Brie's Submission (10-12) (Brie's Submission Boxed Set Book 4)

Tono struggled to breathe and backed away when the Russian let go.

  Rytsar Durov shook his head. “I got on a plane as soon as I received your message about my brother. I have spent this entire time out of my mind with worry and then I find radost moya in your arms. It was too much.”

  Tono caressed his sore jaw. “It was a simple misunderstanding.”

  Rytsar patted him forcefully on the back. “Radost moya explained everything.”

  “Where is she?”

  “She was distraught about you so I immediately came to apologize.”

  “You left her there alone?” Tono asked, now concerned.

  “She is with her husband, as it should be.”

  “Didn’t she tell you what’s happened with Sir Davis’s half-sister, Lilly?”

  “Nyet.”

  Tono grabbed his keys. “We have to go back—now. I’ll explain on the way.”

  Rytsar Durov seemed unfazed. “Do not fear, my men are there guarding her.”

  Tono looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”

  “I trust no one.”

  Tono stared at him, shaking his head. “It must be a lonely world you live in.”

  “It is the only one I know. Now, tell me everything you know about Lilly.”

  As Tono drove, he explained Brie’s encounters with the woman, including the spiked drink and attempted kidnapping.

  Rytsar went totally ballistic, hitting the car door with his fist as he screamed, “That suka!” He pounded the door again. “How dare she try to hurt radost moya and moye solntse!”

  He started pounding the dashboard relentlessly.

  Tono put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “This is a rental. It’s already been involved in an accident. I do not need the extra expense.”

  The Russian took in a deep breath and he put his fists in his lap. “I am sorry. I…” he snarled under his breath, “am very angry right now.”

  “I understand.”

  “Why is this woman not locked up?” Rytsar demanded.

  “The police have been unable to apprehend her.”

  “Are they idiots?” he snarled.

  Tono took a deep breath, needing the man to fully appreciate the serious threat Lilly posed. “Durov, this woman is every bit as intelligent as Sir Davis. She has bested us all, and Brie is the one who has paid the price each and every time.”

  “No more!” Rytsar Durov pointed at Tono’s foot on the gas pedal. “Can’t you go any faster?”

  “Rather than risking a speeding ticket, why don’t you call Brie and tell her we are both headed back. She won’t move until we get there.”

  The Russian growled but pulled out the phone from his pocket to call her. Tono pretended not to hear the tongue-lashing he gave Brie for keeping the information about Lilly from him.

  Poor toriko, Tono thought, you might not survive your Russian protector.

  When they arrived, hospital security refused to allow Rytsar Durov to enter.

  “What is this?” Durov shouted.

  Tono put his hand on the man’s muscular shoulder. “Violence is not tolerated in this environment. Let me speak with the staff and see what I can do.”

  Rytsar Durov stood at the entrance with his arms crossed, a look of fury on his face.

  “That won’t help your case,” Tono advised. “Think peaceful thoughts until I return.”

  The Russian growled under his breath.

  Tono went inside and headed upstairs to see Brie first. It was important that she knew he was fine and held no ill will toward the Russian. He passed by two intimidating men who were standing close to the ICU entrance. He had to assume they were Durov’s guards. It actually gave Tono solace to know Brie had extra protection, and he nodded at the two men.

  “Tono!” Brie cried as soon as she saw him. “Are you okay?” She caressed his swollen jaw, tears in her eyes.

  He smiled. “I’m totally fine.”

  “Rytsar shouldn’t have hur—”

  Tono shook his head. “He was extremely upset about his best friend. It’s understandable.”

  “You didn’t deserve this,” she said, her bottom lip trembling as she cradled his sore jaw.

  He took her hand from his face and kissed it. “There is no reason to be upset. Durov has come to care for you, allowing me to go back to Denver.”

  Brie nodded, her lip still trembling.

  “The only issue is that he’s not allowed to enter the hospital. Do you want to help me remedy that?”

  “Yes,” she said, finally smiling.

  They spent the next hour talking to Abby and eventually the administration of the hospital before the ban against the Russian was lifted.

  Tono walked outside with Brie to give Durov the good news, and found him standing in the exact same place with the same expression.

  “What took you so long?”

  “It took some convincing to get them to understand you are not a menace to society,” Brie answered.

  Durov’s frown deepened.

  “They’ve agreed to allow you into the facility but should there be a similar outburst, they will involve the police next time,” Tono explained.

  Durov snarled. “I won’t react unless I am provoked.”

  Brie put her small hand on Durov’s powerful arm. “I need you with me.”

  His countenance completely changed as he looked down at her and vowed protectively, “I won’t leave your side, radost moya.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tono felt the release of responsibility as he watched the Russian take Brie into his arms and close his eyes as he held the girl. Durov would give his life to protect Brie, Tono had no doubt.

  “I promised Autumn that I would head home as soon as I felt I could leave. That time has come.”

  “Good,” Durov stated.

  Brie walked over to Tono. He could see she was close to tears, and smiled warmly. “I’m grateful I was able to be here for my family. The next time we meet, it will be to celebrate Sir Davis’s recovery.”

  She nodded, taking a deep breath to hold back her emotions.

  “Since I left my vehicle at the apartment, I will I need to head back with you,” Durov insisted.

  “I’ll go with you both then,” Brie said. “Just let me say good-bye to Sir first.”

  Both men followed her up and stood back as she spoke with her husband.

  “She’s still fragile, Durov. Be gentle with her,” Tono said quietly.

  “I will honor my brother in my care of radost moya.”

  “Yes, that is what I did.”

  Durov glanced sideways at him. “I am his brother.”

  Tono smiled to himself at Durov’s need to stake his claim over both Sir Davis and Brie, but he said nothing.

  Rytsar growled under his breath. “I still need to even things up with that traitor. I will give him a handshake of thanks—with my fist.”

  “Who?”

  “Anderson.”

  “You do realize he did everything possible to protect Brie.”

  “No, he did not or I would have been here.”

  It had never occurred to Tono to question why Master Anderson had asked him to help Brie and not the Russian. However, he could understand why that decision had upset the man beside him. If two men were ever brothers by choice, it was Sir Davis and Durov—there was no question. It was obvious Rytsar cared deeply for Brie and would do everything in his power to protect her.

  “I would save your energies for other things,” Tono advised him.

  “Do you mean my comrade’s beast of a sibling?”

  “Yes.”

  Durov faced Tono when he stated in an ominous tone, “She will be sorry she ever touched radost moya. When I find her, she will not forget my lesson.”

  “Don’t forget Lilly is pregnant, Durov. The child she carries has done nothing wrong.”

  “Rest assured, I do not punish the innocent.”

  Brie approached them with a smile and asked Durov, “Would you like some time alon
e with him, Rytsar?”

  He cleared his throat. “Yes, I would.”

  She took his large hand and squeezed it. “I think Sir would like that too. We’ll head downstairs and you can meet us there when you’re done talking to him.”

  Tono was grateful to have a few minutes alone with Brie. So much had happened in a short amount of time, and soon he would be saying good-bye.

  Brie suggested they sit on an outdoor bench, which was covered in warm rays of sunlight.

  “I knew he would be hurt, Tono,” Brie said sadly.

  “The worst is over,” he assured her. “Now that he’s here and has gotten to see that you both are safe, he will be able to adjust.”

  She reached out and caressed his throbbing jaw. “Will Autumn be able to forgive me, you think?”

  Tono smirked. “I’m sure she’ll find my new look rugged and sexy.”

  Brie looked up at him with those soft honey-colored eyes. “I’m glad you are leaving, but I will miss you, Tono.”

  “I wouldn’t be able to fly out if I didn’t believe you were in good hands.”

  She smiled. “And I am.”

  “I’m truly grateful for the time we had. I think it was beneficial to us both.”

  “It was,” she agreed, trying desperately not to cry.

  “No tears.”

  She nodded and took a deep breath before saying, “I plan to keep the routine we’ve set so I can finish my documentary.”

  “Good. I’d be honored to see it when it’s complete.”

  “Tono…”

  He could tell she was struggling with her words, so he kept silent as he gazed into her eyes.

  “Thank you for helping me through this.”

  “May you never know such darkness again. But you are strong, and you are not alone. Don’t forget that.”

  She nodded.

  “You are not a burden—ever.”

  Tears started to fall, so she quickly turned away. When she had successfully vanquished them, she faced him again, her cheeks wet despite her smile. “Truly, you and Autumn deserve the happiness you can give each other. Your joy is my joy, so please don’t be afraid to share it with me, no matter what’s going on here.”

  “I promise.”

  Rytsar Durov came bursting out of the hospital and announced, “The time has come to make right what is wrong.” His expression changed to one of respect when he addressed Tono. “But first we send you off properly, Tono Nosaka.”

  It turned out that the Russian’s idea of a proper send-off consisted of being escorted to a private jet by his entourage of men as soon as he had his suitcase in hand. Tono had no complaints, however, because it meant he’d be back in Denver and able to surprise Autumn that much sooner.

  “May we meet again under good circumstances,” Rytsar Durov said, shaking his hand formally as they stood beside the jet.

  “And may it be soon,” Tono replied.

  He turned to Brie then and held out his hand to her. “Until we meet again, Mrs. Davis.”

  Brie shook it, but quickly broke the handshake to give him a hug. “Good-bye, Tono. Thank you for resetting my course.”

  Tono walked onto the plane and turned back once. He stood entranced for a moment as a vision of the cherry blossoms swirled around Brie before disappearing up into the sky.

  Peace to you, toriko, he thought as he waved good-bye.

  Making His Claim

  Tono did not call Autumn to let her know he was returning to Denver. Instead, he went straight home to don a formal suit before he surprised her in person.

  He was touched to find Lea in the garden singing to the plants while she weeded in a pink bikini.

  “Hello, Ms. Taylor.”

  Lea screamed and turned around, her hand on her chest as she gasped for air. “You scared the bejeebies out of me!”

  “I’m sorry,” he said chuckling. “I only wanted to let you know I was here.”

  She stood up, her large boobs making an impressive sight as she tried to slow her breathing. “Wow, what the heck happened to you?”

  “A burly Russian.”

  Lea’s eyes grew wide. “Is Rytsar here in the US?”

  “Yes, he arrived this morning unannounced.”

  “Holy moly…” she gasped.

  “As you can tell, he wasn’t happy to see me,” Tono said, rubbing his jaw for emphasis.

  “What’s his beef against you?”

  “Seems the man never knew what happened to Sir Davis and took his frustrations out on me.”

  “Oh man, Tono, that looks like it really hurts. Do you want me to get you some ice?”

  “No, it looks worse than it feels.”

  Lea shivered. “Well, he is the master of pain.”

  Tono raised an eyebrow. “Do you know him personally, Ms. Taylor?”

  Lea squeaked. “Time for a joke and I’ve got the perfect one! A sadist, a masochist, and a zoophile were all sitting on a bench at a BDSM club feeling bored. ‘Let’s have sex with a cat,’ the zoophile suggested. The sadist thought about it and said, ‘Let’s have sex with a cat and then torture it to within an inch of its life.’ There was a moment of silence and then the masochist said, ‘Meow.’”

  “That was particularly awful.”

  “Awfully good!” she insisted with a grin.

  “I hate to think what Autumn has in store for me after spending weeks exchanging jokes with you.”

  “Oh, I gave her some doozies.”

  “I bet.”

  “So how’s Brie?”

  “She is doing much better.”

  “Oh, thank goodness! That’s such a load off my mind.”

  He left out the “minor” fact that Lilly had attempted to kidnap her. Mr. Thompson had been able to keep news of it suppressed with the hope that no one else would know the terrors Brie had been subjected to by Thane’s own blood.

  Tono shifted on his feet, deciding to get to the point without further ado. “Not to sound rude or ungrateful, but I was wondering if Autumn and I could have the house to ourselves tonight.”

  Lea pressed her hands together in excitement, inadvertently accentuating her cleavage. “Oh, I don’t mind at all. When I think of the look on Autumn’s face when she sees you… Oh gosh, Tono, it’s going to be beautiful. I wish I could be there.”

  “So you’re fine with clearing out tonight?”

  “Not a problem. I’ll just grab my stuff and clean up a bit before I go.”

  “No need to go to any trouble.”

  Lea shrugged, smiling. “It’s no trouble at all.”

  “Great.” Tono was about to leave to get changed, but something had struck him when he’d mentioned the Russian and he felt compelled to ask again, “So do you know Rytsar Durov?”

  Lea had been trying hard to keep it to herself, but her emotions got the best of her and she blurted, “I totally messed everything up at the wedding.”

  “How so?”

  “He offered to scene with me at the breakfast the morning after…and I took him up on it.”

  “Was he unkind to you?” Tono asked, suddenly concerned for Lea.

  “Oh no, nothing like that. Far from it. It was the best time I’ve ever had with a man.”

  Tono curbed his unfounded anger and asked, “What is the problem then?”

  “I kinda have a thing for Ms. Clark.”

  “A thing?”

  “Well, it’s more than a thing. I’ve loved her for years, but she’s never made a move to collar me. I knew the history between them, but I couldn’t resist his charms.”

  Tono was now beginning to grasp the seriousness of the situation. “Was Rytsar Durov aware of this?” he asked, ready to step in if Lea had been wronged by the man.

  Lea shook her head. “No, Brie told me never to talk about Ms. Clark around him. He had no idea.”

  A new understanding flooded over him. “So you are the one at fault?”

  “I just needed to feel wanted, and he wanted me in the most deliciously animal
istic way…”

  “Does Ms. Clark know?”

  She nodded, looking down in shame. “I told her. I didn’t want her to hear it from anyone else.”

  “And Durov?”

  “I haven’t spoken to him since Italy.”

  Tono sighed. “So this is the reason you’ve remained in Denver?”

  “I need to make it up to Ms. Clark somehow. I told her I’ll do whatever she asks as penance.”

  “What was her response?”

  “Nothing,” Lea said meekly.

  “Then she has given you her answer.”

  Lea looked completely crushed. “Please don’t say that. There must be a way to make amends for my mistake. I don’t care how long it takes.”

  “If you have asked for forgiveness and it has not been granted, you must move on.” Tono added tenderly, knowing the truth would hurt Lea. “To remain only causes her pain.”

  Lea let out a strangled sob.

  Tono place his hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him. “True forgiveness can only be granted if it is freely offered. When it is forced, it becomes an ugly thing that eventually becomes toxic.”

  “So you are saying there is nothing I can do to mend what I’ve broken?” she whimpered.

  “I suggest you pour your heart in a letter so there can be no mistake about how you feel and leave it behind when you go. If there comes a day when she can forgive you, she will.”

  “Oh Tono, I don’t know if I am brave enough to do that,” Lea confessed with tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’ve loved her for so long.”

  “You are brave enough to face the consequences of your choices. Write the letter, then let it go and move forward. To stay will only eat you up inside until you are bitter and hard.”

  “Please tell me there is something else I can do. There has to be!”

  “Yes, you need to let the Russian know. You have put him in an unfair position without his knowledge or consent.”

  Lea let out a long moan. “Oh God, not that too…”

  “Your character and your sanity are at stake. However, it’s up to you what you decide to do with them. Choose wisely.”

  She gave him a lopsided grin. “I have a love/hate relationship with your wisdom, Tono Nosaka.”

  He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “Now, Ms. Taylor, I apologize, but I must get ready for Autumn. We won’t be back for a few hours, so there’s no need to rush.”