Seven

Despite reading the same line over and over, Dani couldn’t absorb what she was reading. She’d finished Anna Karenina last night and had started on Crime and Punbishment as per Alexei’s recommendation, but for the life of her she couldn’t get past this current chapter.

Her mind kept drifting to yesterday’s events when she’d done that preposterous finger errand. For a captor, Alexei was being a little too nice for comfort. It was one thing to feel lucky she wasn’t being tortured in some dirty cell with one of her fingers missing, but after yesterday, things just felt... weird. It continued to confound her no matter how many times she mulled it over, and now she was too distracted to read.

Dani shut the book and tossed it aside on her bed. It was only eight in the evening and much too early to call it a night. Perhaps it was the seriousness of the book that made it difficult to concentrate. Maybe there was lighter material like a romance novel, though she highly doubted the likes of Alexei would keep one in his library.

With a sigh, Dani got off the bed and figured it was worth trying anyway. She left her room and descended the winding staircase to the foyer. 

On her way to the library, the faint sound of piano reached her ears. She stopped in front of the open door to the old ballroom and peered inside.

At the far corner of the room where the grand piano was, Alexei sat playing. His coat lay on top of the piano next to a glass of whiskey while he sat playing in his white sleeves and suspenders.

Of all people, she did not expect a guy like Alexei to be playing the piano. Dani was not a fan of classical music, but it was difficult not to appreciate his melodious playing. It was a slow and soulful tune, and despite the blankness in his expression, life poured from his fingers and filled the empty ballroom.

As the piece began to reach its crescendo, Dani stood stunned at Alexei’s flawless playing. She leaned closer to the door, pushing it forward until it gave a loud creak.

Alexei stopped playing and looked up. Dani hissed back a curse, hating herself for being so clumsy.

“I see you, Miss De Luca.”

Dani froze halfway in her attempt to make a run for it. With a sigh, she pushed the stupid, creaky door all the way and stepped inside the ballroom.

“You came at the right time.” He reached for his whiskey. “The piece was starting to get difficult. I was about to murder it soon enough.”

She stopped an arm’s length from the piano. “I can’t even play a single instrument.”

“I can teach you ‘Happy Birthday,’ if you like?”

A smile almost left her lips. “That’s a pathetic song to follow up on after what you just played.”

“I’m sure Borodin won’t mind.”

“Borodin?”

“The composer of the nocturne I just played.”

“It’s a nice song.” She eyed the black grand piano up close. “I didn’t take you for a classical guy at all.”

“Me neither.” He closed the piano board. “I hated it growing up.”

“I didn’t know classical music was part of mobster training.”

“My father’s idea, not mine.” He chuckled with a shrug before draining his drink empty.

“Where is your father anyway?” she asked. “Isn’t he the head of your group or whatever?”

“Yes, he is. He’s in Moscow, where the family estate is.”

“So he basically sent you out here on an errand to play babysitter on me?”

A placid smile formed on his lips. “I am his second-in-command, if that’s what you mean.”

Dani bit the inside of her cheek. It was foolish to try to get on Alexei’s bad side, but for some reason, the idea of irritating him to shatter that calm, collected facade was just so inviting.

She crossed her arms and leaned against the piano. “So in the event that my dad can’t pay up on time, who do I start working for? Your dad or you?”

Alexei raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have much faith in your father, do you?”

“I do, but I also want to know my options.”

“You wouldn’t want to work for my father, and he’d dump you on me anyway,” he said, standing up.

“So what kind of work would I be doing for you then?”

Something shifted in Alexei’s gaze, but it was an emotion too fleeting for her to discern.

“You have four days left, Miss De Luca. I’d try to stay positive for a little while longer, if I were you.”

Dani opened her mouth in retort but stopped herself. He was right, and yet there he was again, saying the unlikeliest of things. Was he just playing the good guy card? Or was there really such a thing as a nice kidnapper?

“Was it your choice to join the mob? Or was it because you had to?” she wondered out loud.

Alexei eyed his empty glass and played with it. “You’re being awfully inquisitive tonight.”

“You just don’t seem to be enjoying your job, or maybe you’re just not doing it right.”

His lips curved up in amusement. “And pray tell, how exactly should I be doing my job?”

She waved a lazy hand around. “Oh, I don’t know. Angrier...?”

Laughter, deep and rich, rumbled in Alexei’s throat. “Ah, yes. Dark, dingy, warehouse. You tied to a chair. Something more like the first night, yes?”

Irritation flared in her veins. As unlikely as her situation was, she did count her lucky stars for not being in worse, more predictable circumstances. Still, it was too good to be true, and it was impossible he had nothing up his sleeve. Just what the hell was his game?

“We both know you wouldn’t want that,” he said, grabbing his coat. “Besides, it would be on my conscience having to see a pretty girl like you in such a predicament.”

Her ears rang. Did he just call her pretty?

“Well, I have a rather early day tomorrow, Miss De Luca.” He indulged her with a short bow. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

The door that closed behind him reverberated in the room. With a pout, Dani sat by the piano and stared at the keys for a long time.

Maksim became Dani’s most frequent companion. The dog seemed to have no qualms trotting behind her wherever she went, though it would come as no surprise if he had a camera attached to his leash to track her whereabouts.

Dani spent another cold, grey afternoon walking around the gardens of Alexei’s estate. For the entire week she’d been here, not once had she seen a single ray of sunshine peek through the sky. It was laughable to think that Alexei considered this his summer home when everything seemed to be in a perpetual state of dreary, depressing cold.

In any other waking moment in her life she wouldn’t be out here choosing to freeze to death, but the frigid air helped clear up any ridiculous notions of Alexei liking her, after what happened last night. So what if he called her pretty? He could be pulling her leg just to throw her off, and she would be stupid to try using that against him anyway. He would never fall for it, and he was in a totally different league. This was not the time to be playing games, and not with that kind of man.

With a sigh, Dani observed Maksim sniffing around the bushes at the far end of the garden. She had only three days left, and yet she still hadn’t heard an update from her father. Was he even going to be able to pay on time?

Harsh, cold breeze whipped her face. Dani shuddered and whistled at the dog.

“Maksim!” she called out. “Let’s go back inside!”

Maksim turned his head once at her, but continued sniffing whatever caught his interest by the bushes. Dani grunted and briskly walked towards him.

“Come on boy, I’m freezing!” She tugged on his leash. Maksim kept his head low, snout still close to the snowy ground. With his sheer weight, it was impossible to drag him away.

“What the hell are you smelling?” she groaned, crouching to find whatever caught the dog’s attention. Dani dug through snow and parted bushes with her gloves, finding nothing but—

Past the bushes that lined the high wall covering the entire estate, Dani discovered a small hole in the wall. It looked to have eroded over time and was only big enough to fit…

Dani yelped as Maksim squeezed past her and went into the bushes. He crammed himself inside the hole with difficulty—and for a moment Dani thought he had gotten stuck—until he managed to get to the other side.

“Holy shit,” she breathed. There was nothing immediately visible but trees and snow on the other side, but if this was a way out of the estate…

Dani swiftly turned around, but there were no guards in sight. She crawled into the bushes and observed the hole up close. It was a very tight fit, but if she removed her coat, she’d be able to squeeze through.

Hurriedly, Dani began removing her coat, but stopped at the last button. She still had three days left. What if her father managed to pay up after all? She had only the clothes on her back if she tried to escape now. Uncharted territory lay on the other side of the wall, and she would die of cold and hunger if she left unprepared. She had to think this through carefully.

“Maksim!” She peeked through the hole and hissed at the dog. “Come back here! You’ll get us caught!”

Maksim gave a single, loud bark, as if announcing his discovery to the world. Dani wanted to hurl a big, fat snowball at him.

“Sshh! If you don’t get back here, I won’t give you leftovers!”

Maksim let out a whimper of disapproval. His tiny tail began to wag, but he stood his ground.

“That’s right,” Dani egged on. “I think I’ll request for a nice, juicy steak tonight, and you won’t get a single piece!”

Maksim released a long whine before he finally relented and squeezed back inside. Clearly miffed, he darted past her and returned to the house without waiting for her.

Dani exhaled in relief before standing up to dust the snow off her. She turned to look at the bushes one last time before heading back inside.