The Summer of Fighting His Enemies (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

(Stone's Point of View)

Stone watched Taylor close her eyes and immediately he felt her peace. But he wasn't at peace himself, still ever the more vigilant of watching to make sure that they were safe and there were going to be no surprises. He couldn't believe that they were almost there, they had a few more miles to go and then they had done it. He had done it, got Taylor to listen to him, got her to follow him after a few hitches, and maybe still some hesitancy. But still he had done and he was keeping her safe. He was keeping her away from Arseny and hopefully if Arseny were to send anymore men, he;d be able to destroy them before they were able to tell his father anything. As Stone continued to watch her relax, he thought back to his conversation with Danka on the plane. When Taylor had been distracted, he had turned to Danka and told her that she couldn't follow them and that she could take his jet and get to Alaska before them. Then she could stumble into the cabin, that was of course after shooting herself to make it seem like she was in need of help. Danka didn't know if she could agree to doing it because she wanted to be there with them through the whole thing. She wanted to be there because she had missed so much of Taylor's life already that she wasn't ready to let her out of her sight. But Stone wasn't having any of it, so he had happily told her that he'd be willing to do it and then she could go to them for safety. They wouldn't have to tell Taylor the whole truth because Stone knew that they would become fast friends. Then maybe eventually, if they pulled everything off and were safe, then and only then would he allow Danka to tell her who she was to Taylor. It was a long shot but he wasn't willing to risk Taylor's well being over her long lost sister that she didn't even know she had. Taylor was Russian and not American. Russia was her true home and eventually he planned to bring her home because there, someone awaited her return. The parents Taylor had now, Tom and Becca weren't even hers to begin with. Stone wondered how she would react when he finally told her everything. He wondered if he should chain her to a chair or something, though that was too harsh. It was something his father would do. And he. He was not someone to be harsh like that nor a killer. Well yes and no, only if his life was in danger and of course his brother or someone important to him. Igor volvsky-his brother had been in hiding since Stone put him there for protection from their father. Arseny Volvsky. Even the name of his father entering his mind made Stone shudder. After Stone had discovered Arseny's plot to kill Igor which was going to happen because he was weak and only one of them got to become leader. So Stone had shot his own brother, beat him up and called his father to come look, telling him that something terrible had happened. Arseny had checked for a pulse but did not find one. Still he kicked him three times in the side and Igor took it like a man, something Stone had not been then. He was the weak one, harming his own flesh and blood to keep him alive. Afterwards, Arseny laughed and said "better for me." It was this scene playing over and over of Igor laying half dead that kept Stone going. All through Arseny's beating and devious plans. The harming of innocent people and the killing and the blood. The blood that shed and poured like red rivers in the empty warehouse with a single light. The chains of prisoners echoing in the distance. The girl with the blue powder eye color that he worked with occasionally until the rat killed her too for overtaking her cut of the money. And the one gun shot of the pistol, the pistol that rang out, silencing the pleas of the fifteen year old. The Innocent fifteen year old boy.

Stone?" A voice called as he became aware of a loud scream and splashing. "Stone!" A voice said again as soft wet hands touched his face. The screaming and splashing stopped. He opened his eyes and took in it was him who'd been screaming as the awful thoughts consumed him. Without knowing what he was doing, he pulled Taylor to himself and kissed her as he dug his fingers into her hair . She didn't try to escape, she moved his arms to her waist and put her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss. After a couple minutes Stone pulled back and lowered his head

I'm sorry." He muttered cold fingers lifted his chin and he watched her eyes move back and forth between his

I'm not." She whispered. She leaned her forehead against his and they stayed like that. A cold mess of arms and legs. Then Taylor rose and took his hand, Stone allowed himself to be pulled out of the pool by her. They dried off and walked out of the pool and up to their room. Taylor sat on her bed and Stone sat on his

"What's our next step?" She asked him

"Uh showers, maybe some food, and then uh a nap." Stone watched her smile and nod her head

"A nap sounds great. I didn't relize how ired I was."

"I suppose it's from all the traveling and the craziness of all that's taken place."

"Yeah. So, do you want to go first?" She asked nervously. Stone sighed

"No, no you can go first."

"Okay. I'll try to go fast."

"Don't worry about it. Take your time. A nice hot shower is bound to feel good." Taylor grabbed her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. As Stone laid out on the bed to wait, he was baffled by Taylor not being sorry he had kissed her. She had been so demanding about certain things like telling her the truth and not touching her. Why now all the sudden was it okay? Did she feel bad because she had seen him grieving? Maybe that was his key to win her over, he'd tell her his story first then tell her that she was from Russia and tell her the real reason she ended up in America. Yes! That's exactly what he would do. Something wet dropped onto his foot. Looking up he saw Taylor wrapped in her towel. Her hair hanging elegantly downward in a crimpy wave, her towel just covering her breasts. All this was enticing, but he knew now was not the time.

Everything okay?" He asked. He watched her chew her lip.

"Uh huh." She said as she continued to stay there

"Okay. Did you need something?"

"No, I just wanted to tell you that it's your turn."

"Oh. Thanks." Stone rose.

"Yeah." He watched her head tilt upward and now he saw how much he towered above her, he smiled at it.

"Did the shower feel good?" He asked as he grabbed his clothes. He didn't know what else to say, but he felt like he should talk to her so as not to make her think he was still feeling awkward about what had happened earlier. She just nodded and wrapped her arm around her waist and grabbed her other wrist with her hand.

"Good." He said as he headed into the bathroom. He shut the door and leaned against and let out his breath. He knew that soon he would have to lure his dad's henchmen to Alaska and kill them before they ever laid a hand on Taylor. His long lost lover.