NoWayOut (5 page)

“So what happens now?” Her tone was unnecessarily low consider
ing the thick privacy glass separating
them from the driver.

“As I said before we’re taking a little trip, shall we call it a getting better acquainted vacation?”

Vacation?
Was that how it was known in the world of organized crime?
A permanent vacation of eternal rest and relaxation.

“Have you ever been to the Cayman Island’s?”

“No,
”
she answered truthfully. It was one of many vacations she’d never take.
The names of five other locale’s came to mind. All places she’d promised to take herself to someday and now the someday would never come.

“It
’
s beautiful, we’ll stay at a private villa.”

“Excuse me?”

For the first time since they’d started the car ride he looked in her direction.

“A villa, you know a-”

She held up her hands to silence him. “I know what a
villa is, but you just said
we’re going there?”

“That’s right.”

“As in at this moment?”

“
As in after a plane ride, yes.”
He watched her in confusion, his perplexed look seeming completely genuine.

Was he serious or was this all part of some elaborate ruse to calm her
. “So this isn’t the
long
car ride?”

“The what?”

“You know the journey
-
to the
journey - to the
gr
eat beyond?
”

His brows furrowed in question.

“Being fitted for cement shoes?”

Nothing

“Going to meet my maker.”

She saw understanding dawn on his face just before he bellowed, “You thought I was going to kill you?”

His raised tone must have been heard through the privacy glass because their driver gave them several quick looks in the rear view before redirecting his attention to the road.
He sure did sound as if her suggestion were outrageous. Very convincing.

She laughed nervously, “The thought had crossed my mind.”

Not only had it crossed her mind but broke ground, poured foundation and planned to build a permanent residence there. The knots subsided slightly although relief didn’t completely take hold. After all, she was still dealing with a criminal and wasn’t sure what he wanted from her.

Chapter Five

The villa was an ode to Spanish hacienda meets Caribbean hav
en. A private beach surrounding
most of the property left only one land entrance/exit. The ho
use gave amazing views which could be
enjoyed
through lar
ge bay windows. Blue ocean
rolled in to lap a
t a white sandy shoreline.
Behind her the sound of fading footsteps could be heard on the granite tile followed by the
closing of
outer
doors. They were alone.

“Do you want to go for a swim?”

The question came as she stood soaking in the scenery.

“Not at the moment.”

“Perhaps later?”

She felt more than heard him walk up behind her
. She
waited for his touch. Feeling
oddly disappointed
when it didn’t come.

“Maybe.” Tiffany couldn’t help but be struck by how perfect the day was with its clear blue
skies and gently swelling ocean. It was all so right with just one nagging exception. She turned and
wasn’t surprised to fin
d him close. “I have to say
I don’t understand what’s going on here. Why
am I here? How do you know my name?”

“Why don’t you come have a seat?” He suggested extending his hand for her to take.

She thought back to the night before. Should she trust him?

In the end she accepted his offer allowing him to draw her to
an
overstuffed sofa. He settled
next to
her angling himself so they could make eye contact.

“I know you’re not a housekeeper Tiffany and the real reason you were at Alexi’s.”

“You do
?”
She certainly wasn’t going to volunteer up any information.

“
Let’s
not play games. You put yourself in danger to get a story, which was very foolish. Men
like Alexi play for keeps and don’t take kindly to anyone getting in their way.”

“Unlike yourself?”

“We’re not talking about me at the moment. I took you out of LA to keep you safe.”

“Excuse me if I don’t seem grateful, but I can’t believe that someone like you would really care
what happens to me. You don’t know me from Adam
.”

“
Nevertheless
I’ve made your safety my concern Tiff, and once I’ve concluded my business with Alexi I’d
actually
like to get to know you better.
”

She wasn’t sure why
the thought had her heart hitching
,
and
palms sweaty. Flashes
their previous evening together
had heat
rising in her cheeks.
Still s
he forced a laugh to let h
im know just how ridiculous his
idea sounded.

The look in his eyes said that he was serious, but how could that be?

“Just like that? I know who you are Konstantin and I could no more get involved with you than
I would Alexi. We walk in totally different circles
and live by a completely opposing set of moral codes
.”

“
You are partially right,
but it
’
s only a minor barrier.”

“I don’t think so, and while I appreciate you getting me out of Alexi’s
house
I don’t think I should
stay here”

“Why’s that?”

She knew she had to tread lightly, she wasn’t just letting some random guy down in a bar. This
was Konstantin Malovich a man who could end her life with the snap of his fingers. It was a very
unsettling thought.

“I just don’t think I’m cut out for the type of lifestyle
you lead. At my very core I’m a
homebody, I enjoy simple things like movies, walks in the park, and local theatre troops.”

“And you’re assuming
those things wouldn’t interest me?”

“I’d be very surprised if you said they did.”

“Why don’t we start there, let’s just get all of the
surprises out of the way so
we can move
forward.”

He stood in one fluid motion, “We should start with who I really am.”

Who he was?
Well duh, anyone who kept current on international affairs knew who he was both publicly and privately.

“My name is Ramj Oloff.”

She blinked at him several times. Okay so she wasn’t expecting him to start by offering up some alias.

“Ramj, what?”

“My real name is Ramj Oloff,” He offered slower this time.

What kind of game was he playing at?
The question was poised on
Tiffany
’s lips but was quickly forgotten by the phenomena taking place. She found herself backing
into the corner of the sofa
as Konstantin…Ramj… who
ever he was
shimmered and shifted
right
in front of her
. It was like nothing she’d ever
witnessed
.
She’d seen illusion tricks performed by magicians a time or two but nothing which could have prepared her for his feat.
He’d managed to
change his entire appearance. Jet black hair
lengthened and shined
, gray… no silver blue eyes
stared back at her
.

“This impossible?” She muttered.

“Nothing is impossible.”

He
reached for her
but paused as she recoiled. Tiffany
wasn’t sure what was easier to
take, him as an international mobster or…

“What are you, some sort of magician?”

“No. My people are called Fae.”

Okay, where was the hidden camera? Was Steve behind all this?

“You mean like fairies?”

He chuckled, “No. They’re a bit different.”

Different as in not deranged Russian mobsters who probabl
y dabbled a bit too much in the happy powder. Yet, who she’d known him to be
couldn’t explain away what she’d just witnessed for her herself.

“It’s obvious
you’re having a hard time believing me.”

“No, no… I think I’m following clearly. You’re a …Fae… impersonating Konstantin Jestkov
Malovich, to rescue me ou
t of the kindness of your heart?
”

“Obviously there’s more to the story.”

“
Obvioously. So
where is the real Konstantin, or will he suddenly pop in,” she looked curiously around the
room unable to remove the sarcastic edge from her tone.

“No, he won’t be stopping by. He’s dead.”

“You killed him?”

“Why does everyone assume that?” He muttered.

“He killed himself. Years of drug abuse and a bad heart don’t go hand in hand. Please tell me
you don’t indulge?”

“What?”
How had things shifted to her?
“No, I’m drug free.”

H
e looked relieved. At least it
made one of them.

“So if Konstantin is dead why are you pretending to be him?”

“To get close to Alexi, the man ha
s weapons in his possession we would like to see
properly disposed of.”

“We?”

“Yes, the Order and several UN countries.”

“You mean governments know
about you?”

“A select group of people within countries we trust. It’s necessary for us to work with humans
to meet our mutual
objective
s
.”

“Work with you how? Are you planning some type of invasion?”

Ramj chuckled,
it was
a sexy sound
which vibrated through her
.

“You do have an overactive imagination.”

“You just changed into a different person right before my eyes and think my brain shouldn’t be
working in overtime?”

“Good point, but our purpose is not quite so nefarious. In f
act if mankind wasn’t in such a
hurry to destroy the planet we all inhabit there would be no need for contact.”

“Contact, there you go sounding like an alien again.”

“Tru
st me Tiff I’m just as much an e
arthling as you are.”

“Ah ha… you said you were a Fairy.”

“No, I said Fae which, like humans, are inhabitants of the Earth.”

He was crazy, had to be… or maybe it was her. What if Alexi had slipped her some type of
hallucinogen? When? She had to think, but her mind kept hitting brick walls.
She hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day, had no desire to.

“Maybe some fresh air might do you good.” Ramj sugg
ested as if reading her jumbled
thoughts,

Her first re
action was to decline the offer
but
thought better of it. A
t least outside there was a chance she could put
some serious distance between them.
He allowed her to precede him onto the open deck and followed her example when she slipped off her shoes and abandoned the wooden surface for the beach.

“Better?” He asked after insisting she take a couple deep breaths of ocean air.

She filled her lungs
one final time
, bare feet sinking into warm sand as they made their way to the shoreline.

“A bit, thanks.”

“Should I continue?”

She nodded feeling better prepared to handle the rest of what he had to reveal.

“There are many types of e
arthlings. Humans and Fae only make up a small number. We’ve
coexisted since the dawn of time. Many of your ancient “myths” are filled with factual human and
magical interactions. But, as man pursued more technologic
al avenues we magical folk
were
content with
living life as we always until we faded
into antiquity.”

“But you were always
here
with us
?” She wasn’t sure if it were a question or a statement.

“Through every phase of man’s intellectual evolution. The nuclear age has been of specific
concern. We’ve lost many while we stayed quiet.”

“And now?”

“We can’t afford to turn a blind eye, which is why I need to secure these weapons and turn
Alexi over.”

“But if you’re magical, why not just use your talents to
make people do the right thing?
”