Page 28 of Hostage of the Bratva

“Thank you,” I said softly as I took the phone. “I might call my brother,” I added, watching for his reaction.

Luder looked down at Bunny and spoke as he smiled at me. “Let him know his two men are tied up at your house.”

“What did you do?” I asked, astounded at his words.

“Well, I wanted the dog, and they were in my way. I simply tied them up, is all,” he added as he turned and headed out.

Bunny whimpered and lay down, covering his eyes with his paws. “Should I believe him?” I asked as I dialed Mathieu’s number. “Looking at your reaction, I doubt it, but he did bring you here, so I guess that counts, right?”

Bunny jumped up and loudly barked, making me laugh as I listened to the ringing.

“Skyler?” Mathieu’s voice came blaring over the phone. “Skyler, is that you?” he asked,, sounding very concerned.

“Hi, Mathieu,” I replied lightly, shaking my head at Bunny.

“Skyler, where are you? I’ll come to get you now, just tell me where you are?” he asked hastily.

“Slow down, brother, I’m fine, and who said I want you to come and get me?”

“But I’ve been looking for you everywhere; I even placed men at your house.” Mathieu continued.

“Yeah, about that,” I said in a harder tone, remembering Luder’s words. “Where do these men come from and who do you really work for?”

Mathieu was silent for a moment. “I… well, I… it is not important. Just let me come get you, and we can talk.” He concluded.

“No, Mathieu,” I said calmly in an even tone. “I need to know why guards were posted outside my house.”

There was a long silence. “Mathieu,” I said loudly. As I spoke, I heard the irritation forming in my voice and a hint of anger rising within me.

“I can’t explain it over the phone, Skyler,” he replied. I could hear the hesitation in his voice.

“So, it’s true, you are working for Bratva?” I asked, speaking louder.

Another long silence followed before Mathieu spoke. “It is complicated, I will explain it all to you when I pick you up.”

Anger took hold of me before I could even register it, and I was screaming at Mathieu over the phone. “I am fine! I called to let you know I am getting married and will have a baby. But I guess that isn’t important either anymore. I don’t even know who you are.”

“No,” Mathieu’s voice echoed through the phone. “You can’t, please don’t do this, let’s talk first, please.”

I was done talking; he had lied to me, and even with everything Luder had done, he never lied to me. Bunny was barking at me, and my mind wouldn’t focus.

“I thought you would be happy for me. But, no, everything in life is always about you, isn’t it?” As I spoke, I felt tears of anger and disappointment coming forth. My excitement dwindled as I tried to catch my breath.

Mathieu had been very quiet during my outburst, but I knew he was steaming about everything I had said. When he spoke, I could hear the displease in his voice.

“Skyler, it’s your hormones talking. Let’s sit down and talk it over before you make a mistake.”

“No, you don’t get to decide for me. Not anymore,” I spat at him over the phone. “This is my life and my choice, Mathieu,” I added as I stomped my foot on the ground. “You think about your actions and leave my life out of it,” I said before chucking the phone at the wall.

Turning, I flopped down on the bed and cried. My tears now flowed freely. I felt Bunny nudging at my feet, but my heartwas heavy and frozen in horror. How could he say those things, I thought as my lungs struggled to find air.

I felt a soft, gentle touch on my shoulder. The bed was dented in, and I rolled to the side. Glancing up, I saw Luder had come back in and was sitting next to me on the bed. I flung my arms around him as he pulled me up into his embrace. I needed someone to hold me.

Luder caressed my hair as he held me tight. For the longest moment, we just sat there as I cried. Once I started feeling calmer, I softly pulled back. He cupped my chin and lifted my head.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

“I’ll be fine, thanks,” I said as I turned to look at Bunny. He was sitting quietly now, just staring at us. I rose and went to rinse my face. Returning to the room, I heard Luder on the deck speaking to someone.

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