Shaking away the thoughts of love and family, I returned to the reality of my situation. I needed to decide how to approach my father’s rivals. It would definitely be risky just waltzing into their territory.
Not wanting to waste any more time, I dug through my purse and removed a small note pad and a pen. Yeah, I was going old-school. I’d watched enough police procedurals to know that electronic devices would be easy to track so I’d left them all behind. I had picked up a cheap cell phone this morning as I crossed the state line into Nevada. There wasn’t anyone to call, but I still felt safer with it.
Taking the pen in hand, I began making a list of things I needed to accomplish. First and foremost, I needed a place to stay. It would need to be inexpensive, and far from what my father and Dane would expect. No flashy hotels for me.
Then I would need to find a job to replenish what little cash I still had. From there, I needed to figure out a way to bring the truth to light. I’d chosen to head for Las Vegas because of Mr. Volsky. I didn’t know the man from Adam, but after hearing my father speak of him, I knew he was the one to approach for help. If my father feared him, then he would make for a stellar ally.
I picked up the ticket Gladys left on my table and dug a few bills from my wallet, making sure to include a nice tip before slipping out of the booth. From the corner of my eye, I saw Gladys hustling towards me with a Styrofoam container as I headed for the front door.
“Hold up honey. Take this for the road. It’s the best chocolate pie you’ll ever taste. I made it myself.”
“Thanks, Gladys. I appreciate it, but I really shouldn’t.”
“Oh, honey.” She placed the container in my hands. “I don’t know your story, but I remember the day I blew into this town, feeling small and overwhelmed by the sheer possibilities before me.” She gave a smile filled with memories. “I see a little bit of me in you. Whatever it is that’s weighing on you will get better.”
My chest tightened and my eyes began to water at this stranger’s kindness. She didn’t know me from Adam and yet she saw me. It was right then, looking into the eyes of a waitress in a worn-out old diner, that I realized I was just where I needed to be. “Thank you so much, Gladys. I better head out if I plan on finding somewhere to stay.”
“Good luck to you. Don’t be a stranger now… and enjoy that pie.”
Lifting the container, I smiled. “I will.” I gave her a wave goodbye and headed out the door.
Chapter Four – Liliya
“Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.”
-Victor Hugo
“Son of a…” I grumbled, looking at the flat tire on my beat-to-hell car. Unlocking the door, I tossed my purse across the seat before setting the pie container down and slammed the door closed. What the hell do I do now? Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in hopes of calming myself when a deep voice as rich as chocolate and smooth as silk startled me.
“Need some help with that flat?” the accented voice asked.
My eyes shot open as I turned my head towards the direction of said voice. My heartbeat stumbled as my eyes tracked up the most insanely hot body I’d ever laid eyes on. The first thing I saw was a pair of thick muscular thighs wrapped in denim that looked so delicious I couldn’t help but lick my lips. As my eyes slowly worked up to the stranger’s face, my breath hitched. Gazing at a man as fine as this one was like a sucker punch to the gut. His piercing sea-green eyes were almost hypnotic as they swept over my body like a wave crashing on the beach. Fucking hell! He was gorgeous. A little bit of dark stubble on his cheeks and chin that made him seem even sexier. Dear God, he could make a woman forget all her troubles.
He cleared his throat and let out a throaty laugh that immediately had my eyes jerking up to meet his again. The wicked grin that awaited me had my stomach clenching and heat rising from my chest to my cheeks in a split second. I knew he had caught me eyeing his package. Shit. “Uh…Yeah. Looks like I might need a little help. I’ve never had to change a tire before.”
“Do you have a spare?” He gestured towards the trunk of my car.
“I don’t know. I hope so.” I replied, fumbling with my keys and dropping them at his feet. Could I be any lamer? He must think I’m an idiot.
The stranger bent down and retrieved my keys, looking me straight in the eye and offering a wicked smile that was half smirk when he stood back up. The predatory look in his eyes made my legs weak and shaky.
He extended his hand. “I’m Ruslan. And you are?”