I updated a day early! (Which to me is a HUGE achievement.) You can thank my wonderful and fabulous betas - Tatiana Belikova and Mitrioselove! You know what they say: two is better than one. Or in my case, two incredible and talented betas are much more amazing than one author. As always I want to thank each and every one of you. You guys are my power, my muse.
Disclaimer: Disclaimed.
The drive to the house was long and boring, but the sight leading to said house, as they were getting there was breathtaking. Trees lined the road, although they were leafless they all had a thin layer of ice that sparkled in the sunlight, making it look majestic. When they finally arrived they were met by a beautiful sight, snow cover ground, untouched, with the trees surrounding it, and a cabin it was a simple wooden cabin with trees surrounding it but in her eyes it looked like a leaf resting at the palm of a graceful hand, surrounding it like a cocoon.
They stopped the car at the entrance and it felt like a fairy tale come to life. The double doors were made of oak, with swirls engraving the edges of the wood. They came together at the middle creating a simple yet beautiful daisy. The door was nothing Rose had seen before, and it intrigued her, wanting to see more of this place, this house. The cabin itself seemed simple enough but it was evident that someone had put a lot of hard work and love into it.
"Do you like it?" A voice brought Rose back from her thoughts.
Rose looked back to the owner of the voice and screamed, literally screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Luke!"
Rose launched herself at him, their bodies landing in the snow with Rose hugging every inch of his body. The cold snow was no bother, seeing as they both were so happy to see each other. Dimitri looked on, a small smile on his face. They were quite a site. Rose always knew how to welcome someone. A feeling passed through Dimitri but he soon shook it off, it was nothing he understood.
"What are you doing here?!" Slowly untangling herself from him, Rose got up and tried to brush off as much of the snow as she could. She could feel Dimitri walk over to her and settle his hands on her hips as he too helps her out. Though the feeling of his hands made the snow seem to melt away from her, his touch sending a warm current through her. She shakes away the feeling and refocuses her attention on Luke.
"I thought you were going to come a few days later? That's what Dimitri told me." She gave Dimitri a silent glare over her shoulder, watching as his lips curled into a soft smile. He knew she was not truly upset, this was a great surprise, and might even make this whole situation better for them both.
"Yeah, we lied. I wanted to surprise you especially since this is my first assignment, to protect you along with Dimka." Luke smiled, grasping her shoulder and tugging her inside the house. "I know both of you guys personally and plus I want to spend time with both of you after years of not seeing each other. It was a win-win situation."
"I should be mad that the both of you guys lied to me," Rose looked both men in the eye before smiling, "but I'm not since I have two of my best friends with me to keep me company. Although I do miss Lissa already." The thought of her friend made Rose feel sad, she had not even been able to say good bye. Dimitri had insisted that they needed to leave and as soon as possible.
The inside of the cabin was plain, the lack of furniture not taking Rose by surprise knowing how safe houses looked from the many TV shows she had watched. Plus, Dimitri had often, so kindly explained the procedures whenever he'd been tasked with keeping a witness under protective custody. Something, though rewarding at times, was a hassle and would cause Dimitri a lot of distress. Having someones life in your hands could take its toll, but it was something Dimitri was good at. His protective nature always shining through.
Walking towards the living room she twirls around to face five set of men. "So, where am I going to sleep?"
"Upstairs, there's a room entirely for you. Dimitri will also have his own room since he's the one in charge and plus you and I both know how Dimka sleeps." The Cheshire cat-like smile he flashed her made her bust out laughing.
"Oh yes, I do know." Memories flash through her mind, and she cannot help the small laugh that leaves her lips. Dimitri shoots a warning glare at her, Rose looks away ignoring it, if she has to suffer so does he.
"How does he sleep?" One of the men, Mason, a red haired guy with freckles sparkled at the bridge of his nose asks from behind Dimitri. Clearly he was looking for something to make fun of his dear leader.
"He sleeps like he's in an action movie and they're after him. All you feel is his hands flying up in the air trying to block whoever is 'fighting' him." Rose is more than willing to provide Dimitri with some embarrassment.
"Hey!" Dimitri voice is loud and shame is clear.
They turn towards a blushing Dimitri, a scowl marring his features. Laughter emerging from behind him, Ivan, Mason and the other man, Eddie smiling at the flushed expression of their once stoic leader. Dimitri turns around, looking all three in the eye.
"Not a word from you guys or else." His glare screaming raw male power.
The men put a hand to their hearts.
"Good." Nodding in satisfaction he makes his way to Rose, gently moving her towards the kitchen to grab something to eat. No one wanted a grumpy female in the vicinity surrounded by males. The things she will do to them. They had to make sure to appease her as much as they could or else this would end up being hell.
Her cellphone, which she had hidden within her bra and thankfully didn't have to be taken away from her since they didn't pass by customs, starts vibrating against her chest. Rose excuses herself from the men who were still eating and heads to the room they had directed her to, locking the door and then heading to the bathroom resting at the far end of the room to the right, locking that one as well. She had to make sure no one heard, she was not going to risk having the phone taken away, they had taken away everything else from her. She stares ahead and braves to answer the call.
"Hello?" She answers the call in her normally perky voice.
"Is this Rosemarie Hathaway?"
She looks at the caller ID and sees that it's the man that had left his card with Anne. Excitement bubbles in her, she can only start to imagine what he has to say to her, even if it took him forever to call her back.
"Yes, but just call me Rose." Why her parents named her Rosemarie was beyond her, it was so olden, so well not her.
"Alright. I am sorry that I haven't answered your calls, my wife is terribly sick and I have traveled back and forth from work to the hospital were she is staying at." She notices how raspy and low his voice sounds. Like perhaps he has not slept in days.
Rose suddenly feels guilty for wishing bloody harm on him, letting her anger control her emotions and cursing at him without knowing the reason behind her unanswered calls. She sometimes forgets that other people have lives that do not surround her needs. Dimitri was a clear example of this. She shakes her head saving that thought for later.
She gives him her condolences, the man thanking her before his voice turned serious. "Firstly I am Victor Dashkov, I was working in my office which is located in front of the apartment Miss. Sinclair was at. I felt something nagging me at the back of my head, telling me to look outside so I did. My office is a few floors up so it is leveled with her floor as well as her room.
"Right as I looked up I saw a man walk behind her, she was looking out her window as well so she couldn't have known who was the person who pushed her. I only saw his physique, he looked 5'10", not muscular but not skinny either. I couldn't quite look at the color of his hair or eyes but I do know he was not some random guy."
"Why do you say that Mr. Dashkov?" Rose is now standing back against the door, eyes wide.
"The way he walked and stood, tall and regal not slouched over like many people I've seen in my days. His stance was strong, as if he's done some lifting in his life. The only people I've seen who look like that are businessmen, men from the force and body lifters. I'm sorry if I haven't been too much of help."
"No! That's perfect. Thank you." Rose knows her voice sounds far too happy for the situation but this is a lot bigger than she thought it would be.
"You're welcome. I'm glad I was of some help. If you ever need anything else you have my number. I am out on business right at this moment so I am not in Dallas if you want us to meet."
"I do have one question Mr. Dashkov." Rose locks her fingers together, hoping that no one came up to her room right at this moment. Her future depended on this phone call. So did the case, this was big for her, but even bigger for anyone who was trying to solve the case. She was taking his statement seriously, but there was something nagging at that back of her mind.
"Sure. Ask away."
Releasing the breath she didn't know she was holding in she gripped the phone tighter, "Why didn't you go to the police with this information? Why tell me, a random journalist, instead of the authorities?" It was a fair question in reality Dimitri could do a lot more with the information than she could, the case was in his hands, and he had a large list of contacts.
She hears him sigh at the other end of the phone before he speaks up. "I felt you could uncover the truth more swiftly without denying any information. If it was in the hands of the FBI they would have surely made up a cover about who actually did it unlike you who will tell the truth no matter the consequences.
"I have read a few of your articles and I must say I am impressed with almost all of them. You have guts kid, one trait many people lack in telling the whole truth rather than half of it."
"Thank you." Rose softly spoke over the phone, her body radiating with pride. She put a lot into her work, and hearing someone praising her for it, made everything she went through for her job worthwhile. This was more than a job for her, she lived to figure things out, bring out from the dark those hidden secrets.
"You're welcome. As I've said before, call if you need anything else."
"Will do."
With that said the line went dead, excitement running through Rose's body at the thought of finally breaking the case. Not only that, this would be huge, furthering her already blossoming career. This is what she had been waiting for, a way to make her love of writing more than useful.
'Dimitri needs to know... No! He can't, then he'll know I've been talking to strangers behind his back and he'll never let me leave the house or use my phone again. Not only that he would be pissed I am risking my own safety, he had been so set on making sure nothing was messed with.'
It was amazing how overprotective he's been these past few days. Rose tried to not think much of it, but something inside her told her something had changed, something she had yet to figure out. Sometimes Dimitri just made no sense to her.
Making her way out of the bathroom she rushed to the suitcases stationed at the front of the door. With much hauling she propped them on her bed and started taking her clothes out.
Thirty minutes later she found herself done with her room, seeing as how she will be stuck for God knows how long. A knock sounded on her door, and with one last sweep of the room she went to answer it.
"Luke." She cannot help the smile that crosses her lips. She had truly and honestly missed her friend, and was happy he was here now.
The man smiled warmly at her, motioning with his head if she was okay with letting him in. She shooed him in, watching him as his eyes trailed over her bed to other furniture she had laying in her room.
"Nice."
"Really? Personally it looked more like a prison cell than an actual room."
"Don't say that. Dimitri was only trying to protect you, you should be grateful for everything he has done for you." Taking a seat on the far end of the bed he patted the empty spot next to him. Sighing in defeat she walked the last few steps and sat down. She can already feel a lecture coming on, one she was not in the mood for.
"I know, it's just that... it's hard to think of a way to thank him. Usually when it comes to him there's only two ways to say thanks; sex or buying him one those lame old western novels. Neither in which I'm happy to do."
'Or am I?'
Shaking her head to try and clear that thought, because she did not want to go there with her best friend sitting right next to her, she tried to start on a whole new different topic.
"So, how have you been these last few years?" Though a change of topic she really did want to know what he had been up to. It had been far too long, she missed him and it was great to have him here, he always understood her just like she him.
"Good. Met some friends along the way and even tried dating here and there but with my line of work it was hard to keep a steady relationship. It was either too much for them to handle or they understood only because they were in a similar position."
"Then why didn't you stay with those who were in a similar position as you? They can understand where you are coming from and you won't have any arguments in the future regarding risking your life or the late nights."
"But that's the thing. I want someone... normal..." he stopped talking as he saw Rose narrow her eyes at him, "not that normal is bad." She released her heated glare and motioned him to continue.
"It's, how can I explain it... Well I want someone that doesn't have a heavy job such as doctors or paramedics who are on call 24/7. I want to go home to a lovely wife who has dinner ready and I want a warm bed when I lay to sleep. I can't have that if they're always on duty."
"Aren't you being a little selfish? You are one of those people who are on call every minute of the day."
Scratching the back of his neck he tried to explain it better, "Yeah but that's what I mean. It's okay if one of us is always on the move because we can plan things out to meet each others need. But if both of us are always busy it will be harder to communicate and come to an agreement. Those women that understood me were always doctors or paramedics. Through time we would see less of each other because of our jobs until we just became strangers meeting up for dinner."
Luke felt arms circle around his shoulders as Rose stroked his hair. The simple action took him back to memory lane when she would do that whenever he would break up with someone. They stayed like that for ten minutes until he asked something he's been dying to know since he came back.
"So... how have you and Dimka been?"
Rose's hand stopped moving as she pondered the question. How could she answer that question? It would go down a path she was not ready to go down. She herself was still trying to convince herself that maybe there was a Her and Dimitri.
"Good. Sometimes there are bumps in the road but overall it's been swell." She cannot help but roll her eyes.
"I have a feeling everything hasn't been sailing smoothly. You're not treading water here Rose, and I'm not here to open a spring in your emotions. I'm just curious."
"Yeah, well curiosity killed the cat. Sorry to avoid your question but I don't want to answer it. At least not right now."
With a huff she jumped off from the bed and walked to her closet to get a pair of clothing, ready to take a nice long hot bath. She heard movement behind her, knowing Luke had decided to keep pushing the subject on hand.
"Oh come on." Luke grabbed Rose by her shoulders and spun her around to meet him, a sly grin taking over his lips. "I know you've had a thing for Dimka since you met him, isn't it time you acted on your feelings?" Rose's eyes widen and she stares at her friend, why was he insisting so much, he knew how Dimitri was. He knew things were not as easy as acting on her feelings.
Why did this have to piled on top of everything else she had to deal with?
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