Queen of Wilmette Read online

  Seth requested a rum and coke but kept watching her cautiously. Evidently, he believed that she would be bold enough to add something suspicious to their drink. Marcus remained quiet.

  Only one thing was on Varsha's mind. The consistent replay of the wedding reception from hell remained in the forefront of her mind. Embarrassment and feeling disrespected were still fresh for her. Not to mention the foiled attempt on Khalil’s life.

  Disdain filled her damaged soul thinking about Vikkas being married to Milan, despite everything she had done to prevent it from happening. She'd chosen to fade into the background, figuring out what the next move would be. Her family had banished her to Bahrain while the police were still searching for her. No extradition treaties to worry about and she was able to move around without fearing jail time. Luckily, Varsha found someone who wanted to cause suffering to the couple just as much as she did.

  “So, are you ready to talk now?” Varsha asked, handing Seth his drink. She took a seat in the executive chair behind her desk. She didn't care that this would hurt the man that she raised from a young age and loved in her own way. The only way to hurt Khalil was through their son and the woman he had been secretly married to all these years. They did have an “edge”, but she had the money and means.

  After taking a gulp, Seth spoke up. “What's the next move?”

  Varsha gave the man an appraising look, wanting to tell him what she really thought of him. That he was classless, ignorant, and gullible. One thing her mother taught was to mentally be a few steps ahead. No doubt that she was more cunning than these two individuals sitting across from her.

  “Does that mean you are in?” she asked for clarity, taking a sip of her extra dry martini. Even though seething internally, Varsha was a great poker player. No one could detect the rage she felt at how her life had been one big lie. Though she had forced her family to dismantle Khalil’s marriage to Aashna so she could have him for herself, he had been smart enough to find a loophole in the process that didn’t come to light until Vikkas’ marriage to Milan. He had played her and the entire family of fools, an even managed to stay legally married to the love of his life in order to protect her.

  Sitting up straight, forward, and keeping an eye on the bodyguard nearby, Seth said, “Absolutely, but I have a few demands of my own.”

  Tapping her polished red nails on the desk, Varsha chuckled. “Of course, you do. I would be surprised if that wasn't the case. You people always want something.” A chill swept through the room when those words escaped her lips.

  “Who the hell is you people?” he snapped in an edgy tone, causing her bodyguard to take a half step forward.

  She held up her right hand to stop the burly man’s progress. Varsha wasn't afraid of Seth or his foolishness. As far as she was concerned, he was the means to an end. Anger and resentment drove him, so she'd play him as smoothly as a stringed instrument.

  “I did not mean to offend you. My apologies,” she replied in a smooth tone. “That statement was not meant to be personal.”

  Looking through her peripheral at the bodyguard, she caught him smirking. He wasn't fooled by her stellar acting skills. Varsha needed to hurry this meeting along, so she could relax with a hot bath and glass of Cabernet for the evening.

  As the tension in the room diminished, a master plan was set, and no one would see them coming.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Climbing the spiral staircase, after her two guests were gone, Varsha went upstairs to her massive bedroom suite. Decorated in red and gold, two of her favorite colors, the space served as her sanctuary. On the enclosed balcony, she settled on the custom-made wicker couch, breathing in the fresh air from the aftermath of the rainfall.

  She took a little time to get her thoughts together before making a call. Her reach was far, thanks to her financial supporters, and the mole that she had planted in a critical office in Durabia. Actions had already been put into motion, even before Seth agreed to joining.

  Varsha's secret travels overseas resulted in connecting with the current benefactors. She'd been contacted and made a visit to learn what common ground they all shared. Settling old scores and celebrating the demise of those who had wronged them. Made for the best of friends; didn't take more than that, along with the money, to get her onboard.

  Thirty minutes later, she dialed a third number that was programmed in the burner phone. Several rings later the call was answered.

  “What took you so long to answer the phone?” she snapped.

  “I had to excuse myself and find a private place to talk. Or would you rather that I had this conversation in front of your son?”

  After pausing for a brief moment, Varsha said, “I think you know better than to do that. After all, we are in this together.”

  “Exactly. You may want to keep that in mind when you are speaking to me since I'm doing your dirty work,” he said in an overconfident manner.

  “And you might want to remember who is funding this trip that you are on,” she countered. No way she would allow him to talk to her this way. He was working for her.

  The man was a smart individual and had proven to be resourceful. While she wouldn't provoke him because he had the potential to be a loose cannon, Varsha would not welcome any type of disrespect from someone in her pocket. She took a deep breath and remained silent for a few seconds to let him absorb the full weight of her words.

  “My apologies, I didn't mean to offend you. It's been a tiresome day,” his tone changed into a milder one. “There's still a lot to be done here. I'm trying to stay focused and not bring unnecessary attention to myself.”

  “Understood. We have much to do in a short period of time. Nothing can go wrong, so get some rest and make sure to check in with me as scheduled.”

  “I will, have a good night.” A dial tone echoed into her ear. Varsha was not happy that he'd disconnected without her making sure their call was concluded.

  Biding her time, she'd deal with him in person. Much sooner than he anticipated. Switching off and placing the burner phone in the nightstand drawer, she went into the bathroom to take a shower. While removing her makeup, a sly smile lifted on her lips.

  She was envisioning victory without the help of her family members. Men who thought they had everything figured out and were in control but failed each time. Khalil Germaine had proven that to be the case. Vengeance would be enjoyable for her. No one would be spared - Khalil, Vikkas, Jaidev, and most important Milan. They would all pay.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Sunshine peered through the window awakening Milan. Vikkas had partially opened their motorized blackout shades as he loved watching the sunrise and was up right before dawn. That man could get three hours of sleep and still manage as if he rested for a full eight hours.

  Reaching over to his side of the bed, she grabbed the remote from the nightstand and brought the room back to a complete darkness. As soon as she placed her head back on the pillow to get a little more shuteye, the bedroom door opened. She cracked one eye slightly enough to find Vikkas walking towards the bed with a breakfast tray.

  “Baby, why is it so dark in here?”

  “You know why genius,” she teased.

  He settled the tray on the nightstand, dropped down on the bed and kissed her forehead.

  “Don't try to soften me up,” she scoffed. “I love you, but I'm not liking you right now.”

  Smirking and shaking his head, his dark brown eyes pierced hers. “My love, you need to eat. It'll be time for us to head to the center soon.”

  “Um, what do you mean by we?”

  “We’re going to the center together today. Now, eat and get yourself together woman.” Without blinking, he didn't back down from his statement. “I'll be down in the office. Love you.”

  With that, her husband walked out of the room. As much as he could be bossy and a little domineering, she could match him on both fronts. Sitting up, she settled the tray on her lap and enjoyed the vegetable omelet, ambrosia, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

  Soon after, Milan showered, dressed in a ruffled white blouse, dark jeans, and three-inch black ankle boots. Feeling refreshed and ready for the day, she headed downstairs still wondering about his sudden interest in going to her office today.

  “Are you ready to go, my love?” he asked, without looking up from the document he held. Even though her husband had his head buried in legal correspondence, Vikkas was well aware of her presence.

  “I left kindergarten years ago. You know I can go to the center by myself, right?”

  “I know that you are perfectly capable of doing so. However, today, I'll be tagging along,” Vikkas said in a matter-of-fact tone that did not have her fooled in the least.

  Folding her arms underneath her ample bosom, she asked, “Why? Is there something going on that I don't know about, again?”

  Threats against the center was the main point of contention in their marriage. Information that the Kings and Knights received were not being talked about with their Queens. Milan made her unhappiness about this known to him on several occasions.

  He stood and walked over to her, a calculated move to distract her. Looking deeply in her eyes, he planted a kiss on her lips with no further response.

  Thirty minutes later, they parked in one of the reserved spaces at the center. Milan glanced over, placing a hand on Vikkas' arm. She hadn’t spoken a word since they left the house. The frustration about everything happening, plus feeling as if he was keeping things from her were taking a toll.

  This man would move heaven and earth for her. No doubt about that. But she didn't do well with secrets, especially from those closest to her.

  “I love you honey. Thank you for coming in with me today,” she said shaking off the inner turmoil.

  “And I love you too baby.” He lifted her hand to his mouth, sweetly kissed it. “Lead the way, so we don't have to be here all day. We have other things to do.”

  “Really now? What would that be?”

  “I might have a few surprises up my sleeve,” he replied, kissed her before sliding out of the car.

  Milan smiled, watching him walk around the car to open her door. If she had attempted to get out, it would have sparked an attitude. He was not only fiercely protective, but a true gentleman. A far cry from the type of man her mother wanted for her life. Pearline had been loyal to a man serving a sentence. Well as loyal as her body allowed her to be. She certainly gave the appearance of being alone, but her daughters had to witness those late-night appearances and early morning exits from men she found would take what they wanted without asking for money.

  Hand in hand, they walked into the center being greeted by members of the staff.

  Sitting down in the leather executive chair behind her desk, Milan turned on her computer and checked emails while Vikkas took a phone call from his brother Jai. Glancing up at her husband, she smiled. Even when they had their disagreements, they still managed to work through it.

  Getting back to the task at hand, her mind refocused on the messages that she'd been checking. One immediately caught her attention. The subject line read, “Your Days Are Numbered” while the short email gave a brief warning that there would be an attack on the center.

  Milan gasped which caught the attention of Vikkas who walked up behind her and peered at the screen. “Who sent this?” he asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

  She looked up at him. “I don't know, baby.”

  She already knew what would happen next. He sent a quick text and his infamous game face fell into place. Tempted to ask questions, she decided against it. They would wait until they left the center.

  “Are you ready to go meet and talk to my newest resident, Jonathan?” she asked. After the email, Milan knew that Vikkas was not letting her out of his sight.

  “Lead the way, my love,” he said. Milan pushed away from the desk, stood and they headed to the hub of the center.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Entering into the center's common area, Milan and Vikkas made immediate eye contact with Jonathan. Today he seemed more relaxed and at home unlike the panicked way he had when he first arrived, then the guarded look that followed when she tried to question him.

  Milan smiled, casually crossing one leg over the other as she sat across from him. Her husband had an impartial look on his face. Always assessing and observing a person's body language.

  “How did you sleep last night Jonathan?” she asked.

  “Good, thank you,” he replied then lowered his gaze to the linoleum floor.

  Sensing his slight discomfort, she gestured to her right. “Jonathan, this is my husband, Vikkas Germaine.”

  “It's nice to meet you.”

  Jonathan received a simple nod from Vikkas and she wanted to chide him for being so openly distrustful.

  After a few more minutes of light conversation, Milan eased her way into the harder part of the exchange.

  Jonathan shared that he was from Dashma, a small city in Nadaum. Chills ran down Milan's spine, though she appeared unfazed by his revelation. A number of teens were running from that place for a variety of reasons. Escaping from the dictatorship, kidnapping of youth, and poverty-stricken cities. In turn, they were looking for a chance to live a different type of life and experience their desired freedom. .

  “So, Jonathan, how did you hear about my wife's center?” Vikkas asked. Surprising everyone because he'd been quiet during the exchange between Milan and Jonathan, mentally taking notes.

  “Word of this place has been spreading fast,” he replied. “Due to the trouble, we’ve been facing and looking for an escape from it. That's the reason I made the journey here,” he said.

  “Well, that's quite admirable. I'm sure it was also scary as well,” Milan interjected when Vikkas did not respond.

  “I can't fight for something I don't believe in.”

  At that moment, Vikkas' cell rang and he glanced at the screen. “Please excuse me, I have to take this call. I'll be back shortly.”

  Milan's gaze briefly met his, but she didn't react.

  Her attention focused back on Jonathan. She asked him about his family but received vague answers. Milan felt as if they were playing a game of cat and mouse.

  Mastering psychology and using it to her advantage is what she did to gain insight into people. Intelligence, street smarts, and discernment was part of her DNA. Not too much got past her, so she could be patient while trying to get him to open up.

  “Jonathan, would you like to take a walk?”

  He glanced in the direction where Vikkas disappeared. “Shouldn't we wait for your husband?”

  “No, he'll catch up with us,” Milan said with what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

  A strange look crossed Jonathan's face, but he tried to mask it. Milan didn't comment on it, figuring he thought she hadn’t witnessed the change. They went past the front desk, dining area, and weight room to the indoor walking track.

  Maybe they could get one or two laps in before Vikkas rejoined them. It'd give her an opportunity to encourage the evasive young man to relax a little. She kept wondering why Vikkas was acting so strange.

  As they began conversing about simple things such as his favorite foods and sports, the tension seemed to lift a little. Three other people were in the area, one young man running with earbuds on while two young ladies were taking a leisurely stroll and having an animated conversation about their latest crush.

  Glancing over his shoulder from time to time, Jonathan was expecting see Vikkas show up. Noticing his less than subtle movements, Milan kept the conversation and mild pace around the track.

  “How are you enjoying this walk?” she asked, drawing his full attention back to her.

  He gave her a grin. “This is nice. The center is much bigger than it looks from the outside.”

  “Yes, it is. We try to offer as much as we can here to make life as normal as possible for our guests.”

  “I've never seen anything like this in my life,” he exclaimed sweeping a gaze at the girls as they walked past. ”It's really amazing.”

  “So, Jonathan, what are your plans? Is there something you’re passionate about doing?”

  Observing his thought-provoking reaction to her question, she could tell that he hadn't really been thinking that far ahead. His silence also fueled that theory. This question seemed to stump the new ones every time. Because they were running away from something, it never dawned on them to run to something positive.

  “It's important that you do, Jonathan. As I've learned over the years, your life and motivation are dependent upon where you see yourself. Your goals and aspirations, it makes things clear.”

  Sensing his unease, she said, “You don't have to have an answer today, it’s important to think about what you'd like your future to reflect.”

  “That makes sense. I never thought about it because my survival has been day to day,” he answered. “Thank you. I haven't anyone to ask me that before, so I focus on my destiny.”

  Glancing at the platinum watch on her left wrist, Milan silently wondered where Vikkas could be since he was suspicious of Jonathan, and she still had no clear reason why.

  CHAPTER TEN

  In a hidden corner of the track, Vikkas watched as his wife and Jonathan took laps around the indoor track. Finishing his call, he headed straight to the area but decided to wait for a few minutes before approaching them. Something didn't feel right about this young man. In the video his movements and actions seemed contrived as though they had been rehearsed.

  Sending Milan into a panic was not what Vikkas intended to do. However, new concerns had risen among the Kings and Knights. Information that he still couldn't share with her right now. They'd already been at odds because he was being super vague about everything going on behind the scenes. An unfortunate position to be in with the woman you vowed to honest with and open to for the rest of your lives.