Just Business (Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Book 1) Page 7

  Haley’s face.

  Or his mother’s.

  His memories of the woman who’d born him were hazy. More than anything else, he remembered how she’d made him feel.

  Apprehension.

  Gut churning dread.

  Outright fear.

  He wouldn’t wish any of that on his daughter. There was no way he’d allow that woman into their lives if she thought she could treat Zasha the same way she’d treated him.

  Ivana was more like a mother to him, but she’d always been just a little distant. Because she’d felt her loyalty was to his mother? He’d always assumed that was just how people of that generation were.

  Had Ivana still been loyal to his mother while in his employ? What were the chances Ivana knew where his mother had been all these years?

  He checked the time.

  Six.

  Still too early to have another chat with Ivana, but he was growing impatient.

  He scooped up his phone and fired off a text to the two security guards staying with Ivana. That done, Konstantin opened his closet and stared at the rack of suits.

  If he got his way, he’d be seeing his mother today.

  His gut told him to find all the body armor he could, because he’d need it with a woman like that.

  Instead he pulled out a bespoke suit he’d had made for a friend’s wedding. The medium gray ensemble was well-cut, if a little roomy in the chest. Which was what Konstantin wanted. He went to the drawers in the closet next. Most of the time he only used the top one or two drawers. Today he went to a knee and opened up the bottom one.

  The blue paisley waistcoat was a flamboyant piece, but even that was camouflage. Under the fabric were layers of Kevlar.

  He didn’t want to telegraph his wariness to this woman who claimed to be his mother, but he also didn’t want to be foolish. The waistcoat wasn’t perfect protection, but it would protect his vital organs in a pinch.

  By the time he’d grabbed a shirt and tie, his phone dinged with a reply from the security detail.

  No, Ivana wasn’t awake yet, but that could be fixed.

  Konstantin felt a twinge of guilt issuing the order to wake the elderly woman. But only a little.

  She had arranged for Zasha to meet the woman claiming to be his mother without his permission. That wasn’t an act he could forgive easily.

  Since both guards were awake, he requested a donut delivery from the shop on the corner.

  The pastries would make Zasha happy. Haley would scowl and mumble about too much sugar.

  Haley.

  Konstantin paused pulling the shirt off the hanger and glanced through the open door at the barstools now neatly lined up at the counter.

  Last night shouldn’t have happened. He didn’t regret it. She’d kissed him back, proving what he’d long suspected. This was not a one-way attraction. They both felt it.

  That kiss had left him frustrated, wanting more, depressed. But he couldn’t deal with that now.

  Zasha came first.

  But once this business was sorted, he was going to address this thing with Haley. She’d said her piece. He’d listened. It wasn’t over, though. No, they’d only just begun.

  He dressed slowly, thinking ahead.

  The donuts had arrived by the time he was granted entry to the other condo where Ivana had stayed.

  She was awake, though still wrapped in a robe and wearing slippers.

  Ivana watching him warily over a steaming cup of coffee.

  He sat across from her, but didn’t take the offered food or drink. For several moments he just looked at her. This person he’d trusted more than any other.

  What was it about his mother that had her loyalty?

  “You will call the woman from yesterday and set up a meeting for me with her today,” Konstantin said.

  Ivana put the coffee down. Her eyes went wide. She spoke first in Russian before recalling that he chose not to speak that language. She repeated herself in English. “You’ll see her?”

  “I want to know the person taking an interest in my daughter.”

  “She’s your mother, Konstantin.”

  “I’ve lived the last twenty years thinking my mother was dead.”

  Ivana frowned. “I never told you that.”

  “You never told me she was alive.”

  “I didn’t know. She was too smart for your father.” She shook her head.

  “Arrange the meeting.”

  Konstantin studied Ivana. He couldn’t let her go, but he also didn’t want her close to him. She felt like a spy now. The woman who’d been more of a mother to him than his own flesh and blood had betrayed him. That fact didn’t anger him as much as he expected. Looking at her weary face, he didn’t hate her. He wasn’t even upset at her. But part of him grieved a broken relationship.

  Mother had always been good at manipulating people.

  That’s what he’d heard said about her time and time again. Toward the end, before he left, it was something said openly.

  If this woman was his mother, Konstantin didn’t think he could blame Ivana. She’d raised his mother just like she’d raised him and was now raising Zasha. They were all her children in a way. How could she love one more than the other?

  But Ivana would have to go.

  As would Zasha and Haley.

  They would all have to go. For their own safety. Only then could he face his mother knowing those he cared about most were protected.

  HALEY WAS AWAKE BEFORE her alarm.

  She hadn’t slept much or well, so it wasn’t a surprise when her eyes popped open half an hour too early. Her thoughts bounced around, from the events surrounding Ivana to the kiss with Konstantin and right back to the fact that she wasn’t going anywhere.

  How was she supposed to deal with him now?

  The girls hadn’t been any help.

  After the initial outburst happened and they all got on the video call things had devolved. They each had their own stressors. Haley’s eventful day was, in the grand scheme, normal. The women who did what they did faced down real threats. They didn’t just wear a gun on their hip and hang around. If someone hired them they needed protection.

  Which was exactly why Haley would remain Zasha’s primary security, though Haley didn’t think Konstantin would like her plan.

  She got up and dressed, putting more thought than usual into selecting her clothes.

  Normally, Haley wanted to appear as inconspicuous as possible. Her wardrobe was mostly jeans, polo shirts, very nice T-shirts, a few blouses and lots of yoga pants for running around after Zasha.

  Today was different.

  Haley pulled out one of her suits, the ones with lots of stretch that allowed for a wide range of movement. The stylized pleating at her shoulder blades also helped hide the fact that she was concealing a sidearm. She picked a dark colored, satin sleeveless shirt to go under it all.

  As she coiled her hair into an out-of-the-way bun she went over her plan again. Merida had said it sounded good, so Haley had to be acting a little rational.

  She left her gun in the safe hidden in her closet for now.

  The lights were on under the adjoining door.

  Konstantin was normally an early riser, and while she made a point of never bothering him during that time, today was different.

  She drew in a deep breath. This was about Zasha, not the kiss. One was urgent, the other could and would be ignored for now.

  Haley approached the door and knocked once.

  The moments drew out.

  No answer.

  That was strange.

  Unless Konstantin was in his office or bedroom with the door closed or on the phone?

  She twisted the knob slowly, but there was still no response.

  “Hello? Konstantin?” She stepped inside.

  The lights were all on. She could glimpse his unmade bed through the open door. His desk was still tidy. The coffee machine didn’t appear to have been used that morning.

&nb
sp; Where was he?

  Haley pulled out her phone, but she didn’t have any updates or new calendar items.

  Could Konstantin have gone to the gym?

  The front door to his condo beeped and the locks clicked. She glanced up, reaching instinctively for her absent sidearm, as Konstantin stepped inside carrying a white pastry box.

  His gaze landed on her briefly, but they were cool, businesslike, normal. He was dressed in a suit and vest she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen before. It was more stylish than his usual fare.

  “Good, you’re here.” He placed the box on the counter.

  “You went out for donuts?” Haley asked slowly.

  “In here.” He waved for her to follow him into his office.

  She frowned at his backside, but did as requested.

  Konstantin sank into his chair. He was utterly composed. At least on the outside.

  Haley bit her cheek to keep from asking invasive questions. She knew he couldn’t be as okay as he pretended to be, but it also wasn’t her place to ask.

  “When Zasha wakes up, I’d like you to supervise her packing. I’m sending you, her and Ivana out of this mess while I sort it out.”

  “I’m sorry, what? You want to keep Ivana with Zasha?”

  “I can’t exactly let Ivana go right now. She’s a resource, and she’s still devoted to Zasha’s wellbeing.”

  “But we can’t trust her.”

  “When it comes to taking care of Zasha, I believe I can.”

  Haley opened and closed her mouth. Now was not the time to point out that it was Haley who did the taking care of these days, not Ivana.

  She took a calming breath and refocused on her plan. “I agree that Zasha needs to be as far from this as possible, but I think sending all three of us away is a mistake.”

  Konstantin just stared at her. He wasn’t the kind of man people contradicted very often.

  Haley swallowed, but she neither backed down or sat. Instead, she planted her hands on her hips and launched into her plan. “This woman claims to be your mother. She knew where Zasha went to school. Let’s say, worst-case scenario, she has you under surveillance. She had to have chosen this path. You said she probably has money. You need to let it appear as though Zasha is still with you, or we run the risk of making Zasha the target.”

  Konstantin leaned back in his chair. She’d never been able to figure out if that was a good sign or not.

  “How do you propose I do that?” he asked.

  “Ivana has proven herself as a security risk, so I know this sounds contrary—”

  “Ivana will not remain with me. She will care for Zasha. If you think a member of her care team needs to remain with me, you’re the only option.” His tone was unyielding.

  Haley’s knee-jerk reaction was to say no. No, that wasn’t her plan at all. But the way Konstantin was looking at her now said he wasn’t going to entertain her arguments for long, if at all.

  “That isn’t the ideal scenario in my book, but if that’s the only option you’ll allow, then I’ll go along with it,” she said. “In a way, it will be easier for us to pull this off if it’s me who stays behind.”

  She could simply walk to a car carrying Zasha’s backpack or a multitude of other items. So long as they were careful about loading and unloading at their destinations, this could work.

  Haley shifted her weight to her left foot. “How will we ensure Ivana doesn’t communicate what’s really going on?”

  “She has surrendered her phone and other devices voluntarily.”

  “Then you’ve already spoken with her this morning?” It would explain where he’d been when Haley came knocking.

  “Yes. She’s willing to play her part.”

  “Where will you send her and Zasha?”

  “The Williams’.”

  Haley nodded.

  Konstantin’s business partner on three companies. The man had fallen in love with a former child actress who still had quite the following, though she hadn’t appeared on camera for more than ten or so years. They had to keep security on to ensure her avid fans didn’t show up on their doorstep wanting autographs or more. They also had children, so Zasha would have others to take her mind off things.

  “And what will we do? I assume you have a plan already.”

  “We’ll go to the lake house.” He spoke as if it was already a done deal.

  Haley grimaced inwardly.

  This was a done deal.

  Konstantin had made up his mind. All she was doing was moving herself around the board and she wasn’t sure she liked where she’d wound up.

  “But first, I’m meeting with this woman claiming to be my mother.”

  Well, shit.

  He had it all figured out.

  Haley had a bad feeling about all of this.

  7.

  Friday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.

  Tasha closed her eyes and inhaled the delicate aroma of her morning brew. It was otherwise perfect, save for Nikolai hovering in the doorway.

  She sighed, exasperated, and set the cup down. “Yes, Nikolai?”

  The young man practically leapt over the threshold into the dining room. “There’s a message for you.”

  Tasha looked at Nikolai for a moment, but he didn’t proceed. She waved her hand. “And what does it say?”

  “Sorry, it’s from Ivana. She says your son wants to have lunch.”

  “Lunch.” Tasha snorted. “This is what you’re interrupting my breakfast for?”

  Nikolai blinked a few times. “I, uh, thought this was important.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  Konstantin was a piece of a bigger picture.

  “Wait until ten, oh, sixteen? Keep it random. At ten sixteen tell him I’ll be delighted to have lunch with him, but it needs to be early. Say eleven thirty.” It was fine and all for her son to make this move, but Tasha would remain in control.

  “O-okay,” Nikolai stammered.

  Tasha sipped her coffee. It was perfect. Or would have been without the interruptions.

  “Make yourself useful.” She gestured to the seat adjacent to her own. “Is the briefing on my son’s portfolio ready yet?”

  Nikolai moved to the indicated chair and set a leather binder down. “I have it all here.”

  Tasha leaned back while Nikolai launched into a detailed assessment of all her son’s holdings. The ones they knew about, at least.

  She listened to each word. To Nicolai’s credit, he had a pleasant voice once he got rolling.

  Her son had set himself up well enough, though his father had helped him plenty. That was what stuck out to Tasha the most.

  She could still recall the day she’d heard about her son’s arrival on this side of the ocean. To say she’d been shocked by the boy’s actions was an understatement. He’d always been so pliable. She never would have expected him to have a backbone.

  At the time, she’d weighed her options.

  Should Konstantin move north, closer to New York City, she’d have had to deal with him. Since he’d remained south, her hand hadn’t been forced. For her that was a good thing seeing as she hadn’t yet had the influence, money or power. If she had been so endowed, things would have gone differently.

  For one thing, she’d have staged a takeover of all her son’s affairs for one.

  Tasha had no doubt that her husband had set this escape in place long before Konstantin took it in his mind to run. Oh, plenty of people shuffled companies around, putting them in another name or dissolving and recreation. But no self-respecting businessman like her husband would leave low-hanging fruit out there.

  No, she firmly believed that this entire situation had been engineered by her devious husband. Maybe even to spite her, though she wasn’t certain the man could think that far ahead.

  Regardless of what Leonid’s plans had been, Tasha was making them her own.

  First, she’d finish breakfast. Then she’d have lunch with her son. And lastly, she’d have her revenge on tha
t man. Her husband.

  FRIDAY. ARLINGTON, VA.

  Konstantin tapped his fingers on the door handle of the car.

  He was early, but he wasn’t an idiot. There was no way he was going inside the restaurant before eleven thirty. He was also woefully aware that he was out of his depth.

  His father was former KGB.

  His mother had managed to hide all these years without getting caught or raising suspicion.

  Konstantin was just a businessman and single father. Yes, he knew how these people operated and understood them, but he wasn’t like them. That was his perceived flaw. He hadn’t been a right fit for that world and everyone had known it.

  His phone chimed.

  He picked it up and read the message.

  Zasha, Ivana and their security detail had made it to their destination.

  Good.

  That was one detail he wouldn’t have to worry about. The most difficult thing had been getting the laundry company to agree with their exit strategy. Konstantin had convinced the owner to allow his daughter and her detail to use their van so as to avoid raising suspicion. He would never be able to use another service for the rest of his life, but it was worth it. This kind of favor deserved loyalty.

  Now all he had to do was face his so-called mother and then Haley.

  Christ.

  Why had he agreed to allow her to remain with him?

  It would have been easier if he’d agreed to her plan, but he couldn’t stomach the idea of being under the same roof as Ivana. She’d betrayed him, even if she didn’t believe she had.

  Maybe something would come to him and he’d be able to convince Haley to forget her plans about leaving?

  “Sir? It’s time,” his driver and bodyguard said.

  Konstantin nodded and opened the door.

  Natasha Titov.

  Was she really alive?

  Konstantin still wasn’t sure which way he wanted this to go. Obviously it would be easier if she were an imposter. But if she were, he doubted Ivana would have risked everything the way she had.

  No, he feared this woman would be the real deal.

  A doorman whisked the heavy wooden door open and admitted Konstantin into the old restaurant that serviced downtown Washington.