Page 55 of The Bratva's Forced Kidnapped Bride
Her brows rose even further, disappearing under her blonde bangs. Her one vanity ever since we came to California was a monthly trip to the salon to lighten her hair. She was introverted but still wanted to fit in with and be accepted by all the new people around us. As worried as I was about Anatoli, I had missed her. We were as different as night and day, but also as attuned to one another as any sisters who were less than two years apart could be. Except now she looked like she didn’t know me at all.
“Why would you care what that monster thought either way?” she asked, venom in her normally gentle voice.
“Oh, Lil, it’s not like that,” I said. “At least, not anymore.”
I told her everything, barely pausing for breath. She listened, her brows drawn together in a scowl as I described the abduction and how much I hated him, how I plotted my escape and my revenge. Then I told her about our trip to Russia and about his slightly odd family. How he’d saved me when I was a single pull of the finger away from my brains splattering all over the ballroom wall. How he saved me again from his untrustworthy guard. How we got along so well sometimes.
She was blushing, and I pulled back from describing just how well we got along sometimes. Though she was only sixteen months younger than me, she kept to herself and her books, and I suspected she was still a virgin. She could never understand the passion between Anatoli and me.
She gave me a soft shake and motioned to my face. “None of that makes up for this, Masha.”
“No,” I said, frustrated that even she wasn’t listening. “I haven’t gotten to the end. None of this is from Anatoli.”
By the time I was done explaining how I’d offed Enzo Santino and set the Collective after me, how I was kidnapped and beaten and was about to have my throat slashed, she was pure white and gripping my hands.
“But Antoli found me,” I said. “Just like I knew he would.” I took a deep breath and blurted it out even before I’d had time to fully examine it. “I love him, Lilia. So damn much. And I think—no, I know he loves me.” My voice wavered. Once again, all I could do was hope I was right. “It might have been a whacky, messed up way to fall in love, but it happened and it’s real.”
Lilia nodded. “I believe you. I’ve never seen you like this.”
“You’re the only one,” I said bitterly. “And now they’re going to torture him or make me do it. It’s the only way I could get them to take me to where they’re keeping him.”
“I know where they took him,” she said, her blue eyes brewing with a plan.
“Where?” I said, squeezing her fingers until she grunted. “Just tell me, and then find a way to sneak me out of here. I don’t want you getting in trouble, so you can just pretend you didn’t know anything after I’m gone.”
“What do you mean, after you’re gone?” she asked, horrified.
“Do you really think anyone else will accept me being with Anatoli? I’m not giving him up. We’re married and it’s staying that way.”
With every word, my resolve grew stronger. I hated the idea of never seeing Lilia again. It tore my insides to shreds. But a life without Anatoli was no life at all. Being the cause of his death would end me. Lilia gnawed on her thumbnail for a long time, and as well as I knew her, I didn’t push. She was delicate on the outside but had a steel core and wouldn’t be budged until she was ready.
“Okay,” she finally said. “He’s here, on the grounds. In that old shed by the west wall. But promise me that you won’t give up on us. Aleks and Mat and the rest will come around if you don’t give up.”
“I promise,” I said, jumping up to fly to Anatoli.
She grabbed me back by the sleeve. “Wait a minute. Love is making you stupid. I’m sure you can get into the shed with no problem, but do you think you’re just going to waltz out hand in hand with Anatoli after?” She took out her phone and handed it to me, first checking the time. “Give me half an hour to set up a distraction, and then haul ass out that little gate leading down into the hills.”
I nodded, proud of her for showing such a cool head when I was being rash all over again. She cleared the hallway, and I got out of the house by acting as if I were calm and in control. Everyone had been informed that I was going to exact my revenge on Anatoli, and no one batted an eye as I headed toward the little shed way out at the edge of the property that my cousin used for interrogations.
There was only one guard stationed outside, which made my heart sink and my stomach clench with fear. Anatoli must be in pretty bad shape from the fight at Julio’s headquarters to rate only one guard. Would he be able to run once Lilia set off her distraction?
“I’ll take it from here,” I said. “Take a break.”
He faltered for a second but wouldn’t dare defy such a direct order, and I waited outside the door until the guard rounded the curve in the path and was out of sight. Keeping my hands steady, I unlocked the door and pushed it inward, stepping into the dark room. Snapping on the overhead bulb, light flooded the chair in the center of the solid concrete floor. Anatoli was tied to it, slumped over with his chin on his chest. Fear making my heart pound halfway up my throat, I stepped in further and shut the door behind me. He didn’t move an inch.
“Anatoli,” I said, my voice coming out in a yelp that was laced with panic. Oh no, I couldn’t be too late.
His head rose, and his eyes focused on me. I barely recognized him. Not because of the bruises, but because the look on his face was one of pure, unadulterated rage. No, more than that. I had seen him angry before. This was different, worse. Hatred shone from his eyes.
I stumbled back a step under the force of his gaze. How could I have been so wrong about his feelings?
Chapter 40 - Anatoli
I woke up as I was being dragged out of the trunk of a car. Someone kicked my feet out from under me the moment they touched solid ground, and hauled me down a path behind a mansion in the hills. My head was throbbing from the blows I took back at Julio’s place, and my back and ribs hurt from punches and kicks after I got knocked out. I wasn’t feeling too friendly toward any of the Fokins.
There was a small stone shed hidden amongst some trees near the back of the property. I could see a wall beyond it and took note, as well as the fact that they only left one guard. My strength was returning, but I decided to bide my time. Despite everything I saw, I still believed Masha would come through for me and sort this out as a misunderstanding.
I couldn’t have been wrong about her feelings, not after working together like a well-oiled machine to cripple the Collective. Any minute now, Daniil would come into the shed, untie me, and thank me for helping them out as well as saving one of their favorite cousins.
