Page 47 of Claimed By the Bratva

He stepped closer, grabbed my hand, and spun me around. As his arm wrapped around my waist, I felt the gun at my back. “Now stop playing with me, Joyce.”

Feeling my heart jumping to my throat, I swallowed hard. “Jax, I’m not, please, there’s no reason for this.” I held my coffee cup tightly as that was the signal. Once I dropped it, the Dubow family would come running. I didn’t want any misunderstandings.

“Joyce,” he breathed out over my shoulder. “I won’t hesitate, I’ve done many things in life, and taking one isn’t new to me.”

I couldn’t believe what was happening. How could he push a gun to my back? I realized this wasn’t his first time. He had done this before. My mind spun as I thought of him killing innocent people like me. That meant he wouldn’t think twice about taking me out.

“Jax, I’m trying to help; I’m not the enemy,” I whispered between breaths as I felt my lungs struggling for air. “I thought we could help each other.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I have multiple friends I can turn to if trouble comes knocking,” he added as he pushed me forward. “Move, we have to get out of here.”

What did he mean by multiple friends? Was he working for more than one Bratva group? “Please, hear me out,” I begged as I tried to shake his grip on my arm loose.

Looking at the blank expression on his face, I knew something was wrong. He glanced around and then settled his gaze on the spot where Anton said he would be. Fear gripped my heart as I realized he knew I wasn’t alone.

Had we walked into a trap, I wondered. I heard Tasha speaking to me, but my mind was tumbling through a world of its own. “Get out, Joyce. Can you hear me? Get out!” Tasha’s voice echoed through my mind.

I pulled harder at my arm, trying to get out of his grip, knowing that my life was in danger. Jax tightened his grip. His hold was so tight I could feel my arm and hand going cold as the blood stopped circulating. I heaved as my chest closed, and breathing became impossible. “Are you really trying to leave? Don’t test my patience,” Jax huffed over my shoulder as he pushed from behind me.

Shaking my head, I opened my mouth and sucked in. I had to fill my lungs with air before I fell over. I didn’t want to set him off more than I already had. Speaking in a soft, squeaking voice, I tried to reason with him. “No, but my arm is hurting; please relax your grip.”

He glanced down at my arm and loosened his grip. Smiling over my shoulder at him, I felt his grip closing again as fire shot up in his eyes. I looked around frantically as I heard the echo of a gunshot.

Anton was running towards us. He was about halfway when I saw the men heading for him from all sides. They grabbed him and held a knife to his throat as Jax spoke in my ear. “This can all go away if you give me what I asked.”

My mind was still trying to grasp the severity of the situation when more men came out of nowhere. “Anton,” I screamed at the top of my lungs. But as the other group got closer, I grasped they were on our side as Alexandr was with them.

As a fight ensued between the two groups, I felt Jax dragging me backward. He swung me around with so much force my legs gave way, and I slid on the footpath. I didn’t go far as I collided with someone’s legs. Glancing up, I had never been so happy to see Abram.

He raised his arm and threw his fist at Jax. Jax blocked the hit but let go of my arm to do so. I scrammed forward, moving in behind Abram. Looking up at Jax, I could see the betrayal he felt towards me.

He spun around on his heels and ran to the side. Abram lightly touched my shoulder as he spoke. “Are you okay?”

Breathing out in quick repetitions, I nodded to indicate I was. I scanned the area, looking for Anton. I saw him running after Jax down a side street. A deeply unsettling sensation rose in me.

Abram assisted me to my feet as Tasha came towards us. “You can go with Alexandr,” she said to Abram as she took my arm. He nodded and headed to where his brother and the other men had captured most of the attackers.

Chapter 27 - Anton

Jax couldn’t have gone far. I knew he ran this way. As I scanned the crowd, I noticed a guy walking away quickly. He was basically through the crowd. I would have to move around if I intended to catch up.

Moving around the crowd of people, I saw him going down an alleyway. Knowing I would never catch him if I followed directly, I sprinted through the closest alleyway. I had to cut him off. As I ran, I stepped into a couple of puddles, hoping it was water and not something else.

I could hear the splattering of my footsteps echo off the walls as I moved. Ahead of me was the first turn to the left and a little way further another. Hoping to get to him in time, I moved faster, wanting to get to the next turn quicker. I felt my leg muscles starting to burn from the exertion, but there was no time to worry about it.

Reaching the turn, I took it without hesitation and almost slipped. Keeping myself up, I ran down the alley. I was about halfway through when I saw Jax passing. He was but a couple of steps ahead of me.

Giving it all I had, I lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. We landed with a loud thud. Placing a knee on his back, I pulled his arm back as I spoke. “Jax, I know you have no reason to trust me. I just want to talk; I don’t want to hurt you.”

Jax scoffed at my words and replied arrogantly. “Why should I talk to you? You have nothing I want.”

Letting out a small sigh, I continued in a calm tone. “I care for Joyce and want only the best for her.”

“Get off me,” he spat, shifting left and right.

Letting go, I got up and waited for him to get to his feet. He glanced at me as he laughed. It was a horrid sound, like metal scraping against metal. After bursting into laughter, he spoke abruptly. “How could someone like you care for her? You’re a monster like me. What kind of life will she have?”

I inhaled deeply, trying hard to keep my cool and push my anger back down. I had to keep myself in check for Joyce. I had promised her. After calming myself internally, I spoke again. “Jax, you are not wrong. I am a monster. But I’m not like you, and I care deeply for Joyce. I hope you do, too, as I have a proposal for you.”

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