Page 8 of The Bratva's Hostage

I turned to Fyodor who was standing at ease, ready for my instruction. They’ve crossed a line, and I had no intention of sparing them. They will suffer. All of them.

“What do you want us to do, boss?” he asked, his eyes blank.

We needed to get our men back. If I couldn’t do that, it would be a disgrace to the Bratva and it would make me look incompetent.

I glared at no one in particular as I spoke. “Gather some men and meet me back here as soon as possible.”

Fyodor left to carry out his task as I paced the length of my office. I loosened my tie, suffocated by my anger. A plan had begun to form in my head, much simpler than my original intentions. A plan that would spare innocent lives and yet cause maximum pain to their leader, the Don.

The sound of footsteps outside my office caught my attention and I waited as the door opened, Fyodor returning with five of my best men. I looked them plain in the eyes as I spoke.

“We have been disrespected and we will not take this lightly. I ignored their invasion of my property and now they’ve grown bold enough to attack us without any instigation from our end. Now, they must pay.”

My men stood steady, their vigor unwavering.

“We’ll do whatever you ask of us, boss,” Fyodor said.

“Kidnap their princess,” I ordered.

Chapter 4 - Elena

Drip…Drip…Drip…

A frown curled my lips downwards in my grogginess.

What the hell is that noise?

My eyes flew open suddenly, my mind empty and confused as I looked around. The room was pitch black and the darkness was suffocating.

A sharp pain wrapped around my head, making me gasp and squeeze my eyes back shut as though that would help ease my discomfort. It had come so quickly that it left me breathless.

I opened my eyes again into the complete darkness and blinked rapidly. There was a foul smell in the room. My nose wrinkled as I sniffed, trying to guess what it was. The stench of rancid fat was oppressive, and I gagged reflexively.

Somewhere off to my right, I could hear water dropping on the stone floor in a consistent rhythm. The sound echoed through the otherwise quiet room. I recognized it as the sound I had been chasing in my dream. It annoyed me more now that I was aware of it.

I licked my lips and shuddered. The taste of almonds was strong in my mouth, almonds, and something… harsh. It made me want to retch all over the floor.

My head felt foggy. I tried to put together a coherent thought, but it felt like wadding through muck, with iron chains tied around my legs and wrists. I made to stand up and realized for the first time that my hands were bound behind me.

I tried moving my wrists, and I felt the cold metal of handcuffs. I descended into panic, and cold fear gripped me like a bony hand reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart.

What the fuck?! Where the fuck am I!

I frantically wriggled my hands, trying to slip them out of the cuffs strapping me to the metal chair. It felt secure enough, and in the darkness, I didn’t have a chance of getting out of the tight restraint.

A cold sweat broke out on my neck, trickling down my back. My heartbeat thundered. Given my family background, it wasn’t too farfetched to imagine I’d end up in a situation like this one day, but it was so abrupt.

Calm the fuck down, Elena. Think. Try to remember.

I closed my eyes and took a deep, long breath, exhaling slowly. It came out ragged. I repeated the exercise several times until my breathing became even.

Finally, calmness washed over me. I trudged through the muck in my mind, sifting through strange memories of events that could only have happened in a dream… Strange voices, a sack over my head… a harsh smell in my nose… a car driving… How long was I out for?

What is the last thing I remember?

It came to me in bits and pieces, and I snatched the tatters out of the sky, fitting them roughly together, until my memory returned.

I’d just left the gym. I unlocked my car and got in… and… there was someone in the car already. I reacted too slowly. I lifted my arm in defense, but the intruder battered my arm away easily, wrapping one arm around my neck, and pinning me to my seat.

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