When he’d brought her up to this morning’s events, he went silent and waited. The ball was in her court, and his heartbeat thudded, heavy with how much lay at stake.
“The order in in effect again now?”
He nods. “I have my people watching her every move, listening to her every phone call. Do you remember what I told you about Daniel?”
“About his extra sensory perception, you mean?”
“Yes. He was trying to warn me about Natasha continuing with this vendetta thing without telling me outright that he has this ability. If he doesn’t feel comfortable with my knowing about it, I don’t want to force the issue. I knew he was telling me she wouldn’t stop. This morning I offered her a way out and she declined it. Refused it angrily would be a more accurate characterization. At first, it seemed as if she would take it but then her fury took over and she threatened me and stormed out.”
“Threatened you how?”
“She said she’d put money on my head, too. She’s pushing my back against the wall. You have to also understand that my grandfather’s life is in jeopardy, as is your life, Ella. I’m trying to protect my loved ones.”
“I see that, Ian… and I don’t fault you your decision and I couldn’t care less what befalls that horrible woman. But I care about you and so I’d ask you to think on this: how will you feel afterward, knowing you were responsible for her life being taken? Despite what she’s done to you in the years hence, she was once very important to you. That, I think, would make it even worse. Will you be able to live with yourself?”
“Ella, what choice do I really have?”
“She said she would never have physically harmed you.”
“Even if that were true, those reservations wouldn’t extend to you or to my grandfather. And I’m quite certain her uncles would have no such qualms: they’re ruthless killers, Ella, and I kicked their son’s ass.”
“Their son?”
“Oh, right. Daniel claims that Lucien is the son of one of the two Lithuanian brothers but they don’t know which one nor do they care to find out. They consider him as belonging to both of them and are very protective of—”
“Does Lucien know about this connection?”
“Daniel thinks he may have just recently found out. While I was in New York, the brothers purposely got close, very close to me—Daniel said it was done to be able to identify me for retaliation. He used the word kill.”
Shuddering, Ella wraps her arms around herself.
“Are you cold?”
“My father used to say someone walked over his grave when a shudder went through him. But, no, I’m not cold, not on the outside.”
“Well? What do you have to say, Ella?”
“What do you expect me to say, Ian?” Her china-blue eyes narrow as she sits up to move closer to him. She’s wearing a short white sleeveless shift and it brings out the color in her eyes and highlights her tanned arms and legs—azure and gold, her palette is like water and sand. Ian wants to jump on her, she looks so edible, but now certainly wasn’t the time or place. Not yet, anyway.
“You said you were afraid I’d reject you,” she continues. “Do you honestly have such little faith in my love for you that you believed I would abandon you for doing what you thought was necessary to protect us and your grandfather?”
“I… I wasn’t quite sure. Ella, doing what I did is not only illegal, obviously, but it’s highly immoral. I wasn’t certain—I’m still not—that you could overlook such a thing. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I don’t know that I could either.” He grabs her hand. “Ella, what would you do in my place? I’d really like to know.”
Sighing, she shakes her head. “I’d call the police and give them the whole history. I’d take out restraining orders… and try my best to have them all deported—they must have criminal records. I’d hire a lawyer to sue for monetary damages to keep her busy. I’d have a bodyguard, 24/7 and a high-tech alarm system.”
“Might I remind you that these are people who don’t play by the rules? The police might allow you to take out restraining orders but unless or until an actual crime is committed, they won’t do anything else until after the fact. Restraining orders are just pieces of paper, Ella. As for deportation, even if there was legal justification, do you know how lengthy the process can be? By the time ICE straps them into their seats on the plane… well, I’d rather not finish that thought.”
“I see your point. If the, uh, order is again in effect, why bother having her watched? Is it to prevent her from retaliating?”