Free The Russian's Captive (The Captive Series Book 2) by C.M. Steele Page A

shop with the one man he trusted despite his incessant flirting—Sergei.
    He had a meeting scheduled with Petrov who was supposed to meet him at the café down the street from the dress shop. They were going to decide what to do about the Rossis, plus Nikolai wanted to acquit the one of two people who helped him run this organization when his father died. Bianca had her concerns about him. Nikolai knew it had to be someone close to him, and since he trusted Sergei with his most precious possession, he went to the next one in line.
    He and Petrov could have met at the house if he’d taken Bianca suggestion, but he was glad he didn’t. Bianca told him to go back and she’d just be driven home by Sergei, but that didn’t work for Nikolai. He didn’t like her away from him at all. First, because he wasn’t sure it was safe. Second, because she was too beautiful, and he was jealous. She was worried about him seeing her before the wedding, but he informed her that she could dress at the house so he wouldn’t see the dress.
    The skies hadn’t been nice to them. Just as he was going to meet with Petrov, the skies opened up, and it stormed hard. Nikolai ran back to his truck and slammed the door shut.
    His phone pinged with a text from Petrov.
    I’m running late. My conference call ran over .
    “Shit,” Nikolai yelled. Moments later, he called Sergei.
    “She needs an umbrella. Is there any in the shop?”
    “Yes there is. Don’t worry, Niko. She’s fine. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, not even getting wet from a little bit of rain.”
    “Do you think you’re funny, you fuck? She’s my wife. I want her protected at all costs.”
    “I will. Chill. She’s almost done anyway.”
    “That was fast.”
    “Are you still meeting with Petrov?”
    “He was supposed to meet me but texted me that he’s running behind. Hold on a sec. I just got another text.”
    Nikolai looked at the text and tried not to be pissed. “Sergei, it’s from Petrov. He says that the road is washed out and will meet me back at the house.”
    “Why didn’t he come with you in the first place?”
    “He had some business to handle and didn’t have time to leave at the moment. Before you start, I wasn’t going to leave her alone and let her come by herself.”
    “I know. By the way, she’s done. We’ll be coming out in two minutes.”
    Nikolai waited in the truck until he saw the door open. Then he jumped out to help his bride. Taking the package from her hands, he walked her back to the truck. After opening the door for her, he ran around back and placed the box in the trunk and jumped into the front seat.
    “Are you buckled up, babe?”
    “Just a second…now, I am,” Bianca said as she clicked it into place.
    “Good. Let’s get on with it. I’m sorry that it’s raining, though. The wedding will have to be inside, instead of on the beach like you wanted this morning.”
    “That’s not a big deal. So how much time do I have to get ready?”
    “Hopefully by the time I get us there, you’ll have two hours before you marry me.”
    “That should be plenty of time.”
    And it would have been a lot of time, if it hadn’t been raining so hard that the alternate route was flooded too. They were forced to stay in a hotel in town.
    They pulled up to a roadblock and waited to see if it was possible to get through.
    “Change of plans, sweetie.” He turned to her after speaking with the French authorities blocking the way.
    “We have to go back and stay in town tonight,” Nikolai said as she turned to face him with upset in her expressive eyes.
    Bianca’s heart dropped. She knew something would go wrong to ruin her day. They said rain was good luck. I call bullshit on that one , she thought.
    “I’m sorry, my love,” he said as he caressed her cheek.
    Before she could stop it, the tears had fallen from her eyes.
    Damn it, he thought. He didn’t ever want to see her cry. He started speaking in Russian to Sergei and about