Outside The Ropes: OtherSide Of Fear Part 22

"That a boy." He slapped his shoulder, and then his dark eyes lit on me. "And this is the missus?"

I stood since everyone else was, and they were looking at me.

"This is Regan," Gage gestured to me.

Nikolai reached for my hand and slowly brought it to his lips. "Its my pleasure to meet you."

His lips lingered on the back of my hand, his eyes running over my body.

"Thats enough." Gage patted his shoulder, and Nikolai broke away with a laugh.

"Cant blame an old man, I barely see pretty girls in here. And she is a looker. You chose well." He stepped back, not hiding the fact that he was checking me out. "She looks like her mother. Olli warned me as much, but the similarities are striking." He turned his focus to Gage as he took his seat. "For your sake, lets hope shes better behaved."

I gripped the back of my chair, muscles rigid with anger.

"Sit down, doll." Nikolai barely glanced to me as he gestured to the seat. Then he spoke directly to Gage, "Weve got a lot to catch up on. But first, lets deal with what she came here for."

Gage pulled out my chair for me, talking me down with his eyes before he took his own seat.

"Regan didnt grow up with family, and were looking for any connection we can find."

"Well, Angela never talked to me about family. She didnt talk about her past at all. h.e.l.l, I didnt even know she had a kid till it was too late."

Too late. I sat up in my chair, fingers digging into the edge of the seat. I wanted to block out that part, but I wanted to ask more, too.

"You didnt know anyone from her past?" Gage slid his hand to the table, finger tapping slightly as he asked. He didnt buy it either.

Nikolai leaned back, raising his chin as he spoke. "I did a background check on her. She had a grandmother, but she wasnt anyone, probably dead now, and Angela never talked about her. Im sure you could find that information easy enough." He cleared his throat, looking between the two of us like he said all he could.

I knew about the grandmother, even met her once. But she kicked out Angela when she was young and didnt want to claim me once Angela killed herself.

"Once you knew there was a child, did you ever find out who the father was?"

He shook his head. "Its like I said, we never talked about it."

"Then why did you have me bring her here if you knew you had no information?" Gage leaned forward, a demand in his tone.

Nikolais lip curled as he laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. You could hear the spit gurgling in it. "I wanted to see her. Knew I may not get the opportunity to otherwise."

"Son of a b.i.t.c.h," Gage spoke low, but Nikolai laughed louder.

Gages shoulder tensed as he sat back. "Well shes going now. Come on Regan."

"Wait." I raised my hand, forearm braced on the table. "Who was Jared?"

Nikolai c.o.c.ked his head, looking at me. "Jared? Why I dont know pretty thing, who was he?"

"Regan-" Gage tried to warn me, but I kept going. I wouldnt mention his mom or say where I got my information.

"I heard you fought with Angela about Jared one night, that she dated Jared before you. Do you know his last name?"

"I dont even know his first name. Jared? And I fought Angela, your mother, about him? When?"

"At the restaurant she worked at."

Something pa.s.sed through his eyes, maybe understanding, maybe a memory. "Ah, before she worked for me. Hmm, maybe I do remember some jerk off hanging around too much. Jared? Maybe."

"Thats it? You dont know anything else? Or maybe you can give me another name, someone else I can talk to?" I felt defeated. I had tried not to put too much hope in this, but the little I had was ripped away.

"You think that guy could be your Dad?"

I shrugged. I didnt know anything.

"Well then, you have my apology. Neither of them f.u.c.kers deserved it. Not Angela and not him. But you, Ill apologize to you. Im not above that."

"For what?" It was Gage who spoke my thoughts that couldnt pa.s.s my throat.

"Well, she wont be able to ask-whats his name? Jake?" He waved it away. "That man interfered too much. It was a problem. So I solved it." He leaned back, spreading his hands open, palms up.

Gage gripped my leg. "So thats a dead end."

Nikolai really laughed then, loud and throaty, flecks of spit flying on the table. His hand slapped down. "Thats one way to say it, kid."

Gage sat up, turning to me, shielding me from the man opposite us. "Im sorry." His low voice made the other words a reality.

"Thats sweet." Nikolai nodded to us. "But Ive only got a little time left, and I need to speak with you alone, Gage. The doll has to go."

"Okay. One minute." He stood up, pulling me with him.

The door to the room opened and Gage walked me out side of it. His hands rubbed my upper arms. "Are you Okay? I can talk with him another day. We dont have to stay?"

"No, its fine. Get it over with. Ill wait in the car." No emotions reached my voice or me. I extended a steady hand for the keys. I was blank and controlled, but I wanted out of this prison.

He paused for a moment, but I walked off with the guard after I had the keys, and he walked back into that room.

We made a few turns, went through a few doors, and thats when I finally paused to notice. "This isnt the way we came in," I spoke aloud.

"Were almost there." The man spoke, slowing his walk beside me. "Its right up here."

He stopped at a door similar to the one Nikolai was in, my heart about burst when he slid his key in. I stepped back, but he gripped my arm, pushing me through the now open door. It slammed shut as I spun around to get out. I banged repeatedly on the metal door, arm vibrating as the sound ricocheted around the room.

"Sweetheart."

I froze at the sound of his voice, ice sliding down my spine.

"Calm down, I only want to talk to you."

I sucked down my fear as I turned to face a man who haunted my dreams.

Anatoli Rusnak.

24: Same Mistake.

HE WAS SAT BACK, RELAXED, WITH ONE hand resting on the table in front of him, looking every bit the predator I remember him being. He wore a blue prison jumper, but he moved like it was Armani.

I found my voice as he stood up.

"What the h.e.l.l is going on?" I had my hand on the door handle behind me, but it wouldnt budge.

"Ive been wanting to talk to you for a while now." His hand glided along the table as he floated around it. He moved like smoke, and his eyes burned into me. "Gage must not have told you."

"He told me." He had, when Rusnak first went to prison, but not recently. The door at my back kept me standing up straight as I pressed to it, wanting to melt through it.

He stopped his torturously slow path to me and c.o.c.ked his head, deep lines creasing between his brow. "And yet, you still didnt come."

I wouldnt pull my eyes from his challenging stare, but I didnt respond. I didnt need to. I didnt owe him any explanation. Panic was taking firm hold of my thoughts. This place was corrupt, and I suddenly feared for Gage.

"Why?" His voice was sharp now, more of a command, and he stepped forward, invading my s.p.a.ce.

"I had nothing to say to you." I made my voice just as loud, responding in a second. I banged my fist on the door behind me, but didnt dare to turn my back on him. It only shook under my fist, though. No one opened it. "I still dont. You said everything the last time I saw you."

The corner of his mouth slid up with a puff of laughter, and he took another step closer, so close I could feel his movements stir the air. "You can stop that now. Theyll open that door when I tell them to, not you. So sit down, we dont have much time."

I crossed my arms for strength and protection. One more step and hed reach me, but at least I knew now our time was ticking. There was a sliver of comfort in that. "What do you want?"

"A lot has happened since I last saw you, and Ill be getting released soon. Its best we come to an understanding now."

The temperature in the room dropped, the air burning my lungs. He gestured to the chair in front of the table, the same set up as the other room I was in with Nikolai and Gage. He moved to guide me, but I stepped forward before he could touch me and took a seat.

"So, youre getting out?" That news felt like ropes binding me.

"Some people want me out, some people want to keep me in." He shrugged, sinking into the seat opposite mine. "My sides winning." He nodded to me. "Which side are you on?"

His question was a minefield with no safe answer, so I tried to evade. "It doesnt matter. I dont have any control in that decision."

His lips pressed together in a tight smile. "You dont have control in a lot of things. Which is why choosing the right side, the right people, is important for you."

"What is it that you want?" I wanted out of this room. I wanted to get to the point. I wanted him to stop speaking in riddles that sounded like threats.

He ran his fingers over his lips, leaning back to look down on me. "I want to help you choose the right side."

"Im with Gage. Thats the only side Im on." I spoke through my fear, taking the risk of claiming a side. I didnt want him thinking me the same girl he knew before. I wouldnt turn to him for anything.

"Havent you figured it out by now?" He leaned on the table between us, eyes nailing me where I sat. "He cant take care of you."

I sat up taller, faking every movement, pretending to be unfazed, indifferent. I lifted one shoulder, but kept my eyes locked on him. I hadnt looked away since the moment I faced him. "Thats not your concern."

"It is." Something wavered; his cool features broke for the briefest of moments, revealing something cold and dark underneath. "He failed to keep you safe. And when he tried to fix it, he f.u.c.ked up, and I ended up here." His features softened, slipping back into the salesman act. "If you would have stayed in my care, you would have stayed safe. You cant deny that I kept you safe."

"You kept me in a prison." I couldnt keep control of my anger. "And then you got rid of me, and Nick would have killed me or worse."

He sat back, watching me, excitement flicking behind his aloof gaze.

"I never got rid of you. And I never mistreated you. There were other players, but they never touched you, not when you were with me." He put his hand up, dismissing anything else I would say. "But we dont have time to a.n.a.lyze the past. For the future, I want to make sure you know you can still be under my protection. As long as you are loyal. You and Gage."

"Me and Gage?" At his slight nod, I continued, "Then Gage should be here for this conversation."

"I wanted to talk to you first."

"So you tricked me into meeting with you? You cant possibly think Gage would be all right with this. Im not all right with this."

"You left me little choice." He was matter of fact. "And as for Gage, you wont tell him, not if you have any sense."

I dont know why the words sent chills over me, but my skin p.r.i.c.kled. "I wouldnt be so sure about that."

"Think about this." His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. "It can only end one of two ways if you tell him." He dropped his gaze, sliding them up me as he lifted one finger. "If hes smart and loyal, you tell him and he knows theres nothing he can do about it. So then its only you that gets hurt, and I know you cant be trusted." He c.o.c.ked his head to the side, dark smile sliding in place. "Or." He lifted a second finger and leaned over the table, closer to me. "You tell him, and he stupidly thinks there is something he can do. Then I know you both arent loyal, and this time, he wont get a pa.s.s on that." He sat back in his chair, hands up and amused. "Actually that could be interesting. But its up to you now."

I turned away from his smirk that was slicing at my heart and looked at the wall, trying to keep down the tears that stung my eyes. My emotions were as screwed as my thoughts.

"So you brought me in here to mess with me? To play this stupid game of who can trust who? How does this even show if Im loyal to you? Anything I do will be for him." I couldnt stand the thought of him thinking otherwise.

"Thats what Im counting on. Theres so much you never figured out yet, Im quite surprised." He licked his lips, long arms snaking across the table and grabbing mine. "Sweetheart, its never been about you. Not when it comes to business anyways."

"So what is this about?" I yanked my arm out of his burning grip. It didnt make sense-any of it. Why go on about keeping me safe, if it wasnt about me? But I wanted out of here more than I wanted his twisted answers.

"Alessandra warned me that Gage goes beyond her repeatedly. And that hes getting favored by those running New York. But when I get out, I am claiming my rightful place and he works for me, not them."

"Dont you all work together?" I was beginning to think beyond my situation. What would it mean if Viktor and Rusnak didnt get along?

"Were supposed to. But I want to make sure things are in order, just in case. Gage says he knows, but you hold influence with him I know. These changes hes making, it needs to stop, until I get out."

Anatoli looked to the door behind me and nodded. I twisted in my seat as it creaked and rose to my feet when the guard held it open.

"Show me you can be a smart girl. Remember whos shown they can keep you safe if things go wrong. Dont make the same mistake twice."

I turned my back on him and walked out the door, glaring at the guard with the heat of my anger. But it was pointless, Rusnak was right, I didnt control any of this, and the guard ignored my look. He ignored me completely except to hold the doors open for me as he walked me out of the prison.