Page 79 of Captivated By the Bratva

But I listened to all I could.

“No, Erik,” the one who seemed like a site manager said. “Lev has given Alek Valkov clear orders. Step down, relinquish some power, or he’ll kill Dmitri.”

Erik shook his head. “Andre, no. That’s not what we want.”

Andre shot him a look. “Maybe not whatyouwant, but your uncle is in charge.”

“Engaging with Alek is a waste of time. We don’t need this.”

“It’s not your call to make. Your uncle has determined that he wants the Valkovs shut down. They need to pay for trying to take his bride.” He dragged me by the arm to move faster. I almost stumbled to the floor in a smaller room, and I just barely had the time to correct my posture before I gave away that my hands weren’t bound together all the way.

“But we’ve got his bitch here. Keeping her is punishment enough for Maxim.”

Andre shook his head and crossed his arms as he watched me slink back in the vacant room.

“No. That’s not punishment enough. Sergei Kastava wants his daughter returned. Until Mila is given back, Sergei will want to work with us against the Valkovs.”

“Who gives a shit? Come on, man. Andre, you know as well as I do that we do not need the Valkovs coming after us. Lev’s out of his mind.” Erik rolled his eyes, trying to look amused and counting on Andre to agree.

“I know thatyouhave lost all of your mind if you think you can override your uncle’s decisions.” He pointed at me. “She will stay here until Lev comes. And he will do as he sees fit for the Valkov you’re so fond of beating.”

Erik walked away with him, arguing all the while, but I was cut off from listening anymore. It all sounded like power plays. Secret plans. Takeovers and promises of payback.

Didn’t they ever get sick of it?

With the door closed to this room, I hurried to get all the way free. I was running out of time to act. Or to run. This would be the last place they’d bring me. Lev Avilov, the big, bad monster I’d been avoiding for years, would be coming here to collect me and decide the fate of Dmitri.

Please, Maxim. Please find me. Find us.

I was desperate, so clumsy in working on freeing my hands the last little bit that I pulled all the muscles in my upper back.

At last, using the door knob for leverage, I snapped the tie.

Blood rushed into my arms. My hands tingled with pinpricks of pain. Up high, my shoulders tensed and locked in knots. I didn’t delay. As I readjusted to being able to move my arms and hands, I hurried to tear at the gag on my mouth.

Flexing my fingers and rotating my shoulders, I worked as quickly as I could to regain my strength in my arms. After frantic tugs and clawing with my nails, I tore at the gag and then spat it out completely.

I rolled my tongue over my dry mouth and forced swallow after swallow. Working my mouth open and closed, I rubbed my jawand closed my eyes for a second to let the pain of that binding cease.

Still, I didn’t stop or plan to stay hiding in here. I had to act. I refused to be a victim of the fate planned for me. And I also refused to be idle and not help.

Testing the door, I found that it was locked—as expected—but the hardware was loose. This whole building seemed worn down and aged, perhaps crumbling in appearances with the exposure to the lake.

I fiddled with it and paced around the dark room, trying to figure out how to leave and whether anything was lying around that I could use as a weapon.

Groping in the dark, I found nothing. And the longer I struggled without anything to use, I grew more and more frustrated.

Too many things were on the line.

My survival. This deep need to return to Maxim again, then saving his brother. Figuring out how to free these children.

Even Mila Kastava. No, Mila Valkov.In the darkness as I groped and searched blindly for a tool, for a weapon, anything, I replayed all that Maxim had told me about his family that one night we stayed up so late just talking and sharing.

Mila Kastava was Sergei’s oldest daughter, the one Alek had stolen at the altar. She’d been promised to Maxim and Alek’s cousin. Without her input. Without any chance to make a choice about her life. Her situation seemed all too similar to mine.

I hated the idea of another woman expected to be with someone she didn’t want.

If I could help prevent her from being caught up in this drama, then I would.

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