Chapter Five
Ava
The leather seats are cool to my underside, and the drive was quiet other than the smacking as Stepan ate my lunch.
What a bastard.
He doesn’t know what it is like scrapping quarters together to buy food. I can admit, I didn’t either until I started working for them. They take most of my paychecks, so I struggle to make ends meet.
Stepan squeezes my knee as he wipes his mouth with a napkin, “Thank you for lunch.”
I roll my eyes as I stare out the window, “My pleasure,” I reply.
He rolls down his window, throwing the trash out, “You know, I have someone who does my errands, my simple ones, but it would be nice to have something to look at once in a while that doesn't smell like vodka,” he says, rolling the window up. He leans his face into my nape, inhaling, “Mmmm cherries seems like a better trade off, wouldn't you think?” His low voice dances with manipulation like he would be doing me a favor.
I trail my eyes to his, lowering my chin with a smile, “Stepan, I have to be honest with you. I was shy and never thought you would ever give me the time of day.”
I can manipulate you harder, shit-bag .
“Well, here we are.” He slaps his knees, breaking the tension as he pulls away. “Then it is settled.” He flashes a wicked smile like I just signed another contract without reading the fine print. He motions his hand, “Igor, when we get to the house tell that errand boy he just got a promotion.”
Igor nods his head, “Yes, boss,” he replies in a thick Russian accent.
Stepan pulls out a long silk scarf from the side door, “You don’t need to know where my house is though.”
As much as I want to thrash from him and push away, I lean into his chest as he secures the scarf around me into a bow. I count the seconds as he strokes his hand down my neck and to my breasts. I fight back wanting to scream at him as I interlace my fingers on my lap.
Closing my eyes behind the black silk, a sudden flash plays in my brain. Leo’s face, a carved rabbit in his skin and the mysterious creepy card. I tense, pushing my body off of his. My body feels like it is burning. The connection of the flash makes my lips part with a heavy breath of anxiety.
Whoever killed Leo and mutilated him also left his card for me to find.
“Mmm I like how bothered you are.” Stepan kisses my neck mistaking my anxiety as arousal.
Figures.
I stay silent with my hands in my lap as he shifts from me. The scarf tugs off my head as we round a brick court, in front of Stepan’s mansion.
His house was outside of the city, I knew, but which way I have no idea. The only thing visible is the gray slabs of stone with vines encasing the side of the giant mansion, large trees everywhere, and a small pool in the drive. Three stone women emerge from the water, like they are luring you to your death, ready to tow you beneath the surface. The air grew thick, closing my throat slightly. The windows remind me of black mirrors as they reflect the cloudy day. Eerie apprehension forms as shudder and I stiffen my posture. Just like those clouds that reflected in the windows, I could not reflect my truth. I had to keep up my performance no matter what.
Stepan shoves his door open as Igor opens mine. I pause, milling over the front steps that lead to the black double-doors. The windows lining the sides of the entrance has bright moss encasing their frames, like it was trying to smother the darkness that Stepan and his Bratva hid.
Stepan slams the car door as Igor closes mine. Walking past me, he continues to the stone steps. It was like he thought he won something grand, from the way he slinks to the doors in victory. That he thought he sealed the ultimate capture of me, of my debt. Too bad he wasn’t very smart though, because he just opened the gates of hell on him and his family.
Practiced speech and movements will be what keeps my cover hidden. The facade, the simple slip of a hand, a movement of tricks with an outward composure of stone. The snickering complexity lingers behind my glossy eyes as I follow Stepan. It depends on the day, and on the memory, that gives me the ability to morph into what I need to in order to survive. Maybe it is trauma, maybe it isn't. It’s hard to tell how many things reflect from these faces within myself. Possibly, only time truly reveals if it will be uncovered. I do know it isn’t just my time to take my life back, but also for those who have had to bend their knees for the mercy of Volokhov Bratva.
“My home is not yours, but you will stay here three days out of a week. You will work at the Cafe and also do things for my brother and I,” Stepan says, standing in the doorway.
“I—I what about Sarah?” I slowly move closer to him.
He towers over me with a few inches between us as he looks down.“I will get Sarah to hire someone,” he grumbles, like I was annoying him.
Stepan turns, shutting the door with a slam, and passes me to the center of the foyer. The entrance room is what you would expect from a mafia member’s house. White walls with black intricate, sprawling carpets laid across the dark polished oak floors. The scent of the orange polish made my head light as I tread behind him. Purple foxglove flowers stick out into the walkway in large vases, as we pass them to a hallway. Fitting, since they are poisonous.
He didn’t look back at me to make sure I was behind him like he knew I was a good little pet. The hall we slowly walk down is as bright as the foyer, and it almost feels like I am walking down a hospital hall. He got one thing right, with how sterile this place feels, the fucker wasn’t one bit of warm and inviting.
The house is like a maze as we turn a few corners, but I map in my mind where the hall connects to others the best I can.
Stepan stops in front of a door as he takes in a long inhale, and exhales, “This is my theater, I put the biggest screen I could fit in here!” He marvels with an overconfident stance. His chest puffs out like a wild bird, dancing for their mate and I fight back laughing in his face.
“That is so amazing. I can’t wait to see it.” I nod.
He opens the door and hurries into the room, letting me in last. “You know Ava, I also have a full bar here. Most of my private rooms actually have full bars,” he says, making his way to the corner bar. The room is dimly lit, except for a yellow glow coming from behind the black top. I walk to one of the two bar stools on the outer side as Stepan stands behind the bar. He tilts his head to the underside, “I will make you a drink,” he says, reaching for a bottle of gin and tonic water. My least favorite of mixed drinks, and the most foul one I can ever imagine drinking. A sharp pain struck my throat. The smell of gin and tonic is a memory I like to try and forget, but no matter the years that pass, I can’t.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, enduring a smile.
“So,” He places the drink down in front of me as he pours a large glass of vodka for himself. “I can’t remember the last time I have been around you this long.” He crosses the room and leans into one of the many love seats. He lifts his arm and clicks a remote, turning on some music.
I stood off the bar stool, leaving the drink he poured for me on the counter. The soft white carpet cushions my steps as I make my way to him.
He places his hands on my hips, jerking me forward a bit, “What do you think?” he asks excitedly, swiveling his head, looking around.
“So, we never talked about how much, me running errands for you, will put towards the debt.”
“It will be the same as the Cafe, hourly.”
“Does this mean the three nights I am here will add up with those hours?”
“No. It means you will be here for easier access. Those three days will be your day’s away from the Cafe. Isn’t that what you do now? Three days off?” He questions me like he isn't trying to expose that he knew how many days I had off to protect his ego.
I sit down next to him, crossing one leg over the other, pushing myself closer to him, “Well, yes actually.”
Stepan looks at me, emptying his glass and stands. I stare at the white screen on the wall as he fills his glass again at the bar. The upbeat music is surprisingly cheerful as it settles me comfortably, calming my muscles. I know what Stepan would do if he found out why I was here, but I know it is a risk I have to take, and either accept the risk and play the game or chicken out and die.
Stepan throws the glass back, guzzling it down, and pours himself a third one. The bottle sloshes as he waves it around, “You know, Ava,” he slurs a bit, “I think you are starting to realize that if you can’t beat em’, then join em’.” He sets the bottle down, grabbing his drink. My heart starts racing as he moves closer to me. My once comfortable muscles tense up again as he sits on the couch, situating himself. He talks into his glass, sipping, “I love cars and own seven of them actually. The others don’t like cars that much and say that it is a waste of money. Roman, you met him, he says that money is not to be wasted on cars or anything fun like you,” He says, squeezing my knee.
His arrogance of flaunting his fame starts to irk me as he babbles about his newest car. I zone out, thinking about what the next move is. I need him to make a move again like he did on the drive here, even if it is for the sake of him shutting the hell up. I grace my hand over the top of his thigh and look up to his face to find a reaction. He stops mid-sentence, emotionless as the pop music plays.
He grabs my hand, running my fingers over the front of his pants. He positions his hips again to the edge of the seat, relaxing the arm holding his drink on the rest. His head tilts back, exposing his adam's apple, as he gulps down the liquor he had in his mouth. I start to kiss his neck but he grips my wrist and I sit back.
“You know that being with me isn’t toward your payment right?” Stepan pushes his fingers into my wrist, slurring his words, “I mean we can fuck but it doesn’t go toward anything.”
I sit there thinking, for what seemed like forever, of ways I could say I enjoyed being with him. I mean he is a stupid man, but he would definitely know something was up if I said anything about liking to hang out with him. I never have, and now all of a sudden I do? Especially after what he has done to me.
“I think that is fair, I am happy you are letting me pay off my debt faster and glad we can work something out.”
Stepan's mouth sloppily slobbers my lips into his. His hands were quick over my breasts like a fucking dude losing his virginity for the first time.
“Ahem.” A raspy interruption makes me jump. I twist my body, leveraging myself with my arms on the couch. Roman is leaning on the frame, crossing his arms with one ankle over the other. His black shirt is tight around his muscular build, and his jawline is sharp and tense with a shake of his head.
Stepan fumbles for the remote to stop the music. He stands, but nearly falls over drunkenly, “Oh, hey! Roman!” He cheers, stumbling toward him. My cheeks are ablaze, but a relief settles them from being saved by the interruption.
“Your henchmen— I mean boys called me and said they couldn’t get ahold of you. They said they were coming over. Father also texted and said he will be coming over as well and would like to speak with us.”
“They are like my brothers,” Stepan scoffs, irritated. “This is Ava” Stepan fans his palm out exposing the open eye tattooed, relaxing a bit. “Oh. Wait. You have already met. She is our new errand boy—I mean girl.”
“Stepan you are drunk, no she is not.”
“You do not tell me what the fuck to do! If I say she is, then she is!” Stepan strains into a scream, turning his face red.
“Look, my brother. You are right, I— ”
“ —She will be here three days a week so you can use her for what you need.” Stepan waves his hand as if my life is not substantial enough to care about. His hands squeeze my cheeks inward, shaking my head back and forth. “She will be of good use for small tasks.” He pulls my face forward as he smooches my lips and lets go. The pain in my jaw aches and as I stood there I could feel the finger-marked bruises forming.
Roman slings his arm around his shoulder, “How about I have Igor take Ava home and tomorrow she can start? Ey?” He led him out the door into the hallway. “Go freshen up, and see your boys before father is here and I’ll meet you.”
Stepan’s disheveled stance sways slightly with an amused chuckle, and walks away.
Roman stands unemotional, watching his brother walk down the hallway, “Igor will meet you out front. I will see you out,” he says without a glance.
I twist my hands together as we walk in silence. The scent of warm musk and tobacco whirl around me as he leads us back to the foyer. His black shirt hugs his arms as I explore the intricate tattoos.
I hold onto my purse strap, “So, I will be off tomorrow so that means I will come here. Do you know if your driver will pick me up?” I ask, trying to make conversation and for once to come up with some sort of a plan or timeline, but he stays silent. I keep walking but once we made it to the foyer, my patience for both of these entitled fucking assholes was wearing thin now. “Hello? Can you answer my quest— ”
Roman turns quickly, almost making me run into his chest. “What exactly are you trying to do? I don’t know what game you are playing and I know your family owes, but my brother does not do relationships. If you cared about your life you should have stayed away.” His eyes flare, tilting his brows slightly down as he questions me.
“I– I am trying to just pay my debt,” I say searching for the right words. “Plus, I needed to do more than that boring job, and I am not naive to the fact of how the Bratva operates.”
“Did you see how that turned out for your parents?” He smirks as he towers over me. I try to not shrink from the serpentine in his voice, or run, as much as I want to. I drop my head down like he is scolding me into submission. “Igor is out front.” Roman walks away and my head stays bent, until I know for a fact he is gone. I didn’t want him to see the tears in my eyes. To see how scared I was, how I knew he was right.
I should have stayed away.
“I’m out front,” Igor says, snapping my attention toward the entrance. I follow him out the front doors to the backseat of the car. I’m hesitant to look back at the mansion as if it held some kind of power to somehow overwhelm me into backing out of the plan, so I can’t find the evidence and the freedom that came with it. I gulp with hesitancy, looking over my shoulder at the black windows. But it is time to keep moving forward. I have to find the evidence.
I take out my phone and text Sarah,
How was the Cafe today? Heading back home but you will never guess who I was with today.