had he merely knocked them aside in search of her passport?

“How did you know it was in my underwear drawer?”

“You'd be surprised at how many important things get kept there,” Vadim chuckled, “but I doubt that's the personal question you wanted to ask me.”

“Then if you're such a minder reader,” Maria grinned, “ you tell me what I was going to ask you.”

“No, I've never been married. Yes, I was born into the family business. Yes, I've killed someone before both in personal defense and in defense of a client. No, I don't usually sleep with my clients. Most of my clients are ignorant middle aged men who have gotten in with the wrong crowd or children who are unfortunate enough to be born to such men. Yes, I want to make love to you. Does that cover them all?”

Maria blinked. Damn, Vadim had cut straight to the chase and wasn't playing around. “Don't tell me you haven't thought about it,” Vadim chuckled.

She looked away from him blushing. Even as she watched out the plane window, she could feel his steel gray gaze on her. He was drinking her in and just thought of his eyes undressing her sent a chill down her spine.