Page 13 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
Once up the stairs, he leads me down a hallway and opens a door, letting me pass through. I enter first and look around the place. It is a beautiful room, I’ll give him that. Better than a hotel.
“I hope it’s up to your standards?” he inquires.
“Why? Do I get to check out if I don’t like it?” I say deadpan.
He rolls his eyes, as though to say, “Why do I even bother trying?”
“Someone will bring you clothes and anything else you need in the morning,” Ilariy says. “Don’t try to escape, I mean it. There are guards at every exit, including outside your window.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say dryly.
He gives me one last searching look before closing the door.
Alone at last, I quickly pull out my phone. This can’t be happening. My brothers can’t be what he says they are. It’s impossible. Isn’t it? They must know what this is about. I need to talk to one of them, and they’ll sort this whole mess out.
I call Alexey, the youngest of my brothers, the one I feel closest to. If anyone will help me understand what’s happening, it’s him.
“Arina? Hi! What’s happening? I thought we were going to catch up tonight. Are you out with some of your friends?”
I want to blurt out everything that’s happened, but something stops me. A nagging doubt that has been growing since Ilariy’s constant questioning and his mention of casinos and stolen cash.
“Yes, I’m out. But listen, I need to ask you something,” I say instead. “Did Viktor owe someone money? Before he died? Did he have a gambling problem or something?”
There’s a pause, too long to be natural. “What? Why would you ask that?”
“I was just…curious.” My heart pounds as I wait for his response, and I know I need to come up with a good explanation. “It’s just you guys are working so hard, and I’m wondering if it’s because of money.”
“Viktor’s financial matters aren’t something you need to worry about,” he says, his voice suddenly sounding sleepy, almost forced. “I’ve had a very long day. Tell me, have you eaten dinner? Where are you?”
I’m shocked at how easily he’s changed the topic. It’s like he’s not even a little curious to understand why I care, almost like he wants me to stop talking about this entirely.
“Yes, I’ve eaten,” I tell a lie, a little too coldly. “What I want to know is what’s happening at the restaurants to keep you guys away for so long.”
“What’s with the sudden interest, Arina?”
The defensiveness in his tone makes my stomach drop. “Just answer me, please. Did Viktor have troubles? Did he owe money to someone?”
“Viktor died of a heart attack, and I don’t know what problems he had in life, if any. The restaurants are fine,” Alexey says firmly. “Look, it’s late, and I’m exhausted. Tell me about your day instead. Did you do anything interesting?”
“No, I didn’t so anything interesting. But listen, Alexey, I’m asking because—” I’m prepared to tell him why I ask, hoping it would get me an answer, when suddenly, I find someone pulling the phone out of my hands.
I turn, shocked, to see a very furious Ilariy standing there, my phone in his clutches. I didn’t even notice he had entered.
He simply slips my phone into his pocket. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“You were listening the whole time, weren’t you?” I ask, anger overriding my confusion and fear.
“Of course I was.”
“So you heard, didn’t you? Look, I wasn’t lying. My brother confirmed that Viktor’s businesses were fine.” My voice breaks. “So why are you still keeping me?”
To my surprise, he no longer looks angry. “This isn’t about the business,” he says.
“Then what?” I ask, walking over to the bed and literally dropping down to sit. I’m so tired, and when he doesn’t answer, I look over and see him standing there, watching me with a strange concern on his face, almost as though it’s him who has made a mistake.
“It’s getting late,” he says, and walks to the door, taking my phone with him. “Get some rest.”
Before I can say another word, he shuts the door behind him. I lie back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. Something tells me he believes me now when I said I didn’t know anything. Something also tells me my brother is lying.
