Chapter 22 - Clara
After a long day of running, hiding in bushes, and dodging any suspicious cars, I had finally arrived.
I casually walked up to the front door of my brother’s home.
The guards nodded in passing but acted as if I had never left.
I wondered if they even knew I had been kidnapped. How hard did Kolya look for me?
I was tired and dirty. But somehow felt relieved to be home.
Entering, I saw Kolya talking to his right-hand man. I slammed the door closed, intentionally making a noise. Both men stopped talking and looked at me. Their heads turned so abruptly. If they weren’t attached to their bodies, they would have gone flying.
Shock streaked across their faces. Before I knew it, Kolya was on top of me. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me lightly as he spoke. “Where have you been?”
Before I could even formulate a response, his next question came. He spoke so loudly that his voice echoed through the foyer. “What did Iosif do to you?” I didn’t like his tone, as it sounded more like a demand than a question.
Frowning, I flung my arms around him and hugged him tightly. As I stood on my toes, I whispered into his ear. “Iosif did nothing bad to me. He saved my life. There were other people after me, and he saved me.”
My brother pulled my arms from his neck and stepped back. He stared blankly at me for a moment. I could see he didn’t believe me. Meeting his gaze, I spoke in a calm tone. “Was that you talking with him on the phone? If so, what is your beef with each other?”
Kolya was silent. I could see he was mulling over my questions. “Yes, I did speak to him,” he said. Turning, he raised his hand, showing the stairs. “Come, let’s get you in a warm bath and clean clothes. We can talk more in the morning. Now, all you need to focus on is getting some rest.”
I smiled as I walked out before him. I knew my way around his home, and the spare room was always at my disposal. To the point that I even had some of my belongings stored in it. One could say it was my room and not the spare room.
Kolya went into the adjoining bathroom and started running the water. I gathered my belongings and went inside. I tried my best to hide my feelings. I didn’t want him to know how miserable I was.
“Take a long relaxing bath,” he mumbled as he handed me the bath salts. “Once you’re done, get some sleep. We can talk in the morning. I’m happy you’re home safe.” He smiled, kissed my forehead, and left.
Turning, I closed the bathroom door before dropping my clothes on the floor. I sat on the tub's edge and added some salt, oil, and bubbles. I watched as they mingled with the flowing water.
My heart was heavy. It felt like I was staring into a deep pit. I missed Iosif. I knew I shouldn’t, but there was suddenly a hole inside me. Closing the taps, I undressed and sank into the warm water.
Maybe Kolya was right; perhaps I would feel better in the morning. I lay for a long time before bathing and getting out. I pulled on my tracksuit and crawled into bed. Sleep came quickly; my body was tired, and so was my mind.
I woke up early with an intense need to go to the bathroom. My bladder felt like it wanted to explode. Once I had washed, I headed to Kolya’s office. He wanted to talk, and I needed to know why Iosif was so angry and abrupt with him.
I knocked and waited. “Come in,” I heard Kolya call out. Opening the door, I entered to find him behind his desk. He smiled as he got up and moved to the couch. “Come sit with me,” he said.
Walking over, I wondered what he was up to. I had barely sat down when he started bombarding me with questions.
“So,” Kolya said. “What can you tell me about Iosif, his family, his business, and what you went through?”
Taking a deep breath, I tried to organize my thoughts.
I knew he wouldn’t believe me if I told him nothing happened.
I took his hand as I stared into his eyes.
“Brother,” I said in a gentle tone. “After our last meeting, I was taken by Iosif. He told me that some shady-looking characters were after me, and he was trying to keep me safe.”
Kolya pulled away and sprang up. It looked like he was a firecracker about to go off. “Calm down,” I said, getting up as well. “You asked, now, please listen.”
He nodded as he moved back to his desk. He stopped behind it, turned to face me as he spoke. “Okay, continue.” I could hear the aggression in his tone, but I ignored it.
“I didn’t believe him at first. That was until I tried running away and got caught.” Lifting my hand, I silenced him as he was about to speak. “Iosif was there; he saved me from them. He saved my life; he didn’t do anything bad to me. He protected me.”
Kolya stood staring at me blankly for a second. He nodded his head slowly as if he were in a trance. When he spoke, I could hear his softer side coming back. “I see. But I find it hard to believe. Yet, I will accept it for now. Tell me about his operations, then?”
Sighing, I lowered my head. I knew nothing about his business or even that much about his family. Looking up at Kolya, I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He placed his hands on his desk, leaning forward as he waited for me to speak.
“I truly don’t know much,” I breathed out. “I was kept in a safe house or something. It wasn’t his actual home. I never heard him speak of their operations or anything else. I do know his men are loyal; he has brothers and sisters. But that’s about it.”
My brother frowned as he sat down. He looked at me for a bit, studying my face. He mumbled under his breath. “I should have ensured Zhenya was taken out.” I could just make out enough to know what he was saying. Now I understood why Iosif was so angry at him.
I staggered backward as horror filled me. Keeping my face straight, I spoke softly. “May I go?” I didn’t want him to know that I knew the truth now.
“Yes, go, go,” he said, waving his hand in the air as he turned and stared out the window.
I was relieved to be able to get out of his office, his presence. I hurried back to my room and closed the door before pulling out my phone. Dialing Iosif’s number, I paced up and down. I had to talk to him, but there was no answer.
After a couple of tries, I decided to call Zhenya.
She had given me her number on our last visit, and I was grateful that she did.
There was a clicking sound as the line connected.
I didn’t wait for her to say anything before I spoke.
“Zhenya, I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you the truth, and for everything my brother did to you.
I’m an Aslanov. I’m Kolya’s youngest sister.
I didn’t know what my brother tried to do to you. ”
There was silence for a bit before she replied. She didn’t sound upset. In fact, she sounded very calm. “If I’m being honest, I find it hard to believe that you are a part of that family. But if you are, I know you did nothing wrong.”
I heard her breathing in slowly before she continued. “I don’t have any grudges. I am in a good place in my life now. I am happy and just want to put it all behind me, okay?” She took another breath before she spoke again.
“Come to think of it, I can now see the small similarities. So, this is how Iosif planned to get back at your family. Interestingly, we walked such similar paths. But then again, I didn’t know either. Yet, I have to add…”
She went silent. I waited a moment and then asked. “What Zhenya? Please tell me what you’re thinking?”
“I’ve never seen Iosif as calm and happy as he is with you around. I could actually see the pure joy on his face when we came to visit. And the stress when he found out you were gone.”
Her words hit me hard. I sighed. I hadn’t realized or thought of the pain I could be causing him. I was so focused on my own pain. I realized leaving him was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.
“Zhenya,” I said. “Sorry, but I have to go. I have something that I must do, and it can’t wait.”
She mumbled something as I disconnected. I had no time. I had to sneak out and find Iosif. I had to tell him I was sorry and that I was carrying his child. I wanted to fix this. I wanted a future with him.
I sneaked out of the house and managed to bypass all of Kolya’s men without being seen. As I stepped out onto the road, trying to decide how to get to Iosif so I could try and fix this, I heard a speeding car heading my way.
Moving a few feet back, I waited, hiding behind a tree for the motor to pass. I had to apologize in person and ask Iosif to forgive my quick judgment of him. I watched the dark blue van approach, slow down, and pass at a snail's pace.
For a brief second, my mind went back to the kidnapping. Then I felt a large arm tighten around my waist. A man’s hand came over my mouth and nose with a cloth in it. It had a strong odor.
What the fuck, I swore mentally. How was this for luck? I had the worst luck in the world, I realized, as everything went dark. I wasn’t completely out as they loaded me into the van. I could hear them mumbling, but it sounded as if they were in a cave.
We drove for a while, then there was a sudden thud as they drove over something, a bump in the road perhaps. I knew I was coming to, as I could hear them clearer. There was another bump. I groaned as my head hit something. I felt pain shooting through my body.
I knew I would have bruises for days. The way they were treating me, they were street thugs, drug dealers, or something. No Bratva group would ever handle a woman this way. I shifted, trying to get my head away from whatever was slamming into it.
One of the men grabbed my arm and mumbled something to another.
That’s when I felt the scruffy rag cover my mouth and nose.
I tried to pull away, but I was still too weak.
My nose and throat burned as I inhaled the strong chemicals.
My breath caught in my chest, and I thought I was going to die.
Then, there was a soothing darkness. I relaxed and succumbed to it.