Chapter 5

TIBET

In the minimalist monastery room, mainly consisting of stone and wood, Ivan lies unconscious on the bed in the far corner. Seated in a chair beside the bed is Anatoly, a man in his sixties, with dark hair, styled sleekly and beard.

“How is he?” he throws behind his shoulder.

“I believe he is recovering fast.” A bald monk dressed in a dark long robe answers behind Anatoly’s back. “He is a very tough man, Mr. Abalychiev. He will be happy to see you when he wakes up.”

“I came as soon as I got your message. What’s the damage?” Anatoly ignores the monk’s comment.

“Considerable cut across his abdominals. We had trouble stitching that up. I was afraid he might have internal bleeding.” The monk sighs. “So far, that and a couple fractures on his ribs. I am curious what happened to him though. You don’t get those kind of injuries hiking.”

“You do if you roll down Himalaya.” Anatoly replies flat, his voice void of emotions. “Leave me with him.”

The monk nods and exits the room, Anatoly’s eyes trained on Ivan’s almost lifeless face.

“It’s not easy for a father to see his son like this, Ivan, especially when I tried so hard to cut you loose and offer you a better life. You need to get back on your feet. You are strong. You can’t leave like this boy. You’ve faced worse.” He gets up and starts pacing the room, running his fingers through his hair repeatedly.

“I didn’t call the Snyders’. I didn’t know what to tell them. I haven’t even talked to my daughters yet. Clara and Natasha thought you were dead. I told them so, when you left to the States those years ago.” He sits next to the bed again.

“Sometimes I wish I never called you that day. Alexander Snyder is a good man and he made a good man out of you too. But my daughter…their sons…they were going to die Ivan. Your sister were going to die if I didn’t drag you into this.” A tear escapes Anatoly’s eyes and he wipes it immediately, like it burns his cheek.

“I tell myself, and I really want to believe it, that you don’t regret abandoning your life to go rescue them.”

BERLIN

Richard sits by the pool at the hotel’s rooftop, cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other. He’s trying to live up to his sister’s expectations and enjoy some time to relax. Claudia reassured him that nothing was going to happen in LA while he was away. She would take care of the volume in the company and would update him regularly. He could still join the meetings in his phone and give the board members a good scare, she had joked on the phone earlier.

Cassandra walks out on the roof looking around for her new friend, which she hasn’t seen these past day and her face breaks in a smile when she finds him sitting there alone.

“Hey stranger! Been looking for you.” Richard places his glass on the table and turns his head to look at the girl.

“Been busy all week. You alright?” he removes his sunglasses and offers her a smile.

She takes a seat across from him, reaching her hand for the pack of cigarettes on the table. “May I?”

“Help yourself. Didn’t peg you for a smoker.” Richard raises a brow and lets out an amused chuckle.

“Didn’t peg you for a whiskey guy.”

“Touche!” his chest rumbles with laughter. “How was your week?”

“Class after class. Fashion is a tough business, you know.” She sighs but recollects herself, grinning. “Anyway, my week was nothing close to your interestingly busy one.” She winks.

“I don’t think I mentioned ‘interesting’?” Richard questions, the amusement never leaving his features.

“Oh, but the reception girl did. I asked her if she had seen you around and she gave me a very detailed answer that sounded something like: different girls, room service, you know…just one’s cup of tea.” Richard’s brows rise in realization.

“Ah, that.” He leans forward placing his elbows on the table, studying Cassandra’s eyes intently. “Are you jealous, shorty?”

She dismisses him with an awkward laugh, shooing him away lamely with her hand, trying to cover her blushing cheeks.

“Pffft! No thanks. I’m not into girls. And I would much better find a man for life than one for each weekday.”

Richard hums letting her fan off for a while, thinking of something he might say to push her buttons further.

“Not the kind of jealousy I meant, but good to know your lack of a sex life.” The corner of his lips tugs in a mischievous smile.

“I don’t lack…wait! How is that a good thing?!” she gets up from the table pacing. “How did we end up talking about my sex life?!” she laughs awkwardly

“I love how you blush like a virgin. Exactly the kind of girl I’d like to corrupt.” He states in a husky voice, Cassandra’s face going on fire. A deep scarlet blush takes over her cheeks.

“I’m going for a swim!” she dismisses his comment.

“Come on! I was just messing with you.”

“And I’m going for a swim.” She offers a smile and leaves and quickly removes her clothes and jumps into the pool.

Richard takes a moment to recover from what he just witnessed. She hadn’t even realized she had just undressed in front of him, but he surely had realized what a fucking body she has been hiding away. He walks to the pool and stands by the edge of it, still fully clothed.

“Look at you all wet.” He calls, messing with her.

“Stop! Oh my God, you are unbelievable!” she cackles. “Why don’t you come in? Might cool your brain.” Richard goes serious at her words.

“I don’t want to undress.” He states flat

“What?! Why? Don’t tell me you suddenly got all shy with me.” she jokes, but his serious face troubles her.

“Shy is a foreign word to me sweets. I’m more concerned about you. If I undress right now, there are two possibilities: either you’ll run away from me or find me too…interesting?” He winks.

“Try me!” she wiggles her brows up for the challenge.

“Remember you asked for it. One thing’s for sure, anyway. You’re gonna be dumb-struck.” He laughs and starts pulling his tee over his head, revealing for the first time his broad chest and ripped abs. his entire upper body is covered in tattoos: full sleeves on his arms, inks covering his chest, belly and back. Cassandra’s mouth hangs open in disbelief. She’s dumb-struck alright.

“Oh my…wow! You…holy-“ Her stutter stops when Richard removes his jeans, revealing even more ink decorating his legs.

“So? What’s it gonna be?” he asks in a low, dark voice as he enters the cool water. She just eyes him up and down, the hair on her skin in high alert from his body getting closer to hers with every step.

“I…um…” her eyes raise to meet his dilated blue ones and Cassandra is taken by surprise when he wastes no time closing their distance and catching her lips in a lustful kiss.