Page 6 of Paved in Hate

Simeon side-eyes me when I grab the bag at my feet and start digging around for the one thing that will stop the panic attack that’s threatening to rise up and consume me. When my fingers hit the sketchpad, I let out the breath I’ve been holding and pull it against my chest while my other hand keeps looking for the small case that holds my colored pencils and charcoal sticks. When I’ve got it, I open the nearly full sketchpad and flip to a blank page.

Oksana stumbles back to her chair, but I don’t even lift my head. I’d rather not see the doped-up look on the face that was once so beautiful but is now gaunt and pale and completely empty. I do what I’ve learned to do best. I ignore everything and pick up a piece of charcoal, losing myself in the lines on the page. The soft strokes and precise movements slowly blend together to create the bird I’m working on. I don’t draw the black swan that’s the symbol for the Lebedev Bratva, the one my brothers have tattooed on their forearms. Instead, I draw a magpie, one of my favorite birds. I envy the freedom of a creature that can just take off any damn time it wants. I’d give anything to escape, but my brothers have made sure my wings are permanently clipped. I won’t be leaving my cage anytime soon.

By the time the plane begins its descent, I’m almost finished with my drawing, Oksana is passed out, and Konstantin is back in his seat, looking slightly less pissed off than he was. I pack up my stuff and grip the armrests as we hit the ground. The plane vibrates and races down the runway before finally coming to a stop.

Osip is waiting for us with a line of black SUVs. I step off the plane, sandwiched between Konstantin and Simeon. Oksana throws on a pair of dark sunglasses and follows behind Simeon. Konstantin never travels without his top men. The twenty well-trained Bratva members file out from the middle section of the plane, the last one holds the end of a leash. The dark-haired woman it’s attached to walks with her head down before disappearing into the last SUV with several of the men.

“How was the flight?” Osip asks, walking up to our brother while completely ignoring me.

“It was fine.” Konstantin climbs into the passenger seat while Osip gets behind the wheel. Oksana and I climb into the back with Simeon. “Is the house all set up?”

“Yeah, of course,” Osip says, driving us away from the private airport. “You’ll love it. Lots of privacy and I’ve already employed a staff to do the cooking and cleaning.”

“Americans?” Konstantin asks.

Osip laughs. “Fuck no. I found some Russian women who understand what’s expected of them.”

“Is everything all set for tomorrow’s dinner?” Konstantin glances back at us, but I keep looking out the window and pretend I’m not listening.

“Yeah, everything looks good. I’ll text them the address tomorrow morning,” Osip says.

They don’t often discuss business in front of me, but I’ve caught enough tidbits of conversation over the last few weeks to know that some big deal is about to be made with a local Bratva, and that I’m not invited to it, which is more than fine by me. Konstantin turns around and looks at Oksana.

“Think you can keep your fucking nose clean long enough to sit through a goddamn dinner?”

Oksana’s still high as a kite when she smiles as says, “Of course, dear.”

“You’re fucking useless,” he spits at her. “The agreement I have with your father is the only thing keeping you alive right now, and the last I heard is that his health isn’t doing all that great. You might want to try not pissing me off.”

When I chance a look at Oksana, I don’t see fear in her eyes; I see hope. She wants out of this life as much as I do, and it looks like my brother is about to make that happen for her. Before she can say anything to speed up her ending, I give her hand a soft squeeze, pleading with her to not push Konstantin any further. Her hand is limp in mine, but she gives a soft sigh and turns her head away to look out the window while the two men in front of us go back to discussing business.

Osip drives us further out of the city, and the sun is just starting to set when he pulls up in front of a large iron gate. The man standing guard takes one look at my brothers’ faces and quickly gives them a respectful nod and pushes a button so the gate swings open, allowing us entry.

“We have guards all over the perimeter,” Osip says, driving down a long driveway that eventually ends in front of a large, brick mansion. The place is beautiful, but that doesn’t surprise me. Our family has always been surrounded by beautiful things. One of life’s great ironies. I look at my two brothers. I know the monsters they are, and I know the cruelty they're capable of, but looking at them, you’d never guess it. They’re handsome, disarmingly so, and many women have made the unfortunate mistake of trying to get to know them better. My brothers aren’t the kind of men you want to know better. They’re the kind you want to run screaming from. They’re sadistic fucks who love to torture women, and I was lucky enough to be born their sister.

The men start unloading the bags while one of them escorts Konstantin’s pet in through a side door and the rest of us take the main entrance. I look over my shoulder and see her stumble before the man tugs on her leash even harder, pulling at her neck so she’s forced to gain her balance or be dragged over the rocky path. She rights herself and then disappears from view. It’ll be the last time I see her until we travel again. She’ll be hidden away behind a locked door with guards posted outside it.

Oksana and I follow my brothers inside. The staff is already lined up, ready and waiting to meet their boss. I notice they’re all young, pretty women. That’s not by chance. Osip picked these women on purpose, and judging by the scared glances they keep giving him, he’s already had his way with them. Konstantin starts at the end of the line and slowly walks in front of them. His look is predatory, and when he stops in front of the last woman, he reaches out and runs a finger along her jaw.

“Come to my room tonight,” he tells her and then dismisses them with a wave of his hand. Oksana doesn’t even bat an eye at her husband making plans to fuck another woman. She learned the truth of things on their wedding night when he raped her and then ignored her for the next three months while he traveled with one of his pets and trafficked women. The one bright spot in their marriage is that she’s never gotten pregnant. I know it infuriates Konstantin, but I’m secretly thrilled. I don’t think I could survive watching my future nephew being shaped into a misogynistic, abusive asshole or watching a niece have to live the life I’m being forced to live.

Before Konstantin and Osip walk off, Osip looks at me. “I had one of the maids get a room ready for you. Simeon will be right next door.”

“Thanks,” I tell him, slinging my bag over my shoulder, ready to disappear for a while.

“We have an important supper tomorrow night,” Konstantin says, stepping closer. My stomach drops when he reaches out and cups my face. His blue eyes, the same ones that Osip and I share, look back at me, and I know I’m not going to like whatever it is that he’s about to say.

“The Melnikov Bratva runs this city, and we need to form a good relationship with them. We do a lot of business here, and we need things to run smoothly. They’re important customers of ours, but they’ve also been keeping the Alessi mafia on their side of the damn city. The Italians are a distraction we can’t afford right now, and we need to keep the Melnikov brothers happy so our business will continue to run smoothly. They’re ruthless, and they have a lot of fucking power and money.”

I look up at him, waiting for the part that’s going to involve me and dreading it at the same time.

“You’re finally going to be of use to us, little sister,” he says while Osip gives a soft laugh. “We’re uniting our families.”

“What?” I whisper, my brain refusing to take in what I’m hearing.

“One of the brothers owns Pink, a prominent club in the city, and I’m going to propose a marriage between the two of you. There’s another brother that’s single, so I guess if he’d rather marry you, that’s fine too. The choice will be theirs, but I’d prefer the strip club connection.”

Nausea hits me hard as I struggle to take in a breath. My worst fear is finally happening. I’m going to be married off to some psycho who helps traffic women and owns a goddamn strip club. Konstantin tightens his grip on my face. He’s never hit me, but that’s only because he doesn’t have to. He knows I’m terrified of him, and he knows that all he has to do is threaten to hurt someone else and I’ll cave. I feel like I’m twelve years old again, standing before my brother while he slowly butchers a woman.

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