Page 63 of The Bratva's Innocent Sold Bride
There was a long silence. “I wouldn’t put it past her. Or she might have even been able to hack directly into his car. We’ve actually been experimenting with getting into newer cars through the entertainment systems. Want to send me the file, and I’ll check it out?”
“No. Get over here now,” I said. “I think there’s something important in all this, and I need you to figure it out.”
“On my way.”
Could my ingenious wife have found a way to lead me right to her, whether inadvertently or not? For the first time since I realized she was missing, I could breathe a little easier. Even the pain that she might not want to be found was receding with this new hope on her computer screen.
No, none of it mattered until I was certain CJ was safe. I was going to get her back and make her see that she should be with me. That she could be happy with me. She was my life, my everything, and I would get her back.
If only it wasn’t too late.
Chapter 39 - CJ
Anatoli—since I was certain I wasn’t dealing with Terrence Hendricks and that had all been a ruse—left me alone in the old trailer. When I realized no amount of screaming would bring anyone to help me, I spared my raspy throat and tried the tiny sink set into the chipped Formica counter. After a grinding sound, the faucet spat out a few dirty chunks, then a steady stream of brown water. I was shocked it was hooked up to anything, but I’d have to be a lot thirstier before I drank that disgusting swill.
It was one of the old Airstream trailers that were once so popular and trendy, but this one hadn’t been loved or cared for and lacked any charm. Spiderwebs clogged the corners, and the tattered remains of what might have been red gingham curtains disintegrated when I pushed them aside to see out the windows. A styrofoam cooler pushed into a bottom cabinet got my hopes up for a minute. Maybe Anatoli didn’t mean to leave me here to die of starvation and thirst.
No such luck, the cooler must have been a castoff from the previous owner, and there was nothing in it but more spiders. It was a good thing I wasn’t scared of them, or I’d have been freaking out. Freaking out more, because I was anything but calm.
To distract myself, I thought about why someone who was doing pretty well for himself would want to come to California and set up shop like Anatoli did. Well, for the same reason as Mat, probably. Land of opportunity and all that. But Mat had family here. The Fokins were powerful up and down the state, and they also didn’t hide who they were.
The man clearly wasn’t trying to go legit with a new identity, or he wouldn’t be indulging in kidnapping. Unless he meant to keep his secret hidden, no matter what he had to do, including killing me? As I slammed an old tin can I found in one of the dusty cupboards against the window for the third time, I wished I had listened to Mat.
Just dropped the whole thing, stayed at home where it wasn’t just safe, it was starting to get pretty cozy thanks to all the furniture that I’d carefully chosen. It was beginning to feel like home. And it wasn’t just the house I missed. To keep from worrying about Artem, who was tearing me up inside, I thought about how smug Mat would be when I finally admitted he was right about something.
What I wouldn’t have given to see that look on his face. Which would quickly turn to one of tenderness, because I really didn’t think he’d rub it in, not too much, anyway. If I lived through this, I’d come clean about my father’s half-assed attempt to rescue me, and try to work out a way for those two to… Wait, was I thinking of ways to get Mat and my father to get along?
Had I just forgiven my father? It seemed so. I couldn’t work up any level of acrimony against him, and I hadn’t been stuck in this metal death trap long enough to be thinking these were my last moments on earth. It wasn’t pity either, due to how pathetic he’d become. Could it be that I’d stopped raging about being given as payment for a debt because I was fine with being Mat’s wife?
More than fine. There was no escaping that the only face I longed to see when I pressed my nose to the window was Mat’s. I wanted his strong arms around me, to carry me out of here and promise we’d take care of the scumbag who did this to me. And I wanted to tell him—
“No,” I said out loud. “You can’t. You’ll only get your heart broken.”
But how could I not love him? The way he looked at me, the way he seemed to know everything about me, the lengths he went to make me happy, when he could have just as easily done any of the things he originally threatened my father might do to seek his revenge.
Even the fact that he was adamant about me not getting a job seemed to make sense now that I was locked up in the middle of nowhere. And all those times he didn’t answer my questions and pissed me off so badly? Now I understand he didn’t want me knowing about things that could put me in harm’s way. Tears were starting to form, and the first one splashed on my hands as I remembered the way he told me Artem would be coming home with us, all while I was working up the courage to ask.
“Oh, Artem,” I cried. “Oh, Mat.”
I settled in for a good sob, no longer able to distract myself because the distractions were what set the waterworks flowing. Would I ever see my little family again?
The sound of a car door slamming made me jump from where I sat huddled on the floor. Swiping away the tears, I peered out the window to see Anatoli. I had to be the strongest I’d ever been, and buy more time for Mat to find me.
“What’s got you so upset?” he asked with a sneer. “You know, I went back to look for your dog.”
My eyes must have bulged out of my head, but no barks came from the car. He informed me that there was no sign of him, and it was all I could do not to break down all over again. Was he taunting me? If he had found Artem, would that have been part of whatever plan he had for me? A two-for-one torture special?
“What do you want?” I asked coldly, pretending he couldn’t see how red my eyes must be. “Money? It’s always money, isn’t it? Well, my father can give you whatever you ask.”
This cracked him up. Sincere laughter, as if what I said was a hilarious joke. I didn’t get it and glared at him. “I know about your father,” he said. “He’s not in any position to give me the kind of money I want. He never will be again, thanks to your husband.”
Okay, if he was bringing him up. “Then Mat will give you whatever you want,” I said. “Just arrange to meet him somewhere.”
He grabbed my chin and dug his fingers into my jaw. “No. Mat will not give me whatever I want, because I want what’s his. He’s made it clear that he’s not leaving the area—my area. So I consider us even if I take his wife, and your father’s old company. Everything else he tries to build, I’ll keep burning to the ground until he learns who’s in charge here.”
“Taurus Ingenuity is about to be bankrupt,” I said. “I’m surprised someone like you doesn’t already know that.”
Anatoli let me go, shoving me a step away from him as if he couldn’t stand being in such close confines with me. I wasn’t overly fond of it, either.
