Page 42 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
“Guys!” I protest with a giggle. “We aren’t being judged on our pottery here!”
“True, but I hate sucking at things,” Katya holds up her own misshapen attempt.
“Pity, since you suck at so many things,” Tatiana teases, and Katya chucks a glob of clay at her sister. Tatiana ducks while I laugh.
I needed this—space to breathe and room to think. The past week at Ilariy’s has left me feeling utterly confused. It’s so easy to spend time with him, as if nothing ever happened. I find it terrifying how easily I forget his lies when I see him across the dining table, how easily I forget he hates my brothers when he cracks a joke, and how hard it is to calm my racing heart when he’s around.
I needed some distance, I think. Out here, I can almost forget about him. I don’t know why it matters so much to prove to myself that I can, but it does.
Because I’m afraid to think of the alternative.
My bowl takes shape. It’s pretty and balanced. The sisters admire it as we clean up after class.
“You should sell these,” Tatiana declares.
“I’ll take ten,” Katya adds, linking her arm through mine as we leave the studio.
I feel my heart warm in their presence. They have such humility and tenderness. They’ve truly welcomed me, and not once do I feel like an outsider.
We step out into the bright sun, and Katya points to a café across the street. “Should we get some coffee?” she asks. “It’s such a good day to let it end already!”
“I absolutely agree!” says Tatiana, linking her arm across mine.
“I’m in!” I grin. I wouldn’t mind spending some more time with them. It would be a pity to head home so soon.
Once inside, we settle into a corner table and order our drinks and some pastries to share. The girls are now gossiping about an old schoolmate of theirs, filling me in on even the smallest of details. I sit back in my seat, allowing this moment to wash over me. It feels like I’m sitting with my friends and not Ilariy’s sisters.
Itfeelswonderful.
“Anyway,” Tatiana leans forward. “This girl was a total bully in school, and to see her get arrested for running off with investor money is just icing on the cake.”
Katya looks shocked at how Tatiana speaks, and Tatiana shrugs, embracing her little mean streak. “What? Remember when she told everyone I had herpes? I didn’t, by the way.” She leans forward and nods seriously at me. “She was just jealous the guy she liked had a crush on me!”
I laugh while Katya crosses her heart and lets out some prayers to bless her sister.
Our coffees arrive, and I’m just about to take a sip when I notice something. There’s a man standing at the counter, looking at his phone, but there’s something off about his behaviour because I catch him looking at our table. When he catches my eye, he quickly glances back at his screen, but I notice the screen is dark.
Something prickles at the back of my neck, but I think nothing of it. He was probably just checking us out.
I notice this from the corner of my eye that he looks up again, not directly watching him. He keeps staring and makes a phone call, his eyes darting to the door. Two more men walk inand position themselves to the far right. The man nods at them, and now, I really look.
All three are watching us.
My heart begins to race as I quietly grab my bag. “Hey, guys.” I lean forward, meeting Tatiana and Katya’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Katya asks, noticing the urgency in my voice.
“Don’t look now,” I say quietly, “but I think we’re being watched.”
“What?” Katya whispers, pulling out her phone. Neither of the girls looks, thank god.
“There’s a guy at the counter and two by the table to the far right,” I murmur. “They keep watching us. Do you think there’s a way back out?”
Katya fumbles with her phone. “I’m texting Ilariy. Telling him where we are.”
“Good,” I tell her, while Tatiana leans back in her chair casually and looks around.
She drops back her chair and furrows her brows. “I think the kitchen should have a safe exit.”
