Page 9 of Claimed By the Bratva

On the one hand, I knew we had to get the information as quickly as possible. But, on the other hand, I had this intense need to keep her with me longer.

I woke up early, hearing movement in the house. Rolling off the couch, I glanced around the room. I couldn’t see anything out of place, and her door was still closed. I headed to the kitchen and checked all the doors and windows. Everything was locked. I must have been dreaming, I thought as I unlocked her door.

Peeking in, I breathed out hard, feeling relieved. Joyce was still sleeping. Closing the door softly, I went to prepare breakfast. I would wake her once I was done, and she could continue her search.

Chapter 6 - Joyce

Feeling annoyed, I paced up and down the length of the room. How dare he keep me cooped up here. I have given him all the information I could gather. What more could he want from me? I felt my anger increasing with each step I took.

He left shortly after I shared the last information with him just before lunch. Without going in, I could not get my hands on the last two demands. I told him it was all I could do for them. I felt dirty, betraying my company. But what else could I do? I loved my job.

It had been a couple of hours. He promised to let me go. Yet, I’m still locked up. I had to get out. It felt like I was going insane. I loved being outdoors, breathing in fresh air every day. Being cooped up like this wasn’t good for my health.

I stopped pacing as I heard his truck. Walking to the window, I looked outside. Yes, he had returned. For a second, I felt glad. My stomach gave a quick turn. “No,” I whispered to the floor as I faced the door.

No more butterflies, no more emotional rollercoaster rides, I scolded myself. Get a grip, Joyce; he is only going to break your heart. This last week has been hard. My emotions, mind, and body have been in a constant struggle. I had to get out. I had to leave him in my past.

The door opened, and Anton stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him. “I’m sorry,” he said, looking at me with his head turned to the side. “You look startled. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I spat back. “Can I go now? I gave you all I could get.”

“I’m sorry, you know I need it all. But I tell you what,” he said in a light tone. “How about I take you out a bit tomorrow afternoon? We can dine out before returning here. It may help you relax a bit. What do you think?”

Glaring at him, I wanted to scream and kick. I needed to get out. But I wanted to go home. Yet, I knew fighting him now could just make things worse. “Okay,” I agreed reluctantly.

“Great,” he replied as he headed out the door again. “Sleep tight, see you in a bit.” Anton closed and locked the door.

Sitting down on the bed, I considered my options. If I went along and played nice, he may decide not to lock the door. That would be good for me, I thought.

Laying back, I felt sleep passing over me quickly. I had not realized how drained my body had been from all the stress. I slept in late. It was almost eleven when I woke. Jumping up, I took a quick shower and got dressed.

Returning to the room, I found a box with a note on the table. Next to it was a tray with cold coffee and some muffins. Staring at the package, I wondered if I should open it as the note read: ‘Wear something nice.’

After taking a couple of sips of cold coffee, I sat down and opened the box. Inside was a neatly folded dress. It was ocean green, and the material appeared to be shining. Moving my hands gently over it, I felt my stomach turning. Picking up the dress, I let it hang from my fingers.

It was elegant and silky soft. I would never have bought myself such an item. Rising, I held it against me. It consisted of very little material but enough to cover what needed to be hidden. The spaghetti straps were attached to two triangles which covered my breasts. From there, the dress ran down to the floor in a fairly straight pattern.

The bottom piece from my feet to my knees had multiple slits. There were so many they looked like tassels. Taking off my clothes, I slipped into it. The dress was a perfect fit. For a moment, I wondered who had bought it and how they knew my size.

I turned in a circle, closing my eyes. The material caressed my skin, and I felt like a princess. Smiling, I walked back to the bathroom and stared into the mirror. Pinning my hair, I completed the look. I was a fairytale princess.

Hearing the bedroom door open frightened me and pulled me back to reality. “Ready to go?” Anton’s voice came wandering through the door.

“Yes, I’ll be right out,” I responded, swallowing the lump, trying to push up in my throat. Fixing a strand of hair that came loose, I smiled as I headed out of the bathroom.

Noticing the stunned look on his face sent a heat wave through me. His outfit complimented mine, and I must admit he looked very handsome. His hair was smoothed back, his face cleanly shaved, and the slight opening at the top of his shirt was alluring.

A naughty smile crossed his face as he scanned my body from top to bottom. Glancing at the floor, I felt my cheeks heating up. I stepped back as I noticed my body betraying me. I was swaying gently as I stood without even noticing. “Are we going?” I asked in a rushed tone, clearing my throat.

My mind was racing a hundred miles an hour. Suddenly, I didn’t feel like a hostage anymore. It felt like I was going on a real date. I hadn’t had one since high school, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes, of course, right this way,” Anton replied holding the door open and showing me to exit. We left the house, and he assisted me into his truck.

“Where are we going?” I inquired as we pulled out and drove down the street.

Anton smiled, replying in a light tone. “I made us a reservation at this new Greek place. It has an amazing menu and views. Do you like Greek, or do you prefer Italian?”

Shifting in my seat, I gave him a quick grin. “Either is fine, thanks.” I studied his truck’s interior for the first time. He must have noticed as he spoke sharply, startling me a little. “Is everything okay? You looking for something specifically?”

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