Save Me (6 page)

“Claus! Oh, God, I’m going to—I’m going to—Claus!”

Sweet holy hell, there was no way to hold back this time. Her walls clamped down on him so hard it was difficult to catch his breath. He bucked, and damned if her knees didn’t lock onto his sides as she went along for the ride. Even fully seated on him, she managed to swivel those hips, massaging every inch of his cock. There was no way to stop the orgasm that rolled up from his balls, splashing her womb with his seed.

And he’d thought to make this night for her! Alicia had marked him, claimed him, capturing him more completely, if that were possible. She fell into his arms as he tried to think, tried to reason out what had just happened. But his mind was too fuzzy, his body far too relaxed. Nothing could’ve prepared him for what had just happened.

This hadn’t been sex—this had been love.

Paris was a lot like Alicia had always imagined it would be, almost exactly like the movies. At least the area where Claus had taken her thus far was. They had a gorgeous suite just a block from the Louvre, where the room service was every bit as delicious as the restaurants they’d visited. Best of all, they shared the room and the bed with the ease of a couple who’d been together for years. But then, they’d had two years to get to know one another in all the intimate ways one could know another person except for one. It was amazingly easy to fall into the comfortable companionship of lovers and friends. It made her want to kick herself for not doing this sooner.

Not only was he an extremely attentive lover, Claus seemed to love spoiling her. She found herself at every kind of exclusive boutique imaginable. Every salesperson looked like a runway model with perfect hair, clothes and makeup. There was a snobbish air written on their faces, though they were all smiles and graciousness when the big German escorted her through their doors. Claus might believe himself to be no better than a thug, but he certainly knew how to get shopgirls to jump at the lift of his brow. After the first couple of shops, where Alicia was all nerves and feeling sorely out of place, the expedition got fun. The more condescending or dismissive Claus was, the more attendants tried to please
her
.

“Always remember,
liebling
, they work for you,” he mused as they went along.

By lunchtime, Alicia was the proud owner of more clothes, shoes and accessories than she’d ever need in a lifetime. It felt weird to have all this at the tip of her fingers. Grgur’d had money, but not like this. And never was he this generous. Claus even had someone pick up the packages as soon as they were done to take them back to the hotel.

“I think I have had my share of shopping for a while,” Alicia mused as they sat enjoying the view of the Seine. The city really was beautiful; there was a romanticism about the place that couldn’t be faked. Like the lore had become the reality.

“Just think. This is only the second of the world’s great capitals,” Claus teased right back. “There’s a great many cities to go to.”

“You know I didn’t really mean to ask you to take me shopping all over the world. That is a waste of money.” Still, it was thrilling to know he really did have every intention of doing just that. Protesting against it would do no good. He saw it made her happy, so he would do it. She loved the security in knowing that about him, knowing how he reacted, how he thought when it came to her.

Looking back, it seemed silly for her to have ever wondered what he thought about her. She should’ve known. Now that they had nothing at all between them left unsaid—or undone—Alicia felt as if she knew Claus better than she knew any other person on the face of the earth. Maybe even herself.

“If that’s what you’ve dreamed of having, it is what you’ll have.” And that was that.

All she could do was smile. Even though she’d dreamed of one day having a man who really loved her, who was completely devoted to her, there had never really been any hope of it. With Claus, it was so much more. This, what they had together, was more than she could’ve ever imagined. Being with him made her freer than she had ever been. He allowed her to just
be
—never making demands, always there no matter what; he was just a quiet, steady presence that made her feel safe and complete.

Finally, after years of merely existing, she felt honestly, truly alive. It was so hard to define it, but it was like before Claus, her only goal was to survive long enough to get her daughter free. Though Alicia had never admitted it even to herself, she never expected to live long after Deja was able to be on her own, far away from the life Alicia had lived. Eventually, she would’ve done something to push Grgur too far, or he would’ve merely gotten tired of her and traded her in for a newer model. Then all of a sudden, this massive German walked into her life and taught her how to just breathe.

In a way, he’d been partially correct in thinking her devotion to him stemmed from his saving her. But what he didn’t realize was no other man could’ve done what he had. No one else could’ve saved her, healed her, then completed her. No one would’ve seen all she needed was space, time and quiet. Not once did he try to get her to talk it out, openly discuss her feelings or what had led her to ending up with Grgur in the first place. She was all too aware of where she’d been. There was no desire to go back. Most believed therapy or psychoanalysis to be therapeutic. To some perhaps it was. To people like them—her and Claus—the past just
was
.

The past two years had given her time to think, to process, but most of all to let go. So what that the majority of her life had been shitty? She’d seen far, far worse. There had been some joy, some good in all the dark. Deja had been her greatest blessing, always would be. To be able to watch her grow free from the same monster who’d ruled Alicia’s own childhood had been a miracle. Yes, she had been a prisoner more or less, but it was up to her whether or not she would remain chained. Claus had guided her to that revelation without forcing it down her throat. For that she was grateful, but that wasn’t why she loved him. She loved Claus because he too had seen the absolute worse the world had to offer, and he chose not to become the darkness he lived in. Formidable, yes. A ruthless killer when it was necessary—absolutely, but there was nothing evil about him. He was what he was. And he loved her unconditionally. He had never said it, not even now, but Alicia suspected he didn’t know how to find the words. It didn’t matter; she could feel it. And she wasn’t going to let that go.

She was quickly learning to love this new Alicia. The woman she had become was comfortable lounging in a bistro in Paris, sitting unafraid across from the dangerous man who barely fit into the delicate wrought iron chair. A woman secure enough in herself to conquer the last of the demons of her past.

“After our business here, I’d like to visit home to say goodbye,” she announced out of nowhere. It was harder to get the words out than she thought they would be, but once they were said she couldn’t take them back. And Claus wouldn’t forget, either. Thinking about stepping foot in the tiny rural South Carolina town she’d grown up in caused a rough lump to form at the base of her throat. When she’d run away she’d sworn to never come back.

“I’m guessing you don’t mean New York?” Claus asked quietly.

Alicia merely nodded. He knew her story. The sad tale had been discussed not long after they arrived in Denmark during a particularly bad night. She didn’t like to dwell; it was what it was and nothing could change it. But then, she had never really dealt with it either.

Claus nodded grasping her hand and giving it a squeeze.

“That’s wise,” he spoke softly. “We will go as soon as I meet with Nadir Amir Afshar de Choiseul.”

The man who’d paid Grgur for Deja. What kind of man would pay to have a wife raised from a child to meet his specifications? Who had that kind of hubris? There were a great many things Alicia would like to say to this man. But something in Claus’ face gave her pause.

“You’re worried?” she had to ask. While the names Dieter von Blucher and Claus Littman scared bottom feeders like the Petric family shitless, she understood there were men in this world far more dangerous. The kind who bought their wives, for instance. Grgur had been frantic when Deja had ended up with Dieter; worry had poured from every pore as he scrambled for a way to get Deja back, knowing it was a hopeless cause.

“Worried, no. Cautious, yes. This is not a man to be trifled with.” Alicia could tell Claus was choosing his words very carefully. That was more than enough to give her pause.

At one time she might’ve been afraid. Claus was never reckless, but he also wasn’t cautious of much. He strolled through life as if daring someone to take him down. No one ever tried because he gave off the aura of a man who’d just as soon break your neck as to talk to you. She had honestly never seen him concerned about confronting anyone. Yet she knew that no matter what, she was going to be safe. Nothing would happen to them—Claus would never allow it. It wasn’t foolish bravado; it was unshakeable faith in his abilities.

“Be straight with me.” Holding his gaze with a steady, unwavering stare, she tried to show him she was indeed strong. “Is my daughter still in danger?”

“Dieter would never allow that.” There was absolute conviction in his statement. “And neither will I. But I will not lie to you. Since I know you’ll insist on coming with me no matter what I say, I need you to be prepared. The duke is ruthless, but prudent. He considered Deja his, and Dieter stole her. It’s an insult that must be answered.”

“Why did you call him that?” Who they would be dealing with couldn’t be changed; it was what it was. “The duke?” Nicknames weren’t as common as the movies would have some believe. Generally they were reserved for those who were trying to make names for themselves, mostly silly wannabes that ended up dead.

“Because he is,” Claus answered simply with a casual shrug to his shoulders. “He is a man who walks in two worlds. When dealing in the shadows he uses his mother’s maiden name, Nadir Amir Afhaser Nader. But his official title is Duc de Chioseul.” Claus smiled then—a rueful twist of lips that implied anything but mirth. “The title is very real. His father, the former duke, was flat broke. So he married exiled Persian royalty just before the revolution. Descendent of some former dynasty. Very old money, not exactly clean. Nadir carried on the family tradition of his mother’s people with his two brothers Solomon and Javid. They are utterly ruthless, but cunning. Their legitimate companies hide the less savory dealings.”

“Like you and Dieter,” Alicia provided. She wasn’t a fool; she knew who her daughter had married just like she knew the man she was inexorably linked to. The criminal world often began and ended in so-called respectable centers of power.

“Once upon a time.” Claus nodded. “We’ve moved away from most things. As soon as this is taken care of, there will be no more shadows for us. Only sunlight. I owe that to you.”

And just like that, she had a serious case of the warm and fuzzies even in the face of the daunting task of appeasing this Nadir person. The man wouldn’t give a damn that Deja was her daughter, or that Deja was now married to someone who truly loved and cherished her. All that mattered was his investment. Claus’ concerns meant this Nadir would be unimpressed Deja belonged to Dieter von Blucher.

“Do you think he’ll expect all the funds he invested plus interest?” Most would, but she’d only seen deals at Grgur’s level. Mid-level at best. Of course she’d heard of the dealing with real players. Such men and women never accepted less than what was promised.

“No.” Claus didn’t even try to sugarcoat the situation. “Which is why I would prefer you stayed at the hotel.”

“Not happening,” she shot back. No more hiding, no more cowering. They would think of something, together.

“Didn’t think so.” This time Claus’ smile was genuine, full of pride and approval. Alicia couldn’t help but preen just a little. “We will find a way,” he said with absolute conviction, and she believed him. “There is no other option.”

Nadir was a predator, as were most men in his position. On some level, Claus was one himself, as was Dieter. The prey was different for each, but the end results were much the same. Whereas Deiter and Claus’ end game had been for wealth and position, so as never to return to the slums from which they clawed their way out, Claus couldn’t begin to guess at Nadir’s.

Swathed in old-world respectability, elegance and good looks as he was, there was nothing behind the man’s pale green eyes that would suggest he had a soul. Not much could unnerve Claus, but Nadir was one of very few things on earth that made him uncomfortable. Whereas Claus had mastered the art of suppressing emotion, he seriously doubted Nadir ever had any. Looking at the man was kind of like looking at an animated dead man.

There were few things worse than dealing with someone with nothing to lose. Dealing with someone with nothing to lose and nothing to gain was one. As was dealing with an unrepentant liar who had no need to lie; a master manipulator who didn’t bother with manipulative tricks. One way or another, they had to find a way to atone to a man who by reputation could not be appeased.

There were a thousand reasons not to allow Alicia to venture into the Goutte D’Or neighborhood. The district may have been famous for such wondrous sites as the Sacré Cœur basilica and the Moulin Rouge, but it had become an area inhabited by immigrants from Africa. The streets were rich in exotic scents, people in bright traditional African clothing or chic Parisian ware in a myriad of rich colors echoing a cacophony of languages. On its face, it was an odd setting for Nadir, given his ancestry of French and ancient Persian nobility.

For reasons known only to the man himself, this was Nadir’s home as well as his base of operations. He’d taken over a large city block, dominated by one building that was, in essence, his fortress. Located smack in the middle of one of the place’s busiest streets, just two blocks over from the open market, the Afshar-Nadir building blended with the eclectic vibe on the outside. The exterior of the building was that of an older European five-story building complete with terraced windows and old-world charm. There were even gargoyles poised at the corners of the building.

While the street was bustling, no one loitered anywhere near the building. Claus suspected mostly because of the hawkish gaze of men stationed strategically along the block. While their weapons weren’t visible, he didn’t need to see them to know they were there. Leaving his own guards behind had been wise. They hadn’t come for a showdown, and any show of strength would’ve been seen as a challenge. Bringing Alicia—God, he wished like hell he could have left her safe behind armed guards. In the end, he had no choice
but
to bring her along.

He refused to treat her like an object; something to be petted, protected, and left ignorant of the real world dangers surrounding her. Deja was her daughter; it was simply her right to be here. A woman with her fortitude, her intelligence and her backbone deserved his absolute respect. That meant respecting her wish to confront Nadir along with him. But fuck if it wasn’t giving him heart attacks! He might be calm on the surface, but inside he was raging. How the hell was he supposed to protect her should Nadir decide to take revenge? Yes, he would lay down his life for her without batting an eyelash, but him dying and leaving her to face Nadir alone did no one any good. He was going to have to feel Nadir out and think fast. There had to be something the man wanted. There was always something.

“Le Duc is pleased you’ve come to call on him.” Melting out of the crowd like a ghost, a tall, ebony-skinned man in Berber robes stepped forward to stop in front of them. The man seemed ageless, with the deep, uninterested voice of someone who’d seen far too much to be concerned with much. His gaze barely flickered over them before sweeping his hand toward the door. “This way, if you please.”

This wasn’t the first time Claus had met with Nadir, but the other times had been with Dieter, and it had been at the duke’s official offices in the Passy district. The offices there were much as one would expect from modern-day nobility—elegant, old but tasteful. Nothing like what they stepped into now.

“Ohmygawd!” Alicia gasped under her breath.

Claus seriously doubted God had any hand in this. It was like they had stepped into another world. The entire inside was designed like some ancient Persian palace—or a temple. The overtly opulent display should’ve been gaudy. Had anyone else tried to attempt this decor it probably would have been obscene. But somehow, here it felt right. Everything from the onyx floors with rich veins of gold snaking through it to the priceless gold, jade, lapis lazuli and pearl statues seemed completely at home.

The man who’d escorted them disappeared as soon as they stepped inside, but they weren’t left alone for long.

“You must forgive the gauche display. When my mother’s family managed to smuggle most of the family treasures out of Iran, my brother went to great lengths to ensure it wouldn’t end up in the wrong hands.” The smiling man who spoke English with no discernable accent wasn’t Nadir, though he looked almost like the duke. This one was too young, too carefree. Lights of mischief still danced in his gaze. Though tall, this man came to about Claus’ nose, though the unruly mob of inky black curls made him appear a shade taller.

This had to be the youngest of the de Choiseul brothers, Claus deduced. The middle brother, Solomon, never came to this neighborhood. Rumor had it Solomon was in New York, running the family’s legitimate businesses. While it was said Solomon never got his hands dirty, Claus’ sources claimed he was the brother who’d negotiated the contract for Deja. The brother before them now, Javid, was Nadir’s dirtier right hand. And this hand was far too jovial for Claus’ peace of mind. It was said Javid was Nadir’s enforcer, one who enjoyed his job a little too much.

Once upon a time, Claus had enjoyed that role also. Time would eventually kill the lights that danced in this kid’s eyes; however, Claus got the feeling he would always enjoy the role he played. Very few men exuded the aura of a true sociopath; Javid was one of them. Some part of him would probably always enjoy what he did.

Alicia took Javid’s measure and sidled up closer to Claus. Wise woman.

“I know nothing of such things,” Claus responded blandly. It was hard not to be awed by the display, but that was probably the point. Too bad he was far beyond making the mistake of being put off by his surroundings.

“Your reputation precedes you.” Javid laughed, motioning to the hallway on the right. “My brother said you’d be unimpressed. I had to see it for myself. He’s waiting for you in his office.”

Claus wrapped an arm around Alicia and followed the kid’s lead. No, not quite a kid, but certainly still very young. He’d just given away that Nadir at least respected Claus enough to know he was here for a purpose and wouldn’t be dissuaded or distracted.

The hallway was kept deliberately dark. Another neat little trick to inspire a sense of forboding. While he understood the ploy for what it was, Alicia’s body trembled ever so slightly. Shit, this was a really, really bad idea. But at least she didn’t show any outward fear. Arriving at the last door in the corner of the corridor, Javid opened the intricately carved double doors with a flourish, then stepped aside. Most that had made it this far into Nadir’s lair would probably never give Javid their back, but Claus refused to give the younger man the pleasure of showing he was in any way wary of him. He strode past Javid without blinking an eye. Just let the little fucker try something.

Nadir sat behind a massive mahogany desk, his fingers steepled, waiting patiently. Unlike his brother, his face gave nothing away. Those eyes were just as blank as Claus remembered them to be, just like a snake, unblinking, taking in everything. Claus pulled out a chair for Alicia, then stood directly behind her. If the kid whose presence he could still feel behind them got jumpy, he would have one shot. Not nearly enough to take Claus down. There wasn’t a chance in hell Claus would allow him to get a shot at her. If Javid made a single move, Claus would end him; he just hoped like hell it wouldn’t come to that. There was all kinds of legitimate business tied to Nadir’s organization. This could be the start of an all-out war.

Not willing to give an inch more than he had to, Claus waited, refusing to speak first. Nadir wouldn’t show his hand unless forced to—no way Claus would either. Besides, they didn’t really have a hand to show. To his credit as well as his delight, Alicia didn’t speak either. She sat as still as a statue as Nadir skewered her with that dead man’s stare. Claus’ hands itched to pluck out those eyes with his bare hands, but that would solve nothing. He knew inside she was seething; he could feel the heat rising from her body where he had laid his hand on her shoulder. Other than that, she gave nothing away. Apparently baby girl had been taking lessons. How could he not be proud?

“So I shall begin then,” Nadir finally spoke with a mirthless grin. Claus couldn’t suppress a tightening in his body as Nadir spoke directly to Alicia. “Madame, I’d hoped to welcome you into my family. It is…unfortunate that is not to be. I would congratulate you on your daughter’s nuptials, but I am afraid her husband’s good fortune is my extreme loss.

Claus’ heart stopped beating for a split second. Nadir knew who Alicia was; he should’ve anticipated that. There was no telling what her reaction to that statement would be. So much about her had changed. It was a relief when she merely inclined her head at Nadir’s words. Nadir was obviously less than pleased by her non-answer, so he pushed.

“I must say, you and your daughter look more like sisters than mother and daughter.” The flattery sounded sincere, much to Claus’ annoyance. However, Alicia wasn’t moved.

“While I appreciate the compliment, I’d much prefer to put this unpleasantness behind us,” Alicia shocked him by responding calmly. “What’s your price?”

Well, hell, perhaps he wouldn’t have to think so fast on his feet after all. Claus had never been so proud—or so relieved.