Page 7 of Claimed By the Bratva

“Joyce,” Anton said softly. “I want you to call in sick.”

Before he could continue, my mouth opened, and the words seemed to flow of their own accord. “No, oh hell no!” I spat back. I fought to regain control of my body as it flooded with anger. I moved backward on the bed, crawling like a crab.

Anton jumped up and joined me on the bed. “Calm down, Joyce, please, let me explain,” he added softly as he reached out towards me. “Once you do your part, I promise I will release you. You will never have to see me again.”

I stopped and looked at him. I knew he couldn’t be trusted, but I had no other option. Lowering my head, I felt him shifting closer. Anton placed his hands on mine, where they lay on my knees. “Please don’t make me use the information I have against you. I don’t want to. But I will if forced.”

Tears burned my eyes as they lazily made their way out and down my cheeks. I didn’t answer him and dared not move. After a bit, Anton rose and stormed towards the door. I heard it open. He let out a deep sigh. “Joyce,” he said. I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like he was angry. “If I have to, I will ensure you never get work again. Do you understand?”

Nodding my head, I wiped at the tears. “I'll be back in a bit, and then you can call the office. I meant what I said earlier. I promise to release you once I have all the necessary information.”

With that, I heard the door closing. I looked up and out the window. My heart was heavy, and I allowed my tears to flow. I needed to release the anxiety and anger I felt. Turning to the bedside table, I poured some coffee. After taking a few sips, I got off the bed.

There were two doors leading out of the room. The one he came and went with and another one. Walking to the door, Iglanced back at the other one. Everything was quiet; I couldn’t hear him. Carefully, I opened the other door only to discover a bathroom.

On the vanity stood one of my bags. I walked to it and opened it. Inside were some of my clothes, my brush, and other items I would need. I thought, how dare he invade my privacy as my anger flared back up.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, I felt slightly better. Yet, my heart was still heavy. It felt tight in my chest. Looking at my reflection, I wondered why I was the one he picked to help him. I was sure there were other employees with easier access that they could have bribed or something.

Turning, I studied the bathroom. Even the bathroom windows had bars across them, as did all the other ones. I had to admit the place was nice. The living room was large, and so was the room and even the bathroom. It looked like it could have been a woman's room. The decor was soft, and the bathroom was a light pink color.

There was a bath, shower, toilet, and vanity with a basin. The room held a double bed, a small table by the window, and a built-in closet. On one wall were four shelves. They boasted with a couple of books, some teddies, and glass ornaments. I found the four teddies cute but out of place. They appeared to be small Care Bears, and I wondered if they could have been a gift from a lover.

Other than that, the two rooms were immaculate. Almost void of life. Sitting back down on the bed, I nibbled at the bacon, toast, and eggs he had brought me. I didn’t have an appetite, but I knew I had to keep up my strength if I wanted to fight back.

I knew his deal was a ploy to soften me up. But I had no choice, I knew I would have to get him what he wanted if Iwanted to live. I haven’t been around people like him. People in the criminal world. I haven’t even had contact with Jax for more than six years.

The door opened, and Anton came in carrying a bag. “Here,” he huffed as he dropped it to the bed. “In here is a laptop. You will have access to your company from it.”

My mouth hung open as I watched him turn and head for the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at me as he spoke. “You are being monitored, so don’t try anything stupid.” His tone was harsh and threatening, making me take a step back. I felt hurt, turning away as tears gathered in my eyes. Why was he treating me differently every time?

There was a volcano bursting inside of me. I was furious with myself. Why were my emotions and my body betraying me? I wasn’t sixteen anymore. How could I become a love-sick puppy in just a couple of interactions? “No,” I spoke to the walls, stomping my feet. “No matter what I felt, I couldn’t allow some criminal to corrupt me.”

Flopping down on the bed, I grabbed the remote and put the television on. Maybe I could keep my mind busy watching something. I flipped through the channels, looking for something unromantic to watch. Fortunately for me, I found one. There was a documentary about a serial killer.

Maybe I could learn how to get rid of my problem in other ways, I thought as I lay back and pumped up the volume. The house was quiet, and I assumed Anton had left.

Chapter 5 - Anton

“Tasha, please, I know you can do it. This deal will determine our future involvement with the Morozov family. You know that, please help me?” I swore to Joyce that I would get her a medical certificate for missing work, and I planned to keep my promise. I gave her the laptop. You said it was safe for her to use, right?” I added, feeling my stomach turning.

“Yes, Anton, it is safe, and I am aware of the deal,” Tasha replied, half annoyed at me. She took a deep breath and turned back to face her screen. Her fingers started moving; they glided across the keys in swift movements. It almost looked like she was moving her fingers through melted butter; they were so liquid.

Tasha spoke without looking at me. Her entire concentration was on the screen. “I will do my best and let you know once it’s done, okay? Now leave me to do my magic in peace.” I could hear a dash of annoyance in her tone, but I knew she loved what she did.

I felt my heart warm as I looked at her. I loved my sister and was grateful for all she did for us. With her assistance, we could move mountains; she was a problem solver.

Bowing, I smiled as I started backing out of her office. “I will then take leave, dearest sister,” I said, stepping out. I didn’t want to cause her any discomfort. Tasha didn’t like being watched when she worked, and I respected that.

Heading out, I decided to grab some pizza down the road. I knew this special little place; their pizzas were to die for. I also saw in Joyce’s file that it was one of her favorite foods. Maybe I could lighten the evening a little by offering her something sheloved. Besides, the place hadn’t been used in a while, and I knew it only had bare necessities.

Joyce must be starving. Besides, there was nothing like pizza, cold beer, and a movie to make the day better. With a plan in mind, I headed down the street. After grabbing food and drinks, I headed back to the safe house.

Entering, I heard talking coming from the room. Thinking someone had broken in, I moved swiftly across the floor, unlocking the door hastily. But as it swung open, I saw Joyce lying on the bed watching a movie. “Oh, my,” she said, jumping up.

Feeling stupid, I looked down at the floor as I spoke softly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Glancing at her, I held out the packet in my hand. “I brought food, thought you might be hungry?” I added.

“I thought you went to work, you do work, don’t you?” she enquired sarcastically.

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