Savage Boss (Fire & Vice) Read online

  “It’s fine, no thanks to you,” she snarled back, shoving even harder at his chest. He let her go and took a step away before he accidentally bruised her. “I had a little heartburn last night and some nausea again this morning, but otherwise everything is good. He… she… it moves a lot now.”

  Vlad’s heart leaped at her words. It was a bittersweet moment of connection. Even though there was strife in their marriage, their mutual love for their unborn child was undeniable. It united them when nothing else could.

  This was part of the reason Vlad felt the need to lock Jane up. If she lost the baby, she would blame herself and spiral. He couldn’t allow that to happen, even if he had to be the bad guy in this scenario. He would keep her safe from everything, even herself.

  “I have to go,” he said gruffly.

  She looked vulnerable for a few seconds, her big brown eyes awash with unshed tears, staring into his soul. Then the shutter dropped, and anger replaced her desire to have him near.

  “Don’t come back,” she said sharply, turning her back on him.

  Vlad approached her from behind, placing his hands of her shoulders. He leaned down and kissed the back of her head, then said quietly, “I will be back with your supper later today.”

  He insisted on bringing all meals to his wife, even though she threw about half of them at him. It didn’t matter. Even wearing her meals, it was worth it to check on her. To see for himself that she was okay.

  At night he lay in their bed, his laptop pressed against his knees as he watched her. Watched as she paced her prison cell, watched as she raged and threw things, watched as she fell sobbing on the bed and cried herself to sleep. It was those moments that brought Vlad the closest to giving in to her demand to let her out. If their argument was about anything other than her personal safety, Vlad would have given in weeks ago.

  Instead he watched her rage and despair play out on camera and comforted himself with the knowledge that she would survive this small incarceration. She was too strong to allow this moment in their lives to crush her.

  “Unless you plan on setting me free, don’t bother coming back.” Jane pulled away from his grip and walked to the bed. Still refusing to look at him, she climbed on top and dragged a pillow against her stomach.

  Vlad toyed with the idea of sending a servant down with her food. If it distressed her so much to see him then perhaps he should give her the evening away from his presence. But as soon as the thought formed, he dismissed it. No, he couldn’t live without seeing for himself that she was safe and well-cared for.

  “You will see me later tonight,” Vlad said again and turned to leave.

  Her voice stopped him at the door. “You’re going to force my hand, Vlad, and I’m afraid neither of us will like the consequences.”

  He looked back at her. She was still kneeling on the bed, but now she was facing him, her eyes velvety pools of vengeance.

  Vlad shrugged. There was little she could do from inside her small comfortable prison cell. She could rage and throw things, but ultimately, she couldn’t cause any real harm.

  “Good,” Vlad said and walked out of the cell, flicking his hand at the guard on the other side, telling the man to close and lock the door.

  Even though Jane couldn’t get out, Vlad posted a guard in case there was an emergency. It was this man’s job to make sure Jane stayed safe when Vlad wasn’t around to personally ensure her safety.

  As he walked away, he heard something bang against the door. They’d learned not to give her anything breakable weeks ago. Vlad reminded himself that he loved her furious passion and beating it out of her was not a viable option. At least not before his child was born.

  Chapter Four

  “Boss, you’re needed at the bunker.”

  Leo didn’t waste time with greetings; he got right to the point as soon as Vlad answered his phone. Vlad let out a ferocious growl and hung up without saying good-bye. He was out of his office within seconds and halfway across the yard when Leo met him.

  “She locked the door from the inside, boss,” Leo explained. “I can’t get it open.”

  “How the fuck did she do that?” Vlad exploded, walking faster.

  He’d done his level best to make sure the bunker was comfortable, but that there was nothing Jane could use to escape. Of course, Jane was extremely resourceful. Along with her stubborn tenacity, it was this quality that had made her a good cop and an even better private detective.

  Vlad made his way past the wine cellar to the door of Jane’s prison. There was a small barred window in the door. Jane was standing with her back to the door, studiously ignoring everyone on the other side.

  Vlad banged on the window and shouted, “Jane, you turn around right now and look at me.”

  To his surprise, she did. When he saw the smug expression on her face, he was glad he was standing on the other side of a very thick door which was now locked from the inside. The whole thing would have been laughable if it wasn’t so deadly serious. His stubborn wife was determined to make her stand; freedom or nothing.

  “You unlock this door right fucking now,” he snarled.

  She lifted a brow and then glanced down at her fingernails as though she were bored. She sat on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, placed her hands on her knees and looked calmly into space.

  Vlad turned to Leo and snapped, “Get me through this door. Do whatever it takes, just get me the fuck in that room.”

  “Yes, boss,” Leo said quickly then turned around and took off at a run.

  Vlad supposed Leo was going after some equipment to get the door open. Frustrated with how much time it would take before he could set hands on Jane once more, Vlad paced away from the door, then back. He banged on the window with a fist, but she didn’t even flinch let alone look at him.

  So, it was going to be like that, was it? Well, two could play her game. If she wanted extreme, he would give her extreme. Checking the angle to make damn sure he wouldn’t accidentally hurt his wife, Vlad pulled his gun from the holster under his jacket. He held it up to the corner of the small glass window. He was done talking through glass. If he couldn’t stand in the same room as her, she would at least hear his voice loud and clear.

  Vlad dipped his head into the corner of his elbow, pressing his arm tight against his ears as he pulled the trigger. The sound was deafening in the small space and for a moment Vlad was forced to stand still as the ringing in his ears subsided.

  “Vlad!” Jane screamed as she leapt off the bed and rushed to the window. “Vlad, talk to me, are you okay?”

  He was surprised to see her small face pop up as she gripped the edge of the door where the glass used to be and frantically looked out the portal for him. Relief flooded her lovely brown eyes as she spotted him. Despite his anger, Vlad was elated that she still cared enough for him to make sure he wasn’t hurt.

  As soon as she made sure he was okay, she started shouting. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Did you know for sure the glass would shatter? What if your men put bulletproof glass in? That bullet could’ve rebounded and hit you. God, you are so fucking dense sometimes.”

  She stalked furiously away from the window, back to completely pissed off. She flounced on the edge of the bed, refusing to look at Vlad.

  Bulletproof glass. Vlad now wished he’d thought of that when he’d had the door installed. The bunker hadn’t originally been meant as a prison for Jane, but as a safe room in case the family ever came under attack. He should’ve consulted her on ways to make it more impenetrable.

  Taking a deep breath, Vlad tried to calm himself down. “Jane, malysh, I need you to open the door for me. I promise I will not yell.”

  She pretended to examine her nails again. “Couldn’t even if I wanted to.”

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Vlad demanded.

  She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes but still refused to look at him. “I jammed a fork in the door lock and then hit it with the heel of my shoe until the handle broke off. The knob is useless now.”

  Vlad shook his head. He should’ve guessed she would use one of the utensils given to her every day to escape her prison. He’d figured she would try to attack a guard or something, so he made sure everyone knew not to approach her directly when the door was open. He didn’t care much about his staff getting hurt, but he didn’t want Jane trying to fight while she was pregnant.

  He was also relieved that she’d only fucked with the doorknob. Once they got it off, all he had to do was have it replaced with something that didn’t have access to the lock on the inside. He was just thinking that they’d have the door open in no time and he could strangle his wife properly when she let out a sharp cry.

  Vlad looked through the portal. Jane was still sitting on the edge of the bed but now she was doubled over clutching her stomach. Ice flooded through Vlad’s veins, leaving him feeling as though he’d just been submerged in frigid water.

  “Jane, speak to me, what’s happening?”

  “I don’t know, Vlad,” she groaned. “M-my stomach hurts.”

  Vlad tried the doorknob again as if sheer strength might get the door open. It wouldn’t. He’d made certain the door was solid. He rattled the knob frantically, his eyes never leaving his wife. “Is this part of your ploy? Don’t you dare fucking pretend with me right now, Jane.”

  She flipped her head up, her ponytail bouncing against her neck and glared at him. Her expression quickly melted from anger to fear and then pain. “I’m not pretending!” she snarled, clutching at her middle.

  Vlad hit the door with his fist then looked down at the knob. It was just the knob that’d been damaged. If he could knock it off the door, he might be able to get inside.

  “Stay calm, Jane.” He strode into t
he wide cellar and grabbed the first bottle he saw.

  Holding it in both hands, he slammed the heel of the bottle down onto the knob. It creaked but otherwise nothing happened. He lifted the bottle again but was interrupted when Jane let out a scream of pain.

  Vlad dropped the bottle and gripped the edge of the window desperately. “Jane, malysh, talk to me.”

  She’d slid off the bed and was crouched on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees while she rocked back and forth. She looked up at Vlad, tears pouring down her face. “I… I think I’m losing our baby.”

  The look of terror on her face was the only thing that forced Vlad to keep his shit together. He slammed the heel of his hand into the door to gain her attention. “You listen to me, malysh, you will fight for our child. You will not give up on him.”

  Jane let out a keening wail. “Fuck, it hurts!”

  “I will get you out, baby, just hang on.”

  Vlad rushed away from the door to the main door of the cellar. “Hurry the fuck up!” he bellowed across the lawn at the three men striding toward the bunker with an assortment of power tools in their hands. “Jane’s in trouble.”

  The three men broke into a run. Satisfied that help was on its way, Vlad rushed back to the bunker door. Jane was now laying sprawled on the ground. For a heart stopping second Vlad thought she’d died. Then she lifted her head off the floor and looked at him.

  “It’s my fault,” she whispered, tears dripping from her cheeks and chin.

  “No, no, no,” Vlad said, shaking his head. “You don’t get to take the blame for this. This is my fault. You find the strength to fight me, malysh. You tell me this is my fault.”

  Her head dropped to the carpet and she stopped moving.

  “Oh god.” Tears stung his eyes. “Hang on, love. I’m coming.”

  His guys arrived and he backed away, saying, “Go for the hinges. Take the whole door. As fast as you can. You have 30 seconds to get me in that room.”

  29 seconds later the door was lying flat on the floor and Vlad was lifting Jane off the ground. He tilted her head back into the crook of his arm. Her sleek black hair spilled over his bicep. There was no colour in her face and her eyes were shut.

  “Jane, Jane, look at me, baby,” he said frantically. When there was no answer, he looked up at his guys. “If there isn’t a car parked in front of this bunker when I walk out, you will feel my wrath.”

  Before he could leave, Jane whispered, “Not their fault, boss man.”

  Relief hit him like a truck. If Jane was being mouthy then she couldn’t possibly be dying.

  “Talk to me, malysh, tell me what’s happening.”

  “The baby,” she whispered. “I’m getting bad cramps and I think… I think I might be bleeding.”

  Vlad carried her back to the bed and gently laid her down. She groaned and tried to roll onto her side, but he pushed her onto her back. “I know it hurts, baby, but I need to see what’s happening.”

  She didn’t say anything or try to stop him as he slid his fingers into the waistband of her sleeping shorts and panties and pulled them down. There was a couple drops of blood on the crotch of the delicate pink fabric.

  “Is there blood?” she gasped out.

  Vlad pulled her shorts back up and gathered her into his arms, pressing his lips to her forehead. “No, baby, no blood.”

  “Thank god!”

  Vlad hid his face against her neck so she wouldn’t read the lie in his expression. “I’m going to pick you up again, malysh. It might hurt, but we need to get you to a hospital.”

  “Oh… okay,” she said, then she passed out.

  It was her lack of fight that terrified Vlad.

  Chapter Five

  They rushed through the emergency room doors, Jane cradled in Vlad’s arms. It was reminiscent of when she’d been shot. The day Vlad realized he couldn’t live without his pain-in-the-ass woman.

  “I need a doctor,” he said desperately to the first person he saw, a nurse passing through the emergency room.

  She looked harried, as though she’d been rushing somewhere, but she stopped and looked at Jane with concern. “Have you checked in yet?”

  “No,” he said shortly.

  The nurse glanced past Vlad with a frown as two of his men stepped up to his back. They were scary looking motherfuckers and Vlad didn’t blame the nurse for her reservation, but he didn’t have time for anyone except Jane.

  “I need a doctor right fucking now. My wife is pregnant.”

  Her frowning gaze returned to Jane. The two nurses behind the plastic shielded reception area were now paying attention. A hand hovered over a button that Vlad was sure would connect them with security.

  “Okay, sir, I understand you’re worried about your wife, but you will need to check in. I’ll see if I can find a bed while you’re doing that.”

  Vlad’s frustration boiled over. “Can’t you see there’s something wrong with her?” Vlad snarled tilting Jane in his arms so the nurse could see how pale she was. “She needs medical attention immediately.”

  “I understand, sir,” the nurse said calmly. “But we can’t do anything for her until we have a medical history. Trust me, we’ll get her taken care of.”

  Vlad wanted to dare her to call him ‘sir’ one more time. He’d pull his sidearm and force her to find him a doctor. Instead, he turned to Leo and snapped, “Go get us checked in.”

  As he spoke, the nurse hurried away, taking advantage of his momentary distraction. Vlad wanted to bellow his frustration. Rage and fear were preventing him from thinking clearly. Jane could be slipping away in his arms and not a single person seemed interested in helping him.

  “Fuck this,” Vlad muttered and took off down the nearest hallway.

  He heard an exclamation from behind him but kept going. If it came down to it, he would find a doctor and force them at gunpoint to look at Jane. Maxim ran after Vlad, attempting to cover his back single-handedly while Leo took care of the paperwork at reception. Maxim was competent as Vlad’s personal bodyguard, while Leo ran security at the house and took Boris’ place as Vlad’s second-in-command.

  Vlad didn’t give a shit what his men did, nor the hospital staff. His entire focus was on Jane. He had to find her help. He couldn’t begin to think what he would do if anything happened to her or the baby.

  Just then a doctor rounded the corner at the end of the hallway, his grey head bent over a clipboard. He was so engrossed that he didn’t see Vlad at first.

  “I need your help,” Vlad snapped striding toward the doctor. “My wife is pregnant, and she collapsed.”

  The doctor looked up in surprise. He stopped in his tracks and automatically stepped back as Vlad rushed at him. He glanced around the empty hallway in concern, perhaps looking for backup as a large angry-looking tattooed Russian mobster bore down on him.

  “I… I… have you checked in at reception?” the doctor asked tentatively.

  Jane moaned in Vlad’s arms, punching a fist of fear into his gut. Her face twisted in pain, but her eyes didn’t open.

  Vlad pulled his gun and pointed it at the now shaking doctor. “You will help her, right fucking now.”

  The doctor stood frozen and Vlad nearly shot him out of frustration. Trying to get medical help in the hospital was turning out to be harder than attempting a trade deal with the Yakuza.

  “Fuck!” Vlad shouted, then shoved his gun back in his holster while balancing Jane against his chest. “There, my weapon is away. Now help her.”

  Before the doctor could say anything, security came rushing around the corner. Maxim reached for his gun, but Vlad held a hand up, stopping him. They didn’t need to escalate the situation beyond what Vlad had already done.

  Ignoring the security guards, Vlad spoke straight to the doctor. “Please, you have to help her. She’s six months pregnant and she collapsed about twenty minutes ago. She’s spotting.”

  A look of alarm crossed the doctor’s features for the first time since Vlad accosted him. His gaze dropped to Jane. He tentatively took a step forward and reached for her wrist. Vlad tilted her so her arm was more accessible. The doctor checked her pulse and breathing, then touched her face which was becoming paler by the second.