Chapter 16

What am I doing here? Laney thought wildly, wondering if there was enough time to flee. Tearing her eyes from the massive cargo ship, she glanced back desperately at the departing taxi as it left the parking lot. Light from the setting sun glinted off the window, momentarily dazzling her.

She blinked rapidly and clutched her duffel bag tighter. She looked up at the ship with trepidation and wondered how she could possibly bring herself to step foot on such a massive beast. She'd never in her life seen anything like it. She had to tilt her head way back, shade her eyes and squint, her braids tipping over her shoulders, to even see the top. The ship itself was huge, but with rows and rows of tightly packed containers on top, it was unimaginably colossal. She began counting out of sheer, panicked curiosity. Eight high. Although they weren't all even, some were nine high and some were seven. Her eyes flew down the rows as far as she could see. She couldn't tell how long the damn ship was, it was just too big! But if she had to guess she would say maybe twenty shipping containers long.

Laney grew dizzy from staring up at it. She closed her eyes and swayed on the spot. Warmth enveloped her from behind as a hand wrapped around her arm completely, steadying her at the same time as ensuring she wouldn't run. She opened her eyes and looked up into the bearded face of Boris. Concern and satisfaction shone in his dark eyes.

"You came," he rumbled down at her.

She nodded, letting his solid presence fill her with strength. The ship was overwhelming, but she would get used to it. Laney was nothing if not adaptable.

Boris flashed a grin through his beard and waved a hand encompassing the length of the massive ship. "Is impressive, da?"

Laney rolled her eyes and tried to look unimpressed, though she had been anything but upon first seeing the ship.

Boris raised an eyebrow at her, his grin turning lascivious. "Ah, just wait until you've climbed aboard. I think you will be very impressed with the size once you see it up close."

Laney snorted, but started laughing out loud at how ridiculous he sounded, which broke her earlier tension. Boris chuckled with her, his eyes tracing her features as though memorizing her. He took her bag, hefted his own over one massive shoulder and started toward the dock. He urged Laney forward so she would have no choice but to go with him.

They boarded the ship through a hatch and met with the commanding officer. Laney watched with sharp eyes as the men spoke in rapid Russian, though she suspected the captain was not Russian by birth. Ukrainian possibly. They spoke too rapidly for her to catch the entire exchange, but she heard enough to understand that Boris was the one giving instructions and not the other way around.

Oleg, as Boris introduced him, was probably in his late 60's. He was a tall man and would have been considered broad if he had not been standing next to Boris. The man described a recent staffing situation that gave Laney some perspective on his personality. She thought he seemed stern but fair and her esteem for the older man went up. He was certainly mobbed up the ass, but he had scruples. Much like herself.

Laney yawned delicately and tried to hide it behind a hand. She'd spent the afternoon with Addison Sterling, who had kindly come over to 'help' Laney pack. Which was extremely inefficient given Addison's lack of sight and Laney's tendency toward minimalism. The time had been spent in Addison attempting to convince Laney not to leave with Boris, thus sending them both on an exhausting emotional rollercoaster.

"Please, don't go," Addison begged from her perch on Laney's single bed.

Laney had never had a real woman friend before coming to America and, despite her friendship with Claudia King, Addison was the one person she had grown closest to. Addison was sweet, kind and always honest. She was the most uncomplicated of all of Laney's new acquaintances. She was also the one person Laney had the most difficulty saying no to.

"Why are you so worried?" Laney hedged, pushing a stack of simple cotton T-shirts into her duffel bag.

Addison made a frustrated sound and shrugged her shoulders. "You know- I just feel things. I've always sensed something different about you, Laney. I feel like you're going on this trip with Boris because you have to, not because you want to. I'm just so worried about you."

Laney stilled and looked down at Addison's earnest face. She wasn't classically beautiful, but all of her features put together and combined with her confidence made her quite lovely. Personality, looks and her mastery over the cello practically made her a national treasure. Of course, she was too humble to acknowledge that. It was a good thing her man was a vicious, barely-leashed guard dog.

"You don't need to worry about me, Addison Sterling. You know I don't like to discuss private details, but I will tell you that I- am curious about Boris. I can assure you, I want him in the way that a woman wants a man," Laney said as confidently as she could, trying to channel some of Addison's sexual bravery. Dammit, she could slice a man to ribbons without hesitation, but she turned into a freaking blushing bride when it came to sex talk!

"Besides," Laney continued, defending herself, "I don't exactly remember you being all that happy with Daniel's bullshit when he was going all stalker on you. Yeah, don't give me that face. He had me track the credit card you used when you ran away to the Four Seasons hotel. Seriously, who runs away to a luxury hotel? And look how your happy ever after turned out?"

Addison burst out laughing. "You sound like Anya!"

"Oh, you did not just say that! Take it back or I'll punch you in the boob. I don't even care that you're blind. That's just a bitch thing to say!"

Addison was laughing so hard she was almost fell off the tiny bed. Laney grinned, her face unusually relaxed. It made her very happy to see Addison this way. Addison had been far too serious the past few months during her recovery from kidnapping. The psychotic stalker had snapped and nearly succeeded in killing Addison, but the blind musician had bravely fought off her attacker and saved herself with a little help from her protective lover and Jane Sitnikov.

"Besides," Addison said, once her giggles calmed down. "I would say Daniel and I are working on our happily ever after. I refused to marry him unless he gets some professional therapy and so far, his appointments haven't been going well."

"Oh. My. God," Laney whispered, awe in her voice. "You truly are like a goddess and the holy grail all rolled into one. There is no way anyone who has ever met that man would believe he would actually seek professional help."

Laney abandoned her packing and jumped onto the bed with Addison causing them both to bounce. "Okay, you must tell me all the details. And then never speak of this again. If Daniel Mercer knew that you had told a soul of his therapy sessions, then that life would be instantly forfeit. I will probably never sleep soundly again, just knowing this information, and yet this is the best gossip ever."

Addison nodded seriously. Neither woman was kidding.

"Well, we created a list of possible psychologists he was willing to see. Ones with excellent reputations for both confidentiality and results. There were at least twelve names on that list and he's managed to exhaust the entire list without actually making it to a second session with the same therapist."

"Wow," Laney said, though she wasn't in the least surprised.

Addison held up a hand and ticked off her fingers as she went. "He refused to speak to the first one beyond introducing himself. When the therapist suggested he couldn't help Daniel unless Daniel spoke at least a little, Daniel suggested the man would help him if he and his family wanted to see the next day. He waited until Daniel left before calling me and politely suggesting Daniel look elsewhere. Although to be fair, he did manage to get Daniel to speak, which is progress. The next two managed to get themselves injured, which required a whole lot of money and a few Tyson King lawyers to smooth things over."

"How did I not hear about any of this?" Laney asked.

Addison shrugged. "I asked for Tyson's help when the psychologists threatened to sue Daniel. Daniel doesn't even know that Tyson knows. I highly doubt Tyson told Claudia. He's almost as protective of his friendship with Daniel as he is of her."

Laney murmured her understanding.

Addison continued. "The next one was actually really good. An older woman and a musician, she was very patient with him. I think she reminded him a little of me, which helped."

"What happened?"

"She wanted to talk about his childhood," Addison said with a sigh.

Laney made a face. "Is she still alive?"

"I think her resemblance to me saved her life, but she's definitely not in the picture any more. And things just went downhill from there. The next one was so terrified of Daniel and whatever he divulged during their single session that he threw up on his own desk and cried. I actually think he shut down his practice and went on an extended vacation. I made Daniel transfer a bunch of money into the guy's account and promise to apologize if he ever comes back. Daniel assures me the man won't want to see him again. I assured Daniel that if he doesn't apologize then he won't be hearing the sound of wedding bells."

"What was his reply?" Laney asked curiously, though she knew exactly what her boss would say to his woman.

Addison's lips twitched in amusement though she tried to look annoyed. "My caveman said, and I quote 'fucking throw you over my shoulder and marry your pain in the ass, whether you like it or not'."

They both laughed at the imitation of Daniel's gruff mannerisms.

Addison smiled toward Laney. "He hasn't refused to stop trying therapy. I think he sees the value in talking to someone, especially about his childhood trauma. It's just a matter of time before we find someone who's sensitive and patient enough to be able to handle my homicidal, possessive man."

Laney nodded and looked down at the quilt they were sitting on, her expression growing serious. She was glad Addison couldn't see her. Images of her own childhood flashed through her brain before she could stop them. The blood and the beatings. The pain and the darkness. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She understood Daniel in a way others perhaps could not. The need to kill, to purge and to separate from oneself. She envied him the peace he found with Addison Sterling.

"I don't want you to go," Addison burst out. "I feel like you're safe here where we can watch over you. All of us. I know you're in trouble and I just know it'll find you overseas where we can't help you. I know you'll have Boris, but he has his own trouble. I don't know if he can keep you safe." Anxiety laced Addison's voice and her fingers played restlessly across the top of the quilt.

Laney's eyes flickered over Addison and a pain tugged in her chest. She didn't want to leave her friend. "I must go, Addison Sterling. I wouldn't go if I didn't have a very good reason."

Addison nodded slowly and let out a long sigh before saying, "I know."

Laney smiled sadly. "You may hug me now if you want."

Addison laughed. "Wow, I'm so privileged! I didn't even have to beg for one like Claudia."

Reaching out blindly she met Laney halfway across the bed. They embraced each other tightly for a few moments.

"There's someone very special I want you to meet some day," Laney whispered, wiping her tears on Addison's cardigan.

Addison nodded, hugging Laney close. There were tears in her voice as she replied, "I look forward to that day."