Page 18 of Hostage of the Bratva

Turning to face her, I noticed she had pulled the sheet up over her. I walked over and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back shortly,” I breathed out as I moved to the door. “Next to the bookshelf is a passage to the bathroom,” I added.

Walking out and locking the door behind me, I felt amazing. Her touch still surged through me, giving me renewed strength. I had never felt so at ease, so filled with power as I was at that moment. I felt invincible, and it was a feeling I could get used to.

I was walking on clouds as I left the yacht. I gave the two guards on the dock instructions to stay close and make sure she didn’t get out or anyone in. Once they were in place, I headed to town to join the family. I called Roman to let him know she was locked up tight and I was heading to Ashan.

“Good,” Roman replied. “We are all in place and ready to go.”

I arrived at the warehouse minutes after Ashan and some of the guards had entered. Following the path we had discussed, I entered from a side panel that had been cut open. As I moved around some crates and barrels, I heard Ashan mumbling something, and I froze.

“No, this can’t be,” I whispered as I came around a crate and saw the two guards down on the floor. One was still alive, it seemed he had only been shot twice. Once in the leg and once in the chest, I noticed as I knelt next to him. The other one was dead. It looked like he had taken the majority of bullets. His chest was covered in holes, and a pool of blood surrounded him.

The guard beside me tugged my jacket and pointed to the back of the building. I rose, furious. Why did he not wait for me? If Ashan wasn’t dead, I was going to kill him myself. I headed down between the crates to the back. There were a lot less of Anchony’s men than I expected.

Seeing an opportunity as most had gone back out to check the perimeter, I snuck up on the one closest to me. He had his back turned as I stepped out of the shadows of the crates. Taking his head in my hands, I snapped his neck. Ashan looked up at me and smiled. Pulling my gun, I hurried over to him and undid the ropes around his hands.

As he stood up from the chair, his face all bloody and his one eye seemingly swollen shut, he shot past me. Turning, I saw the men streaming in through the wide-open double doors. We took out the five guards storming at us and then set the charges.

Exiting the building, we met with some of the Anchony family. Bullets went flying in both directions as they tried to enter the warehouse. We had to keep them out for another two minutes as the plan was to detonate at precisely five.

Moving from the door of the building to the steel container a couple of meters forward, we lay down bullets. Stopping behind the container, I saw Ashan had been hit. Blood was running down his left shoulder.

“Brother,” I exclaimed, pulling my tie loose from my neck and pressing it to his shoulder. “You’ve been hit.”

Ashan looked down and smiled at me. “It’s fine, just a scratch.” He said but I could see his face draining of blood.

I waved to our guards waiting at the gate, showing them to come closer. Another session of bullets went flying around us as they came over. Two took Ashan as the other two made a human shield, running back to the cars with him.

Stepping out from behind the container, I rained down on the enemy before retreating back to the safety of the large steel container. Checking my watch, I saw it was time. I stepped out again and shot some unsuspecting Anchony men as they were coming closer. I ducked a couple of bullets and ran for the cars. Jumping in through the open door, I felt something nick my calve.

But there was no time to worry about it. I pulled the door closed as we sped off. Turning in my seat, I saw the explosion taking place. A large cloud of fire and smoke filled the air as the charges went off one after another.

As we drove back to the club, we could see clouds filling the air throughout the city. Today, we took care of business, I thought as I pulled my pants leg up to have a look at the burning sensation on my leg. Just a scratch, the bullet only nicked my skin as it passed. Back at the club, Ivan had the doctor check on Ashan as we all gave an account of our actions.

It was about seven when we broke up and could return home. Ashan was fine and would spend the night at Roman’s so Karine could keep an eye on the wound. However, the doctor was able to remove the bullet, and no permanent damage couldbe seen. I wished them all a good night and felt relieved that Ashan would be good.

As I drove back, I couldn’t help but ponder on the extraordinary strength I felt during the afternoon. The power that Skyler filled me with. I had to keep her close. We may not be each other’s type or first choice. But, except for our baby, she also gave me something else.

I couldn’t explain it, but she made me better.

Chapter 12 - Skyler

I watched in silence as he got dressed and left. The sex was good between us, but was it enough? I lay for a while, allowing my body to soak in the feelings still rushing through me. He had a way with me, I didn’t know why, but I wanted his touch. My mind and body fought as each wanted something else.

My mind kept telling me to get out as soon as possible while my body craved his touch. My heart was a mess as I didn’t know what I wanted.

After a while, I sat up, remembering Bunny was home alone, and fear started creeping in. I scanned the room again, wondering if there was a way out. Who would feed Bunny if I didn’t return home? Maybe Mathieu would come around looking for me. No, I thought as I got up. He was always so busy, but he did call me occasionally. Maybe he would, and once he saw I was missing, he would call the cops.

Gathering my clothes, I looked in the drawers for a knife or something sharp I could try on the door locks. There was food and a variety of drinks in the fridge, but all the cutlery was plastic. Right, I thought as I broke a plastic knife in two; why would he have anything I could use to escape here?

Walking up to one of the windows, I considered the strength of the bars. They seemed quite solid as I pulled and tried shaking them. I rummaged through the items Luder had pushed to the floor when he placed me down on the table and smiled, remembering his touch.

The floor was scattered with papers, pens, and a paperweight. I picked up the paperweight and felt its heaviness. “This might work,” I said as I turned and headed back to the window.

I tried hitting the window with the paperweight, but it didn’t even scratch it. “What the hell,” I screamed. What was thewindow made of? I took a couple of steps back and threw it at the window. The paperweight bounced against the glass and came back quickly, almost hitting me. I had to duck as it came whirling back.

I heard it smashing into something in the kitchen. My veins filled with ice as I slowly turned. I couldn’t see where it landed at that moment, which was probably not good. I fell to the ground as tears pushed up and a lump formed in my throat. “No,” I screamed as I felt fear creeping back in. I convinced myself there had to be a way out as I stood back up.

I found a baseball bat while digging through the cupboards, shelves, and cabinets. I swung at the door, windows, and walls and even tried the roof. After a while, my arms burnt and felt heavy from all the exercise. I dropped the bat to the floor, looking at the couple of dents I made.

---