Page 45 of Owned By the Bratva

By lunch, I was kind of settled in Leon’s room at the mansion and could start focusing on finding a job. I applied to three other labs in the area, and I did not expect to hear back soon, so I tried to keep busy.

It was about a week later when I got the call. During that time, I spent time with Leon, Mila, and Konstantin separately, learning bits and pieces of what they do. One of the labs I had applied to wanted me to come in for an interview. I was overwhelmed and glad to finally have a second chance.

Mila drove me there the afternoon and waited as I went for my interview. Leon was out on a run for the Morozovs. The lab wasn’t as extensive as the other one. Their main focus was on discovery, mainly in the medical field. They worked with viruses, chemicals, and more. It was small and intimate but perfect for me.

They hired me on the spot, and I was to start the following week. I kept the news a secret and decided to invite Leon on a date. I wanted to make sharing the news special. Mila recommended a small place on the edge of town. She dropped me there at about six so I could make arrangements and would send Leon my way around seven.

The place was amazing. It was nothing like the places in town. The reception area was a brightly lit gazebo with an opening to the back. There were rainbow-colored footpaths. One led to the back where an open wooden bar with engraved pillars was. The path split to all sides, each leading to small, intimate booths. Each booth looked like a little private gazebo.

It was the ideal place in all ways, and I felt excited. Once I selected a booth, I scanned the menu and decided what we would have for drinks. I had the waiter add some candles. Looking at the booth, I felt pleased. It was perfect. Now I just had to wait for Leon.

I still had ten minutes left so I headed outside to wait for him. Outside I noticed the shop next door was still open. It looked like they specialized in antiques, which attracted my attention. I walked to the window as there were many interesting items on display.

Leaning forward, I placed my hands to the sides of my face so I could see clearly. The sidewalk was clear, and there were no people around. The night air was cool but refreshing. As I came upright ready to go back, a hand closed over my mouth and one around my middle.

Before I knew what hit me, I was being lifted and pulled backward. The cloth over my mouth had a strong odor and burned my nose as I breathed in the chemicals. I tried kicking but my legs didn’t touch the ground or anything else.

As the man that was holding me, I presumed it was a man; otherwise it had to be a bulky, tall woman. I saw the open door of a van. As he moved closer, I tried kicking at the sides, but my entire body felt numb. I couldn’t lift my legs or my arms.

No, not now, Leon, please, I thought as the man placed me inside and shut the door. Blackness invaded my mind, I tried fighting, hoping to stay awake, but the darkness took over.

Chapter 26 - Leon

Arriving at the venue, Cindy sent coordinates for, I thought she would be waiting. The waiter showed me to our table and brought a glass of wine. I assumed that she might have gone to the bathroom and waited. After a while, when the waiter passed by, I called him closer.

“Excuse me for asking, but have you seen the lady who arranged all this?” I asked.

The skinny young man rubbed his chin. His hair stood in all directions, and he appeared confused, but he could at least answer me. “She went outside just before you came in. I haven’t seen her since.”

Thanking the young man, I wondered where she could have gone. I paid for the bottle of wine and stepped outside. Glancing around, I saw that the antique store was still open, so I went inside.

An elderly man was seated in the very back, looking at a piece of jewelry through a magnifying glass. Walking towards him, I looked around. The place was empty except for him. The man looked up as I came to stand beside him.

“Can I help you, sir?” he asked in a crackling voice.

“Sorry, I was wondering if you have maybe seen a young woman this evening?” I inquired in a gentle tone.

“No, sir,” he replied sharply. “If I had, I would have been blessed, but no one comes here anymore.”

“Life is tough. Thank you for your time,” I added and left. Standing in front of the store, I scanned the area. Everything was quiet; there were no people except for the ones in the restaurant, and there was no traffic.

I went in, had another glass of wine, and waited half an hour, hoping she would return. Cindy didn’t show. I called Mila and confirmed that I had the right place. I tried Cindy’s phone, but there was no answer.

Heading home, I tried calling her from the carphone, but her phone kept diverting to voicemail. Arriving at home, I felt my heart beating in my throat. Something was wrong but I didn’t know what. I was dialing her number as I entered the kitchen.

Mila stood by the island and turned to me as I came in. The look on her face was worried, and I had not seen that look much. Cindy’s phone went to voicemail again. I ended the call and placed my phone in my pocket as I stepped up to Mila.

Touching her shoulder, I asked. “What’s the matter, Mila, what happened?”

She glanced at the floor as she swallowed hard. Looking up again, she spoke gently. “Kiera isn’t just a scientist Leon.”

“Okay, then, who is she?” I asked, a little confused as to the relevance of this information.

Mila sounded stressed as she conveyed the details of what she had found. “She’s the daughter of a rival mafia group. One of the Morozov’s enemies, and I think we stepped into the middle of it. More like, Cindy stepped into the middle of it.”

“So, taking Cindy is retaliation?” I asked, sitting down. My body felt cold as reality sank in. “We need to do something, Mila. We have to get her back!” I added as I stood and headed for the door.

“Leon,” Mila called after me. “Where are you going? We don’t know where she is.”

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