Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (63 page)

     “What are you talking about?” I scowled back, not
liking his tone in the least. “If anyone doesn’t care its Seth. He’s the one
that messed up and then stopped calling after only a week. He said he loved me,
love shouldn’t die in a week.” The volume of my voice was rising so I took a
deep breath to calm myself. I was not going get hysterical in front of my
family again. Cole moved up behind me but stayed silent.

     “So you immediately go out and find someone new to replace
him. It doesn’t sound like the love was all that deep on your part either.” He
accused angrily looking at Cole with a sneer.

     “Not that I have to explain anything to anyone but this
is my half-brother, Cole.” I gritted out barely holding on to my fury.

     Landon’s angry expression instantly changed to
repentance. “Shit. Sorry.” He exhaled deeply rubbing at his neck. “I came over
here to get your help and I’m screwing it all up.”

     I frowned in confusion. “Help?” 

     He looked behind me before answering. “You might want
to step outside with me; I don’t want to alarm your sister or brother.”

    
Derr’mo
! He’d just alarmed me. I rushed forward
closing the door in Cole’s face. “
O
moy
Bog
! Has somezing happened to Sez?” It felt like I was experiencing some
kind of attack; my vision went blurry and my heartbeat escalated drastically,
unfortunately my throat closed up halting the breaths from escaping.

     Landon grabbed my upper arms staring at me in alarm.
“Seth is fine. He’s not hurt if that’s what you’re thinking.”

     My throat slowly opened and I took in some deep breaths
and then let them out. I then shoved Landon in the shoulder hard. “What zee
hell, Landon! You scared zee shit out of me.”

     My shove made Landon stumble back a step but he only
grinned covering his groin area with his hands. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please
just don’t go for my joy stick and magic balls.”

     I would have found that hilarious any other time, but I
was still worried about what ‘help’ Seth needed.

     My apartment door opened and Cole came out shutting it
behind him. “Is everything okay, Nadia?”

     “I’m not sure yet. Landon, what’s happened?” I growled
impatiently.

     “I have to say that any doubts I had that you still
cared have been completely eradicated.” Landon remarked casually.

     “Landon!” I gritted out, about ready to throttle him.

     His face turned serious. “Sorry. I’ve missed humor and
you always seem to make me laugh. Five days ago Seth was arrested for assault
and battery.”

     My brows shot up in surprise even as my heart settled
knowing that he wasn’t injured. “Who did he assault?”

     “Dale the Asshole.”

     My mouth gaped. “Are you serious?”

     “Completely.” Landon confirmed.

     “How bad did he assault him?” I asked warily.

     Landon grimaced. “Pretty bad. Broken nose, broken jaw,
broken ribs, fractured cheek bone, concussion.”

     “
Svyatoye der’mo
(holy shit)!”
I whispered.

     “Is this the guy you were going out with?” Cole asked
looking as shocked I must be.

     I nodded.

     “He sounds like he’s got some serious anger issues.
It’s probably a good thing you broke things off.”

     I shook my head vehemently. “No, no, Seth is actually
pretty mellow.”

    “Then what made him go off on this guy?” Cole asked looking
unconvinced.

     Landon answered for me. “The guy tried to rape Nadia a
few months ago.”

     “What!?” Cole’s face suffused with fury. “Where…how?”
He spit out.

     “At a poker game, at the guy’s house.” Landon answered
for me again.

     Cole’s eyes caught mine angrily. “You said you were
perfectly safe at those things.”

     “I am. That was just an anomaly.” I yelled. Facing
Landon I pointed my finger at him impatiently. “You said Seth was arrested, and
you came here for my help. How can I help?”   

     “Seth’s sentencing is Thursday. His attorney thinks
that if you explain what happened to you it could help reduce the severity of
the judge’s verdict. Right now he could be looking at felony assault. He didn’t
use a weapon, but the brutality of the beating has the prosecution in a tizzy.
I think they are trying to make some kind of point with this case. Either way
Seth’s been kicked from the lacrosse team.”

     I glowered at Landon. “Why am I only hearing about this
now? How come no one came to me sooner?”

     “Seth wanted you left out of it. He thinks it could
mess up your guardianship with Issy and Luka.” Landon answered watching me
intently. “He doesn’t know I’m here and would kick my ass if he found out, but
I really think you could help him, and Seth’s dad says if anyone tried to mess
with your guardianship he would do everything in his power to stop it.” 

     “This is why he suddenly stopped trying to get back
together with me, isn’t it? He was trying to shield me.” I was swamped with dual
emotions of anger and love. Why was he always trying to protect me! “You don’t
need to worry about him kicking your ass because I’m going to kick his, the
eblan
(dumbass).”

     Landon’s face displayed relief. “So you’ll help him?”

     “Give me a second.” I held up my finger, thinking.

     He frowned. “You need to think about it?”

     I waved at him in irritation. “Shh. I’m thinking.”

     He threw up his hands but went silent.

     My thoughts whirled with ideas and two minutes later I
smiled grimly. “I have a plan, but I’m going to need some help.”

∞                   
∞                    ∞

     “Seth isn’t just going to kick my ass, he’s going to
dress it and hand it to me on a platter.” Landon groaned from the front seat of
the limo he was driving. “Nadia, this is crazy. He’s never going to fall for
it.”

     I waved his concerns away. “He totally bought it when I
threatened him before.”

     “I can’t believe I’m letting you do this.” Cole carped
next to me.

     I snorted. “Cole, what have I told you about taking
your role of big brother too far. You don’t have any say on what I do.”

     Cole had been complaining about my plan from the
beginning. He didn’t like the idea of me being anywhere near the guy who had
tried to assault me. I’d explained to him how’d I’d taken care of myself back then,
and had no problem doing it again, but he still hadn’t stopped complaining.
While it aggravated me, it sort of pleased me that he was concerned.  

     “I have to say, it’s really cool that you guys are
connecting after all these years.” John remarked with a smile. “It does my
heart good to see young’ins stepping up and displaying maturity.”

     I shook my head at John’s statement. He was sounding
like an old man when he was only in his thirty’s.”

     Cole looked at me with a mock outrage and mouthed ‘
young’ins
’
pointing to himself. I rolled my eyes. Here was another male who thought he was
older than he was.

     “Okay, here we go. Shit, shit, shit.” Landon chanted
nervously.

     “Landon, just make sure you stay in the limo. If Dale recognizes
you it will wreck the whole plan.” I stressed.

     “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fuck, I’m so dead.” He muttered.

     My own nerves started to thrum, so I put on my poker
face. I needed the rest of the guys to believe in this plan and follow my lead.
I’d brought in John, Billy, and Pete from work, and Cole was going in with me
as well, at his own insistence.

     “Okay, just…be cool. You guys are supposed to be in the
mob. Try to look menacing and bored at the same time.” I instructed.

     “How in the hell do you know what mob expressions look
like.” Landon mumbled from the front seat pulling into Dale’s driveway.

     “I come from Russia, they’re everywhere.” I snapped
back. Cole gave me a considering look at that. There was so much he still
didn’t know about me. I pointed at him. “You put on your sunglasses. You have a
business and may be recognizable later. If he were to run into Pete, John, or
Billy during a plumbing job it would only make them more credible.”

     Billy grinned at that and nudged Pete. “Here that,
we’re mobsters in the making. Wait until Tom learns that he’s our mob boss.”

     Pete rolled his eyes.

     “Thanks for doing this you guys.” I smiled
appreciatively at all of them. They hadn’t hesitated to help when I’d asked.
When we’d all asked Tom for half the day off he’d only expressed concern before
giving in when I’d said I needed the guys help for something important. He was
an awesome boss.

     Landon pulled up to the front of the house and parked.

     “Billy, you get out and open the door for me. Cole you
grab the package.” I ordered.

     “She’s really getting into this.” Billy mumbled getting
out.

     “Focus!” I snapped. I then breathed deeply calming
myself while at the same time glaring at everyone to do their part. Seth’s
future was on the line here and we needed to take this seriously. Anger still
simmered in my blood that he’d concealed this from me, but there was no way I
wasn’t going to help.

     Billy opened the door for me allowing me to step out.
All the guys were wearing suits with ties. I was decked out in tight jeans,
tall black high heeled boots, and a silky pale-pink blouse with a multi-colored
cashmere loose sweater. My hair was up with loose hanging tendrils and my make-up
was perfect. I was going for classy vamp.

     “File behind me.” I muttered walking up to the door.
“When we get inside surround him, but not too close.”

     Stepping up to the door I rang the bell. Several
seconds later it opened and an older male stood there. He looked mildly
surprised and unsure at the sight of us.

     “Can I help you?” His look and the way he spoke told me
he was the butler, man-maid, what-ever you called them.

     I knew I needed to act fast. I was holding a pair of
black gloves and I slapped his chest lightly with them. This startled him
causing him to jerk back slightly out of the doorway, and I pushed my way in as
he made room. “Why yes, you could.” I said pouring on the Russian accent. “Dale
is expecting me. Can you take me to him?” I smiled sweetly, standing really
close to him. 

     The man swallowed and his gaze dropped to my cleavage
that was visibly displayed. “Uhm, he is indisposed at the moment.”

     I twisted my expression into one of extreme sympathy.
It was difficult. “I know. Some brute beat him up, but I hafe come to make him
feel better.” I swung out my arms dramatically.

     The man’s eyes widened further, and I could see him
vacillating. I pushed. Squeezing his shoulder I smiled seductively. “
Pozhaluysta
,
please. I’ve missed him so.”

     “Uhm, okay.” Seeming to realize that he was not behaving
professionally he straightened his jacket and smoothed his expression. “Please,
follow me.”

     I threw a triumphant look back at the guys to see them
all watching me with awe and shock. I circled my face with my finger and then
pointed at them. “Emotionless.”

     Their expressions cleared and we all followed the
butler through the house. He led us up to a door but before he could open it I
halted him by putting my hand over his.

     “May I surprise him? I hafn’t seen him in so long.” I
pleaded.

     “Uhm, sure.” He seemed to finally comprehend my posse
and frowned. “They are going in as well?”

     “Zey are my bodyguards. Zey will take up stations
around zee room. Dale is accustomed to zem.” I patted the guys hand, reassuring
him.

     “Of course, of course, go ahead then, miss.” He walked
away but glanced back one more time with a look of dazed bewilderment.

     I glanced back at the guys. “You ready?”

     They nodded, adopting stoned faced expressions.

     “Good.” I opened the door and strode in like I owned
the place, my heels clicking on the wood flooring. The guys instantly fanned
out like I’d instructed them too.

     Dale was lying on a brown leather couch watching
television. Hearing the noise of my heels his head lifted, and then his eyes
widened in horror upon seeing me. I nearly lost my cool veneer at seeing
his
face. Landon had told me what Seth had done to him, but seeing it was a bit
shocking, and it had been five days since it happened.

     His entire face was a mixture of blacks, blues, and
greens with small cuts everywhere. He was wearing some kind of nose splint for
his broken nose, and when he struggled up to a sitting position he winced in
pain from I assume his broken ribs. It was not a pretty sight.

     Seth’s poor knuckles must have been hurting for days.

     “Whaaat are you doing here?” He croaked through clamped
together teeth.

     I’d almost forgotten about the broken jaw. Dale wasn’t
able to move it because they’d had to wire it closed.

     “I zought I’d fisit and see how you were doing. I’d
heard you were in a bit of a scuffle.” I strolled around the room only giving
him half my attention. I made sure to walk past Cole who’d taken up residence
in the southeast corner and head toward Billy who was standing at attention in
the southwest corner. Dale’s eyes widened even further and his head twisted
around catching sight of John and Pete.

     “Wwwhhyy are yoyoou here?” He stuttered. The panic in
his voice wasn’t difficult to hear, and turning to face him I could see him
nearly bugged eyed with it. “Did you do something to Carl?” He choked in
terror.

     I laughed merrily. “Zee butler? Of course not.”
Strolling closer I dropped my smile. “I hafe no problem wiz Carl.”

     Dale had looked ready to relax until I said that. I
heard a soft cough in John’s vicinity but ignored it.