Chapter 3 - Vadik
The kidnapping went much easier than I had anticipated. I was so glad our intel on her was correct. Standing behind her in the small hallway, I felt relieved that everything went so smoothly. There were no hitches and soon we would have Nadia back in our lives.
We studied the Dubow family throughout our project for the Chernykhs. All our intel suggested she was the softest and most innocent of them, except for the youngest, Akim. Considering how easy it was to get her here; I was positive the intel was right.
I had to admit she was a beautiful woman. She had a unique odor. Her perfume was nice, but this was a deeper smell, a sweet clean odor. I had not expected to find her attractive, but she was. Shaking my head, I gently urged her forward. I noticed she kept shifting around as we drove home and wondered if it was only due to fear.
Yet, she kept fidgeting with her necklace. Her fingers glided along the chain and over the pendant hanging just above her cleavage. Opening the door to Nadia’s old room, I guided her left. Tasha stepped hesitantly inside so I shoved her lightly.
She stumbled forward but didn’t fall. As she found her footing, she turned, glaring angrily at me. Her hand went up to her necklace, drifting over the chain again, which made me wonder if it held any significance. I had almost forgotten about it and was about to walk out but I stopped. “Tasha,” I said loudly as I moved towards her.
Her eyes met mine. There was a fire in them, I hadn’t seen before. “Why do you keep clinging to the necklace? What’s its significance?” I questioned. “Is it a family heirloom or something?” Lifting my brows, I studied her reaction.
Tasha stepped back seemingly jumpier than earlier. I found her reaction a tad cute, she was so innocent and a bad lair. Taking a deep breath, she glanced away as she responded. “Um, yes.” I heard her swallowing hard as her fingers closed around the pendant. “It was my mothers.”
I knew this couldn’t be true as I hadn’t seen it in any of the photos, we had collected of her and the family. She wasn’t wearing jewelry in any of them come to think of it. This made me more suspicious. Plus, she appeared to be trampling lightly and shifting nervously.
Feeling my anger rolling in, I stepped up to her. “Tasha,” I breathed out hard. “Please don’t lie to me.” Grabbing her shoulder with my left hand, I shook her. Her hand dropped from the pendant, and I grabbed it. Her eyes grew as shock filled her.
“Please, don’t, please,” she whispered as I yanked the necklace. She tried grabbing it, but my hand was fully closed around the pendant. Letting go of her, I stepped back and opened my hand looking at the pendant.
Turning it over, I saw the small button on the back. Before I could examine it properly Tasha came at me. She aimed at the pendant in my hand. Turning swiftly, I managed to evade her. My anger boiled up as I realized it had to be a tracker.
I shoved her to the bed and watched as she fell backward onto it. I could see the fear in her eyes as I moved to the door. I was furious and wasn’t about to give her up after all we had been through. I would ensure our efforts weren’t wasted no matter what I had to do.
After weighing my options, I had to decide quickly what to do. After a second look at the pendant, I threw it to the floor and stepped on it. There was a loud crushing sound as I turned my foot from side to side. Picking up my foot, the necklace was in bits and pieces, it would no longer work.
Looking back at Tasha, she sat with her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were filled with tears. This was it. I had her. But trouble would follow, and we needed to move quickly.
“I’ll be back,” I huffed before walking out and slamming the door shut behind me. Standing for a second, I took a deep breath as I made the only choice I could fathom. Storming to the kitchen, I glanced at my brothers as I collected the rope and tape.
I rushed back to the room. Opening the door, I saw her at the window, she was trying to pry it open with a piece of plank. Glancing around caught a tad off guard, I wondered where she got it. There was no time to worry about it as we had to get out.
Grabbing her shoulder, I flung her around lifting my arm as she swung the plank at me. “How dare you!” I huffed. I forcefully took it from her and tossed it to the bed. Bringing her hands together, I moved quickly to tie her up.
“I’ll scream,” she spat back as she struggled in my grip.
“No, you won’t!” I shot back as I ripped a piece of tape from the roll and stuck it over her mouth. She struggled trying to pull back, but I was quicker and stronger. Firmly taking hold of the rope around her wrists, I pulled her with me. “You will pay for this,” I added as we moved towards the front door.
My brothers peeked out of the kitchen looking puzzled. “There’s no time,” I said as I moved past them. “Get what you want and head home. I’ll meet you there. But get out now!”
“But…,” Makari uttered.
Stopping at the door, I turned and glared at them. I could feel the heat I was giving off as my anger turned to rage. “No,” I screamed. “No butts. Take only what is truly important and leave!”
Pavel scurried down the short hallway to the room while Makari retreated into the kitchen. I could hear him opening and shutting drawers and doors as I stepped out. Grabbing one of the guard's arm, I leaned closer as I spoke. “Get the van!”
He nodded and moved around the side of the house. Looking sharply at the other one as he stepped up, I spoke softer. “Once my brothers are out, burn it.” He looked back at the house and nodded.
The van came to a stop before us. I opened the van door and shoved her inside. Tasha fell to her knees, landing half on the small bed at the back. Getting in, I shut the door as I spoke to the guard. “Jim’s place behind the church.” I sat down on the edge of the bed as we started moving.
The drive wouldn’t be long as Jim’s house of sanctuary was about thirty minutes away. Tasha had shifted to sit next to the bed on the floor. Tears were running silently down her cheeks and over the edges of the tape. I felt sorry about it all for a moment, but this was the only way.
The van slowed and came to a stop. The guard turned nodding at me. Opening the van door, I took hold of the rope and pulled Tasha forward. She placed her feet squarely on the floor and pulled back.
“No, no, no,” I breathed out as I tugged harder. She came up to her feet and I wrapped my arm around her middle. Stepping back, I flung her over my shoulder. Turning, I stomped into the back of the church.
Once inside, I spotted Jim through the open door. He was cleaning the church podium. Looking at me our eyes met briefly. He placed down the cloth in his hand. As he came towards us, he wiped his brows with the back of his hand.
Stepping into the rectory, he shook his head from side to side lightly. “This isn’t right,” he said hesitantly.
Placing Tasha down, I turned her to face him. “This is how we are doing it,” I breathed out loudly trying to contain my rage. “You will marry us, Jim.”
Jim gave Tasha a soft smile before looking back at me sternly. “Names?” he asked.
“Tasha,” I replied. “You know mine so just get it done.
Jim quickly went through the basics. I held Tasha’s hair and gently moved her head back and forth for her agreement. Once the process was done, Jim signed the papers and handed me a copy.
He owed the Chernykh’s his life and always did as he was told. This wasn’t what I had planned or even wanted. But Tasha had given me no other options. Tasha sobbed through the tape. Her chest rose and fell as I picked her up and carried her out back to the van.
Getting back in, I placed her down on the small bed. Grinning at her, I pulled the tape from her mouth as I sat down next to her. “Welcome to the family Mrs. Vasiliev,” I said as the driver glanced at us. “Take us home,” I added.
Tasha pulled to the side, pushing at my chest trying to put distance between us. “I never agreed, this won’t work!” she spat. “I’ll never be your wife!” Her tears were instantly replaced by fury as her anger came forth.
Chuckling, I let go of her wrists. Tasha scurried back to the corner of the floor next to the bed. Placing my elbows on my knees, I leaned forward whispering to her. “I don’t need your permission, princess.”
She let out a frustrating growl as she shifted to the side. “You have fucked up, Vadik!” she hissed at me. “My brothers will destroy you and your brothers!”
Opening my mouth to respond, I closed it instead as she continued. “You’ve never seen a level of over-protection like theirs. They will do what has to be done to get me back!”
Sighing, I knew she was quite right. But for Nadia’s sake, I hoped it wouldn’t get to that. Letting out a half-sinister laugh, I lifted my head and glared at her. I could see her thinking twice as she shifted uncomfortably. “They can try, princess,” I said in a low tone. “But I can promise you they will fail.”
Tasha blinked rapidly as the tears appeared to be returning before looking down at her feet. “It’s okay,” I added moving closer. “I’ll be good to you.”
The rest of the drive to my mansion was quiet. Glancing back at Tasha, I noticed she was silently crying as she wiped her cheeks. She sat in the back corner with her legs pulled up to her chest. Turning back, I stared out the window allowing my mind to wander.
I had to start planning my next steps. The trade had to go off without a hitch. Plus, I had to ensure the Chernykh’s didn’t get wind of what was going on. If they found out all hell would be loose. Grinning, I considered my two brothers’ reaction when they discovered what I had just done.