Chapter 11
Alec POV
It took me two weeks. Two weeks to figure out exactly who Dimitri Volkov was.
It took me about another week to convince my police chief that what I'd stumbled upon really was what it was, and not just me being a jealous prick.
It took about another solid two weeks after that to finally talk him into letting me be the person on the ground with eyes and ears on Dimitri's movements. It was more of a demand if you ask the chief about it. But, I couldn't contain myself when I heard Belle's name had been brought into things. The force noticed that he'd been spending a great deal of his time either with her or at her house, and I couldn't in conscious forgive myself if I didn't at least try to make myself of some use.
But Dimitri had set this all in motion. The moment he decided to make a move on Belle in that bar, he'd tipped the first domino. So, I'm going to push back. As long as he feels the need to involve the people I care about most in whatever he's up to. I'm pushing back. And I'm watching.
Whether Belle liked it or not.
"You gonna answer that door or just pretend no ones home? Cuz there's clearly multiple cars in the driveway." I kept my tone as light and playful as I could with the possibility of Volkov being on Belle's front porch. She shot me a quick middle finger and pulled the door open.
But it wasn't Dimitri on the doorstep. A tall Russian man, yes. But, not Dimitri.
I could almost picture the confusion that was probably spilled across Belle's face at the sight. "Uhm, can I help you?" Belle's voice was polite, yet hesitant. Which was understandable considering how she must be taking in and processing the man who stood nearly a whole head taller than her with his dark hair pulled back in a tight bun. The strangers calculating grey eyes found me behind her and I could swear I saw them narrow just a bit. The stranger cleared his throat and reached a tattooed hand out to Belle.
"Are you Annabella?" His accent was much thicker than Dimitri's, I noted. And I captured a mental picture of him in my mind to mull over back at the police station. Belle took his hand hesitantly and nodded a silent yes.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" Belle asked, and I made quick work of crossing the room and standing as close to her as I possibly could without looking suspicious.
"My name is Damien. I'm a friend of Dimitri's. He sent me to collect you, ma'am."
Belle scoffed. "Collect me? It's barely 10am, and I haven't even showered yet." Her weight shifted from one foot to the other, and I could tell she was uneasy. She gave a small shake of her head. "We didn't have plans today." I didn't slip my notice that she hadn't let her hand leave the door yet, poised to slam it closed if needed. Smart girl.
"My apologies, he did mention that you would likely be a bit surprised and confused. He instructed me to wait if you required time to make yourself decent." His eyes left Belle and drifted over to me again. I could see the question lingering in his eyes. Wondering what I was doing here. A cop in full uniform in the living room of his boss's current girlfriend's house probably seemed as shady as it looked.
"I'm sorry, I just don't understand." She questioned further. Belle was a lot of things, but gullible and naive wasn't either of them.
"Would you perhaps rather call him yourself, Annabella?" he asks. "I can understand your hesitance."
She was quiet for a moment as she mulled over his words. "Let me go grab my phone." She says, letting the door go and moving across the living room. Damien moved as if he meant to follow Belle inside, but I stepped in his way.
"You can wait right where you're at." I grunt out, attempting to keep my tone measured. I offer him a small shrug of my shoulders. "Stranger danger and all."
Damien's lips pull into a faint smirk. "Understood, officer..." his eyes scan my uniform until they find my name. "Officer Tiers."
I keep my eyes trained on Damien as he pulls out his phone and quickly types out a message, but most of my attention is focused on the sound of Belle's rushed voice on the phone in the background. "Are you a friend of Miss. Annabella?" Damien questions, as he slips his phone back into his pocket.
"Belle is a childhood friend. Also, my sister lives here as well." Damien nods in understanding as he takes in my words and thinks over just how unfortunate my involvement in Belle's life might end up being for his boss, I'm sure.
"Ah, that seems quite convenient." Damien smiles with his reply.
"Oh, it is." I smile back, the challenge in our tones not missed by the other. The energy in the air shifts as we size each other up. Everything we know about the other remaining unspoken but right out there in the open. We didn't need to speak a single word to understand the other's meaning. The mood shifts as Belle makes her way back to the door and the stress painting her features doesn't go unnoticed by me.
"Everything squared away?" Damien asks, flashing Belle what I'm sure is supposed to be a friendly smile, but all I can see is a predator waiting to strike.
"In a way, I suppose." she mutters, her eyes flash over to mine briefly before landing back on Damien. "I'm sorry, but I don't have plans to leave the house today. I have a truckload of assignments to finish. Dimitri will understand, whatever the problem is." A tangible silence spreads out between the three of us, but is broken by the sound of Damien's phone ringing. He pulls the phone from his pocket and holds up a finger asking us to wait.
"Yes, sir." he answers, and remains silent as he listens to whoever is on the other end. "I understand. Yes, I'll pass it along." he sighs as he ends the call and slips the phone back into his pocket. His eyes meet mine again before finding Belle. "Dimitri has requested that Officer Tiers remain here for the time being if you have no interest in meeting with him."
Belle opens her mouth to protest, and I can feel my pulse already quickening. A thousand questions race through my mind. Questions I can't ask this prick in front of Belle. Was there a problem? Was someone coming for Belle? How real is the danger?
"I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience, but it seems as though one of Dimitri's clients is quite irrate and has made some disturbing threats. He just wants to make sure the lady remains safe today while the matter is handled." Damien manages to keep his voice as reassuring as possible, but Belle didn't look nearly satisfied with his reasoning.
"What does an irate client have to do with me?"
"The threats made were quite colorful. The client once overheard a phone call between Dimitri and yourself, and while Dimitri is certain the client has no actual idea who you are, he would just like the peace of mind knowing your safe for the time being."
"It doesn't sound like Dimitri is giving me much of a choice here." She says, and chews on her bottom lip for a moment. "And he's asked that Alec stay here. With me? You're sure about that?"
Damien nods, and his eyes drift down to the holstered gun on my waist for a moment before turning back to Belle. "He was very adamant about Officer Tiers remaining here."
Belle turns her gaze on me now, clearly uncomfortable with everything being discussed. And while I hated Dimitri with every fiber of my being, I had to admit even I respected the fact that he was placing Belle's safety above anything else. "I have no qualms about watching over Belle, but if Dimitri would like to make a formal police report about the incident he's more than welcome to come and talk to me himself." I have to keep myself from laughing as I spit out the words. We both know Dimitri has no intention of doing so. That's not how his type solved problems.
I place a reassuring hand on Belle's shoulder. "It's just some crazy wacko that probably lost money and started talking out of his ass. Won't kill me to watch TV while you work on some assignments." Belle rolls her eyes and shrugs my hand off her shoulder.
"Fine." she laments. "But I want Dimitri to call me as soon as this shit show is over and done with. I have a bone to pick with him." she bites out and motions for Damien to go. Damien and I share a look before he turns to step off the porch. The look was something between contempt for one another and slight humor for the way Belle was unknowingly threatening one of the most dangerous Russian Mafia sons like she was a scolding mother.
it was all absolutely ludicrous. "I'll relay the message to him." Damien calls as he reaches his car.
Belle stood silently at the door, and I have to reach around her to close it.
"Let's not make this a bigger deal than what it is." I say as I plop down on the couch. "Go get your textbooks or whatever and do what you gotta do."
"Do you honestly believe that I'd ever let myself get that behind on homework?" she retorted with a laugh. "I obviously lied. I have no intention of sitting in this house all day, nor do I plan to be babysat by you of all people." she says turning around and heading towards the bathroom. "I'm getting a shower and getting out of here."
"You can't be serious." I spit, jumping up from my spot on the couch. "Didn't you hear a word that guy said?"
"And you said it was just some guy talking out his ass." she shoots back before she slams the bathroom door. "I have things to do." she says from the other side of the door. "So you can stay here and hang out with Harlow or go do whatever it is you do, officer."
I tried my hardest to shake off my annoyance while Belle took a shower. The damn girl was a stubborn as they came. She had another thing coming if she thought I would just let her walk out of this house on her own. Not after what Damien had said. As much as she probably hates me right now, I wasn't letting her out of my sight.
Two updates in one day. I really had the writing spirit today.
Things are finally shaking up a little.
Feel free to leave a review, I love to hear opinions and ideas !
Are we Team Dimitri or Team Alec?
Also, Damien is a bit scrumptious himself!
