Chapter 4 - Tasha
The van stopped and the door opened. I assumed we had reached the same destination as before. The small raggedy house in the Chernykh’s compound. Vadik pulled me out and carried me inside as before.
He removed the cloth that had been pulled over my head. I knew this couldn’t be the same place. The house Nadia had described which I was sure was where he took me originally was smaller and in ruins. But this place—it was a real house, a mansion.
It was neat and looked quite large from where we were standing. It wasn’t as large as my brother’s mansions, but it was big. We were in a small room that looked more like an entryway, or entrance hall if you want to call it that. There were doors to both sides and the back. To the left of us was a set of stairs as well.
The tiles were a cream color with dark gray smudges and the curtains a light golden color. I was amazed at the beauty it created and wondered if Nadia had had a hand in this.
“Welcome to our home,” Vadik said as he grabbed the rope and pulled me towards the stairway.
Pulling back violently, I tried to dig my heels into the ground. “Stop,” I demanded. Vadik had turned off my tracker, how were my brothers going to find me here? “You have no right!” I spat at Vadik as he swiftly pulled me towards him.
He was much stronger than me and fighting him only resulted in him picking me up again. This time, he turned and placed me over his shoulder. I tried grabbing at the railing as we moved up the stairs. I even kicked with all my might, but it was to no avail.
It felt like he was carrying me to another country before my feet touched the ground again. I knew it wasn’t, but it felt like a lifetime. As he placed me down, he turned me to face a closed door.
“So, this will be my cage then?” I spat at him glancing over my shoulder.
“No,” he replied grinning. “But it is the bedroom.”
Vadik leaned past me pushing the door open. “After you,” he whispered.
“Oh hell, no,” I breathed out. “I will not be sharing a room or a bed with you.” As I finished speaking, I stepped back. Planting the heel of my foot on top of his Vadik let go of my arm. This was what I had hoped for.
He lifted his foot to rub it. This was my chance. I sprinted back towards the stairs. I had no idea what I would do when confronted by the guards. But I was like a rabbit cornered in a cage. I would make my own way out.
I had not taken into account his speed. For a muscular man, Vadik was extremely quick. Before I reached the top of the stairs, he was on me. He placed his hand so firmly on the wall before my face, that it sounded like he smacked the wall. I froze stopping in my tracks.
My gaze followed his hand up his arm to his face. “You will not disobey me!” Vadik stated overly harsh.
His brows were furrowed, his skin looked reddish, and his eyes appeared cold. I felt a ripple of chills running down my spine. I tried to step back, but Vadik grabbed my arm, flung me around, and pushed me towards the room.
He shoved me into the room. Stumbling forward, I grabbed hold of the bedpost. I was taken aback by the immense beauty it held. Feeling my jaw drop, I must have looked like an idiot as I scanned the room.
Smirking, Vadik joined me as he spoke. “So, you approve?”
Closing my mouth, I shrugged as I walked around the bed. It was intriguing to see such dark colors in a bedroom. It looked like something I would have selected. The bottom half of the walls were painted a dark, almost black color. The top half looked like a shimmering dark purple.
It was like a dream room. The bed was covered with a silky black bedding set complimented by the dark purple headboard. The bed and side tables were made of deep charred wood. The sheer whiteness of the fluffy soft carpet brought the perfect contrast as it lit up the room.
The sunlight pouring in through the large wide wooden block windows added to the final touch. To one side was an antique dressing table. Next to it fixed to the wall was a life-size mirror. I walked to the mirror and stared at my reflection.
Vadik came up behind me. Looking back at me in the mirror, he spoke softly. “I hope the dressing table is suitable. I had the staff move it in here for you.”
I glared at him before turning swiftly and moving to the door. “I won’t be staying with you!” I shot back at him over my shoulder.
Before I could walk out, I felt his big hand closing around my upper arm spinning me around. “We are married now. What would people say if they found out we didn’t even share a room?” he asked calmly.
He grinned as he continued. But the look in his eyes made me shiver. “You will stay with me in this room. There will be no more talk about it. Understand?”
“I am not your wife,” I breathed out as fear started making its way into my mind.
“You’ll have time to adapt. Now come, let me show you around,” he added leading me out the door. “Should you get bored, when I am out, you will know where to find something to do,” he added as we walked down the corridor.
“I have a life and things to do, you know,” I replied sarcastically pulling back slightly.
Vadik ignored me as he continued forward. The next room we came to, was the library. Opening the door, he gently pushed me inside. It was just as breathtaking as the bedroom. I had to admit his taste in color was impeccable. It was something we had in common. But, even so, it would not change my mind. He was a breast, a caveman.
“So,” he said letting go of my arm. “What do you think? Do you like reading?”
Looking around, I shrugged. Pulling up my nose, I decided not to answer. I knew he was displeased by my reaction as he shuffled me out and further down the hallway. The next door he opened led into an entertainment room of sorts.
“This is my personal entertainment room and now yours,” he stated as he waved his hand in the air from his left side to his right. “As you can see there is a lot you can do here.”
Taking my wrist, he pulled me forward. “In this corner is a cozy fireplace for wintertime,” he huffed. Turning to face the cinema-size television mounted to the wall, he continued. “Here we can watch movies and have a drink in private.”
I kept my gaze focused on the objects in the room and didn’t even glance at him. He walked around to stand before me. I turned my head away. I didn’t want to look at him. Vadik walked to my side, so I looked the other way.
“Stop this,” he huffed as he grabbed my chin. Forcing me to look at him, he continued. “You will not do this! Do you want me to treat you as a prisoner? Would you like to be locked up in the room?”
Feeling my tears pushing up, I lightly shook my head. Swallowing hard, I tried to calm my raging heart. “So, stop fighting me!” he said as he let go of my face.
Before I could get a handle on my emotions, I started going off. “I will not! You have no right to tell me what to do! You forced me into this marriage, I couldn’t even say NO! Then you expect me to do what you want?” I could feel my face heat up as my anger surged pushing all the sorrow I felt back down.
“If you want to make life easier for yourself, I suggest you do,” he replied calmly. Taking my arm, he led me back out and down the hallway.
Grabbing at the doorway, I pulled back as I screamed at him. “Enough, let me go! I will not do anything you say. You are a monster!”
Vadik stopped. He slowly turned to face me. He had a scary look on his face and his rage was clear. His glare was so penetrating I stopped fighting. I wondered if he could see the fear in my eyes as he let go of my arm. He stepped back as if I had slapped him across the face. Lowering his head, he inhaled sharply.
Without another word, Vadik dragged me back downstairs. We entered one of the doors leading out of the entrance hall. It was a cozy little sitting room with a fireplace, some couches, a television, and two shelves with books.
“Have a seat,” he said letting go of my arm. “I’ll get us some coffee. You do drink coffee, don’t you?” He added sarcastically.
“Yes,” I replied bluntly as I took a seat.
I watched as he pressed a button on a speaker mounted on the wall by the door. “Two coffees, thanks,” he breathed into it. Turning to face me, I saw his grin. With his reddish-brown hair and light green eyes, the grin made him look evil.
He came over and sat down opposite me. A shiver ran down my back as he leaned forward, placing a hand on my knee. “Now then…,” he stated before one of his brothers stormed in.
“They’re here,” Pavel huffed as he stopped and tried to catch his breath.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” Vadik grumbled as he rose. “I wonder how they found this address?”
“This isn’t good, is it?” Pavel inquired.
I felt a flicker of hope rising within. Soon all of this will be over. I wondered how they were going to protect themselves if my brothers learned of the forced marriage.
“It will be fine. Let me handle it. Let them in and see yourselves out,” Vadik said to his brothers as he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the entrance hall.
“You don’t need to pull, I will come willingly,” I said turning my arm as I tried to release his grip.
“Very well,” he replied letting go and staring at me. “Come then, we have guests.”
The way he said that made my stomach turn. I didn’t like the gleam in his eyes either. It was like he knew something I didn’t. Feeling sick and uneasy, I followed him to the small entrance hall.
I had never been so happy to see my three brothers. Just the sight of them made me want to cry. I tried moving past Vadik, wanting to run into their arms and hold on forever. But as I stepped to the side, I felt his iron grip closing on my arm stopping me in my tracks.
“Hey, man,” Abram stated as he stepped forward then stopped as Alexandr pushed out his arm before him.
“We have come to collect our sister,” Alexandr said. His tone was deep and authoritative. It was the one he used during business transactions. “What do you want from us to return her?”
Vadik’s grin widened as he spoke. “Firstly, I would like to know how you found us. Does she have a tracker I didn’t find?” Vadik looked at me. I felt dirty as his eyes appeared to be undressing me.
“We have other people who can assist us when needed,” Alexandr acknowledged plainly. “Now back to business, please.” I wondered if Mila had assisted. And why were they so calm? I expected them to come in guns blazing taking me back with force. Then I remembered Nadia, they had to consider her as well.
Vadik rubbed his chin as he turned his attention back to my brothers. “We want Nadia back!” he huffed.
I could see Abram’s anger rising as his face took on a light hue of red. Before Alexandr could reply, Abram spoke, his voice rising in pitch as he did. “That is never going to happen! She wants nothing to do with you.” For a moment I felt a terrible ache in my heart.
“We will ask her though if you give us Tasha back,” Anton added.
“No, I can’t do that,” Vadik replied sounding too calm. Turning to me I could see the sparkle in his eyes as he continued. “You see, we are married.”
Looking at my brothers I could see the shock and sheer hatred bubbling up in them. “You’re what?” Abram shouted, staring at me. He’s always looked after me. I lowered my gaze as I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to see the disappointment in their eyes.
“Tasha would never settle for someone like you,” Abram added.
“I didn’t, he forced me,” I replied softly.
I noticed Alexandr stepping closer as he spoke. “You had no right! I demand that you annul the marriage and hand Tasha back to us. If not…,” Before he could continue, Vadik interrupted.
“You’ll what? Kill me?” Vadik spat at Alexandr. He laughed. The terrible sound filled the air around us.
“You will be sorry, one way or another we are leaving here with her!” Anton chipped in.
“You won’t touch me,” Vadik breathed out. I could hear the anger building in his voice as he continued. “I’ll tell the Chernykh’s I have her. In fact, my brothers have been ordered to let them know should anything go wrong during our chat.”
Unexpectedly, two big guards entered the room from the side doors. They had their guns pulled and trained on my brothers. The situation had escalated at an amazing speed. I swallowed hard as I glanced around the room. My body was covered in sweat.
“I suggest you make no sudden moves,” Vadik added. “They are instructed to shoot at will.”
Vadik took a step forward pulling me with as he continued. “As said earlier. I will annul the marriage and return Tasha if you do the same.”
There were clear signs of confusion, worry, and anger playing in all three of my brother's eyes. I knew they loved me, but this was an impossible standoff. As long as Nadia was safe, which was a sure bet. I knew I would be safe.
“I’ll give you a week to discuss and think about it. Then I want an answer,” Vadik uttered waving his hand as if they were flies. There was nothing more they could do. I watched in horror as they stepped back towards the front door.
Abram stopped turning back. “May I just give her a hug?” he asked. His face was smooth, he actually looked sad.
Vadik glanced at me and nodded. Abram came over quickly. As he hugged me, I felt him shoving something into my hand. Closing my hand around the small rectangular object, I realized it was a phone. I stuffed it into my jacket pocket and stepped back.
Watching them leave was one of the hardest things I had ever done. As much as they were protective of me, I knew they counted on my keen mind to keep myself safe for now. They would come back with a plan to extract me. Yet, I was the brains of most operations as I was the smartest out of us all.
Clenching my jaws, I stood frozen as I watched them leave. What was to come next, I didn’t know.
What am I to do with this caveman? How dare he force me into a marriage and keep me hostage. Who knows what else he would be expecting from me? I know he’s Nadia’s cousin, but he is a caveman.
I felt on edge as he turned to me once the door closed. My family was now out of sight.
“Right, back to your room,” he said waving me forward towards the stairs.
As I walked up to the room, I felt my heart dropping to my feet. It was undetermined how long my stay here would be. I fidgeted at the seams of my shirt as I entered the room. Once the door closed, I allowed the stream of tears that were building to flow as I paced up and down.
I had to think but my mind was blank. I couldn’t concentrate on anything at the moment. Sighing loudly, I flopped down onto the bed. Wiping my eyes I stared at the ceiling feeling very lonely. I will have a look around tomorrow. Maybe I could find a way out, I tried soothing myself.
Closing my eyes, I allowed the stress of the day to flow out. I hoped it would allow sleep to come and take me.