Page 75 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
"We need to talk," Tatiana says, closing the door behind them.
"What more is there to talk about."
Katya sits on the edge of my bed. "We think you should know what really happened tonight."
I look up from my glass. "I already know. She got taken and then somehow got convinced that her brothers are her world. No wonder she didn’t fight harder to see them when I hadher. Guess she’s the kind who settles down wherever she lays her hat,” I hate how I sound when I speak of her this way, but the anger and grief I feel are real, raw.
"You’ve got it wrong, brother," Tatiana says softly. "She sacrificed herself for us."
"What?" I furrow my brows, confusion coming over me.
"When Tikhon appeared in that alley, he didn't just ask her to come. He threatened to kill us if she didn't go with him," Tatiana explains.
My blood runs cold. "What are you talking about?"
"His man had a gun to my head, Ilariy," Tatiana says. "I wanted to tell you, but when we called about Arina getting taken, you got into this frenzy and got everyone over and refused to pick up our calls, but you didn’t let us finish. Tikhon told Arina he would kill us right there if she didn't leave with him."
"And she didn't even hesitate," Katya adds softly. "She agreed immediately to save us."
The room tilts around me as I absorb their words. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"You wouldn't listen," Tatiana says simply. "You were too angry."
"You have every right to be hurt," Katya reaches for my hand. "But your anger is misplaced. She didn't betray you. She protected us."
I close my eyes, remembering the flatness in Arina's voice during that call. The mechanical way she spoke. The words that never sounded like her.
“He forced her to make that call,” I say in shock, my hands now trembling.
“Probably,” Katya agrees.
All the anger that's been burning in my chest collapses into something sadder.
"I'm going to kill him," I hiss.
"Not yet," Tatiana's hand on my arm is restraining. "Think, Ilariy. If Tikhon threatened us once, he'll do it again. We need to be smart about this."
"He still has her," Katya insists. “Don’t make them hide again. You might never see her.”
“So what are you saying?” I run a hand through my hair. “What do I do?”
“For now?” Tatiana looks sad. “Nothing.”
***
That whole night, I find myself unable to sleep. On one hand, my grief is all-consuming. While I know Tatiana and Katya told me what happened, I still feel a deep sense of betrayal.
She didn’t even say we could try. She didn’t even leave me thatone hope. Even if Tikhon forced her to call me, she could have left me with hope.
But then, I think of Tikhon and the monster he is. Maybe he dictated the whole thing while standing over her head. Maybe she didn’t have the chance to say what she truly felt.
I know what we share isn’t a lie. It can’t be.
But now, I don’t know when I’ll see her again, if ever, at that. I pick up my phone, scrolling through the pictures we took together. Arina laughing in the park, Arina smiling at a café, Arina laughing in my bed.
Each image is a punch in the gut.
She’s gone. I need to see her, to talk to her. I need to know the truth. But Tatiana and Katya are right. I can't just storm in and take her. Not again.
