Chapter 20 - Nadia
Abram had assigned me a driver should I need to go anywhere. Today, I was going to get him a gift to show my appreciation for taking such good care of me. I hadn’t decided on anything specific yet, but I felt sure I would know when I saw it.
“Mike,” I said as we left the mansion. He glanced at me in the mirror. “I need to go to a mall, please.”
“Sure thing, miss,” he replied.
The drive wasn’t long, as there were various places nearby. Mike pulled into the parking area and stopped close to the entrance. “We’re here,” he said as he got out. He opened my door and waited for me to get out. “You want me to come with you or wait?” he added as he closed the door.
“No,” I replied quickly. “I’m good, thank you, Mike.”
He nodded and stood by the car as I went inside. I entered the first gift shop I found. I strolled around but didn’t find anything that spoke to me. I had considered getting him a watch. But men like him, men with money, generally had a ton. They had most things, and I was seeking something unique.
I had to find something that popped. Something that could portray what I felt and show my gratitude for all he had done. Entering the third store, I felt a chill running up my spine. Glancing around, I shook it off. I saw nothing out of place and no warning of danger.
Moving on, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. By the fifth store, I felt sure someone was following me. I wish I had accepted Mike’s suggestion to come with me. My heart started racing, and sweat broke out all over my skin. I swallowed hard as I headed for the exit.
I would come back with Mike, I thought as I turned. The door was in sight. If I could only make it outside, I thought, glancing back. I stopped in my tracks. It felt like I had walked into a brick wall. Looking up at the large man standing before me, I felt my heart drop to my shoes.
“Vadik,” I huffed, catching my breath.
“Hello, Nadia.” He spat, dragging me into a clothing store and moving to one of the dressing rooms.
As we slid through the curtain, he let go of my arm as he continued. “Do you want to explain why I needed to come all the way here to get you to do your work?” His voice flowed with anger, sending chills down my spine. I had only experienced his anger twice in my life. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
Keeping my tone low, I answered, giving him my best innocent look. “I was just doing what you asked. I did provide you with details on Abram, didn’t I?”
Vadik sneered as he spoke. This time, the aggression in his tone was evident. “No, you were supposed to provide us with information on the enemy that we could use. The things you have been sending are useless. As are you, it appears.”
Swallowing hard, I wondered what he was going to do. I knew I wasn’t going to get off unscathed. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, looking down at my feet. If he intended to hit me, I didn’t want to see it coming.
Vadik stepped closer, grabbing hold of my shoulders. He shook me hard. “You’re hurting me,” I whispered.
“Then make sure you get what we want. Deliver real information by tomorrow. If not, shaking is the last thing you need to worry about.” He let go and stepped back before speaking again. “You will give us the information. If not, the Chernykh’s will go after Abram and his entire family. You know we ow them and have to do what they ask. They will destroy them and drag your sorry ass back to us. Do you understand?”
My blood ran cold as ice as his words sank in. Fear clutched me. It was trying to strangle me as I realized I had placed Abram in more danger. By not giving them anything, I had made the situation worse. My cousins had worked for the Chernykh’s for as long as I could remember.
Yet, nothing else mattered to me anymore but Abram’s life. Deciding I had to deal with this, I looked up as I replied. “I will get you the intel by tomorrow. But after this, I am done. I want out. You and the Chernykh’s can raid them or do what you want. But I am tired of this. I want a normal life. I want no more of this business.”
I paused, waiting for a reaction. To my surprise, Vadik appeared calm. I could see he was considering all I had said. After a while, he grinned. Nodding his head in agreement, he spoke. “I can consider letting you go if you give us intel that is worthy of it.”
Sighing, I nodded. “I demand that you let me go. I will give you everything you need. But I need two or three days. Then, this is the last, Vadik. I am done.”
“Agreed, thank you,” he said before turning and leaving.
Sinking on the small footstool in the corner, I breathed out heavily. I felt relieved that he had left and didn’t pick up on my feelings for Abram. Standing, I looked in the long mirror. “Okay,” I spoke to my reflection. “You’ve got this.”
Leaving the clothing shop, that impending feeling of being watched was gone. It was because of Vadik. With him now out of the way, I could continue my search for a gift for Abram.
After I gone through another three stores, I finally found it. I bubbled with excitement as I paid for it. They even gift-wrapped it for me. Mike was still waiting by the car. Opening the door for me, I felt he noticed something as he spoke. “You okay, miss?”
“Yes, fine,” I replied, giving him a warm smile. I stared out the window as we drove back, lost in my thoughts. I was conflicted with all the emotions running through me. Deep down, I hoped that Vadik wouldn’t pick up on any of the vibes I was giving off.
What if he did, but he didn’t say anything? I prayed that I would be able to keep Abram out of this mess. Mike glanced at me in the mirror. Smiling at him, I knew my eyes were wet from my unshed tears. I had developed deep feelings for Abram. But I couldn’t do this any longer. I didn’t have the strength to keep up this charade.
But I didn’t dare leave my cousins holding empty bags in their hands. I had to give them something. I knew they owed the Chernykhs their lives even though I didn’t know all the details. They had a debt to repay, and this was it.
Thinking back, I remembered hearing them talking about drugs that had gone missing. This was something to do with my youngest cousin, Pavel. The other incident no one would talk about. As far as I know, these two events were the ties that bound my family to the Chernykhs.
Mike pulled up to the front door and stopped. Glancing in the mirror again, he spoke in a light tone. “We’re home, miss.”
“Thank you, Mike,” I replied as my door opened. Stepping out, I thanked the guard and headed inside. Once inside, I went up to my room to hide the gift. I knew Abram rarely came in here, so it would be safe. With it carefully stashed under my old clothes, I went to the library and lay reading.
I was still there when Abram returned home. I heard him calling up the stairs for me to come down for dinner. I placed the book back in its place and headed to the dining room. Abram was already seated when I walked in. He stood and pulled out my chair.
“Good evening,” he said as I sat down.
“Hi,” I replied shortly.
Abram poured a glass of wine for me before he sat down. “How was your day?” he asked as the staff brought out our supper.
Glancing at him as I stirred the food around on my plate, I wondered what to say. I was scared that if I opened my mouth, everything that had happened would simply pour out. Nodding, he seemingly accepted my silence. We ate without another word.
As the plates were taken from the table, he spoke again. “Would you like to watch a movie before turning in for the night?”
I hated and loved the fact that he was being so nice to me, even though I didn’t want him to be. I wanted to be angry; I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t. He made everything worse by taking good care of me. I nodded as he got up. He pulled out my chair and walked with me up to the entertainment room.
“You decide what to watch, and I’ll get us some hot cocoa to go with the movie,” Abram said as he left me there.
Watching him leave broke my heart. Even though I wasn’t speaking to him, he still wanted to care for me. After the movie, he walked me to my room. He whispered as he kissed my cheek. “Good night, Nadia.”
For a moment, I stood there numbed. How was this man still being so nice? Entering the room, I closed the door softly and leaned against it. My chest felt tight, as if something was pressing down on it. Flopping down on the bed, I cried myself to sleep.
It was still a bit dark outside when I woke up. I felt slightly better than when I went to bed. But my heart was heavy. I had to deliver actual intel today. I had no idea how I was going to get it, but I knew I had to.
After washing, I left the room and went downstairs. Abram was already up. He was having his morning coffee in the small sunroom where we had most of our breakfasts.
“Morning, you’re up early,” he said as I walked in.
He rose, pulled out my chair, and continued as I sat down. “I have an early meeting and will be working late tonight. So, I won’t be home at all today.”
This was it, I thought. Something out there in the universe had heard me crying for help. With him gone all day I was sure to get some intel.
I was startled out of my thoughts as he spoke again. “I have decided you can do whatever you please today. You have free reign. The driver will also be available should you wish to go out.”
As his words sank in, I realized he had been giving me more and more trust even though he barely knew me. I only now comprehended how much he trusted me. I had never received such trust from anyone. Not even my family. They have never shown or given me so much trust in my entire life.
I sat in silence as he got up and left. Once I heard the car leaving, I got up. Now was the time to act. With him gone, I could truly dive into everything. I would find something and send it to Vadik to get this done with.
Entering his office, I felt guilty. I was conflicted by what I knew I had to do and what I actually wanted to do. My emotions were all over the place as I searched through his files, books, and even his computer.
As I made notes of the warehouse locations, the guard schedules, and the items stored at each, it felt like my mind was burning up. How would I live with myself after I gave Vadik all this intel?
I knew he needed it, but with all of this, the Chernykhs would destroy them. The more intel I gathered, the worse I felt. As the day progressed, I was amazed at how much information there was. I could have gotten a lot of it earlier if I only looked.
I sat on my bed, trying to decide what to send and withhold as nighttime approached. Breathing out heavily, I was glad I asked for more days. Tomorrow, I will go through it again. I will send him the intel the day after. Or send them drips and drabs daily.