Page 14 of Bossed Around By the Bratva

Once I was again appropriately clothed, I smiled at her. “Ready to head back?” I asked in a light tone.

“Yes, that sounds good,” she replied, turning to face the window.

I wish I knew what she was thinking. It suddenly felt like there was nothing left to say. But, my mind and body wouldn’t settle down. A fierce war raged within me. I didn’t know what was happening, what had come over me. I wanted nothing more than to reach out and kiss her. I craved her lips like the air I needed to breathe.

My body craved her. I wanted to feel that warm sensation vibrating through me as our lips met. My body longed for her touch like flowers longed for the rain. Yet, my mind was putting up a fight. We worked together. For fuck’s sake, she is my PA. Plus, for all I knew, it wasn’t something she wanted.

But I had to put my thoughts aside as I noticed the car following close behind us. Something deep inside me sounded an alarm as a feeling of dread suddenly entered. Something wasn’t right. Looking around, I scanned our surroundings. I quickly analyzed the buildings, cars, and people.

Spotting two idling cars, I swallowed the lump intrusively growing in my throat. “Zhen,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm. “Don’t react, but I think we’re being followed. I’m going to take a turn up front and speed up slightly to confirm, okay?”

Glancing at her, I saw fear rising in her eyes as she pulled her brows up and looked back. She took a deep breath. But Icould still hear the slight quivering in it as she spoke. “What? Are you sure?”

Turning down the next street, I pressed down on the gas. Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw the car speeding up. “Yes, I’m sure,” I breathed out. My mind raced through all possible scenarios. I wanted to keep her safe, but wasn’t sure how to do that.

I considered dropping her off at the hotel and then driving these people to a secluded spot to take care of business. But that wouldn’t work as they might attack her there to get to me.

Driving around the block, I also spotted a white van. The lights were off, but it was idling. “You see the van?” I asked as we passed the second time. “It is running but appears to be waiting with the lights off. That’s not normal.”

She turned in her seat as we passed it. I could hear her inhaling sharply. Turning up the next block, I decided to take this mess further away. I needed open roads with less traffic and fewer civilians. “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine,” I tried reassuring her as I sped up.

Looking in the mirror, I saw two identical cars following. “Another one joined the chase,” I said, glancing at her.

Zhen turned back and held her seatbelt as I tried getting out of the traffic. I had just turned onto another street when I saw the car coming out of a side street. It was going at full speed. Swerving, I managed to miss it and not be rammed.

Cursing under my breath, I knew we were in trouble. Up front, I saw two more cars waiting at the next intersection. They were surely going to try to block us in. As we neared them, they came out of the side streets, simultaneously closing up the road.

“Hold on,” I huffed as I climbed the curb and sped past them. Speeding up, I weaved through a couple of cars on the road. I knew this chase was an accident waiting to happen. But with her in the car, I didn’t dare take unnecessary risks.

Chapter 8 - Zhenya

For a moment, I shut my eyes as Akim swerved left and then right, hurrying past the cars on the road. I had never been in a car chase and felt anxious. But the fact that we were being chased by who knows, scared me.

Any and all thoughts flew out of my mind as I slammed up against the car door. Akim had taken a sharp turn, and the car spun in a circle for a moment. I moaned as I tried pushing myself off the door.

“Sorry, hold on,” Akim huffed as he regained control and sped up. I didn’t get a chance to respond as I started sliding towards him. Holding onto the door handle, I kept myself from joining him in the driver's seat.

Looking around, I noticed the scenery changing. The streetlights were fewer, and the couple that were there only dimly lit the area around them. I could make out a couple of cars next to the road and some people standing around. I swallowed hard, realizing we had entered a bad part of the city.

I saw similar places around our town. My brothers had always warned us of the kind of people living in such places. My heart beat faster as fear tried to take control. There was a loud pop, and then I felt the car sliding.

Glancing at Akim, I realized he was trying to get control of the car as he turned the steering wheel left and then right. We slid and began spinning again. As the car came to a complete stop, he looked at me. “Get out and stay low. But stay on your side of the car,” he said demandingly.

He was out of the car before I could protest or even form a reply. His door slammed shut so hard, I could feel it vibrating through me. There were screeching sounds as more vehiclescame to a stop behind us. Glancing back, I saw five men jumping out of the other cars.

Opening my door, I slid out and closed it softly. Sweat was running down my brows and stung my eyes. Wiping at them, I battled to breathe. I was overwhelmed with all that was going on. I wanted to call my brothers, but wasn’t sure how that would help, except to get me into more trouble.

Carefully, I moved to the hood and peeked over it. I was shocked at the scene unfolding before me. One of the men was already on the ground. He was lying on his side, holding his stomach. I could see a dark liquid seeping through his hands. He was making the most horrid sounds.

Akim was running at full speed, curving left and right to miss the spray of bullets heading his way. I watched as he jumped and slid over the hood of the other car. The first shooter stood up, and before he could squeeze the trigger, Akim was behind him. He held him to his chest as the second man rose and started shooting at him.

I watched in horror as Akim slit the man’s throat. Blood gushed out, and I felt my stomach turning. He let him go, and the man dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. I wanted to crouch and hide, but for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

Moving swiftly, he lunged at the other man. I held my breath. I didn’t want Akim to get hurt or even killed because of me.

But he knocked the man off his feet. They were struggling on the ground behind the car. I couldn’t see what was happening. Fearing for his life, I ran towards him, not thinking twice about my safety. As far as I could see, this had to be the last man, and I wanted to help if I could.

As I ran around the back of the car, I saw Akim sitting on the man. He was holding the man’s head in his hands and slamming it into the floor. Seeing him like this made me realize just how used to the bratva life he was. I also concluded that I was far from accustomed to it.

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