Page 4 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
Suddenly, I know I’m in danger. My family doesn’t have friends like these. I think of screaming, but the store attendants all seem to be looking away, as though they’re afraid of these guys.
Maybe I should be, too.
“I…I have to go, really,” I say with a smile and break free from under his hand. I’m about to make a run for it when one ofthe guys grips my wrist and yanks the wine out of my hand with his other hand.
“We’ll get this for you,” he says. “And we have a special place to show you first. Your brothers will meet us there.”
Everything is happening too fast. I’m suddenly being herded by five men toward a door at the back of the store. My protests are met with assurances that everything is fine.
But everything is not fine.
I should scream. I should fight. But there are five of them, and I’m so very shell-shocked that I would hate to cause a scene if this is truly nothing. What if they really do know my brothers?
But the fear in my gut tells me this is wrong.
“I need to use the restroom,” I say, searching for any excuse to get away.
“Later,” the first man says, steering me down a set of stairs now.
My body goes cold. “I’m not going down there.”
“Sure you are,” the leader says, his breath hot against my ear. “We’re having a little party, and you’re the guest of honor.”
I try to dig into the floor with my feet, but I’m not strong enough to physically stay put. Two of the guys grip my arms and pull me down the stairs, and I know that if I don’t keep my feet moving, they’ll literally drag me if they have to.
The staircase opens into what looks like an underground club, and fortunately for me, they let go of my arms but keep me circled in, watching over me like vultures.
My heart races and my mouth feels dry, but I take comfort in the fact that we’re still in a public place. Thank god.
I was a fool not to have screamed for help upstairs. I know I won’t be making that mistake again. Now that I’m here, I’ll try to escape when the time is right, and if they try to stop me, I’ll scream.
Someone in here is bound to help me…right?
They force me into a booth in the corner. One of the guys immediately drops his hand to my thigh. I flinch but don’t push him away. There are too many of them, and something tells me creating a scene would only make things worse around this lot.
“What do you want?” I whisper.
The leader smiles. “Just to get to know the famous Sokolov sister. Your brothers have been... difficult to reach lately.”
“I don’t know anything about my brothers’ business,” I say truthfully. Besides, I would have lied if I knew the details, because I know these guys are no friends of theirs.
The man beside me leans closer. “Maybe not, but you’re still valuable to them, aren’t you? How much do you think they’d pay to get you back safe and sound?”
My blood turns to ice as I realize that this is a kidnapping. They’re planning to ransom me to my brothers.
I need to get out of here. Now.
“I really need to use the restroom,” I try again, my eyes scanning for an exit.
The leader studies me, then nods. “Dmitri will take you.”
One of the shorter guys stands and reaches my side, pulls me off the booth. If I can get to a bathroom, I can lock the door, call my brothers, call anyone...I still have my phone.
I turn to walk away when Dmitri pauses and growls, staying put. I look to see what has his attention and notice a man walk up to us. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a classy suit none of these guys could pull off without looking like they’re trying too hard.
I remain rooted, wondering if perhaps I could say something to this newcomer, to see if he could be of some help, but he speaks first.
“Interesting company you’re keeping.” His brown eyes flicker to me before falling on the leader.
