Page 9 of Owned By the Bratva

We nodded, and I sat down across from them. This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation as I wasn’t sure what was happening. I knew I had to protect her; keeping her here was the only option.

We waited in silence until Mila returned with four cups of coffee. She sat down with the other two opposite me. The way they were looking at me caused my anger to stir. It felt more like an interrogation than a conversation, even though it started out simple enough.

“What are your intentions here?” Piotr asked as he blew the steam from his cup before sipping at the dark, hot liquid.

He had barely spoken his last word before Mila started. “You know she can’t stay, right?”

As I opened my mouth to answer, Konstantine interrupted me by adding his two cents worth. “You had a simple task. Yet, you failed, and your actions have consequences, you know.”

Clutching the cup in my hands, I felt the heat it gave off stinging. I didn’t dare let go as a whirlwind of furry started rising. Never before had I stepped out or failed them in any way. All the men and women prancing in and out of our home over the years. I have never complained or prevented them from having what they desired.

Now they sat here before me, judging. The looks on their faces. They were staring at me as if I had lost my mind. Lowering my head, I took a deep breath. Rising from the table, I pushed my cup forward and let it go.

“This is my choice,” I breathed out, meeting their stern looks. “I will get the information we need, but she will stay.”

Turning to leave, I heard one of them rise. Piotr came to my side, taking me by my arm as he spoke. “Wait, we need to talk about this.”

Pulling free, I spun around to face him. As I replied, I heard my voice rising to the point of screaming. “There is nothing to discuss.”

Mila and Konstantine also stood and came around the table as I stepped back towards the stairs.

“Leon, calm down, man,” Mila said, meeting my tone of voice. “We are only trying to understand what is happening.”

It felt like they didn’t want me to be happy. Not that I knew if having her here would do that. All I knew was that something was between us, and I wanted to explore it.

“I said I will handle it, and I will. Don’t you trust me?” I spat at them, walking to the stairs. I was boiling with rage and needed to get away. As I moved up the stairs, I heard Piotr and Mila continuing. Ignoring them, I headed to Cindy.

Chapter 7 - Cindy

I could hear them screaming at each other but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Scanning the room he locked me in, I noticed it was an actual spare room. There was a single bed, cupboards, shelves, a small oak desk with a chair, and a couch by the window. It had an unfamiliar feel, like it had never been lived in.

On the shelves were a couple of books, some ornaments, and pictures. The bedding was light blue and green, and on the pillow was a teddy bear. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn it was a child's room by the looks of it. But none of the people in this mansion seemed to have kids. Even though I had only briefly met the others, I felt sure no children were living here.

The woman, Mila, had a firm, perfectly proportioned body that surely had not seen the birth of a child yet. Her curly strawberry-blond hair, almost touching her ass with her alabaster smooth skin, made her a rare beauty.

I was sure that they all had anger issues and no child would survive such a life. Maybe the room was made up to make others feel comfortable, but it didn’t provide me with any comfort. I had seen what Leon could do and Mila wasn’t a friendly woman.

Coming in, I noticed the mansion had three floors. The garage was large enough for at least six cars, even though I only saw three and two motorbikes. The outside also seemed extensive. From the gate, we drove through a grove of trees to the side of the mansion. It appeared to spread quite far to one side with big white pillars on the corners.

Some windows seemed to run from the top to the bottom, and I felt sure those didn’t open. As we pulled in, I noticed a fountain in the distance with a cobblestone path leading to it.

The place was surely something out of a fairytale, and I wondered how these people could afford such a mansion. Maybe killing and torture was a lucrative business. Hearing the argument moving closer, I placed my ear up against the door. They were surely moving closer as I could now make out parts of what they were saying.

“I still don’t understand why you would bring her here?” I heard one of the men saying.

“Maybe he thinks that the Morozov Bratva will take her in exchange for him killing the other guy.” I heard the woman Leon called Mila add.

Stepping back, my mind whirled a million miles an hour. Bratva? What have I gotten into?

Turning, I briskly moved to the window. The room was on the second floor, and I didn’t expect to find a way down, but I hoped. Opening the window, I felt the hot breeze blowing in. The air had a musty odor. Yet, I couldn’t see any factories or other kinds of businesses in the area. There was nothing but trees as far as I could see. And, as expected, there was no way down.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I let out a deep sigh. I was never getting out of here. Thinking back to Mike’s vague replies when I asked him about the lab, I wondered if there was some connection to the Mafia there.

Shaking my head, I resolved that it was just a fluke, a big misunderstanding. The company wasn’t hiding anything. Mike could have been working for someone else. Yes, that was it. I felt a grin forming on my lips as I made up my mind.

The door flung open, causing me to jump slightly and let out a small scream. Leon came in quickly and closed the door behind him. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He said.

He looked upset as he stood for a moment against the door. Considering everything, I knew that I now owed him for saving me from Mike. It made my blood boil, but there was no changing the facts. “It’s okay,” I replied softly.

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