Page 34 of Owned By the Bratva

I lay holding Cindy until I eventually fell asleep in the early morning.

Chapter 19 - Cindy

Waking early, I moved carefully out of bed. I didn’t dare wake Leon. Once dressed, I headed down to where I found Mila already starting breakfast. “Morning, can you get Piotr and Konstantin, please.”

Mila eyed me, then replied as she moved out of the kitchen. “Sure.”

She returned with the two men in tow. “Morning, Cindy. Is everything okay?” Piotr asked as he sat down.

“You look like you’re going somewhere, are you?” Konstantin added, sitting next to Piotr.

Clearing my throat and smoothing the imaginary pleads on my skirt, I spoke softly. “Yes, I want to help. So, I decided I’m going back to work.”

Piotr’s mouth fell open, but no words came out. I could see the shock on their faces, but I had made up my mind.

With wide eyes, Konstantin spoke. “Leon’s not going to be pleased. I don’t think you should do this without talking to him.”

Mila shook her head in agreement, but I saw Piotr considering it.

“I know, but I tried talking to him, and he won’t budge. This is something I need to do. It’s not just to assist you guys, but for my own peace of mind as well.”

Piotr stood and came over to me, taking my hand. Looking into his gray eyes, I saw concern and could hear it in his voice as he spoke. “This isn’t going to be easy, but if you’re sure, we will help you.”

I nodded, smiling at him. “I am. This is what I want to do.”

He turned to the other two and gave the orders. “Mila, you can show her how to find and download what we need.”

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation. She took my hand and led me to her office, which I had never seen before.

It was a smaller one than Leon’s and a lot fuller, too. There were three desks lining the walls. These were stacked with computers, papers, printers, and other things.

She opened a drawer and pulled out a memory stick. “You know how to use this?” she asked, glancing at me.

“Yes, I know how to use it.”

“Right, you need to look for files like these,” she said, pointing to folders on the computer screen. “They may have little lock icons on. If that is the case, just see if you can copy them. Okay?”

Once you copied the files, open the one on the stick so it can run on the lab system.”

I nodded, studying the folders on the screen. “If I can’t?” I asked, needing to know what to do should it be a problem.

“We have something in mind. Put this somewhere safe,” she said, handing me the memory stick and walking out.

I followed her back to the kitchen, where Piotr and Konstantin worked on wires and what looked like heart monitor stickies. Piotr handed me a piece of paper; glancing at it, I saw it was a doctor’s note.

“It explains where you were and why you didn’t contact anyone. Give it to your supervisor when you get to work,” he grinned.

“Oh, right, yes, a sick note. Good idea, thanks.” I replied, folding it and placing it in my pocket along with the memory stick.

“So, just one more thing,” Konstantin spoke from the kitchen island, holding up a small heart sticker with a cable and a little box on the other end. “This is for your protection. Without it, we wouldn’t let you go back.”

Walking over, I eyed the contraption. “What is it?” I asked.

“It’s a bug, or rather a wire,” Mila responded, smiling as she took it from him. She walked to me and asked that I undid the top button of my top. She slid it down my chest, placing the heart sticky between my breasts. The other end dangled against my stomach. I gasped as the coolness of it touched my warm skin.

Mila smiled as she lifted the bottom of my top and taped the box to my stomach. “There you go, all ready.” She said, stepping back. “We will be able to hear you on this. If there is trouble, just say so, and we will come in for you.”

“Right,” Konstantin added as he came over. “If you’re ready, I’ll drop you at work.”

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