Chapter 17 Hide and Seek

Beau

The private pool in the villa was heaven. Refreshing. Lizzie has assured her soaking in the warm water all day was safe enough. Beau's bullet wound has healed considerably but she was restricted from lifting anything that's over two kilos.

That's bullshit. She only agreed to ease the doctor's worry. Early morning, she took advantage of the gym's amenities and it has done wonders for her recovery.

A semblance of guilt was nagging at her conscience but she placed it at the back of her mind. Where it belonged.

-I bet you miss Dominic.-

Hell no! Why should she when she was enjoying herself?

That traitor pear-shaped organ inside her chest constricted and she blinked rapidly. Hurt by her own words.

The irrevocable truth was, she would have enjoyed this more if he was here with her. Spoiling her.

Too bad, he's not.

-Fuck it! Go away!-

She was steadfast in her decision and it had to be on her own terms. She wouldn't renege on that.

Lizzie and Dinara had been awesome girlfriends. They never judged her decisions and even supported her craziness.

Shit! The trouble they had gotten themselves into because of her. Beau grimaced. She had to make sure her doctor will retain her job and Dinara's bum will be spared or at the very least, she won't be grounded for life.

As for hers... Dominic would never hurt her physically. She can bet her genius brain on that. But he might kick her out of the house for the trouble she had put him through.

His people will be in chaos, not to mention his parents...oh, fuck!  It had been two days since their escape and they must be worried sick. Should one of them call and let Dinara's parents know they were safe?

She must talk to her girls. Yeah, in a short span of days, they had become besties for life. Can't wait to introduce them to Lily. They would really click.

"You should apply sunscreen, Beau," Lizzie called out, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun. She squinted her eyes at the shy doctor. Damn!  She looked hot in her one-piece red bathing suit.

Beau wondered if the good doctor was single.

Dinara was a sworn tomboy, more interested in sports and guns but Lizzie was a silent, caring type. What's her history?

Swimming in her direction and she lifted her slender body out of the pool. Beau smiled in welcome. Her stomach growled. Again. These stupid cravings were killing her.

Lizzie handed her the sunblock lotion and she applied a generous amount all over her exposed skin.

"Do you have a boyfriend or a lover?" Beau asked. Her friend coughed fitfully at the out of nowhere question.

"What?" She gasped for breath. Lizzie shook her head and averted her gaze from her inquisitive brown eyes. "No time for that. I have a huge student loan to pay off."

She frowned. Was that all? Beau made a mental note to pay her debts anonymously. That's the least she could do for her friend. Besides, she had amassed a lot of money from her job and she didn't even know what to do with it. She only had one sensible investment. Lily's daughters' future was secured. She'd made sure of that.

"How old are you? You look too young to be a specialist."

Lizzie blushed at her question. "24. I graduated early."

She was impressed. They do have a lot in common. Nodding in understanding. "I know the feeling. It happened to me, too. We pretend to fit in yet our brains are too big for the world."

"Yeah. Dad was bankrupt because of his gambling problems. He died when I was ten. My mom remarried and well, life was not easy. I left them as soon as I turned 18." There was something in Lizzie's far-away expression that warned Beau there's more to her story but she knew her friend needed time before she could share everything from her past.

"I'm here for you, Liz. You can tell me anything. Anything at all." She smiled. Understanding the meaning behind Beau's words. They hugged each other and giggled when they heard an off-key singing from their crazy friend.

Dinara joined them, cocktails in a round tray, and lots of pastries. Plus buffet was being set up in one corner.

She wondered if they have wagyu steak here and if the chef will cook it on site.

"Why the long faces? Let's party!" The overzealous teenager screamed, raising her arms in the air.

Lizzie and Beau shook their heads, grinning.

-Party it is!-

Beau wanted the perfect steak and she would make sure she got what she wanted.

Dominic

She missed him. No matter how much she tried to convince herself.

She really did. Sonofabitch!

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Alec

He had never seen Dominic so angry and at the same time so fucking worried.

Creases covered his forehead and his once stoic and smooth face was taut with tension.

"Do your fucking job and find them. I'm paying you to give solutions not goddamn questions!" The poor cyberpunk quaked in his boots. Dominic's loud voice boomed inside his office.

The place looked more like a kidnapped-for-ransom crisis center. Every gadget owned by the police force they had them. But none could locate their precious ladies.

No enemy has contacted them for demands. They were going in blind.

From the grilling investigation, their security teams were poisoned by something mixed with their food. None died, except for mild stomach flu that lasted the whole night.

But the worse thing was, from the surveillance videos they reviewed. The girls had escaped their guards and deliberately left home.

When they arrived at the estate, everyone was on edge.

Dominic couldn't be reasoned with. The mafia king was firing and punishing their men left and right.

The former tzar, Dominic's father was dismayed by the event. He had lost his only daughter, his future daughter in law and their in-house doctor.

His doctor. Yes, Lizzie Hope was his. He had claimed her from the start. It was a subtle declaration because he didn't want his mother to find out and spook her, like what aunt Titiana had done to the new tzarina.

Unconsciously, his hands clenched into fists. It's been 48 hours. They had deliberately placed their selves in danger while the enemies were out there trying to finish the job.

He should have known the sexy physician was as stubborn as hell. Well, at least they won't have a boring married life. Alec mentally scoffed.

No more games. When he got his hands on her...

His perfect white teeth he was so proud of and added to the allure for the ladies in his legendary career gnash in frustration.

He wanted her. Only her. And he was honest about it from the start. The fucking problem was she avoided him like he carried a viral disease.

"Any updates from the banks about their card transactions?" Alec asked. Impatience must be a contagious thing. Waiting another day would be too much for him and his tzar.

"They...the banks haven't replied yet, general." One of the boys informed them but his digits were a blur on his keyboard typing codes furiously.

"Fuck! That's the way to find them. Call our banks and let the managers know I want to speak to them. I'll fucking bomb their buildings if they don't cooperate." Dominic growled. This doesn't bode well if the tzar has commanded. But damn it! Desperate times call for desperate measures.

***

Fucking finally! They hit the motherload on the third day. One of the banks -not from lack of threat from Dominic's part - gave a complete list of the girls' card transactions and records.

Lizzie...his doctor.

Damn! It would be so hot to caress her ass cheeks after he spanked them raw.

It was a three hours drive to Anaheim. The suspense and uncertainty were killing him and his mafia king.

Dominic stared out the window. His hands balled into fists, never uttering one word since they found out where they were hiding. His jaw was ticking and his thick brows burrowed in a deep scowl.

Alec cleared his throat to interrupt Dominic's pity party. God! The ladies they wanted for life were as crazy as them. He grinned.

The tzar pointedly glanced at him, warning him to piss off. Since he never listened, he cleared his throat more loudly.

"You fucking sick or something?" Dominic growled. Irritated.

"Stress itself is a risk factor for heart attacks, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk." Alec said in a sing-song voice and grinning at his annoyed expression. Shit! He couldn't believe he had googled medical stuff just because he was interested in a sexy as hell doctor.

"Your stupid point is?" Dominic spat venomously. Yeah, he's moodier than a pregnant hormonal woman.

It will change when they reach their destination. As will his.

"That you are stress and you should talk about it, my friend." Damn shit! He felt like a psychiatrist.

Rubbing his hands on his face furiously, he released a huge sigh and started talking. It was like a dam had burst. "Shit! I don't know why the fuck she left me. I thought we had an understanding." Dominic's tirade ended in a harsh pained whisper and he slumped in exhaustion. They never had enough sleep these past few days.

"You want me to be honest with you?" Alec arched his brows and concentrated on not showing his amusement at his friend's predicament.

"Feel free to do that since you have successfully disturbed my peace." He answered sarcastically. Facing the window once more.

"You fucked up. From the moment she woke up, you commanded her to accept your engagement and you never gave her a choice. To put the icing on the cake, you refuse to ask her properly. In my opinion, that's what she was waiting for and you denied her that." Alec watched, satisfied as the realization has cleared Dominic's stormy gray-blue eyes.

Dominic had finally realized his mistake. "I had everything planned to a tee." He admitted.

Damn! His own eyes widened at his admission. "The perfect date and the perfect proposal."

So that's the reason he was really pissed. He knew it might be a stupid question but..."You will still go through with it?"

The not-so-scary mafia King scowled at him darkly. That's a yes then.

"When I get my hands on my detka," His deep accented voice rumbled in annoyance.

His boss and friend didn't finish his sentence, however, the promise of his intent had laced his voice.

"Yeah. You and me both." Alec admitted.

Dominic snorted. "The doctor."

That didn't surprise him. Of course, the fact that he was interested in the woman wouldn't go past him. He wouldn't be the king of all gangsters if he was not shrewd and accurately observant.

He and his tzarina was a perfect match. Both geniuses in their own rights.

And Lizzie Hope was Alec's perfect match too. He just had to make her realize it.

Come evening, their women will be back in their arms.

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