Page 42 of Bought By the Bratva

“Abram…,” I started saying but closed my mouth as he stopped and glared at me.

“No!” he screamed, his voice echoing off the walls. “No, you do not say anything, not a word. I am not done with you.” His chest moved up and down in rapid concessions as he heaved.

As he moved closer to me, I thought I might wet my pants as fear took control of my body. I had never been so frightened in my life.

“Did you hear what I said?” he questioned. His intimidating aura once again came through. Yet, his tone was a tad softer than before.

Nodding, I bit my lower lip so I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t want to upset him more than I already had.

Abram looked at me as he spoke. “From the start, I’ve been playing you. Did you really think for a moment that we didn’t know about your plans? We knew everything. You were the one taken for a fool.”

I watched as he turned and started moving to the door. Then he stopped in his tracks, turning back to me. I wanted him to leave; I wanted to be alone with my pain. I felt sure he didn’t mean all the things he was saying. I knew I had broken his trust. But we could work through it.

If all the intel I had sent was fake, then no one got hurt, and there was hope. “Abram,” I whispered, needing him to understand that I had no choice.

As he looked me up and down, his expression changed. I felt a chill run up my spine as he came towards me. This time, he walked right up to me. We were so close that our noses were almost touching. “You know what the best part of all of this was?” he asked.

Shaking my head softly from side to side, I breathed in deeply.

As he continued, he placed his hand on my cheek. His touch was warm and gentle. I longed for more as I closed my eyes. “You have been my fiddle to play as I wanted. And believe me, I have done a marvelous job at playing you. So much so that you actually fell for me, didn’t you?”

His words crushed my heart, and I wanted him to take it all back. I wanted the man I got to know. I believed he was somewhere inside. It couldn’t all be a lie.

“Your heart races every time we touch. Your stomach flutters when we kiss,” he breathed out over my lips.

Opening my eyes, I knew it was all true, and I wanted him to kiss me. Lifting my hand to his cheek, I wanted it all to be a bad nightmare.

Abram pulled his face back slightly. He stared deep into my eyes as he spoke again. “You are foolish if for one momentyou thought I felt anything for you but contempt. I never liked you. It was all an act to get you to open up. You fell for it all.”

Gasping for air, I felt my world crumbling, shattering to pieces. I was sure he could see the aching that surged through me as my eyes filled with tears.

Abram stepped back and stopped halfway across the room. His tone was filled with bitterness as he spoke. “You are a little mouse, and this cat has been toiling with you. I played with you to see how far you would go. But you know what? You have been caught.”

He turned but stopped. I watched as Abram stood halfway to the door with his head down. His shoulders lifted and lowered as he breathed. I slowly started walking towards him. I had to know if all he said was true.

Before I could touch his shoulder, he glanced at me and stormed to the door. “I need to make a call! Stay here; I’ll be back,” he barked at me as he slammed the door shut.

Abram had left me in the spare room, which had been my salvation from the world many times during my stay with him. I didn’t know how long he would be gone.

Looking out the window, I realized that I had been a fool. My tears burned my skin as they ran down my face. The world outside was a blur. I knew I had to get out. I had to escape before he killed me.

My heart was shattered. I couldn’t even think straight. Wandering into the bathroom, I rinsed my face. Sitting down on the edge of the tub, I hugged myself as more tears pushed up. Gulping at the air around me, I tried to fill my scorching lungs.

I fell for it all. He played me from the start. I was a fool thinking a man like him could love a woman like me. Movingback to the basin, I rubbed my face with cool water from the tap. Looking up at my reflection, I spoke harshly to the woman staring back. “Get a grip, you need to get out now.”

Swallowing hard, I felt my throat hurting as the boulder didn’t want to move. But I knew I had to. I quickly went into the bathroom. Grabbing a small bag, I collected only what was mine. I was relieved to see that everything I had brought with me was still hanging in the closet.

I wasn’t sure if Abram was home or not. Since he left the room, the house has been quiet. There was no sound as I peeked out the door. I quietly moved out of the room and down the stairs. I wondered if the guards knew what had happened. Would they stop me if they saw me leaving?

Not wanting to take a chance, I tried to stay out of anyone’s way. I checked for any movement as I opened the door leading to the backyard. The guards weren’t on rotation. That meant they should all be in their usual places.

Stepping out into the cool evening air, I moved between the trees. I stopped as I heard some guards talking up ahead. My heart was beating in my throat. I breathed slower, trying to quiet my heaving. Luckily, they didn’t stand long. I heard their voices disappearing into the night air as they moved away.

I waited until I couldn’t hear them any longer before moving again. It didn’t take me too long to find a way out of the yard. This was probably the only good thing that came from being on my own most of my life. I had learned how to get in and out of places. It was one thing my cousins had instilled, the art of sneakiness.

Glancing back, I ran. I had to ensure I placed as much distance between them and me before anyone noticed I was gone. Once I couldn’t see the mansion or any lights, I sloweddown a bit. My muscles were burning and my chest felt like a fire was made inside it.

I walked in the bushes along the side of the road. I didn’t want to be seen but also hoped to hitch a ride should someone come along. I felt sure I would be able to know if it was him or his men.

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