CHAPTER 17 HIDE AND SEEK BEAU

The private pool in the villa was heaven. Refreshing. Lizzie has assured her soaking in the warm water

all day was safe enough. Beau's bullet wound has healed considerably but she was restricted from

lifting anything that's over two kilos.

That's bullshit. She only agreed to ease the doctor's worry. Early morning, she took advantage of the

gym's amenities and it has done wonders for her recovery.

A semblance of guilt was nagging at her conscience but she placed it at the back of her mind. Where it Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

belonged.

I bet you miss Dominic.

Hell no! Why should she when she was enjoying herself?

That traitor pear shade organ inside her chest constricted and she blinked rapidly. Hurt by her own

words.

The irrevocable truth was, she would have enjoyed this more if he was here with her. Spoiling her.

Too bad, he's not.

Fuck it! Go away!

She was steadfast in her decision and it had to be in her own terms. She wouldn't renege on that.

Lizzie and Dinara had been awesome girlfriends. They never judged her decisions and even supported

her craziness.

Shit! The trouble they had gotten themselves into because of her. Beau grimaced. She had to make

sure her doctor will retain her job and Dinara's bum will be spared or at the very least, she won't be

grounded for life.

As for hers... Dominic would never hurt her physically. She can bet her genius brain on that. But he

might kick her out of the house for the trouble she had put him through.

His people will be in chaos, not to mention his parents...oh, fuck! It had been two days since their

escape and they must be worried sick. Should one of them call and let Dinara's parents know they

were safe?

She must talk to her girls. Yeah, in a short span of days, they had become besties for life. Can't wait to

introduce them to Lily. They would really click.

"You should apply sunscreen, Beau," Lizzie called out, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun.

She squinted her eyes at the shy doctor. Damn! She looked hot in her one-piece red bathing suit.

Beau wondered if the good doctor was single.

Dinara was a sworn tomboy, more interested in sports and guns but Lizzie was a silent, caring type.

What's her history?

Swimming in her direction, she lifted her slender body out of the pool. Beau smiled in welcome. Her

stomach growled. Again. These stupid cravings were killing her.

Lizzie handed her the sunblock lotion and she applied a generous amount all over her exposed skin.

"Do you have a boyfriend or a lover?" Beau asked. Her friend coughed fitfully at the out of nowhere

question.

"What?" She gasped for breath. Lizzie shook her head and averted her gaze from her inquisitive brown

eyes. "No time for that. I have a huge student loan to pay off."

She frowned. Was that all? Beau made a mental note to pay her debts anonymously. That's the least

she could do for her friend. Besides, she had amassed a lot of money from her job and she didn't even

know what to do with it. She only had one sensible investment. Lily's daughters' future was secured.

She'd made sure of that.

"How old are you? You look too young to be a specialist."

Lizzie blushed at her question. "24. I graduated early."

She was impressed. They do have a lot in common. Nodding in understanding. "I know the feeling. It

happened to me, too. We pretend to fit in yet our brains are too big for the world."

"Yeah. Dad was bankrupt because of his gambling problems. He died when I was ten. My mom

remarried and well, life was not easy. I left them as soon as I turned 18." There was something in

Lizzie's far away expression that warned Beau there's more to her story but she knew her friend

needed time before she could share everything from her past.

"I'm here for you, Liz. You can tell me anything. Anything at all." She smiled. Understanding the

meaning behind Beau's words. They hugged each other and giggled when they heard an off-key

singing from their crazy friend.

Dinara joined them, cocktails in a round tray, and lots of pastries. Plus buffet was being set up in one

corner.

She wondered if they have wagyu steak here and if the chef will cook it on site.

"Why the long faces? Let's party!" The overzealous teenager screamed, raising her arms in the air.

Lizzie and Beau shook their heads, grinning.

Party it is!

Beau wanted the perfect steak and she would make sure she got what she wanted.

Dominic

She missed him. No matter how much she tried to convince herself.

She really did. Sonofabitch!

____________

Alec

He had never seen Dominic so angry and at the same time so fucking worried.

Creases covered his forehead and his once stoic and smooth face was taut with tension.

"Do your fucking job and find them. I'm paying you to give solutions not goddamn questions!" The poor

cyberpunk quaked in his boots. Dominic's loud voice boomed inside his office.

The place looked more like a kidnapped-for-ransom crisis center. Every gadget known to the police

force they had them. But none could locate their precious ladies.

No enemy has contacted them for demands. They were going in blind.

From the grilling investigation, their security teams were poisoned from something mixed with their

food. None died, except for mild stomach flu that lasted the whole night.

But the worse thing was, from the surveillance videos they reviewed. The girls had escaped their

guards and deliberately left home.

When they arrived at the estate, everyone was on edge.

Dominic couldn't be reasoned with. The mafia king was firing and punishing their men left and right.

The former tzar, Dominic's father was dismayed by the event. He had lost his only daughter, his future

daughter in law and their in-house doctor.

His doctor. Yes, Lizzie Hope was his. He had claimed her from the start. It was a subtle declaration

because he didn't want his mother to find out and spook her, like what aunt Titiana had done to the new

tzarina.

Unconsciously, his hands clenched into fists. It's been 48 hours. They had deliberately placed their

selves in danger while the enemies were out there trying to finish the job.

He should have known the sexy physician was as stubborn as hell. Well, at least they won't have a

boring married life. Alec mentally scoffed.

No more games. When he got his hands on her...

His perfect white teeth he was so proud of and added to the allure for the ladies in his legendary career

gnashed in frustration.

He wanted her. Only her. And he was honest about it from the start. The fucking problem was she

avoided him like he carried a viral disease.

"Any updates from the banks about their card transactions?" Alec asked. Impatience must be a

contagious thing. Waiting another day would be too much for him and his tzar.

"They...the banks haven't replied yet, general." One of the boys informed them but his digits were a blur

on his keyboard typing codes furiously.

"Fuck! That's the way to find them. Call our banks and let the managers know I want to speak to them.

I'll fucking bomb their buildings if they don't cooperate." Dominic growled. This doesn't bode well if the

tzar has commanded. But damn it! Desperate times call for desperate measures.

***

Fucking finally! They hit the motherload on the third day. One of the banks -not from lack of threat from

Dominic's part - gave a complete list of the girls' card transactions and records.

Lizzie...his doctor.

Damn! It would be so hot to caress her ass cheeks after he spanked them raw.