Page 3 of Bound to the Bratva
"No, I'll be okay." I make my way out of the hospital and head for the parking garage. Since I work here, I don't have to park too far away.
"You sure? You seem like you need some sort of support." I love Sasha. He is the best older brother in the world, and I have four of them.
I'm not close with any of my father's other children, and I blame that on the fact my mother and Tatiana never wanted us to be around each other as children.
"Yeah, I'll be okay. I'm not an easily intimidated, scared little girl anymore. I am going to call you as soon as I get finished with dinner."
"Fuck calling me. Come on over to my place. I don't have any plans and I'll be home. Hell, I'll go out and get our favorite wine and beers now."
I chuckle lightly as I reach my car. "Okay, that sounds great."
"Cool, I'll see you then."
Sasha and I hang up the phone and I get inside my car. As I buckle up, I take a moment and lean back against the seat. Vanilla air freshener wafts through the car and I'm stuck trying to decipher what's going on. It is odd, and this feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me something is up.
I start my car up and leave the parking garage, soon exiting the hospital's grounds. I navigate my way through the city's bustling streets. Wherever you turn there are people honking their horns, yelling at drivers to get a move on it, and sirens are distant in the background. Oh, the joys of driving home in rush hour.
I conveniently live ten minutes away from the hospital, which means I can change out of my work outfit and put on something a little more relaxing. I'm one of those people who hate going out in the clothes they've been working in all day.
I reach my apartment building, park my car, and make my way inside. I don't live in anything too fancy. There's no doorman or anything like that, but you do need to have a key code to get into the building.
I input my key code and gain entry to the building, making my way straight to the elevators. My shoes echo against the freshly cleaned hardwood floors, clicking and clacking with every step I take.
The elevator doors open as I approach, and once I step inside, I press the button for the fifth floor. It takes me no time to make it to my apartment, so I slide my key in the door and head inside.
First things first, I need to get out of these stuffy clothes and put on something a little more relaxing. I head straight back for my bedroom, walk over to my walk-in closet, and look at the plethora of outfits I already have put together.
It doesn't take me long before I settle on a pair of skin-tight jeans and a long-sleeve tight-fitted t-shirt. I grab a faux fur jacket to put over it and grab a couple pieces of jewelry to complete the look.
I tie my hair up in a messy bun and decide to only add a little bit more makeup. What I have left on from this morning seems to still be okay. It just needs a little touching up.
It's not time for me to leave yet, so I head into my living room and sit down on my oversized L-shaped couch. My living room is a testament to my style: modern. The walls are a soft, neutral gray, which goes perfectly with my sleek furniture.
I don't have too much color in the space, preferring to only use color as accent pieces. My plush cushions are a deep navy blue, and the throw blanket draped over the back of the couch is a deep mustard color.
The coffee table in front of me is a work of art itself, crafted by a local artist. It's black marble with geometric gold accents located throughout the stone. It was one of the largest purchases I've ever made, but after graduating from medical school, I felt like it was a good way to treat myself.
Across from me there are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in a charcoal color that matches this couch. It showcases the wide variety of romance novels I’ve purchased and smaller art pieces I've picked up at some local art festivals. I'm a bit of a bookworm, so every book on my shelf is strategically placed by series, author, and in alphabetical order. It's a little bit OCD, but that's the way I've always been.
I watch my phone for a bit and finally decide it's time for me to leave. I get up, grab my keys, slip on a pair of heels, and head out the door.
As I make my way to the elevator, a flutter of nervousness spreads from my chest through the rest of my body. Meeting my father for dinner so unexpectedly is nerve-wracking. Seeing him at any point in my life has always been complicated. There's always been unresolved emotions and so much tension. I'm afraid the moment I sit down at the table the tension will cut right through us.
The elevator doors open, revealing a polished mirrored interior with deep mahogany red carpets. I step inside, pressing the button for the ground floor, and listen to the calming elevator music in the background. The music calms my nerves slightly, but not enough.
What is going to happen tonight? Is he going to try to get me to be a peacekeeper in the family? The last time we spoke he told me that as he's getting older, he wants all of us siblings to communicate and get to know each other.
I think that will be a little bit hard to do considering we never grew up together. Our mothers made it impossible. It's the only thing that immediately pops to mind when I think about it. This dinner has to be about my siblings.
Maybe my father spoke to Sasha about it too and he wasn't willing to speak to them. Dad's always known Sasha respects my opinion. He might be using me...and it would make sense.
I get in my car and drive down the street until I reach the parking lot for Antonio's. When I pulled in I noticed a blacked-out town car sitting in front of the restaurant, knowing damn well it's one of my father's cars.
I suck in a deep breath as I park my car and try to ready myself as much as possible. This dinner is going to be fine.
Whatever he needs to talk to me about, I can take it.
Two
