Page 9 of Kept By the Bratva

Dealing with bills didn’t improve my mood, but today was the day to handle it all. Rent, utilities, student loans, a medical thing from when I fell at the grocery store and sprained my wrist. I scowled at my laptop, still bitter that I had to foot that bill. It wasn’tmyfault they hadn’t cleaned up a spill on the floor. Debt was my middle name. Between the usual things I had to deal with on my low pay, I would never get ahead.

I lowered my face into my hands, wishing I had something to look forward to for once. Before I could dip into a deep slump, my phone pinged. It was a text from Missy, and I wished I hadn’t looked.

Missy:How are you feeling today? Talia and I stayed out so damn late. I’m glad I don’t have to go in to work!

She added a selfie to her text. Her fiancé was kissing her cheek while she giggled.

“Oh, gimme a break.” Jealousy filled me, and it churned with my upset stomach. I wished I could have a man in my life, someone to support me and help me when I was down and struggling. It was exhausting to know I was alone and had no one, that I had yet to meet a stable man I could marry. All I’d ever wanted was to be a part of something bigger, to belong and fit in with a huge family, where everyone looked out foreach other. I’d never had a family, never had support, and it felt like a pipe dream most days.

I didn’t reply to her. Instead, I showered and got ready for a long evening at the vet clinic. Even though I wouldn’t have to deal with customers at the front desk all night, facing mountains of paperwork didn’t appeal. The hours passed slowly, but I finished my shift by taking constant breaks. Every time I walked back to play with the puppies and dogs who were there to be boarded overnight, my mood lifted. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

It just wasn’t normal to be this blah after a stomach bug. After my shift ended and I began the walk home, I considered whether I was ignoring the signs of something else.

Something permanent.

I’m not pregnant.

I couldn’t be. I’d grown up assuming that I would never have children, and that was probably a big reason I wanted a family so badly. Because it was something out of my reach. I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome when I was a teen, and the doctors were very clear that I would never be able to successfully get pregnant or keep a baby.

Besides, I didn’t sleep around much. The last time I had was Nate, and before him, it was probably a year-long drought of never meeting someone I’d want to be intimate with. Missy teased me that I was picky, and I was. I didn’t care. If I were to get hot and heavy with a man, I wanted it to be something I was confident about, even if it was only casual sex.

And here I was, wishing I could see Nate again. Or even that stranger from last night. I was an idiot to lust for either of those men because they were prime examples of the kind of guy who wouldn’t stick around. I was just a piece of ass to them, and I hated the reminder thatI could be weak enough to want them. I had better standards than to want a deadbeat, right?

I shook my head, letting it hang low as I walked. I stared at the cracked sidewalk, knowing that even if there was a chance, however slim, that I could be pregnant, the father would never know. I had no means to contact Nate. I doubted he’d want to be informed, anyway. He sure hadn’t wanted to stick around with me longer than that night.

It'll be all right.I drew a deep breath, forcing myself to know that things would turn around. Lifting my head, I tried to stand up straight and prompt my body to lose this clinging anxiety. If I thought positively, I’d feel better.

But it was too late. All I could do was react with absolute terror.

While I’d been walking and lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings. Maybe if I’d been more alert, I would’ve noticed the group of masked thugs approaching sooner.

A van idled on the road, and as the panel door slid open, the men rushed at me.

My mouth opened, and I braced myself to scream.

Before I could even squeak, let alone scream, they grabbed me, running toward me and hauling me right off the sidewalk. They’d sprung upon me so suddenly, I lacked the time or chance to react with anything other than paralysis.

Shock kept me locked in panic. They outnumbered me, their muscled arms stronger as they picked me up. Hands clamped on my legs, stopping my kicks. Another one covered my mouth with a gag, silencing me.

They swiftly carried me to the van and roughly shoved me inside the dark cargo space.

I blinked, trying to calm my racing heart as my mind caught up. Everything passed in a dizzying blur, and I resisted the urge to puke.

Just when I’d been so sullen and distracted, thinking that my life couldn’t sink any lower, I was kidnapped, snatched right off the street.

5

NIKOLAI

Alek entered the back room at one of our restaurants. My brothers and other top soldiers were waiting for him, and I glanced at each of them in turn.

No one looked happy, least of all Alek. I didn’t blame him.

I was furious.

“How bad is it?” Ivan asked Alek as he sat for our meeting. He’d called us all here after he personally checked in on the damage.

Last night, those men I was suspicious of turned out to be affiliates of the Ortez Cartel. Just like I fucking thought. When I slipped outside to chase down Amy, they put their plan into action.

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