Luc Zaranski continued, "It doesn't matter what she looks like. She is that fat old fuck's only daughter and he dotes on her."
His brother shook his head, "Bro, I can't do it. I have standards."
Luc pushed him, blocking his view of Merri and growled, "Find her now."
Merri searched everywhere and couldn't find Nikolai. She worriedly walked through the bar area for a second time and the bartender stopped her, "Are you looking for Nikolai Rushkin? He asked you to wait here for him."
She was relieved and smiled, "Thank you."
Meanwhile in her lavishly decorated office at the art gallery LingLing had a malicious glint in her eyes as she negotiated with Luc. After they came to a mutually beneficial agreement, she ran her finger over the intricately carved box on the desk she had just closed. "Remember what you promised."
Satisfied knowing he will possess the little beauty tonight he sauntered back to the art gallery eager to find her. He told his bodyguards to take care of the two women he brought and headed to the bar area.
Merri was patiently waiting for Nikolai when Luc walked to her table. He had a harmless smile as he politely asked, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
She was flustered by his sudden appearance and hesitated. Merri didn't know what Nikolai would think when he came back and saw Luc Zaranski sitting with her. She shyly blinked her eyes a few times then replied, "I am waiting for someone and I don't think it would be appropriate."
"LingLing said you came with Nikolai. I am a business associate of his, I don't think he would mind."
Hearing that he knew Nikolai she relaxed her vigilance, "Oh..you know Mr. Rushkin?"
"Yes." He waved at the woman serving drinks, " Vodka."
He turned towards Merri, "What would you like?"
"Just a glass of water."
The man behind the bar turned his back and leaned over a glass of water. He poured the white powder into the water, after he swirled it around with a spoon, it dissolved.
Handing the glass of water to the cocktail server, he snickered while staring at Merri, the girl looks prim and proper now,.. wait until the drug takes effect she will tearing off that dainty little dress and begging for a fuck. He grabbed his crotch, too bad I can't have a taste.
Merri wrinkled her nose wondering where Nikolai went. She lowered her head and nervously sipped the water.
Staring at her beautiful hands wrapped around the glass Luc can't wait to take her to bed. He no longer cares about the auction thinking the delicate beauty across from him was more precious. I will find another way to get the statue. Tonight I want to indulge myself and savor her delicious body.
Nikolai was in the back of a black SUV with a bloody dagger resting on Irina's throat. The razor sharp blade was dripping with the driver's blood. Irina was in shock staring at her dead bodyguard and the lifeless driver slumped over the steering wheel. She thought Nikolai would be defenseless after ingesting the drug she put in his drink.
Her eyes were filled with fear after witnessing Nikolai mercilessly kill her two highly trained bodyguards. They didn't have time to react, his moves were swift and ruthless. "You..you..were pretending?"
"Your petty little tricks won't work on me, now tell me why did you try to drug me?"
Afraid for her life she stammered, "It wasn't me...I didn't want to do it! LingLing...she forced me! I had no choice!"
"Why?"
Tears were rolling down her cheeks as the point of the razor sharp blade pressed on her skin. The stinging sensation from the small cut was extremely painful. "Move..move the knife and I will tell you."
"Speak."
"LingLing wants that girl. She made a deal with Luc to give her to him for the weekend in exchange for something...she didn't say what. Afterwards, she plans on taking the little fairy to Shanghai to train."
Nikolai's pitch black eyes swirled with killing intent and his mind was in chaos. That fucking bitch! I will fucking kill LingLing!
He hit the back of Irina's neck and she fell sideways on the leather seat. He got out of the car and as he quickened his pace to the back entrance of the art gallery he made a call. "Get rid of the two bodies in a black SUV behind LingLing's gallery. Dump Irina and the man she keeps at her husband's Club."
Nikolai didn't trust the driver from earlier, he most likely was one of LingLing's men. "Have my cousin meet me in the alley behind the Supermarket on 45th Street."
Nikolai had an idea and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Have Leon call in an anonymous tip that there is an illegal auction going on at LingLing's gallery." That should give me time to take Merri to a safe place and figure out what to do next. I wish I could just kill the poisonous woman but she is Sydney's wife. I need his help to break away from Alexi.
"Got it." The man crushed out a half smoked cigar then kicked a burly man with a tattooed face. The man was leaning over a pool table and dropped the cue in his hands, "What the fuck!"
"Let's go."
Nikolai walked into the art gallery and hid behind a pillar while searching for Merri. He saw Luc sitting in the bar, on the table was another glass. Where is Merri Winslow?
While he was wondering if he should search for her, Merri was walking back from the ldies room not far from the pillar. He reached out and grabbed her then covered her mouth as he pulled her behind the pillar."It's me. Don't be afraid."
He waited until a man and a woman passed then took Merri by the hand out the back door. Merri was confused and felt light headed, she tripped and almost fell to the ground. He caught her and wrapped his hand around her thin waist. Nikolai frowned as he noticed Merri's eyes were glazed and she had a befuddled expression. Drugged?
Nikolai lifted her into his embrace and ran through the parking lot to a park not far away. Carrying Merri in his arms he moved swiftly through the deserted park, he didn't stop until he reached the alley behind the Supermarket.
Merri had her thin arms around his neck and her head was buried in his chest. The night air was chilly and she wasn't wearing a coat but she felt her body was on fire. She rubbed her face on him, her soft voice sounded raspy tinged with a seductive tone, "So hot...hot..Itchy.."
He sat on a stack of empty pallets and held Merri on his lap. He smoothed her hair and his voice was gentle as he comforted the restless girl, "Be good. I will get you a doctor soon."
Under the light at the back of the Supermarket he could see her face was flushed red and the bright color extended down her exposed skin.
Merri looked up at him with a pitiful expression as she clawed at her clothes, "Help me...my skin is on fire."
He held her hands and hugged her tighter in his embrace, "Hold on...just a while longer." Damn those bastards! I will make all of them pay for hurting the little angel.
His face was dark as he called his cousin, he sounded agitated , "Where the fuck are you?"
"Almost there...turning onto 45th now."
A black mid-sized car screeched into the alley and a thin teenager hopped out to open the door for Nikolai. He was shocked that Nikolai was holding a fairy-like girl in his arms, "Who is she?"
"Shut up." Nikolai had a fierce expression as he glared at the teenager, "Why are you here?"
"I was with my brother when you called."
Once inside the car Nikolai hugged Merri and impatiently said, "Drive to the hotel then we are going to the countryside. Do you have any water?"
The teenager tossed him a bottle of water. "What is wrong with her?"
Nikolai had no patience to deal with his young cousin, "One more word and you can get out of the car."