“Dusha Moya? What’s wrong?” he questions and I can’t get the words out hell I don’t even know what I want to say.
“I. I-I… need you,” I finally choke out through my extremely clogged throat.
“Dusha Moya, what happened? What’s wrong?” He demands just as I hear the revving of a vehicle’s motor.
“He was in my home. Watching me.” I’m hysterical and not making any sense at this point.
Nico growls deep and long, “Aubrey, sukin syn. V chem delo.”
The use of Russian helps to partially bring my brain back on line. I sit on the edge of my sofa, trying to breathe deeply. I haven’t been this scared since I was kidnapped.
“What did that mean?” I’m finally able to gather myself and ask.
“I just asked what was wrong. I’ll be there in five minutes. Keep the doors locked and stay away from the windows. I’m coming, Dusha Moya,” he tells me, his tone so evenly that my volatile emotions start to settle.
“I can do that. Nico, I’m scared,” I whisper, unable to hide the wobble in my voice.
“I know Dusha Moya. I’m coming for you,” he promises, the low, husky timber of his voice continues to soothe me.
Nico
I slammy foot down onto the gas pedal, pushing my SUV to its limits. I don’t know what happened in the four hours since I’ve been gone, but something has Aubrey scared enough to call me. I pull out one of my stashed burner phone’s, not willing to hang up with Aubrey on my personal phone, and call Timur.
“Da?” he questions?
“I need someone at Aubrey’s. Something has happened,” I state, informing him of a possible issue.
“Nico, you know you don’t have to call for every little thing. What’s really going on?”
“I have her on the other line and can’t send the message. I really need you to send a message to get someone over there. To be honest, this is me telling you, that at this point, I won’t be leaving her unattended until I have things figured out” I convey, leaving out the part of the fact I may be about to skirt my responsibilities and he’ll need someone to pick up the slack.
“If you need a safe house, or for her to fucking come here, do not hesitate to do so You do what you need to do, and I’ve got you, always.” Timur knows what I need to hear and always has.
I relax, marginally, with his approval, which causes me to sleep into my mother tongue “Spasibo, Pakhan.”
Timur replies in kind, knowing right away that our mother tongue is what I need to hear right now. “Vsegda pozhaluysta, drug moy.”
Timur may be my boss, but we were friends long before that, and we’ll be friends until drawing our last breath.
Aubrey’s voice catches my attention, “Nico what did you and Timur just say to each other?”
I know she is just trying to distract herself. So, I tell her, “I said, “Thank you, Boss,” and he said, “You’re Welcome, my Friend”.”
Aubrey just hums, drowning in her own fear.
“Dusha Moya, I’m here,” I inform her, pulling into her driveway. “I’m hanging up now.” It’s not a surprise that I made it to Aubrey’s in record time, I broke every posted speed limit along the way.
When I come up the road, the vehicle from earlier is gone. Once I get her settled, I’m going to be checking on what my men were able to find on it. After idling for a few seconds to compose myself, I exhale, throwing my car in park. I turn the ignition off, yank the keys from the slot, throwing the door open to where it bounces from the hinges being overstretched, and I tumble out. I take the stairs on her porch two at a time, and knock softly on her door when I find it locked. I don’t hear any movement so I tap on it again with my knuckles.
“It’s me, Dusha Moya. Let me in!” I continue to knock as I say this.
Hearing the shuffle of her feet, I smirk, not hiding it from her when she pulls the door ajar.. When she confirms it’s me, Aubrey throws the door open, launching herself into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck, legs, around my waist. Climbing me like a spider monkey. I hold her under her ass making sure she doesn’t fall.
“Why does this always happen to me? What’ve I done so bad to deserve all of this in my life?” Aubrey asks, sobbing into the nape of my neck.
“Dusha Moya, I need you to tell me what’s going on here. I left you with strict instructions to rest.” I chide her as I walk through the door, closing it behind me.
I take a seat on the couch, clutching her to me, unwilling to let her go. Aubrey doesn't speak, just continues to weep. I rub her back, looking around, not finding anything out of the ordinary. I spy her food on the counter, yet it’s been left untouched. Not finding an immediate threat, I loosen up my tense muscles, just a fraction. After about five minutes, the crying finally subsides, and she pulls back looking me in the face.
