Page 4 of Forced By the Bratva

After taking a couple of sips, I nodded my thanks and watched her leave again. I didn’t dare try to speak further as I may not have been able to contain the hurricane of emotions. Glancing around, I noticed the place was packed. This wasn’t something new, though; the first couple of rounds had already occurred.

I was glad that he left me in the dark. Most people didn’t even seem to notice me. However, the fighters would all be able to see me. I had watched many of these events during my short life and knew all the contestants by name.

Chapter 2 - Piotr

It was almost dinner time when Ashan called. I was leaning against the countertop in our kitchen when I heard the front door open and Mila speaking. “Evening Ashan, he’s in the kitchen.”

It was strange for him to come to our place for business, but he sounded urgent when he called. Turning to him as he entered, I saw the stranger with him. It was not like him to bring strangers to our home.

Stepping towards them, I spoke, holding out my hand while scanning the man with him. “Evening Ashan.”

“Hi, Piotr, I’m sorry to bother you so late and bring someone here. But we must get this job done. It will be a while before we have another chance.”

“Yeah, I assumed it had to be important for you to come all the way out here. So, I thought, why not? Better not delay.” I waited for him to introduce the tall, dark stranger.

Turning to the man beside him, Ashan held his hand out as he spoke. “This is Lib; he has a job for you. Are you interested?”

The man didn’t appear to be Bratva or, in any sense, even into illegal things. I couldn’t help but wonder how Ashan knew him. The fact that he brought a stranger to my house was something else we would discuss later. “Sure,” I said, looking at Lib. “How can I be of assistance?”

Lib glanced at Mila, standing by the front door, ready to chuck them out should I decide it was needed. Turning back to me, he produced a business card from his jacket pocket. He held it out to me as he spoke.

“Thank you for your time. I have invested in this company. I was told your particular abilities would be best suited to do a check.” His voice wavered a bit, and I was sure he had never been in the company of people like us.

“What is this about Ashan?” I questioned. “How could I assist with investments?”

Ashan frowned at me as he spoke in his deep, authoritative tone. “The investment was made in an underground fighting ring. Plus, Lib is a close friend of the family, and we would appreciate it if you would just take a look. See what is going on over there.”

“You know I no longer play in those circles,” I said as Mila approached us. I didn’t want her interfering, but I knew this would trigger her.

“All we ask is that you have a look. We don’t want you to fight or anything like that, Piotr. Just take a look around and let us know if there is money to be made. If everything is above board. Can you do this for us, as you are familiar with the scene and will know best.”

Glancing at Mila, I knew she was about to add her voice, and it wouldn’t be a good ending to this conversation. Her feelings towards ring fighting and me were very narrow.

Holding out my hand to Ashan, I spoke up before she could say anything. “Okay, I will do this for you, Ashan. But next time, please give us a heads-up. We are a family and have to discuss such jobs.”

Mila was not pleased. She stormed past us and headed upstairs. I knew this would be her reaction, but we needed the Morozov business.

Ashan shook my hand and nodded. “Sure, but the fight is tonight, and we aren’t sure when the next one will be. If not for that, we would have consulted you ahead of time.”

“Right,” I replied, walking to the front door and seeing them out. Once they had left, I went to my room. After taking a shower and dressing, I looked for Mila.

I found her in the second-floor library. She sat by the window reading on her tablet. Walking to her side, she didn’t even look up. “Mila,” I said, bending down next to her. “I am not going to fight. I am merely going to observe and see how they run the show. It is just for intel.”

Glancing at me, I saw a tear rolling down her cheek. Wiping it, I continued. “Please don’t be sad or angry. I’m not in any danger. No one will even know I’m there, okay?”

Mila flung her arms around my neck and squeezed tightly. “Please, please don’t get in the ring.” She whispered before kissing my cheek and sitting back.

Smiling at her, I nodded and headed for the door. Before leaving, I turned back and winked at her. “No fighting, only observing,” I said in a cheery tone, then headed to the garage.

I grabbed my helmet from the stand between my and Mila’s bikes and pushed the button for the garage door to open. I started my Triumph and listened to her roar to life. It was the sweetest sound; she purred like a kitten. I loved the way she softly rumbled beneath me.

Pulling on my helmet, I headed out the gate to the location Ashan gave me. By the time I reached my destination, the sun was setting. The last part of the road was filled with loose gravel, and so was the underground car park. From the outside, the building looked like it was ready for demolition.

The parking garage was poorly lit but seemed in better condition than above ground. Getting off, I noticed my bike was no longer black; it was brown from all the dust. Even though there were no windows this far underground, I was grateful that the air pipes worked. The parking area was full, and clusters of people were standing around smoking and drinking.

Entering through the double steel doors, I found myself in a long corridor. The corridor was also poorly lit and had a musty odor. I wondered if the entire place was going to be like this. If so, it wasn’t the type of business I would invest in. At the first side corridor, I saw two boards against the wall. One indicated the bathrooms, and the other board showed locker rooms down the corridor.

Moving further forward, I found two more other doors. They were standing open. These appeared to be more locker rooms. I stood for a moment, watching the fighters gearing up. Some were sparring with each other. In one corner, a young woman was rubbing a fighter’s back. In the other corner, it seemed a doctor was looking at injuries on another.

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