Miles away in Europe.Broodingly, Lucien studied the photo he carried on his phone. It showed his family, his lovely wife and the six children. It was not a formal snap; Schwartz had taken the picture soon after Proserpina had been rescued. Proserpina looked exhausted but so achingly lovely he swore he just wanted to get back and hold her in his arms, see his beloved children. her long hair unbound, those full breasts with their dark-hued peaks, barely visible through the fine material of her lace blouse, dimpling as she held their triplets in her arms, leaning back in their bed. Ria, Piers and Claude were also beside her.He swore again as he knew it was a distant dream.It had been a month and he was still counting. The slippery, elusive Dmitri Rudenko had given him the slip and disappeared into the mountains, yet again.*Schwartz entered the small bedroom where Lucien stood, staring out at the white, snow-covered landscape.He had on a parka and he looked weary. Aiyana came in aft
LucienThey were on the hills keeping watch. The knowledge that Khan was arriving shortly had galvanised them into action. Even the biting cold and the wind that tore into them through their warm layers of clothing, did not seem to matter anymore.Schwartz came towards him, moving in the shadows of the towering trees around them.He had his binoculars and his gun in position. They had brought along their posse of men too.“Boss?” he asked and Lucien turned to look at him. “Aiyana sent a message.”The woman in question was in the apartment, in contact with her FBI friends and a man in the CIA who had passed on the vital information about the proposed meeting.How she had managed to tap into her former resources and get them on board was a mystery to the Mafia Don. He guessed that the US government agencies were also eager to flush out Khan who was beginning to be a huge nuisance.Lucien raised a heavy eyebrow enquiringly.“Something about a shift in the venue,” said Schwartz, His bre
ProserpinaI sighed and sat back in the chair, raising my arms and stretching. It was late evening and I had been working on my notes and projects. I had enrolled for a refresher course at the university along with my Doctoral course and was thrilled to have been accepted too. Anything to dull the ache of my heart as I sat about waiting for the return of my husband I thought despondently. I longed to hold him in my arms, to feel his harsh claiming of my body…I loved him and I ached for him.Rachel was arriving the next day and I had wanted to see that my work was done before that. I longed to see her, my dearest friend.Brian had also hinted that he would stop back on his way back to Japan. I was eager to see him too. I smiled happily as I thought of them.*The sound of Beston clearing his throat politely, made me jump.I turned around and got to my feet.He stood in the doorway, and he gave a twitch of his lips to signify a smile.Ria and Piers had appeared behind him, Claude tail
Lucien.They moved slowly as they approached the house, little more than a make-shift shed. Simmons was in contact with Aiyana as she radioed back instructions, her voice not sounding as cool and collected as she watched them through the camera they had fitted.*“Watch out!’ she called and they saw a light move in one of the rooms inside the house.Suddenly, with no warning, a volley of fire came from the house and the bushes surrounding the house. Lucien and his men dived down, crawling in the undergrowth on their stomachs. They took care not to return the fire. They did not want to provide any clue to their whereabouts.Panting, Lucien rolled onto his stomach. His brass knuckle dusters were in his overcoat pocket. It had been difficult, climbing up the hill, loaded with their weapons.But this was one weapon he would not abandon for anything.*He turned his head and met the eyes of his man, Rhyme.Schwartz also nodded as Lucien gesticulated, jerking his chin coldly.The tall man
ProserpinaI stepped out of the kitchen, face glowing as I hurried to meet my friend.Rachel had arrived, flying in from one of the Scandinavian nations where she had gone to attend a lecture on environmental hazards. And she had also presented a paper before the august assembly of academicians and I was proud of her although she had played down her achievement in her usual flippant way.I threw my arms around her and she hugged me enthusiastically. Rachel was a big-boned woman with short-cropped blonde hair and a wide smile, her huge glasses balanced on her small pert nose. She still had a smattering of freckles on her nose and I squealed as she hugged me again, a bone-breaking hug.‘Girl, you look as young as ever’ she shouted, her booming voice as authoritative and strong as ever.‘Rachel!’ I cried, even as she continued,“Where is your brood?’ and then she chuckled as Ria and Piers, with Claude in tow, burst out of the morning room where they had been doing their studies, under th
ProserpinaRachel was a much-loved aunt for the kids and she soon had Claude eating out of her hand too. She and her lover, a sweet woman she had met in Peru, had finally decided to get married later in the year, a Christmas wedding, she said with a wry grimace. Mayra, her lover, had been simple and not as outspoken as Rachel during our video conversations. She was a doctor and they had decided to finally tie the knot. I was thrilled for them.“You had better be there for the wedding, girl, ‘ she warned, fixing me with a stern look.I dimpled.“I shall tell Lucien when he returns,’ I said simply. The twins turned to look at me. They were anxious about their father, no doubt and were longing to know how he was. But one look at my face and they exchanged glances and turned back to Rachel, faces subdued.Guessing the reason for their suddenly mellow expressions, she grabbed Ria’s hand and indicated that they should follow her.‘Come on, you lot!’ she urged, ‘I have something to show you
LucienThey blundered into the woods, relying on their instincts, listening alertly to the sounds coming from around them. Rhyme had joined them, and he pointed out, wordlessly, to the path where it appeared as if someone had pushed through the tangled twigs and branches in a hurry. The light snow also revealed indentures made by three pairs of boots. One was smaller than the others, noted Lucien as they moved, carefully.The sound of water could be heard as they moved away from the now burning little house and in the distance; Lucien had been listening to the noise of an approaching chopper.It had to be the one he had had stationed in a field nearby. Aiyana must have been informed and she must have radioed the chopper crew.As for Salam Khan, the gangster had been stopped at the border by the Slovakian authorities, based on the tip off provided by the Interpol agencies.Now it had zeroed down to just one man: Dmitri Rudenko who he was determined to bring down that day.Or die in the
ProserpinaWhen I returned, there was a mini celebration of sorts.The kids had persuaded Camille to help them to put up a small tent in the garden and were camping on the grounds.I sighed as I saw them; my twins looked so happy. Claude was also with them, whooping and shouting as they ran around the makeshift tent, screaming. Claude pummelled his fists on poor Paddy; I had noticed that he had a tendency to hurt poor Paddy who took it cheerfully, with a goofy grin on his face. On more than one occasion, I had had to intervene and prevent my young son from hurting the child who was autistic and who never retaliated.Of course, the twins stopped him when they saw it but being young kids themselves, they were not going to be vigilant the way I remained.Rachel had gone off to town to meet some acquaintances. She had left a message saying she would be back the next afternoon. She had called me to check if I was alright, to make sure I did not need her with me.*My army of helpers bustle