First Impressions

Chapter Four
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"Anne! Are you awake yet? It's nearly eleven o' clock! Breakfast is ready," Kayla sang cheerfully. Danny and Anne froze in their spots, unable to move as the doorknob moved. Suddenly, Anne swiftly pushed Danny into the walk-in closet, closed it, and had her back to it by the time Kayla had walked into the bedroom. Her friend looked bright and pretty this morning, with her dark curls up in a half-bun, half-ponytail style that left a few strands trailing down her long neck. Dressed in pale gray shorts and an almost transparent white t-shirt, Kayla was waving a spatula at Anne.

She looked shocked to see her awake. "You weren't sleeping? How come it took you so long to open the door?"

Anne replied uncomfortably. "I WAS sleeping... that's why it took me a while." Kayla's eyes swept over her in a cursory movement, taking in the cotton shirt that barely skimmed Anne's thighs, her reddish tousled hair, the pink flush in place of her usually pale skin.

"Well, all right," Kayla said, "I'll just go out so you can get dressed then." With a supsicious look, Kayla left the room, and Danny exploded out of the closet.

He glared at her. "How dare you push me into a closet?" the man managed to sound pissed off in a lowered tone. Anne wanted to laugh at how adorable he looked with dust in his hair, the anger flashing in his dark eyes. When she noticed the little piece on the tip of his nose, Anne couldn't resist- she let out a burble of humor.

Danny had literally been steaming from the ears at the girl's impudence. Although approaching his sister in that condition - hard on still clearly visible, and with both of them dressed only in bare necessities- would have been horrifying, Danny had resented the lack of respect. After all, he was the man, he could handle whatever came. He had been about to tear the girl apart, lovely or not, but that little laugh had cut the wind out of his sails.

She looked so natural when she laughed. It wasn't one of those annoyingly high pitched, false trills that girls usually emitted. It was so free, and lit up her features until she glowed brighter than Times Square at Christmastime. The wide grin on Anne's face was mischievous and quite infectious, as she pointed towards the closet. "You're going to have to stay there," she said. "I have to get dressed, and you wouldn't want Kayla to figure out what happened today would you?"

He scowled at her. "I really don't give a shit. I am not going in that travesty of a closet again- it is dusty."

"Well okay, but you are to stay in this room until I make Kayla agree to go out of the house so it looks like you just came in," Anne said reluctantly. "And I have to get dressed so you keep your back turned." Danny rolled his eyes, but complied.

She felt a bit awkward taking off her clothes in the same room as a male, but Anne decided it was better than living with her uncle. A lot better. Swiftly, Anne pulled off the shirt she wore, unable to resist burying her face into the wonderful scent of its owners emanating from it, before setting it down on the bed. Putting on a black bra, a dark blue V-neck, socks, and black linen pants, Anne finally said, "Okay, you can turn around now."

Grabbing a hairbrush, Anne ran it through her straight hair until it glistened. Danny watched it all silently, admiring how the blue of the shirt drew out the greenish tones in her eyes. "You're a very pretty girl, Anne," he said quietly, sincerity evident in his voice. She blushed at the compliment, surprising him. It was the truth- Anne looked like the type of girl who would take flattery easily. Then, Danny remembered the faint bruises that covered her soft shoulder, and his jaw hardened. He would find out who had hurt her... Danny shook his head. Why did he care so much about this girl? He didn't even know her, yet every time he set eyes on her and merely felt the delicate silkiness of her skin, Danny wanted to envelop her in his arms, protect her from the harsh cruelties of the world.

"Thank you, Danny," she said, and the hairs on his neck stood up, not unpleasantly, at how she spoke his name. He wanted to hear it from her lips again, her breath hot against his neck and hoarse from moaning.

"You better go," Danny's voice was throaty as he tried to control the heightening heat that wrapped around his cock and was spreading rapidly throughout his body.

"All right." With a blinding smile that aimed straight at his heart, Anne left the room, closing the door quietly in the face of an extremely aroused Danny Dawson.

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No one awaited Erik Vondovich at La Guardia Airport, but he didn't feel disappointment at the loss of friendly faces and frantically waving arms awaiting to wrap themselves around him. After all, he had never truly experienced warmth and familiarity with people in general- and life had guaranteed that lack of closeness, his hermit nature towards the rest of the world.

Dressed in black DKNY jeans, combat boots, and a heavy Irish cable-knit green sweater which deepened the icy green hue of his eyes, Erik blended in well with the crowd of New Yorkers. He stepped out of the airport, his black leather messenger bag, which contained only an ultrathin laptop, a wallet full of money, and a change of clothes hitting against his side with every swift movement he made. Striding over towards an available taxi, Erik's thoughts swept over the memories of Daniel and Kayla Dostoyevsky.

Getting into the backseat of the taxicab, he settled on the cheap, cracked leather seat, shutting the door. He gave the driver the address, then leaned more comfortably against the back of the seat, closing the alert green eyes briefly. After the grueling flight, Erik felt depleted of energy, yet his mind sped along at its normal rapid, relentless pace. He knew well how shocking it would be for the two to finally meet him again and the message he was to bring from their parents. He also knew the danger involved with this entire situation. As far as the Korales knew, Daniel Dostoyevsky and his sister had disappeared off the face of the earth.

Many years ago, when Daniel had been only twelve and Kayla even younger, they had been sent away from their parents' love; their own country in order to be protected from the fatal intentions of one dangerous man- Viktor Korale. Erik's leonine features hardened at the memory of the man he had met face to face on one occasion. Slim and poetic of features, Korale had an androgynous beauty that spelled death. With black hair that fell like jet rain around a face of marble white, it was a face that emotion took no toll on. Like an immobile statue, his body was perfection and his face angelical. But behind the heartbreakingly beautiful facade lay a murky, evil soul that the devil himself would chafe at claiming.

At thirty three years of age, Viktor Korale had a legion of dead bodies killed under his name. His hatred bore no reason, and it was aimed at the government he felt had oppressed him. Having been born to an insignificant peasant family, Viktor had despised his low class birth, yet hated those who were above him. A brilliant mind as well as deceitful charm helped Korale rise in status, gain a high position in the Russian government, and leading to his owning several profitable corporations. With almost unrestrained power and wealth, Korale formed business franchises with criminal groups who had no qualms at killing.. for a price. With cool precision, Korale began to kill anyone he felt had offended him- from provoking students from his first grade class to government officials. His faultless memory had recorded every belittling word from his past, and Korale waited as long as it was necessary to exact punishment. When the revenge came, Korale savored it with quiet satisfaction. The emotionless, cold nature was the most frightening aspect of Korale.

He had fixated on the Dostoyevsky family for multiple reasons. As a popular governmental man, Dostoyevsky enjoyed many benefits and was a relatively happy man. Korale disliked content in his enemies. His nature would not allow Dostoyevsky his leisure... and Korale wished to rid the man of his happiness. A secret agent, under the pretense of working for Korale was given the instructions to kill off Dostovesky's children. Informing the Dostoyevsky's of Korale's plan, intricate designs were made to remove the two from Russia.

Two lookalike children the same age as Danny and Kayla had been taken into a huge yacht with only one guard. Inside the ship, there was a submarine and a passage which would allow the machine to go through. A bomb was set on the yacht, which would go off an hour after the yacht left the port. There would be no people present on the ship when the bomb went off, for all people on board would immediately go into the submarine and leave it while the boat moved by itself into the middle of the sea, where the bomb would detonate safely without harming anyone. However, Korale and the media would be informed that the children had been killed, along with the guard. The two lookalike children would be returned to their homes, the guard would be relocated far away from Russia, while Danny and Kayla were placed on a private plane to America.

It was all flawlessly executed, despite concerns of the credibility of the plan. Korale to this day believed Danny and Kayla were no more. Yet, Erik worried. If they were found out, all hell would break loose. It was not a pleasant prospect.


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Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait... my muse was asleep. But it will revive now, especially with scrumptious reviews! <3