Page 3 of Broken By the Bratva

Lenny’s face lit up as he pounced the keys of the register. “That’ll be a special price as well,” he added turning the little head on top towards me so I could see the price.

After paying, I slipped the items into the bag he was holding out. I waved to him as I headed out. There was another store that specialized in custom computers about a block down the road. Deciding to leave the car, I walked over to collect some other items I had placed on order before all the chaos started.

This was the second time I had used them and didn’t know the staff as well as Lenny and his dad. Entering, I quickly made my way to the counter on the left side. I felt like a childwith new toys and wanted to get home as soon as possible to play.

Handing the woman my slip, I turned and scanned the shop. My eye caught a dark van slowly moving past. I could swear I had seen it as I left Lenny’s shop. Turning back to the woman, I shook my head. I was surely seeing things.

She handed me a bag with the parts and smiled as she spoke. “Here you go, have a lovely day.”

“Thanks,” I said nodding as I turned heading for the door. My mind was slightly brooding on the van. “No,” I told myself as I stepped out and glanced both ways. There was no van. It was all in my mind.

Halfway back to the car, I popped into the Luscious Café for an iced coffee. Sitting by the window, I stared out at the car just two blocks up. A dark van came by and pulled into a parking spot just past the car, but no one got out. It just sat there.

Feeling a lump suddenly growing in my throat, I swallowed hard. It looked a bit suspicious. Once my drink was done, I decided to walk past the car up the street. I had to see if anyone was watching me.

I passed and went into a grocery store about a block up. Standing in the window, I waited a while. There was no movement. I grabbed some muffins, cold drinks, and crisps. After paying I went back to the car.

This was a great day I told myself as I crossed the street. I’m just feeling the backlash of being cooped up for so long. Getting back to the car, I glanced around realizing that if the enemy hadn’t backed off, I would still be in that godforsaken safe house. Letting out a sigh, I tossed the bags onto the passage seat.

Glancing in the mirror, I saw the van was still there but there was no movement. Pulling out of the parking area, I drove down towards the park. I decided to take a detour just in case they were following me. As I was about to turn and head back home, I spotted the van two cars behind me.

My skin instantly turned hot and sweaty. Wiping my brow, I turned up a side street and lowered my foot on the gas pedal. I had to put some distance between us. Taking a quick right and then a left on the next block, I slowed down. I kept an eye out for the next four blocks but couldn’t see the van anymore.

Feeling relieved, I turned on the radio. One of my favorite songs was about halfway through. I cranked up the volume and sang along. “No, not I, I will survive,” taking a deep breath, I smiled as I drove down the long winding road that would lead me home. “I’ve got my life to live,” I screamed out the window. “I will survive.”

I felt vibrant and alive as I pulled into the garage and parked the car next to my Harley-Davidson. Switching off the engine, I checked the bags to ensure I had gotten everything needed for the upgrade.

After all, hacking files, surveillance, spying, and keeping tabs on the enemy were the one thing I excelled in. Smiling at myself in the rearview mirror, I had to admit, that I was more than just good at it. I was the best.

Comparing myself to my tougher siblings I have always felt I was lacking something. But looking at the components, I knew I excelled at what I did, and they couldn’t compare. Without me, many of the projects we took on would fail. Pushing any doubt out of my mind, I got out and went inside.

Every now and then, these feelings would rush me. I wish I could do more. But hacking came naturally to me. It was as easy as breathing. Locking the door behind me, I headed to the front room where I had set up my home system.

I considered calling one of them but decided against it. I felt sure it was just a coincidence that the van was around. If they knew, I would be back in the safe house within minutes. I had stuff to do and didn’t want to go back.

Opening the packet of crisps, I ate a handful as I started dismantling my computer. Turning, I walked to the radio on the shelf by the door. I needed some music to compliment my light mood. Turning it to my favorite station, I shook my hips as the lovely voice of Chuck Berry came blaring through.

I swayed my hips as I started assembling the new components. They had to be fitted correctly into my computer box. Removing the software from the package Lenny had given me, I smiled. He had inserted a pair of neon box stickers for me. They were of fields covered in sparkling flowers. He was sweet and knew I loved nature.

This wasn’t the first time he had done something like this. I appreciated it but he was still a child. I felt sure he had a crush on me. Yet, my interest in such things was on the back burner. I wasn’t ready for any such things, not even casually.

I was almost done when I caught a movement in the street. Up the road from me were four newly built houses. Only two had occupants as far as I knew. Staring at the dark van parked across the road I wondered how long it had been there.

Was this the same van? Had they followed me home? Walking to the window I closed the blinds. Opening it slightly with two fingers, I studied the van. “It could be,” I said out loud speaking to the empty room. Was this still just a coincidence?

Walking into the kitchen, I grabbed my bike keys and then stopped. They would see me leaving if I took the bike or the car. Placing them back down, I decided to head out the back. There was a small gate in the picket fence out back. It led to another road with more houses.

I wanted to get away quietly and quickly. I could call one of my brothers. Yet, if it wasn’t the enemy spying on us, I would end up back in the safe house for no reason. I would take a walk back to town and wait a couple of hours. If the van was still there when I returned, I would call Abram.

With my mind made up, I headed out. Peeking around the side of my house, I saw the van still sitting there. I truly hoped it wasn’t the enemy, and it was new neighbors moving in across the street.

Walking out the small gate at the back, I glanced up and down the street. The street was empty. Some kids were playing in their yard two houses up. A dog was barking a couple of houses down. Moving cautiously, I headed down the street and turned left onto the next one.

I would take one left and one right as I head to town. If anyone was following, I could notice before I got caught. As I turned on the next one right, I heard a motor. I stopped and stepped back between two trees. My breathing intensified rapidly as I felt my heart rate increasing.

Looking up at the street I had just turned out of, I saw the van passing slowly. No, I thought to myself. Why me? How could this be happening? Once I felt sure they were far up the side street, I walked briskly down heading to town. I needed to get there quicker than I hoped.

I saw nothing up or down the street as I peeked around the fence of the house on the corner. I sprinted across andheaded up behind the houses on the opposite side. The roads here were single as I was nearing town. This one was a back road mainly used for rubbish bins. Glancing back as I walked faster and faster, I wondered if they would see me if they passed.

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