Taming the Tyrant (Book Boyfriends For the Holidays)

Chapter 6

“I need you to put together a package,” I told my assistant. “Food, clothing, furniture, everything you can think of and write a check for half a million ruble.”

“Whom should I make the check out to?”

“Make it out to cash.”

A moment of silence on the phone before she spoke again. “About the furniture, what pieces should I get, and where to deliver?”

“Maybe a new stove, fridge, sofa, and a dining table. Have the check couriered to me ASAP.”

“Yes sir.”

I gave her the address for the furniture before I hung up. Sitting in my chair behind the desk, I replayed the surveillance clip I had watched before. Now that I had the evidence, I needed to close the chapter so that my wife could feel safe. I was working from home for the foreseeable future so that I could be with her.

Within fifteen minutes the courier arrived. I picked up my jacket from the armchair and headed out. Tabitha was out with Donicia, and I believed I should be back before her return.

* * *

The Balakin house was in a state of disrepair with peeling walls, the floors were dull, covered with frayed rugs, but the smell of freshly made pastries was enticing.

“Sir, may I ask what brings you here,” the man asked, in his native tongue. “Did our daughter do something wrong?”

“Not at all. I just wanted to do something nice for the family of my employee. I have brought you a few gifts.”

I motioned to my guard standing by the door. He turned to beckon to the men outside who started bringing in the items. The groceries and clothing came in first, and the eyes of the two people sitting before me lit up.

“Mr. Mikhailov, this is too much,” Mrs. Balakin beamed. “We cannot accept so much.”

“Nonsense. I have a few more.”

The furniture and appliances were also brought in and the old ones taken out. I then pulled the check and handed it to them and wished them a Merry Christmas. Their eyes bulged and tears welled in the woman’s eyes. She slid from her seat and knelt before me, thanking me while crying.

“No one has ever done so much for us. How can we thank you?”

“Live comfortably from now on,” I replied, standing to my feet.

The tea they had offered me when I arrived sat untouched on the worn coffee table. The place was clean, that was certain. I could see they were good people who raised their daughter well. It was a shame that they wouldn’t see her again.

* * *

Tabitha and I had a lovely dinner. She was craving those Chinese dumplings again which she picked up on her way home. The staff and my brother had returned but they didn’t join us for dinner as I asked them not to.

After we went to our suite, I told Tabitha I was heading out to take care of important matters. She was someone who never questions me about where I was going and what I was doing. Though I appreciated it at the moment, it nagged at me that she didn’t seem to care.

However, I didn’t leave the property. I didn’t need to as my mission would be there that night. Our property had several buildings. The main manor, the guest manor, the maids’ residence and an old stable which was now used as a storage unit. That’s where I was headed.

This building was about a half mile from the main house. The new guards which I had brought in drove me there parked a few meters from the main building. The night was cold, and the stable had no heating. One light was on inside and someone made a fire inside of an old steel drum.

A woman stood with her arms wrapped around her body, two guards flanking her. Her eyes opened wide as I entered and stood before her.

Reaching out, I grabbed her chin. “Speak.”

“Sir, what did I do?”

I closed my eyes and willed myself to calm down. “You know precisely what you did. Now speak quickly, the night is cold, and I need to return to my wife.”

She shuffled and fidgeted, trembling from the cold. I could see a myriad of emotions fleeting across her face as she understood her actions and their consequences.

“Sir, please spare me,” she pleaded. “It was Miss Polina who made me do it. She threatened me!”

“That was easy, wasn’t it?”

She sighed, her shoulders relaxing. “I’m sorry Sir, I will do anything you ask.”

“Will you now?” I asked, patting her cheek

This was a young woman in her mid-twenties. Tall, skinny, with long brown hair and a turned-up nose and heart shaped lips. She would have made a cute model.

“I promised I’d remove the intestines of the one who tried to murder my child...”

“Sir, I didn’t know she was pregnant.”

“…And my wife.” I continued as though uninterrupted. “But that’s such a long process and I am anxious to get back to her.”

“Thank you…,” she started.

“Kneel.”

She fell to her feet as I reached into my coat and withdrew my Tokarev TT and shot her in the forehead dead and center. Her lifeless body lay on the floor as I handed the weapon to one of the men.

“Clean her up.”