CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER SEVEN
Vlad’s brows furrowed as he stared at the screen. It showed Andrew hurrying into his office to his desk where he searched through a drawer. After grabbing some papers, he folded it and stuffed it inside his jacket pocket. Andrew stumbled over his own feet in his hast to reach the bookshelf. Vlad watched him as he pulled each book out, looked inside and then drop it aside. He grabbed the fake book and unlocked it. Inside were three stacks of cash, what looked like his passport and a small handgun. Andrew took it all, slammed the book shut and quickly pushed them back on the shelf before leaving.
Vlad’s eyes dropped to the time and date at the corner of the screen. This was recorded the day after he was hired. He was suppose to go on a business trip. That was probably why he took his passport and the money, but it didn’t explain the gun. Andrew was in danger so it would make sense for him to take something to protect himself. Vlad knew that other guards were hired along with him to protect Andrew.
“Mr. De Luca?”
Vlad glanced up at the housekeeper hovering in the doorway. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry to bother you. There’s a man asking for Mr. Weber and when I informed him that he wasn’t here he demanded to talk to Cora.”
“Why?”
The housekeeper shrugged. “He didn’t say.”
“Tell him that Cora is on the way.” Her brows dipped. “I’ll talk to the man. Just tell him that and go check on Cora without telling her that someone is here.”
“Right away sir.”
He pursed his lips as she disappeared. He hated that she called him that. Vlad had asked her to call him on his name but she ignored his request. After making copies of the video, he stood and made his way down the hall towards the living room.
Before entering, he paused out of sight and took in the man pacing. This man wasn’t one of Andrew’s business associate, Vlad instantly realized. He wasn’t dressed in the usual expensive suit but in ripped jeans and a black leather jack. The biker boots probably hid a gun or a knife. He turned, giving Vlad a brief view of his face. A thick scar ran down the side of his face and over the top of his bald head.
No, this man wasn’t a business associate.
“Can I help?” Vlad asked as he stepped into view.
The man instantly spun around to face him. His lips pulled up into a sneer that lasted for only a few seconds before turning into a forced smile. Vlad tensed when the man stepped closer with his hand held out.
“Good morning. I’m Mike, Andrew’s business partner,” the man softly introduced himself. “Who are you?”
Vlad realized that the man didn’t give him his last name. His eyes dropped to the man’s outstretched hand and then darted back up to his face. He instantly disliked the man but he wasn’t sure why just yet. He gave the man a stiff nod and then moved away but kept him in eyesight.
“Vlad,” he introduced himself softly. “Cora’s,”—he hesitated and then gave the man a small smile—“friend.”
The man smiled back but he was distracted. Vlad has dealt with men like him before. Mike was a criminal, and he knew that. He could tell by just looking at him.
Mike reached up to scratch his head. The movement made his jacket fall open and revealed the holster strapped to his body and the black gun. So the man came armed. Was he involved with Cora’s attempted kidnapping last night? Was he the mastermind behind it?
Movement from the corner of his eye made him turn around. Dismay filled him when Cora entered the living room. She was suppose to stay upstairs in her bedroom where she would be safe. But how save? No one was watching the cameras so it would be easy for someone to sneak in and grab her again.
“My how lovely you look,” Mike muttered as his eyes trailed over Cora.
Vlad clenched his fist and stepped in front of the man to cut off his view of Cora. He was looking at her as if she was a piece of meat. He frowned at the man. Mike had no right to look at her like that. When Mike took a step towards Cora, Vlad tensed.
Unaware of the danger, Cora smiled at the man and took the hand he had offered her. It all happened so fast. One minute he was shaking her hand, and the next she was pulled against his chest with his arm wrapped around her neck and a gun pointed at Vlad.
Cora sucked in a breath and tried to fight the panic that filled her. The housekeeper had ordered her to stay in her room because a dangerous man was waiting outside. Cora was sure the housekeeper was only exaggerating like she usually did. Now she actually regretted letting her curiosity get the best of her.
Her wide eyes darted over to Vlad. He was just standing there! Wasn’t he suppose to protect her? Why was he just standing there?
A whimper fell from her lips when Mike’s arm tightened around her neck. She reached up and gripped his arm tightly. Without a second thought, she dug her nails into his skin. The man hissed but his arm didn’t loosen.
“One move and I’ll fucking shoot her,” Mike ordered harshly.
To Cora’s surprise, Vlad actually smiled at the man. Why was he smiling? What if father made a mistake and Vlad De Luca was actually a sick man? He had told her that he was doing it only for the money. So if something actually happened to her then it wouldn’t bother him at all.
“If you really wanted to kill her, you would’ve pulled your gun out the first time you saw her entering the room,” Vlad said softly. “What do you want with her?”
“What makes you think I want her?” Mike asked. “I could be here to take all your money.”
Vlad’s smile widened. He shifted from foot to foot, making the man behind her tensed. Cora couldn’t take it anymore. Fear was making her stomach cramp. There was no way she was going to let this man kill her. She wasn’t ready to die, especially not at the hands of a criminal.
She dropped her arms and sucked in a deep breath before throwing her elbow into the man’s gut as hard as she could. He gasped as pain shot through him. Mike’s arm loosened around her neck. Cora threw her body forward at the same time Vlad tackled the man around his waist. They both hit the floor with a grunt.
“Run Cora,” Vlad yelled.
She didn’t have to be told twice. Cora ran but her knees gave way before she could get away from the fighting men. A loud bang filled the room followed by breaking glass. Cora screamed and duck. She threw her body behind the nearest thing that offered protection which happened to be one of the couches.
She could still hear the men fighting. Cora pressed her hands to her ears and she curled up into a ball. It was hard to block them out, especially when two more shots were fired. After the second shot silence suddenly surrounded them. It was deafening. Cora tried to even her breathing but she had trouble getting air into her lungs. What if Vlad was dead? What if that man grabbed her again and she was forced to leave with him.
A hand suddenly gripped her ankle, making her scream. She started to struggle when a hand clamped down on her mouth.
“Fuck. Stop struggling.”
Her eyes snapped open. She blinked back the tears and stared at the face hovering inches from hers. Vlad’s lips were pursed and his eyes narrowed on her. He was alive. She breathed out in relief but it was short-lived when she saw the blood. Without thinking, she reached out and pressed her hand against the bleeding wound.
“V-Vlad?” Her eyes shot up to his face.
“We need to move. He won’t stay down for long.” He gripped her arm and pulled her up with him as he got to his feet. “We need to leave before his men come.”
“M-more?” she stuttered. “T-the s-staff, Vlad. We have to warn them.”
“No time,” he muttered.
His hand dropped to her wrist. Vlad tugged her behind him as he stumbled down the hall. Why weren’t they going through the front door? Why was he leading her to the back of the house?
He paused near the French doors and glanced outside. His body blocked everything so Cora couldn’t see a thing. Vlad cursed under his breath. He pushed her back and out of view.
“What’s going on?”
“Shh,” he whispered, pressing a hand against the side of his head. “Let me think.”
Her eyes dropped to his shoulder again. The material of his shirt was soaked with blood. He was losing a lot of blood. It was a surprise that the man was still on his feet. Cora reached out but his hand shot out to grip her wrist before she could touch him. Her wide eyes snapped up to his. She slightly shrunk back when she saw the anger glittering in his gaze.
“You really need to start listening,” he muttered.
“You’re bleeding.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m fine.” He glanced out the doors again. “I need you to listen to me Cora.”
“O-okay,” she whispered.
“No questioning me. When I tell you to do something, you do it. Is that clear?”
“Y-yes.”