Page 16 of Innocent Bratva Hostage

“Andrei,” I say without looking up. “Does she have a history with anyone in the club? Regulars, staff?”

“Not that I found,” he replies. “Kept her head down, mostly. Did her job. Quiet.”

Quiet. The word grates against the memory flickering at the edge of my mind. I remember something louder—laughter, a flash of fire in the dark. My jaw tightens.

“She doesn’t seem so quiet now,” I mutter, more to myself.

Andrei steps closer, his boots heavy against the concrete. “What do you mean?”

I stand, brushing off my jacket. “I’ve seen her before.”

“You’ve seen every waitress in that club at some point.”

“No,” I reply sharply, turning to face him. “I’ve seenher.”

Andrei frowns, his brow furrowing as he glances down at her. “Where?”

I don’t answer immediately, my gaze fixed on her still form. The memory is hazy, blurred by the haze of vodka and dim lights, but it’s there. The curve of her jaw, the softness of her lips—

That night.

The realization hits like a punch to the gut, and I take a step back, my expression hardening.

“What?” Andrei presses, noticing the change in my demeanor.

“I know her,” I say flatly.

He raises an eyebrow. “From where?”

“It doesn’t matter.” My voice is clipped, and the look I shoot him silences any further questions.

Andrei exhales sharply, his frustration evident. “What do you want to do with her?”

“She stays here,” I reply, my tone brooking no argument. “For now.”

He folds his arms, clearly dissatisfied. “She’s a liability, Boss. You know that. If you’re not going to deal with her now—”

“I said she stays,” I snap, my voice cold. “I’ll handle her when I’m ready.”

Andrei holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Your call.”

I glance back at her, my thoughts swirling. She’s a liability, yes. She saw too much, involved the cops, and now she’s lying unconscious in the basement of my home.

She’s also something else. A puzzle. A memory I’d rather forget, now staring me in the face.

“Andrei,” I say, keeping my eyes on the girl slumped on the cold floor. Her dark hair is tangled, her face pale and slack in unconsciousness. Even now, there’s a tension in her body, like she’s ready to spring back into life and fight. It’s intriguing. “Have someone bring her food and water. She’s not dying yet.”

Andrei leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms with a faint chuckle. “You’re too soft sometimes, Boss.”

The corner of my mouth twitches in amusement. “Soft?” I finally glance at him, raising an eyebrow. “This is curiosity, not kindness.”

He grins, shaking his head. “Curious about what, whether she’ll thank you for the scraps?”

“No,” I reply smoothly, turning back to her. She looks small here, crumpled and vulnerable, but there’s something deceptively tough in her, even now. “Whether she’ll fight or flee when she realizes the door isn’t locked.”

Andrei straightens, his smirk giving way to a more serious expression. “You’re leaving her door unlocked?”

I nod, slipping my hands into my pockets as I study her. “Yes. Put her in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Something decent..”

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