Chapter 6 - Tasha
No, no, no, my mind screamed as he dragged me through the hall and back to the room. I wasn’t supposed to get caught. I felt disappointed in myself. There was something different about him. Even though he was clearly furious, he held me softer.
His grip didn’t hurt like the first couple of times he grabbed me. I could almost swear that I was getting a sexual vibe from him. Shaking my head, I pushed the invading thoughts away.
At least I managed to send a text to Nadia, making it less suspicious. She would let my brothers know that I was fine and working on a plan.
“Vadik,” I huffed as he pushed me into the room. He stopped and stood staring at me. “Let’s make a deal,” I added straightening myself.
He rubbed his chin thinking for a second before responding. “Okay, let’s hear it?”
“I’ll cooperate with you,” I replied taking a deep breath.
“He stepped into the room towards me grinning. “So, spit it out. What are your demands if you cooperate?” His tone contained no aggressiveness. But it wasn’t completely friendly either. I couldn’t quite place his feelings.
Shaking my head softly, I tried to keep my tone calm as I spoke. “There are three things I would like.” I tried using soothing words instead of demanding things. I felt he would be more inclined to agree.
Vadik walked up to me and stood barely inches away. He smiled at me as I lifted my head, and our eyes met. “Let me guess,” he breathed out. He stepped past me and walked to the window as he continued. “You would like to see your family, won’t you?”
I turned staring at his back. “It would be nice to have some form of contact with them. Even if it’s from time to time. Just to let them know that I am doing good.”
Turning briskly, he gazed at me. His light green eyes contained a haziness as if something was reflecting off them. “We can discuss that when the time comes. What else do you have?” His tone had turned sweet but held a minor note of sarcasm.
“Look,” I said walking closer to him. “You can’t stuff me in here and expect me to just go along with all your ideas. I need to stay busy. I need to get out. So, I don’t want to be imprisoned here. I want to assist with your activities.”
As I spoke, I could see the gears in his mind turning a hundred miles an hour as he kept his temper in check. I had hardly uttered my last word when he opened his mouth. “No, I don’t think so,” he huffed storming past me back to the door.
“Then you leave me no choice,” I added turning to see his reaction.
Vadik stopped in the doorway with the door in his hand. For a moment he looked like he was frozen in time. Glancing over his shoulder he questioned me. “What do you intend to do if I do not give in to your demands?”
Playing with a strand of hair, I grinned at him. “Firstly, I didn’t demand anything. I am not like you. And, secondly, if you do not allow these things, I will go to the Chernykh’s and tell them what you did…,” Before I could continue, he turned.
He was on me so quickly that I had barely seen it coming. Vadik held me by my shoulders, leaning in so close our noses were about to touch. As he spoke, I could feel his hot breath playing over my lips. “You will do no such thing.”
“You can’t keep me in, remember?” I whispered back. “I will let them know that you tried to keep me a secret. How do you think they will react?”
His nostrils flared as he stared intensely at me. “And what may I ask is your final DEMAND!” he shot harshly.
I swallowed hard as I took a step back. He was very intimidating and looked scary at the moment. I suddenly didn’t feel safe or comfortable. “You will not force me into kissing, making out with you, or any activities related to a marriage. No sexual relationship.” I replied. I heard my voice wavering as I spoke, but it had to be said.
Vadik’s eyes appeared to have a sparkle in them as he came closer. He grinned as he spoke, sending a shiver down my spine. “That is four demands if I count correctly. You only have three. But let’s call it three then. Is that all?”
He stood searching my face as I took a deep breath. “Yes,” I breathed out. Vadik shoved me backward. Feeling the side of the bed behind my legs, I sat back. I wanted to appear in control and not stumble around trying to get my footing. I placed one leg over the other stretching my hands out behind me. “I’m not asking the world of you,” I added.
I watched as he paced up and down considering my words. When he finally stopped, his tone wasn’t friendly anymore. “Okay,” he spat at me. “But you will do as you are told! Do you understand?”
Nodding, I gave him a wide smile. He turned and stormed out slamming the door behind him. I listened as he moved away, and the hallway became silent. Breathing in and out hard, I felt relieved that my bluff worked.
I wouldn’t go to the Chrenykh’s. I knew better and was a tad wary of them. I would prefer not to meet them. But, lucky for me, Vadik was scared of them. I took a chance by putting my foot down.
After all, I didn’t really know Vadik or his brothers. The little Nadia shared about them. Well, let’s just say, I had to tread lightly. Flopping back onto the bed, I closed my eyes taking a deep breath.
Being allowed to participate would give me time to study them. This way, I could assess my next move. I hadn’t laid down long when I heard the knock at the door. Sitting up, I answered cautiously. “Yes?”
The door opened and there he was again. Vadik stood there looking at me as if he had won a bet or something. “Get up,” he said holding out his hand. “You’re coming with me to dinner.”
My stomach turned as I rose from the bed. Walking towards him, I felt uneasy. But I knew I had to comply. “Shouldn’t I wash and dress?” I inquired.
He studied me for a mere second before responding. “No, you’re fine.”
As I got to him, I took hold of my wrist and pulled me as he briskly walked downstairs to the dining room. He opened one of the doors that led out of the entrance hall. His two brothers were already seated at the table.
The table was in the middle of the room. It only held a place for six people, not like any of ours. However, mine at home was only made for two. But I never hosted any family functions and didn’t need a big table. To the back of the room was a swinging door.
Vadik pulled me to the table. His brothers rose as he spoke. “Evening, have a seat.” He let go of my arm and pulled out the chair next to his. As I sat down, he assisted pushing my chair forward before taking his place at the head of the table.
I was expecting a dinner for two, but now his brothers were also there. I swallowed hard at the impending lump growing in my throat. “I’m not hungry,” I said rising. “May I go back to my room?”
Vadik stood sharply as he grabbed my arm. “What’s the matter?” he huffed. “You better not try any tricks, you said you’ll cooperate, so sit down!”
Glancing at the other two, I tried to smile but my lips felt tight. I knew I had to keep my emotions in check. My body language couldn’t even give away what I felt. Shaking his hand off, I sat back down. “Nothing’s wrong. I said I’ll cooperate as long as you keep up your end of the bargain. But I didn’t sign up to be interrogated,” I responded flatly.
Leaning back, I folded my arms across my chest. This wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew I would survive. If they wanted Nadia, they wouldn’t hurt me. The door at the back opened and one of the maids came out with two trays.
She placed them in the middle of the table and hurried back out the door. Vadik poured wine into a glass before me and filled his before holding the bottle out to Pavel. I watched them closely. His brothers filled their glasses and returned the bottle to the ice bucket.
I was so deep in thought I almost jumped when Vadik spoke next to me. His voice was so deep I thought he would make a good murderer in a movie. Grinning at my thoughts I turned to face him as I responded. “Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t hear what you asked.”
Noting the frustration on his face, I wondered why my brain suddenly seemed to stop working. I wasn’t intentionally trying to be difficult but felt like I was in a daze.
“I asked you to explain how you deactivated my security system?” he replied.
The door at the back opened again and two maids came out carrying four plates. They placed a plate before each of us with a piece of steak. The older woman opened the two plates in the middle. One contained salad and the other slices of bread.
I noticed his brothers whispering and then Pavel laughed into his cuff. They were like two children which put me a tab more at ease, but I wasn’t going to show it. I looked at Vadik as the maids left the room.
Narrowing my brows, I spoke firmly, “Who said I liked wine, who are you to think you know what I want or need?”
“If it’s not to your liking just leave it and go thirsty. A woman of your stature surely drinks wine,” Vadik replied harshly.
Picking up the glass, I held it to the light studying its content. “Did you spike it?” I inquired as I placed it back down.
Vadik was now clearly annoyed at me. He reached out, took a sip, and placed it before me. “Happy now?” he huffed. “Now stop fucking with me and answer my question.”
Glancing at him, I could see he was angry. Smiling, I took hold of the glass and turned it between two fingers as I spoke. “You could have just said no it's not spiked. But now it contains your germs.”
It looked like I had stuffed a firecracker up his ass as his face turned red. He was about to explode when Maraki reached out and took hold of his arm. Vadik looked at him and Makari shook his head. He took a deep breath before huffing at Pavel. “Ask them to make her a milkshake.”
Pavel rose quickly and headed to the door. “Stop,” I exhaled as I rose. “I’m not a child,” I breathed out looking sternly at Vadik.
“You’re acting like one and thus I will treat you as such,” he shot back.
“I…,” I started saying then decided to keep my mouth and turned my head away.
“Just like that,” he added. “Your attitude speaks volumes. Sit down.”
Realizing I was giving him ammunition, I straightened myself and sat back down. “It was child’s play disarming your system,” I said grinning. “Maybe you should consider an upgrade if you intend on keeping people out or in!”
“That is why I asked you to tell me how you did it. I have to know so I can make adjustments.” Vadik responded sipping his wine, rolling his eyes at me.
Shaking a finger in the air, I responded sarcastically. “Oh, you can act childish, but I can’t. You know rolling your eyes is childish too?”
His brows narrowed as he stared at me. It felt like he was piercing through my skin. Shifting in my chair, I cleared my throat before speaking again. “I took apart the alarm that was closest to my room to see what system you had. Once dissembled it was easy to figure out what I needed to break it.
His brothers just sat staring at us. Every now and then they shared a strange look but didn’t say a word. “Why are the two of you so quiet? You know you can talk, I don’t bite,” I said. I held my hand up closing my mouth on one side as if we were whispering to each other.
This upset Vadik more as he slammed the table drawing everyone’s attention. “You still haven’t given me the answer to my original question,” he huffed.
Turning in my chair, I faced him as I spoke. “Okay, what is it you want to hear?”
Looking into my eyes I noticed the light in the room softening them. They were beautiful and I felt my stomach turn. Lowering my gaze to his full lips, I found myself licking mine. Lifting my head, I took a deep breath. The breeze blowing in over his shoulder filled my senses with his minty musk odor.
Feeling the smile forming on my lips, I couldn’t help but flutter my eyes. Why was my mind drifting suddenly? As he spoke, I noticed his voice was rough but smooth as butter. “How did you finally disarm the alarms?”
Shaking my head, I slapped myself in my mind. ‘Get a grip,’ I scolded myself silently. This wasn’t a good sign. I had to keep my emotions out of this, he was the enemy and feelings didn’t belong here.
Picking up my knife and fork, I cut the steak on my plate as I responded. “I used a metal clip and a small magnet I found in one of the drawers as I searched the house. I know most alarm systems. Placing it correctly opened it with ease.”
I could see his brothers were impressed but neither said a word. They appeared to have a clear set of boundaries or rules they adhered to. I guess in some families’ things like that worked. With our family, it would never. My brothers were too opinionated. I grinned as I took a bite.
“Interesting,” Vadik replied.
listening to them talking to each other.
The last part of dinner went smoothly with no one asking any questions. Yet, my mind would not settle. I felt bombarded by the flood of thoughts coming and going. Before I could grab one and make sense of it another one invaded. Staring at Vadik, I didn’t know why I had such strange feelings.
Dinner turned out to be more than I expected. I was relieved to be back in my room. Sitting on the side of the bed I stared out the window. The night sky was clear. The stars shone brightly. Taking a deep breath, I swore to get out tomorrow.