Page 21 of Auctioned to the Bratva

“No thanks needed, dear, just holler if there is anything you need,” he added before closing the door behind him.

Turning back to the bed and the bags with delight, I sat down beside them. The softness of the bed was a surprise as I almost sank away into it. I pulled the bags over while trying to find my balance. I ended up laughing at myself.

There were a couple of dresses, some pants, shorts, and tops in the first two bags. The third one contained a variety of underwear and sleepwear. I held up some of the lingerie wondering what the person who bought these was thinking.

Most of them were quite normal, but there were three pieces of clothing I would surely never wear. In the box were fourpairs of shoes. I held up the black high-heels and considered the fact that he knew the size of my feet.

It was a bit strange, but Eveline could also have assisted with it. Yes, I felt sure she had. How else would he know which size clothing to buy? Placing the shoes back in the box, I lay back on the bed.

His hospitality and affection showed so much of his character I thought, staring up at the ceiling. I don’t know how I would have survived this terrible ordeal without Sergei. I turned and pulled a pillow into my arms, grateful as I drifted off.

Startled, I sat up glancing around frantically. But then calmness entered me as the fog cleared, and I realized I was safe. Lying back down I tried to keep my eyes open as the images of the club kept flooding back. The ceiling started to turn as I focused on the light hanging from the roof, and sleep eventually came.

Chapter 13 - Sergei

She looked like an angel, I thought as I left the room glancing back before closing the door. Stepping out into the hallway I felt anger pushing up in me.

How could anyone take an innocent woman and do that to her? What kind of person offers such a delicate being to a complete stranger at a price? My mind tried to rationalize all that had happened but could not fathom it all. This world is cruel, it was not a world I wanted any part of.

Thinking back to the moments before I took her into my arms. I had fought off the two bodyguards with a might I didn’t know I had.

I found a stir of emotions that I had never experienced before. All my life, I considered myself a reasonable man, I could talk people down in any situation. But this new experience, clutching the gun, swinging at those men.

It stirred something inside. There was a side of me that was only now waking up, it seemed. A side that was hidden or locked away.

Still unsure of what was happening or changing within me, I knew that if I wasn’t careful. If I didn’t keep a lid on it and learned how to control it, I might end up with something I could not control. Something may just snap, and I wasn’t that type of person.

This is a life my father and now also Roman are part of. If not for the family… I entered my office and grabbed hold of my head. What would have become of her if the family had not been there? Would I have been able to get her out? I didn’t even want to consider the possibilities.

Pouring a drink, I picked up the glass and started pacing back and forth as I sipped at the content. I have never experienced such violence as tonight. This woman, this beauty, she provokes something in me. I can feel it scratching trying to escape from deep within. But I cannot identify it yet.

Admitting it to myself, I liked the thrill and excitement it brought. “No,” I argued with myself, “You are out of control, Sergei.”

Taking the gun Roman gave me, I placed it on the table. I allowed my fingers to run across the barrel and down the handle. I had never even held a gun, let alone used one. But tonight, it was like my being knew what to do.

This change was so sudden but felt so good. I pushed my hand through my hair. Have I always had a violent streak I didn’t know of, I wondered. Or was this shift in me due to Irina?

Maybe it was the imminent fear of danger, I thought. It could just have been adrenaline rushing through me that made me so aggressive. Or, it could have been the gun.

I had to find a way that was safe for me to explore what was happening. I didn’t know how to do that, but I had to keep this volatile rage on a tight leash.

Swallowing the last bit of Whiskey, I poured another and sat down in front of my computer. As I dialed Roman, I wondered what Irina was doing. Roman’s face filled my computer screen as he came online. “Hi there,” he blurted out.

“Hi, Roman, I am just checking in on everything on your side.”

“Well,” Roman replied, looking at someone behind the screen and waving for them to come forward. “I want you tomeet Ashan and Luder.” He added as two men joined him. “They are some of our cousins who have joined the family in Miami.”

We exchanged greetings before Roman continued. “They will be working with you on this operation once you return brother. And while you are keeping Irina safe, they will delve into developments on this side.”

“Fine,” I reply without hesitation. “I want regular updates though; I want to be kept in the loop, do you understand?” I asked.

Roman rubbed his stubble chin as usual when he had to consider important changes. “Sergei,” he started leaning forward into the screen.

“Yes, Roman?” I replied calmly.

“You do know that if you do this, you will be heavily implicated in Bratva's business, don’t you?” Roman replied.

“Yes,” I answered, “I know and frankly, I no longer care. I will do what needs to be done to keep Irina safe.” My voice rose as I spoke, and I took a deep breath.

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