The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(57)
Finally he let me go and I turned to look at him. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry. I was breathing hard and finally flopped over on the couch and just sat there, placing my hands over my face for a moment. I shook my head back and forth and then looked up at him. I was a little disbelieving at my own behavior, so I could only imagine what he was thinking.
“Are you ready to talk?” John asked me and then settled next to me on the couch, he placed a hand on my knee and I hissed a breath out. I could feel the warmth of his hand on my knee. I was surprised he'd even talk to me after that little display. I guess I wasn't very scary.
“I guess I'm listening. Talk,” I crossed my arms and leaned back, not bothering to fix my bathrobe when it fell open showing off some of my cleavage. I noticed where his eyes dropped and I smirked. I might not be stronger than him when we wrestled, but I still could get the upper hand just by showing a couple inches of flesh. Ha!
“Are you serious about wanting to start over, away from your family?” He asked me gently. “I can make it happen for you, but I need to know how seriously you want that. What you would sacrifice to get out.”
“Deadly, I want out. Anything, I'll walk away and never look back. I just want a chance to live a normal life, be a normal person,” I told him and leaned forward, knowing that my entire breasts would almost be visible to his eyes. Watching him gulp I decided I liked this game and encouraged him to keep talking, though his eyes were now glued to my chest.
“I'm not a hit man. I'm not part of a mob, and I don't work for a gun for hire company,” John told me, watching me carefully.
“So what exactly are you?” I asked him curiously, he had my attention now. If he wasn't a hit man, or a hired goon, I couldn't understand who he really was, I was very confused, and my father didn't work with anyone who wasn't.
“I'm FBI; I'm here on a secret ops mission to get enough data to take down your father and any gang activity in the area. Your father knew when there was a hit on your life the only chance there was to save you was to get us involved, believe it or not, he asked us and we agreed because it's the first time he's ever cooperated or let us have access to his life. Your father agreed to turn himself in, in return for your safety. I couldn't tell you because I wasn't sure whose side you were on, and I had to figure out where your loyalties lie,” John told me and then reached out to grab my hand.
“You're telling me that you work for the government, as a good guy, but you're here babysitting me to put my father in jail? And my father asked you too?” I gasped and jumped off the couch and started to pace. I wasn't sure if I was proud of my father for doing the right thing, or angry at him for not telling me the truth.
“Why didn't you tell me the truth from the get go?” I asked him accusingly. I was angry and he was the only person standing close enough for me to lash out at.
“Would you have believed me? And do you think it would have made you more or less cooperative than you've been with every other person assigned to help you?” John asked me, raising a brow at me with a look on his face that was a mix between sarcasm and disbelief that I was even asking the question.
“Okay, probably not, but why the secrets? I mean, I get that in this lifestyle everyone's an enemy. But I'm his daughter, didn't he trust me?” I asked and felt sad. He apparently was trying to give me my life and my freedom but didn't trust me enough to tell me. That hurt.
“The less you knew, the more likely our plan would succeed to draw them out,” John told me quietly.
“Wait, are you telling me I was the bait?” I asked, feeling completely horrified at the idea that the two of them would use me to nail the other bad guys.
John shrugged, “Originally that was sort of our plan, but then when the car was rigged, I realized that there was no way I would have time to check everything constantly at every moment to keep you safe. So here we are. I was on the phone with my bosses, making arrangements to get your money out of your accounts, and into a private account under your new identity. Your father is also putting enough money into it too, to ensure you're provided for. He wanted to make sure you'd have enough to have a good start if I got you away.”
“So the entire plan was for me to start over once you took down all the bad guys, including my father? When did you two plan to tell me the truth?” Quietly, I stopped pacing and stood in front of him and realized that again, I was manipulated by my father. I didn't know whether to be grateful that he at least heard my desires to be free, or angry that no one thought I needed to know the truth when my life was in danger.
“Sofie, you can go anywhere, be anything, but I have to keep you safe until we get all the information we need. An undercover officer who looks like you will be taking your place until we can nail them, once it happens, we'll make the arrests, and you'll be free,” John told me, and reached out to grab my hand. “That's what you wanted, isn't it?”
“Yes, I did, but the reality and way you are trying to explain it makes me feel like a traitor to my father,” I whispered, looking at his fingers, his eyes were still on my chest and I decided to sit back down on the couch beside him.
“You're not a traitor, you deserve better. He loves you and you finally got through to him, he doesn't want to see you dead like your mother. Have a little faith in your father and try to honor his desire to do the right thing.” John's mouth moved, and I heard the words come out, and I even understood them, but I'd already moved on.