Josie's POV
"Josie?" Someone tapped my cheek over and over, calling my name urgently.
When I couldn't take the tapping anymore, I held their hand and grumbled "I'll live if you stop hitting me."
A soft exhalation displaced wisps of my hair before my head was lifted gently. I opened my eyes to see wide blue eyes an exact replica of my own gazing back at me. Anna.My sister won the jackpot in the gene lottery. She had skin so fair and pale, it was milky white. Delicate features and pretty blue eyes reminiscent of the blue sky.
I was the washed out version of her.I got nothing of mother's features but everything from dad and let me tell you, my father is no looker. But today, Anna's pretty features were marred by anguish, her eyes wide as saucers and filled to the brim with unshed tears.
"What's wrong A..." I started to say before it all came back to me. The men. Dad! I rushed to my feet, pausing to let the room stop moving before surveying the almost undisturbed room. If my mother wasn't on the sofa crying, I'd believe the last hour or so hadn't happened. "Where's dad?"
"They took him." Anna's breath hitched as she forced the words out.
"We need to call the police." I announced as I searched for my phone. 'Dang.' I muttered when I found no phone after patting my pockets. It must be in my room.
I will just go and...."No." Her furious roar froze me in place. Anna and I whirled to face our mum who was out and out shaking.We rushed over as a unit and surrounded her. It took several minutes before we were able to make sense of her words.
"No you can't. You don't understand. Vladimir." She hiccuped loudly. "He'll kill him. I know he will. The police won't do anything." She went on and on but after that, I couldn't make heads or tails of what she was saying.Vladimir. The heavily accented man had mentioned that name earlier, just before he clocked father in the face. Who was he and why did he kidnap my father?Anna was barely consoling mother now since she was already bawling her own eyes out as well.
Making an instant decision, I ran back to my room. My phone was right where I'd left it on the nightstand. Opening it, I tapped the only number on speed dial. It took three rings before he picked up.
"Shouldn't you be in bed right now?" He drawled in a husky voice.
It was past two in the morning but I could hear loud music blaring in the background. Of course he wasn't home, the man was a night owl.
"My dad's been kidnapped. Can you come to our house? Please?"
"What? When did this happen? Are you okay?" I could hear him moving even as he asked questions.
"They just came and bundled him away. Mum is out of her mind with worry and Anna isn't fairing much better. Please get here quick." I was ashamed to feel tears rolling down my face.
"I will be with you in half an hour." He hung up without another word.
I crashed into my bed and worried my teeth. What was going on? Was dad safe? What was I saying? Of course he wasn't safe with those dangerous men! I doubted they took him because they wanted to have a tea party.
When I trudged back into the living room once again, Anna and mum were exactly as I'd left them. The doorbell rang and they both jumped simultaneously. He was here.
"I'll get it." I announced before either of them could move.
"What if it's them again?" Anna mumbled into mum's shoulder.
"I truly doubt that Anna." I replied dryly. If it was them, why would they ring the doorbell when they hadn't bothered to knock the last time? "Besides I'm expecting someone." On the other side of the door was a tall man clad in black leather pants and a white polo.
He was a lithe man with a runner's build and brown shaggy locks. Mysterious brown eyes that I wanted to get lost in completed the handsome package that was Grayson Callahan. The man I've been in love with since I was fourteen.
"Hey." His expressive face shot me a worried smile as he hurried past me into the house.
"Grayson!" Anna yelled as she ran into his waiting arms.
He enveloped her in his snug, thick arms and murmured comforting words into her hair. He patted her back and crushed her even harder to him. I glanced away as my heart clenched painfully. I should be used to this already, but somehow, seeing them together hurt a lot worse than the previous day.
Anna was a beautiful girl and she was delicate both in build and emotions. Of course it made sense that Grayson was always hovering around her instead of a wallflower like me. Knowing that doesn't lessen the pain though, not at all. All it did was twist the knife in my heart harder.
"Josie? I told you not to tell anyone." Mother whispered accusingly. I nearly jumped out of my skin to find mother standing next to me.
"You didn't. You only told me not to call the police." And technically speaking, I hadn't called the police.
"He's in the army!"
"Yes and he's a family friend. We need help and he can help." I whisper shouted back.
"Thanks for coming Grayson. We've been at our wit's end." I hollered, breaking apart the hug that blazed past decent five minutes ago.Anna flushed before batting her eyelashes at him. Shameless, that's what she was.
How was he to ever notice me if she was always throwing herself at him? Grayson stared at me sheepishly. I bet he already forgot about why he was here the second he saw Anna. Oh, to have the power to make him lose his focus like that.
"How did this happen? Do you know who could have done something like this?" Grayson asked after clearing his throat for a few seconds. Right. We were supposed to be seaeching for my kidnapped father, not thinking unkind words about my sister.
Anna launched into the sordid take before I could say a word. He listened to her, his eyes rapt on her face. The same eyes that always looked over me, no matter what I did to make them notice me.
"Who is Vladimir?" Grayson voiced the same question that had been running through my mind all night.
Mother continued staring into space on her sofa, effectively ignoring the three of us. That was not happening.
Marching into her line of sight determinedly, I crouched to be eye level with her and proclaimed inmy steadiest voice, "You know who did this mother. If you don't tell us and something happened to him, his blood will be on your hands, do you understand?" She blanched but I was unmoved. She could be a drama queen when she wanted and I was too upset to take the time out to soothe her pride. I needed answers and I needed them now.
A small eternity later, she stated haltingly. "The man who sent those men to kidnap your father, his name is Vladimir Sedof, and he did it because your father stole from him."
Josie's POVGrayson went pale and Anna's eyes got so wide I was afraid it would pop right out of her head. I could do nothing but stare at my mother incredulously. My father? Stole from someone? That was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard. We came from old money. We were f*cking rich, damnit! There was no reason in the world for my father to stoop so low as to do something like that. His pride would never let him."You might want to elaborate on that mother." I stated in a low tone. I didn't want to accuse of her making up things, but it was a close call."Elaborate on what? Vladimir is a bad man. Your father worked for him, then he was stupid enough to steal from him and now Vladimir has come for his pound of flesh!" She thundered with wild eyes.Anna gasped. I slanted her a look and she covered her mouth. This was not the time for her theatrics."The last
Josie's POVThe building was an entire block of skyscraper comprised almost entirely of glass. We had to park in an underground parking lot used by visitors. They had a freaking lot solely for visitors! Rather than walk back outside, we took an elevator and emerged on the ground floor, that was apparently manned by the biggest bodyguard in history. He was at least twice of Grayson's size and not a single hint of fat anywhere. Why would a cooperate have such a behemoth manning their front desk? Grayson walked ahead and flashed his badge at him. He nodded and pressed a button. The steel glass separated and we were let in to the grand reception. Without pause, Grayson turned his attention on the model parading as a receptionist."Good morning to you all, welcome to Ryki's. What can I do for you today?""Good morning ma'am, I'm special agent Callahan from the FBI and I'd like to see Mr Sedof."Special agent? Since
Josie's POVThe hive was a local bar in Newark and an hour away from our home in Milpitas. It catered mostly to blue collar clientele. I've only been there once before with Grayson. Well, not with exactly.The thing was, Gray's dad was a construction worker, not the owner, just a regular employee and his mum was the daughter of a congressman. Many people -mostly his mum's parents- had been against their relationship because of the huge difference in their social class. Unfortunately, theirs was not a love that could withstand the derision from society. On more than one occasion, my mother had referred to Grayson's dad as 'that bum that's leeching off Louise'. Let's just say that my mum was one of the few people who put their condescending thoughts delicately, others were as blunt as a sledgehammer and uncaring if he was within hearing distance. By the time Grayson was four, Mr Callahan couldn't take it anymore, especially when he lost his
Grayson could keep his secrets-for now. My focus lay solely on the enigma that was Vladimir Sedof, the man I was yet to meet but was already turning my life on its head. I snapped my phone out and scrolled to my 'stagram page, typing furiously. I had less than a thousand followers, but the good news was that, I had followers who had celebrities as friends, followers like my sister. Just last week, Anna was followed by Roger Simps, lead singer of direction. Not only has she caught the attention of a member of a popular boyband, this boyband have twenty million plus followers! All I needed was to get Anna to repost my 'stagram story and I will show Vladimir Sedof the power of social media.Finger poised on the post button, my immediate obstacle made itself known. Anna was a wuss. She was probably going to go straight to mother with it and then mum and Grayson were going to yell the heavens down on me. Mum and Grayson would be mad at me, there was no way to work around that, but i
I was about to call her back when I took note of Ru's last update which was three hours ago and stared at his picture.Gone were the makeup, earring and flashy scarfs. My friend the drag queen was gone, hidden beneath the simple denim blue shirt and plaid pants of a weekend manager -or newest intern at the limelight magazine, judging by his caption.He really is pretty, I thought distractedly. He always had been, but without the makeup and brazen attitude, he looked very beautiful, approachable....and very effeminate, the very reason his father had disowned and thrown him out into the streets.When he was not partying it up -even then- RuPaul lived on social media, the first with the breaking news and celebrity gossip. He had managed to gain quite a reputation for himself and I needed that popularity right now, but he had chosen that exact time to become an intern and ditch social media. I stomped my foot angrily and cursed my luck.Damn it, damn it, damn it. Wha
Putting the matter of my job firmly out of my mind, I sashayed back to my terrified driver. I was going to concentrate solely on what I could control and nothing else.Unfortunately, my job -if I haven't been fired yet- was not something I could control at the moment. Even if Mrs Lou were to give me my job back, I couldn't work until I'd ascertained that my father was just fine."To the Gran hotel, please." I murmured once I was back in the car. He nodded dully before making a u turn and driving away from the creepy house of mysterys. I made myself a promise to tip him generously, he had more than earned it.The drive back to the city would take over one hour and an extra one hour hour to get to the prestigious hotel, meaning the paparazzi would be waiting for at least half an hour, depending on how early or late they got to the hotel. I spent that time making a reservation online for a conference room at the hotel.I heard several disgruntled murmurings as I
"Jo? Are you alright babe?" Rupaul asked some minutes later.We were both standing at the hotel bar, furtively looking out for the paparazzi we just ran from."No." I answered forthrightly. There was no point lying to RuPaul. He was one of my closest friends and confidante. Besides, he knew me better than I knew myself, he'd figure out the truth anyway and get mad at me for lying to him. I had enough of those waiting for me at home. Right on cue, I felt my phone vibrate and Anna's name flashed across my screen."Oh my poor baby." He hugged me to him and made soothing noises. "What can I do to help?""Let's go somewhere without people. I just want to pretend that everything is fine, for a few hours.""Sure thing love." He took me by the hand and we walked deeper into the hotel and took an escalator, before we emerged in an underground parking lot.** ** ** ** ** ** **"Have you lost your mind?! Eesh, I am certain that you never h
All eyes in the room swung to this new unexpected entry. He was tall, pale, huge and intimidating. Male virility oozed from his every pore. Where Grayson made me feel like making slow love, Vladimir put me in the mood for hard, sheet burning, bed breaking fvcking. I'd made a step toward him before I knew it, only mother's painful grip on my wrist stopped my momentum.What was wrong with me? "You're here? Oh, please do come in." Mother rambled fearfully, her words barely making any sense as she pushed herself into his line of sight, effectively hiding me behind her. "How are you here? You shouldn't be able to step foot on this property without permission." Grayson exclaimed, his eyes murderous. Okay, who was this man that raised Grayson's hackles just by being in his presence and simultaneously elicited such fear from my mother? Could he be.... Vladimir? Wasn't he supposed to be out of the country? "The maid let me in." He answered smoothly before t