Page 31 of Broken By the Bratva

“Fine, but I will not be singing,” I replied shortly.

Grinning, Vadik leaned closer as he spoke, “Unfortunately everyone here has to. But you can always sing a song with me if that will make you feel better about it?”

“I wasn’t intending on singing by myself. Really, how could you?” I spat at him sitting back in my chair.

He laughed. It was the most I had seen him laugh since my kidnapping. He was in his element and totally relaxed. Vadik got up and assisted me in moving my chair around the table. Sitting next to him, I could see the stage clearly.

“There,” he said. “Now you can also watch the people sing.”

I had to admit the food was good and most of the people didn’t sound too bad. But there appeared to be having a blast. It was something you didn’t see very often.

“Come on,” Vadik said pushing out his chair and dropping his napkin to the table. “It’s our turn.” He reached out and took my hand as he walked around my chair.

“No, sit down,” I replied pulling away from him. “There are still many other people who can go. We can do it later.” I looked up at him pleadingly.

Vadik grabbed my wrist and pulled me to my feet. “Nope, we’re going,” he whispered as he pulled me along. Once on the stage, he handed me a microphone. My hand shook as I tookit. My heart felt like it was choking me and sweat ran down my back.

Placing his hand over the head of the mic, he whispered. “Just look at me, forget the people.”

Glancing around I felt grateful for the two spotlights in the corners. Some of the people were blurred out through their glare. “Let’s pick a song,” Vadik said.

Turning my focus to the monitor before us, I couldn’t decide. There were so many. Some I didn’t recognize and some I only knew vaguely. As he scrolled through the list, I pointed at one I felt sure I knew by heart.

“Are you sure?” he asked before clicking on it.

I nodded uncomfortably as I tried to swallow the mountain growing in my throat. As the music started, I waited for the right time. I started singing in a barely audible voice.

When Vadik’s part came up, he sang out of full breast. Looking at him, I felt stunned. He was so good, his voice perfectly matching the tune. Vadik was staring into my eyes as he sang.

Glancing at the crowd, I wondered why I selected this song. Turning back to him, I felt a fluttering in my stomach as I melted into his gaze. As my turn came again to sing, the people started cheering me on. The room’s energy started rubbing off on me and I could hear my own voice over the mic.

Before I realized what was happening, I was singing my heart out. As the song ended, Vadik grabbed my hand, lifted it into the air and took a bow. Snapping back to reality, I felt my cheeks glowing.

Everyone one was cheering and clapping. I smiled shyly as we exited the stage and returned to our table. As I sat down,Vadik took my shoulder. Leaning in he whispered in my ear, “I’ll be right back.”

I watched as he disappeared between the trees. I had just finished my drink when I noticed him coming back. “Come on,” he said holding out his hand. “We have one more stop to make.”

“Another stop?” I inquired glancing at my watch. “It’s so late and I’m sure you have repaid my more than enough. We really don’t need to go anywhere else.”

He just kept walking. Opening my door, I got in and wondered what more we could be doing this time of the night. Vadik got in and we took off. He just smiled at me all the way without saying a word.

Shifting nervously in my seat, I noticed the limo stopping again. Getting out, I looked up at the enormous skyscraper before us. “What’s here?” I asked as he headed inside. I have never been here, and it looked too quiet to have a business open at this hour.

The doorman nodded and smiled as we entered. We took the elevator to the top floor. “Vadik,” I said as we stepped out. “What are we doing here?”

He grinned, took my hand and led me to a door at the end of a long hallway. At the door stood a guard. “Everything is ready, sir,” he said opening the door.

Stepping through the door I couldn’t see any significant features. It looked like an empty room with wall-to-wall glass windows. In the middle were two padded recliners and a small table between them.

“Okay,” I huffed pulling my hand out of his. “This is a little creepy.”

“No, don’t worry,” Vadik replied taking my hands again. “I promise its nothing to stress about. Come lay down.”

I walked with him to the two chairs and lay down on the one. Vadik took his place on the other. “What’s supposed to happen now?” I asked impatiently.

“Shhh…, just wait and see,” he responded.

We didn’t lie long when the lights suddenly went off and for a moment I was surrounded by darkness. Hearing a loud creaking noise I looked up. The roof of the building appeared to be shifting.

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