Page 26 of Loki's Flame
“I do not know what you do. All I know about the Valhalla Heathen’s is they run Ragnarök.”
“Excellent, I see he hasn’t completely lost his reason then.”
“What the fuck is going on?” I stood up, wanting Piotr to take the hint that I needed him to leave.
“Loki and I are old friends and business partners. We had some trouble, and he needs to solve it. I think you being away for a few days would do a world of good for him to focus. So, I’m here to whisk you away to my island. That doesn’t sound bad, does it?” Piotr stayed seated. His tone was so cordial, like we were having tea and discussing the weather.
“Are you telling me you're going to force me to go with you?” I take some steps back from him.
“Of course not, Bridget. If you care about Loki, you’ll spend a few days with me. I have a private jet waiting for us. I’ll have you back before you know it, though I promise it's going to be hard to leave. It’s beautiful there. The island is my family’s and it will just be us and my staff.”
I looked out the window and noticed his two bodyguards standing on the walkway outside my room. My nerves jumped, and I wondered if I could get away somehow.
Piotr gets to his feet and puts the book back in his bag. “I swear to you no harm will come to you.”
“Why isn’t that reassuring?” I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Do you need help packing?” I can go to the front desk and tell them you’ll be away for a few days and give them some money to hold your room.”
I didn’t say a word as I grabbed my suitcase out of the wardrobe and started putting my things in it. He disappeared a few minutes later. I assume to do what he said he’d do. When I’m done and grabbed my purse, I walked out of my room and saw him coming back from the motel office.
“We’re all set,” Piotr smiled at me.
We rode in silence as the bodyguard merged onto the interstate. I watched as the outskirts of town rolled by the window. My skin was flushed and there was a tightness in my chest. What kind of criminals were these assholes?
The car pulled off an exit and headed to a section of the airport average passengers do not see. The small passenger plane gleamed in the sunlight, the small stairs already down and waiting for us. As I exited the car, I felt the bodyguard in the passenger side look me over. I stared right back. Piotr got out on the other side of the car and came around and offered me his elbow, which I refused. I walk toward the plane when I saw a woman maybe a few years older than me dressed in a flight attendant uniform coming down the metal stairs, a bright smile plastered on her face. She seemed genuine, so maybe this wouldn’t be a horrible decision. Though I knew very well if I’d refused, I’d be taken a different way. There was just something about the way Piotr carried himself that made me not question his ability to hurt me. I’d not noticed it at the bar because he’d not wanted me to see it.
“Welcome, Mr. Andrysiak and Ms. Walsh,” the woman said with an accent.
“Ines, nice to see you. Are you looking forward to getting back to Ukojenie?” Piotr smiled at her warmly.
“Yes sir, I love it there,” she said and took the suitcase from my hand.
Piotr gestured with his hand for me to walk forward. As I went through the plane’s door, I realized this was going to be a pleasant trip. The opulence of the leather seats and the gleaming fixtures was enough to tell me what Piotr’s family did, kept them well. I picked a seat at random and sat looking out the window. This part of the tarmac was miles away from the main section of the airport. I could see the commercial planes coming and going.
Piotr sat across from me and said, “let’s call our friend and let him know where you are.”
“Oh, so he doesn’t actually know about your little plan here?” I asked, incredulously. I was wondering if they were in this together though why in the hell would they need me for anything they did was simply beyond me. I was going crazy over this odd turn of events.
“Bridget, please just call Loki,” Piotr said patiently.
I rummaged in my crossbody purse until I felt my cell and pulled it out. The call rang a few times when I heard his voice. “Hey Ivy. Can I call you back in a little while?”
“I don’t know. Ask Piotr,” I said.
“What did you just say?”
“I’m with Piotr on his private jet. He told me I needed to travel with him.” I said nothing else as I put the phone out for Piotr to take.
Piotr chuckled as he took it. “Loki, how’s it going?”
There was silence until Piotr responded, “I see. Well, you can tell me all about it when Bridget and I get back in a few days. Bye for now.” He looked quite pleased with himself as he hit the end button.
“Did you enjoy that?”
“So much!” He said as he handed the phone back to me.
“Wow, I get to keep it?”