CAPTIVE: A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE Read online

  I finally pulled the car over into a gas station parking lot and jumped out. My mind was racing a million miles a minute.

  Bile rose up in my stomach and sprayed pavements.

  Chunks food got caught in my throat as I coughed them up.

  When I got myself together, I immediately called Liam.

  “He has her,” I said.

  “He has who?”

  “Viktor,” I said. “He has Astrid. And he knows that she’s pregnant. Liam, he had your fucking office bugged this entire time.”

  “Fuck,” my cousin hissed. “What about Lexie?”

  “I think she’s headed to the cabin with Nova, the only bright spot.”

  My OCD was beginning to flare up. The smell of vomit was surrounding me, and I knew some had splashed on my shoes. I took out the lemon coated wipes I reserved for messes and dabbed at them.

  “Meet me at the cabin,” Liam said. “We’ll regroup there and replan. Astrid’s smart as fuck, she’ll be fine.”

  “For now,” I bit out.

  “See you in an hour,” Liam replied ending the call.

  Chapter26

  Astrid

  I woke up and didn’t know where in the hell I was. My head seemed to be splitting as though something had fallen on my head. Blinking, my eyes adjusted to the dark and my sense of smell told me that I was somewhere foreign.

  There was a smell of vanilla bean surrounding me.

  I went to sit up and I realized I was on a bed.

  A strange bed.

  My head began to pound just a little bit as I felt over the back of my head. There was a slight bump back there.

  “Good you’re awake,” a voice said.

  I jumped and gave a slight screech. Then the embers on the end of a cigar filled the room and a lamp flickered on. Valentin’s father sat watching me.

  “Where in the hell am I?”

  “You’re now my prisoner,” he ignored me. “My son played a very dangerous game with me.”

  I rolled my eyes, looking around the room. Bars covered the outside of the only window in the room. Moonlight was shining through and it appeared to be snowing outside. Damn, the season had changed like that. Who would have been expecting snow in October?

  “That’s between you and your son,” I replied. “Let me go, I want no parts of this.

  “You must be starving,” he stood up causing the smell of the cigar to change direction.

  I wanted to vomit from the smell.

  He took me in and chuckled.

  “We must keep your strength up…after all you’re carrying the next heir to the Bratva,” he spoke.

  I didn’t flinch when he mentioned my pregnancy. There was no way in hell I was giving him that satisfaction. He left the room and before I knew it, a young looking guard entered with a chicken sanwhich and waffle fries.

  “Here ma’am” he spoke.

  He sat the food on the edge of the bed.

  “Wait,” I said.

  “Yes?”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Leo,” he replied.

  “Leo…you have to help me get out of here!”

  He began to look uncomfortable. “Ma’am, I have strict orders. I have to go.”

  Leo hurried from the room. The sound of the lock clicking into place filled the room. Waiting just a few moments, I walked the room, looking for another exit. The window went up and allowed fresh air in but unless I was suddenly a boneless freak, there was no way I was getting out.

  I tried to remember how I’d gotten here. The last thing I’d done was see Rhonda and Duchess…and then I’d gotten hit from behind. The smell in the air had seemed to sting my nostril and then I remembered the ground rushing to meet me, while they had stood there looking at the check I’d handed over.

  Those two had set me the hell up. The urge to cry arose. God, I wanted to let the tears flow but I figured Viktor had the room bugged or on camera feed, probably watching me. Thank God, I’d sent Lexie with Nova. If I’d gotten her caught up in this shit storm…again the tears danced closer to the edge of my vision. And again, I pushed them back.

  I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

  Viktor had been a real fucking sweet heart though, and provided a tv. I turned it on and then started to pick at the food. Hunger was roaring through my stomach and figured the baby needed the ingredients.

  Mindlessly, I watched tv until Viktor burst into the room.

  “Valentin’s on the phone, Ms. Davis…say hello…”

  Immediately, I began to scream for all I was worth. Viktor began to laugh, deep and sinister before ending the call.

  “He can’t save you, Ms. Davis. Valentin is weak…”

  I said nothing and he left me alone again, laughing all the way out the door. If I had been unsure that he was getting off on this before, I was sure now.

  He was right about one thing.

  Valentin wasn’t going to be able to save me.

  I had to save myself.

  My aunt Kit had taught me that...

  Viktor had fucked up and kidnapped the wrong type of woman.

  I wasn’t Katia, his now dead wife. Or probably any of the women he’d met. Those women had been fragile. They also hadn’t spent time being held captive by an enforcer from the Bratva that liked to use pain in order to gain pleasure.

  I wasn’t scared of pain.

  I like it.

  So, if Viktor thought he was some big bad scary Bratva boogyman, he had another thing coming. I’d play his game but when the time came, I’d find my way to escape.

  My hand covered my stomach and muttered. “Being pregnant with your sister wasn’t this stressful.”

  Chapter27

  Valentin

  Snow glistened in the moonlight, as I held Lexie in my arms. It seemed like a magical moment that would never come again. She was getting so heavy, but her weight felt like a reassurance that everything might turn out alright.

  “Poppa, where’s my mommy?” she asked with a little yawn.

  I lied and I instantly hated myself for it. “She’ll be along soon.”

  Goddamn it.

  I wanted to tie Astrid up and spank her for a month. Till her ass was ripe with beautiful red welts. How could she fucking do this to me? To us? Why hadn’t she followed the plan?

  I felt a hand touch my shoulder and found Nova there. “Let me take her and put her to bed.”

  Giving Lexie a quick kiss on the cheek, I handed her off to my cousin in law. Watching for a moment as they padded down the hall of the cabin, I focused my attention on Liam. He was stoking the fire in the fireplace.

  “I’m going to fucking murder him…..I’m going to rip his head from his shoulders,” I cried.

  Liam looked over his shoulder at my words. “And I will help you burn his body beyond recognition, cousin.”

  The fire began to roar to life and the television was talking about the snow occurring in Illinois. Snow could be expected to reach maybe just two inches before disappearing the next day. I would enjoy seeing Lexie play it and creating a memory with her. It was important that I never miss another moment with her.

  Or Astrid, I thought.

  Fuck.

  I’d gone down that rabbit hole and never even realized it.

  The ancient feelings that I’d buried and never put a name on them…they had most definetly resurfaced.

  “How did you know that you loved Nova?”

  I brushed my hands over my face as Liam chuckled. By then Nova had rejoined us and sat down beside Liam and across from me.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  “My cousin wants to know when I discovered that I loved you?”

  It was her turn to chuckle then.

  I became annoyed.

  I didn’t’ like being laughed at.

  “My best friend is missing, and you never told her you loved her,” Nova spoke. “God, the two of you are really fucked up in the head.”

  “You have no id
ea,” I muttered.

  “But to answer your question, cousin,” Liam suddenly grabbed up Nova’s hand. “I knew it for sure when you told me to let her go and suddenly, I couldn’t imagine my life without her.”

  “Oh, you’re the one that told him to break up with my ass,” Nova looked between us.

  She had that look on her face and I knew they’d be arguing quietly late into the night.

  “Nova…” Liam’s tone sounded like that of a warning.

  “So, you just broke up with me because your cousin said so. If he told you to jump off a cliff, would you do that too?”

  “In his defense, Nova, I thought I was saving you from an exact situation like this one I’m currently in,” wincing, I spoke ready to incur more of her wrath.

  Her eyes flashed black and I saw her trying to calm herself down.

  “And you…Astrid is the mother of your child. You never once thought to consider things from her point of view. I watched her raise Lexie alone by herself for five years and then you waltz in thinking you know every damn thing…Astrid busted her ass taking care of your daughter. Her parents pretty much sent her away the moment they found out she was pregnant. They’ve never had a thing to do with Lexie, not so much as a damn birthday card.”

  She looked between us again and stood up preparing to leave the room.

  “We’re married now though,” Liam spoke.

  “Great, enjoy this couch tonight,” Nova stood up and stormed from the room.

  “Hormones,” Liam offered and watched her go. “Speaking of…proud papa to be again. I didn’t congratulate you earlier.”

  I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Not really a time to celebrate.”

  “Don’t worry,” Liam yawned. “We’ll get Astrid back.”

  My cellphone began to vibrate in my back pocket.

  Pulling it out, I saw it was Lucien calling.

  “Hey boss,” he spoke.

  “Tell me you have some news.”

  “Do you remember Julien Smirnov?”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  How could I forget poor Julien. I’d beaten him unconscious.

  “He has information for you,” Lucien stated. “Viktor never quite trusted him again after he healed up but everyone makes mistakes. Julien just got moved to guard duty on a house where Viktor is staying. And apparently, some girl got kidnapped tonight.”

  “Astrid…” I whispered.

  “What, what about Astrid?” Liam asked.

  I made a movement to shush him.

  “What do you need to me to do boss?”

  “Get up with as many men as you can…first light, I’m crushing Viktor beneath my boot like the ant he is.”

  “On it,” Lucien said.

  He definitely needed that raise now.

  I turned to Liam.

  “I can’t ask you to move on Viktor with me,” I spoke. “But we’ve found where he’s at.”

  Liam smirked, his green eyes glistening in the fire light.

  “You are my family. More than Bratva is between us, cousin. Where you go, I go. Astrid is family as well and Nova would kill me if I let something happen to your woman.”

  I nodded.

  “Thank you.”

  He stood then and I knew he was going to make it right with his wife. Worry was pitted in my stomach and it had to be in his as well.

  “Get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He nodded before disappearing out of sight.

  Chapter 28

  Astrid

  The last time Viktor had left my room, after taunting me with a phone call to his son, I hadn’t heard the door click behind him. He was too busy reveling in the satisfaction that I’d showed emotion.

  Everyone made mistakes.

  Even psychopaths.

  I hadn’t bothered to go to sleep. My mind had been working overtime trying to think of a plan. Would Leo come in again? I had had it in my mind that if I got up behind the door, I could knock him out with something and try to escape that way. The only problem with that was, there was nothing heavy I could use to crack his skull open.

  Then slowly, like a literal light bull going off, just as the sun was starting to come up…it occurred to me that I hadn’t heard the door lock.

  I had just assumed.

  “You know what they say about assumption, Astrid,” I mumbled to myself.

  The doorknob felt cold to my touch. In fact, the entire room felt cold and I could hear the hum of the air conditioner if I listened close enough. While I hadn’t slept, I had had the comforter on the bed curled around my body, even with the sweatshirt on to keep warm.

  I peaked my head out into the well lit corridor, surprised to find not one guard in sight. That didn’t mean anything because there were probably cameras all over the place tracking every single movement being made. The place was probably a fortress. Most of the doors to the rooms that I could count, were closed.

  Listening closely, I could hear tv on in some of the rooms, maybe laughter and even snores.

  Briefly, I wondered what room was Viktor’s.

  He would want to keep me close.

  Close enough to torture.

  The urge to vomit hit my throat but I forced it down. I wasn’t sure if it was morning sickness or just the thought of my daughter’s grandfather that had made my stomach roll.

  A deep breath entered into my body and I decided to make my move. The tennis shoes that I wore, gave a small squeak on the finely shined marble. Biting my lip, I ceased all movements hoping that no one heard a thing.

  It felt like forever passed before I even started to breathe again.

  Then I took my chance and headed down the hallway. Just as I found the staircase, fate decided to throw little baby Leo into my path again.

  His blue eye betrayed surprise.

  However, he didn’t hesitate like I thought he would.

  That was my mistake.

  I thought because Leo had a baby face, he was weak.

  “I don’t want to shoot you,” he whispered.

  “Then don’t, Leo,” I whispered back looking around. “Help me! There’s still no one up and around except the two of us.

  “Viktor will kill not only me but my entire family, if I let you escape.”

  I almost laughed loudly but caught myself. “You think he doesn’t have a bullet waiting for me. The only reason I’m alive is because he thinks he has a claim to my unborn child.”

  Leo’s face seemed to soften just a bit, but he continued to hold the gun on me. This plan wasn’t working.

  “Leo, you say you have a family…do you have kids?”

  “Yes, my son was just born last month,” he almost smiled at the thought.

  “That’s good…I have a daughter. And I need to get back to her. But I can’t do that without your help. Leo please, I am begging…”

  The words died on my lips, as the doors below the staircase that could have led to my freedom decided to fly open. Leo decided not to take any chances and pushed my out of the way, immediately firing in that direction.

  Gunshots began to ring out everywhere, and I landed with a thud on my stomach. Pain rinsed through my midsection, but I didn’t even get a chance to comprehend anything in all of the chaos.

  “Astrid!!!”

  Valentin was calling my name but before I could say anything, I was being yanked up to my feet. The coolness of metal touched at my temple.

  “Welcome to my home, son!” Viktor bellowed out. “It’s a shame I’m going to have to decorate the walls with your pretty little lover’s brains.”

  Finally, I got my senses about me and I could see Valentin below me with a gun raised in my direction. He was dressed in all black and I’d never wanted to kiss him more than I did at the moment.

  “Father,” Valentin said. “Let Astrid go. Let’s talk about this…I’m going to put my gun down. Just let her go.”

  Viktor began to drag the barrel of the gun along my face. Out the corner of my eye,
I could see his finger on my trigger. All it would take was a little pressure and I’d be gone.

  “That’s never going to happen son,” Viktor said.

  He had some God-awful morning breath. It swirled around the inside of my nose and I couldn’t help myself.

  The retching started and I couldn’t stop.

  The next thing I knew, I’d started dry heaving.

  Viktor immediately became disgusted and irritated; he pushed me to the side. I landed with a thud somewhere on the stairs.

  Bullets began to fly again.

  I decided to keep my head down and prayed to God that I wouldn’t be hit with any hot metal.

  Lexie girl, I thought. I just wanted to make it home to my daughter.

  “I’m going to fucking kill you,” Viktor screamed still popping rounds from his gun.

  I chanced looking up and see that a bullet had hit him in his shoulder. Watching the blood pour from the wound was like watching ink spread on silk, quick, wiry lines.

  With an agility that I didn’t know he had, Viktor tucked, ducked and rolled before disappearing back down the hallway.

  Everything seemed to take on a calmness, except for the pain in my midsection. It had begun to become a throbbing sensation. The need to cry out became unbearable.

  “Astrid, baby I’m here,” I felt Valentin’s arms surround me.

  “Great timing,” I searched Val over.

  He took his hand and knocked against his chest. A bullet proof vest was under his black t-shirt.

  He helped me to my feet, and I winced as the pain in my midsection began to worsen

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m not sure…I need to get to a hospital.”

  He didn’t hesitate and picked me up in the middle of all the carnage and hurried down the stairs. Liam met us there, just as all Viktor’s men were being lined up, including Leo. Some of them were bleeding profusely.

  “Not him,” I pointed to Leo.

  Liam frowned. “Why not?”

  “He was going to help me…”

  “Where did Viktor go?” Liam asked looking around.

  I could feel Val’s pulse quicken before I spoke. “He ran…”

  “He won’t get far,” Val stated and started walking. “Get her to the hospital.”