Page 3 of Bought By the Bratva

He placed my bags down just inside the door. Stepping back into the hallway, he spoke softly. “I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” I replied and closed the door. Turning, I scanned the room. It looked smaller than I expected. Yet, I was only going to be here for the day as I was to go home with a Dubow after the auction tonight.

Picking up my bag, I walked through the small living area into the bedroom. A television hung on the wall opposite a neatly made double bed. The bed looked so soft, and I was sure it was calling my name.

I checked my watch and decided I had enough time for a short nap. Laying down, I set the alarm on my phone for ten. I felt sure that two hours would get rid of the slight jetlag I was feeling. Even though my trip wasn’t long, I felt worn out.

The flight back from Peru was long. Vadik sent me there to deliver a letter to some guy in Lima. I had barely gotten there when he let me know about the mission. I couldn’t refuse as I had been waiting for them to give me something like this.

Hearing a distant ringing, I turned, opening my eyes slowly. It was time, I realized, as the view from my room came into focus. Sitting up, I silenced the alarm, wiping at my eyes. I still felt tired. Getting up, I headed to the bathroom. A soaking bath would surely do the trick.

After filling the tub, I lay for a while, allowing my body to relax. Once done, I placed my suitcase on the bed and got out the dress Vadik had insisted I wear. He had warned me not to fail, making me more determined to prove my worth. I would succeed and finally be a true member and get the appreciation I deserved.

Standing before the mirror fitted to the inside of the closet, I turned to see how the dress sat on me. In my opinion, it was a tad tight but highlighted all the areas men generally looked at. The golden dust color made my skin look paler than it was. This was actually a good thing. It made me look slightly sick.

If I played my part right, I was sure the Dubows would see an abused woman. After all, it was what we aimed at playing on, their strong aversion against women and child abuse. I thought it was a great thing. But it made them vulnerable to tricks like this one that my cousins and their boss were playing at. Pushing my hands through my hair, I added a bit of a disheveled look.

“Perfect,” I said to the empty room as I collected my bag and headed for the door. As I opened it, the big man was still there. He turned, glanced at me, and smiled. I was sure he knew the plan as well and was pleased by his reaction.

He took my bag and led me back to the limo. It was just past six when we arrived at the club. The auction was to take place in the basement, which was generally used for their underground fighting. Yet tonight, it will host the auction where I was supposed to be sold.

The man turned to face me as he switched off the engine. “In case they’re watching, I was told to bind you before taking you in,” he said, looking gloomy.

“It’s fine, I understand,” I replied, holding up my hands.

He reached over and loosely bound my hands with a thick white rope before he got out. The man escorted me inside, bringing my bag of essentials with me. It only held my wallet with a fake ID, some make-up, two sets of worn clothing, and toiletries.

Vadik was sure there wouldn’t be a need for more, and I trusted him. The man led me inside and to the locker rooms at the back.

“Wait here until it is your turn,” he said, smiling as he placed my bag down on the small bench by the door.

There were a lot of people already gathered. On one side was a stage where the auction would take place. The rest of the room was practically bare. There were a handful of tables scattered throughout but no chairs.

The people were mulling around, moving from the bar on the opposite side to the tables. I had seen pictures of the Dubow family and was looking to see if any of the brothers had come. Vadik ensured that they received an invitation. My job was to portray the damsel in distress so they would want to save me.

I scanned the crowd as the room filled more rapidly.

Then finally I saw him.

It was the middle brother, if I remember correctly, his name was Abram. I swallowed the clump of nerves pushing up my throat as I was met by his intimidating aura.

He was a tall, excessively well-built man. Even though his suit sat perfectly, I could see he was toned. Strength appeared to be radiating from him. He grinned at something a man said to him and glanced my way.

For a second, his eyes glowed with a striking gold that could penetrate the soul. His hair was dark brown, short likemen in the military wore. Judging by the scar running down the side of his neck, I felt sure he had seen a lot of battles. He stood straight and tall, which added to his intimidating features.

A cold sweat covered my body as I stood staring. Turning, I paced up and down, focusing on calming my nerves.

“He’s just another man,” I told myself. Stopping, I glanced at him again. “You got this,” I whispered, convincing myself.

The big man came in and grabbed the rope, binding my hands. “It’s time,” he huffed, leading me towards the stage. I kept my head down, securing my fearful look.

Chapter 3 - Abram

Upon entering the auction, I noticed there were many high-profile bidders. Some I knew were part of the underground world, and others weren’t sure of. It’s been just over an hour since my arrival at the underground auction. I’ve had two drinks, scanned every corner, and waited patiently for it to get going.

The lights on the stage lit up as a short stubby man waltzed onto it. His shirt appeared a number or two smaller than it should be. It stretched so tight that I could see patches of skin showing between the buttons.

His thick white beard hung down to his stomach. If he was any shorter, I would have classed him as a dwarf. Although, that wouldn’t be fair as he looked more like a gremlin. As he spoke, I shook my head. His voice sounded like something being dragged over a metal grating.

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