De La Fuente Family: Love in Montana Part 18

With a heavy sigh, she walked into the living room and found Talya struggling to fasten a high heel sandal to her foot.

"s.h.i.+t, I'm going to need another shower once I've gotten these things on."

Sylvia laughed at her friend. She did look hot and bothered. The sandals were nice though. The high heels and the straps were in silver with a hint of black. Talya was tall and the shoes made her legs look as if they went on for miles. Her outfit was clingy, but elegant. The black dress had swirls of silver up each side in a fine print, and her, now, 'deep red' hair flowed down her back in curls.

There was only one reason why she would go all out with her appearance, and that was because of Yuri.

Sylvia narrowed her eyes when she held her friend's gaze.

"What?" Talya looked at herself. "Sylvia, what is it? What's wrong with me?"

"Hmm." Sylvia walked closer. "Please tell me that you are not going to see Yuri?"

Talya blushed. "He might be there."

"Really?"

"Look, you know as much as I do about Poles and about what Yuri suspects as to the ident.i.ty of your stalker. He has a man watching him so you, and me for that matter, are safe going to Poles." She smiled. "And if Yuri so happens to be there, then who am I to complain."

Sylvia rolled her eyes. "One of these days you'll have the guy and have no clue what to do with him."

"Oh, I know what I want to do with him. I think." Talya looked so sad. "He makes me burn, cry, scream and most of all, he makes me love him. I know with one signal from him, I'd throw everything away to be with him. That's how much he means to me." She swiped at a stray tear.

"Talya." Sylvia went to hug her friend, but she pulled back.

"Don't, Sylvia. Most days, I barely hold it together and if you hug me, I know I'll lose it. It was so much easier this past week dealing with my feelings for Yuri because I concentrated on you."

"I wish I could go back to being with Eric before he broke my heart, but I'm glad you had some distraction." Sylvia kissed her friend on the cheek. "C'mon, let's go and show those guys at Poles what we can do when we're not working."

Talya chuckled. "Yuri will get p.i.s.sed after he's picked his tongue up from the floor and Gavriil will spend his time drooling over you."

"Get real. He doesn't drool over me. I know he likes me because I actually talk to him, or I did when I was working there, but that's all it is. Most girls run when they see him, which makes me sad. He's a great guy. He's big and doesn't smile, which doesn't help win him over."

"You're a soft touch." Talya grabbed her cell, and Sylvia followed her out of the apartment.

Poles was packed solid when they arrived, but lucky for them, Gavriil had also just arrived so he helped them get to the bar, which tended to be the quieter part of the floor. Servers would serve drinks throughout the evening at the table around the floor, which meant the bar was left open for people who were there for a drink instead of the flesh show.

They were served straightaway and before they could take a sip, Yuri was there glaring down at Talya. He was the only guy she knew who was taller than her friend, even when Talya had high heels on.

"Why are you both here?"

"We were sick of staying in the apartment. Sylvia needed cheering up and we immediately thought of Poles." She grinned.

What she meant was that she immediately thought of Poles.

"Is that so?" Yuri moved his attention from Talya to her. "How have you been, Sylvia? Eric is annoying, is he not?"

"What?"

"You did not answer how you are doing?" Yuri reminded.

"I'm fine." Her mind was already distracted after he mentioned Eric.

"Your man is constantly calling to make sure you are alright. I have a feeling you will be seeing him sooner rather than later."

"I had no idea he'd been checking on me. I thought he didn't care." When her lip wobbled, she inhaled and tried to center herself. "He really called you?"

"Daily."

"Yuri!" Talya huffed. "How come you have only now decided to say something?"

"That might have something to do with the fact that you have been avoiding me." He pointedly glared at Talya. "But you are here now."

"I'm here now with Sylvia." Talya pointed out, unable to disguise the animosity in her voice. She was good and p.i.s.sed with the big Russian.

"I can see that, moia liubov."

Sylvia hid her smile as her friend's gaze softened with the words of love from Yuri. He knew what he was doing with Talya, and he knew how to pull her strings. She knew that her friend would be p.i.s.sed later when she realized that she allowed herself to be softened up, but Sylvia loved to watch the two of them together.

Sylvia could actually stand and listen to Yuri speak Russian all day. She'd gotten used to hearing him say, moia liubov, my love, to Talya, so that one was easy to pick out. He could be saying something really horrid, but the way he said it in his native tongue was s.e.xy. She had no romantic thoughts about him, but the Russian language worked on her, big time.

The two of them had also distracted her with Yuri's comment about Eric. Had he really checked up on her? He probably had because there was no way Yuri would lie about something like that. Other stuff maybe, and she sure as h.e.l.l wasn't going there.

But while Talya and Yuri played eye hockey, Sylvia decided it would be best if she collected the rest of her things from her locker. There wasn't much inside, but she remembered the silly photographs she had pinned to the inside of her door. They had been taken at a fun fair with Talya. Nothing special to anyone else, but to her, they were.

"Is it safe to go back there? I want to grab some photographs from my locker."

"I am sure it is safe, but to be safer, Gavriil will go with you." He turned and called the big Russian fighter over to her, and after a few words, he indicated he was ready to go.

"Thank you. I'll be quick." Sylvia let Gavriil lead her through the crowd, his large body pushed everyone back and they arrived at the dressing room in no time at all.

Gavriil put his head inside before he deemed the room clear.

Sylvia closed the door on him with her heart pounding in her throat. Their actions told her that the culprit hadn't been found.

Her nerves crackled out and made her dash to her locker. She made quick work of opening the door where she s.n.a.t.c.hed the photographs, and shoved them into her purse.

As she fastened her purse, there was a thud at the door before it opened. Her eyes widened, and her purse fell from her fingers in fear when she saw Robert, the stagehand, walk through with a sneer. Behind him, she saw Gavriil on the ground.

Her hand covered the gasp, which left her lips at the sight and the realization that it really had been a member of the staff who'd gone after her. Because he stood before her knowing that he'd won. At least he had then, but she wouldn't go with him without a fight. If he took her out of there, she would have to be carried, which would hopefully call attention to them.

He took a step toward her.

She took a step back.

"So, you had no idea it was me?" He smiled. "I couldn't believe Yuri didn't find out it was me. He knows everything that goes on here, except my secret desire for you. I hid it well. But I've waited long enough." He took a step forward, his eyes darting around in agitation.

Sylvia's heart rate wouldn't slow down. Her palms felt damp, and fear trickled down her back and between her b.o.o.bs. She knew it was fear, and she hated herself for not being stronger and sticking up for herself. But the fear was real and it kept her quiet.

"Gavriil wasn't going to keep me from you, but we do need to leave quickly before the shock I gave him wears off." He stepped closer. "Are you going to come quietly or do I have to carry you?"

She found a bit of courage from somewhere, or was it survival instinct? "I'm not going anywhere with you." Her breathing was choppy, and it grew choppier the closer he got.

He'd always given her the creeps but knowing what he wanted to do to her, she was scared out of her mind. She'd told herself if she ever came face-to-face with the b.a.s.t.a.r.d responsible for the notes that she'd give him a piece of her mind. Faced with him though, she could hardly string a sentence together.

"I guess I'm going to have to Taser you as well because we don't want others to know you're leaving."

She pressed against her locker, cowering as she sank to the floor as he stood over her. She tried to breathe through her fear, and just when he was about to hit her with the Taser, she found strength and the ability to move from somewhere. She sprung forward and knocked him back. He stumbled but managed to right himself, which was when she saw he now had a gun in his hand.

A roar from behind the closed door drew their attention seconds before it splintered. Gavriil stepped inside and he was angry. He'd lost the jacket, which showed his muscular build. He wasn't known as Scorpion for nothing.

The veins popped on his neck as his muscles flexed. He wanted blood and she didn't think anything or anyone would be able to stop him.

For the first time, Robert looked fearful, and as he raised the gun and pointed it at Gavriil, he pulled the trigger.

Sylvia screamed as she saw blood start to ooze from the wound in Gavriil's arm. She didn't think and grabbed a boot from her locker and launched herself toward Robert without a thought of her own safety. The pointed heel stabbed into Robert over and over again as she screamed. Another shot fired seconds before Gavriil grabbed his wrist and bones crunched. The gun fell to the floor, and Robert became the one that was screaming. Gavriil closed his huge fist and punched him in the face with such force that it sent Robert into the wall where his head bounced. He dropped to the floor like a bag of potatoes.

But that's when Sylvia started to feel lightheaded, and the ache in her stomach, which had been a constant from her nerves, blossomed into an intense pain. It felt like a ball of fire had ripped her insides out. She looked down and saw her dress was soaked in blood.

Gavriil cursed in Russian and yelled something she couldn't comprehend before his arms were around her and he laid her down on the floor.

He talked, but she couldn't hear. She was so tired. She'd hardly slept for a week.

Her eyes drifted open and she saw Talya hovering over her, and Yuri was there as well. All talking, but it was like they were on mute. She thought she saw Talya say Eric. Why would she mention Eric?

"No, Eric. Please," she mumbled, but had no clue why she said that when she missed him like crazy.

Her tears started to fall.

Yuri pulled Talya into his arms and Sylvia felt like she floated on water.

It never occurred to her that she had been shot.

Chapter Thirty.

Eric still had no clue as to what to do about his two siblings, Emelia and Dante. If Emelia was to be believed, then it changed everything, but it would shock the others who believed they were all related through blood just like he had always believed.

He wanted to grab hold of Dante and make him listen to what Emelia overheard, to put his brother out of his misery. But would it? Dante was married to the church so even if he knew the truth, there wasn't anything he could do. He doubted Dante would ever leave the church with how religious he grew up, or the fact that he's dedicated his life to G.o.d.

It was just a f.u.c.king mess!

Regardless of what they decided to do, Eric had his own woman trouble. Through his shock, he sent the woman he loved running and that had given him sleepless nights. But, very soon, she would discover how much he loved her and wanted her back. He had to be patient while his plan came together.

He'd been lucky when Yuri agreed to keep him in the loop about Sylvia, although he suspected he was driving the Russian crazy with his daily calls. Ramon and Sebastian had come through for him as well with a project that sure as h.e.l.l was rushed. He wanted to get everything finished for when he headed back to Lexington to claim his woman. It killed him staying in Montana, knowing that there were bad words between them, thanks to him. He just knew that if he headed back before his surprise for Sylvia was ready, he wouldn't be able to stay away from her.

"You in the clouds," Diego said, disturbing his peace.

"What if I am?" Eric grouched, not in the mood to deal with his youngest brother. Or was he? He shook his head. Diego would still be his brother even if what Emelia overheard was the truth.

"You still have woman trouble?" Diego dropped onto the sofa and shoved his feet on the coffee table, holes in his socks and all.

Eric chuckled, and let his foul mood leave him. It wasn't Diego's fault he was suffering. He had no one to blame but himself. "I'll get her back."

Because anything else wasn't an option.

"Confidence is all you need, bro." Diego relaxed back into the sofa, and stared at the ceiling. "I'm full of it-"

"Full of s.h.i.+t, more like," Kasey finished the sentence for Diego with a smirk on his face. He sat at the far end of the same sofa as Diego.

Eric loved his brothers, and missed not seeing them on a more regular basis. They were spread throughout the states, but he loved how they all called Montana home.

"What's Aiden up to? I thought you were both going riding." Eric queried.

"I'm not sure what's up with him. He isn't talking." Kasey laughed. "I mean, we don't talk like girls but I'll be d.a.m.ned if I know what's gotten into him. We walked over to the stables intending on saddling a couple of horses, and this new vet showed up to look at one of the boarded ones. One minute he was talking to me, the next he'd gone over to Dad and stood there listening to whatever the f.u.c.k she was saying." He shook his head. "Even Dad looked surprised."

"What did the vet look like? Dad mentioned there was a new one in town," Diego asked. "Perhaps I need to head over there to check out this babe."

"She's plain with braces," Kasey replied, his face void of humor.

"Seriously?" Diego narrowed his eyes at his sibling. "You sure about that?"

"Hmm." Kasey rested an ankle on his knee before he offered a huge grin to Diego. "That might have been a small lie," he volunteered. "She's pretty and has auburn colored hair. If she didn't wear a band to keep the hair off her face, it would curl down her back." He grinned. "She's cute in a country kinda way. So not Aiden's usual type." He frowned.

"I think I need to meet the new vet," Diego announced. Getting to his feet, he hesitated when the front door opened and their father entered, followed by Aiden and a woman.

"Boys," Dad bellowed, startling them. They were in the same room so why their dad had to shout was anyone's guess. "Come and meet the new vet."

Eric looked at Aiden as he mumbled, "I have something to do. Excuse me." He disappeared into the kitchen. Was more going on with him or had the vet ignored any advances he'd made?

"This is Sarah O'Donnell. She's taken over for Old George. These are my sons, Eric, Diego and Kasey."