Damned: Chapter 20) On-going Business

“What did she mean by you bought me?” I asked as I allowed myself to be comfortable in the seat of his car yet my voice had an uncomfortable tremble.

“Never mind that. It’s nothing.” He stated as he tightened his hands on the steering wheel while he drove.

“Please,” My voice literally begged as I placed a hand over one of his, “Please tell me, Vitaly.”

That brief moment, he looked at my hand over his and gave a soft tired sigh with a frown, “I could say something snarky to you right now Katrina but for some odd reason I’m unable to bring myself to hurt your feelings.”

Well, that was oddly out of context.

Confusion plagued my face at the manner and tone he just used towards me. I hesitantly pulled my hand away and bit my lip nervously while I looked ahead. The sky was dark and dangerous while the wind tousled my hair gently. I exhaled the eeriness of the ambiance and opened my mouth slightly to allow my words to fall out.

“Please tell me Rebecca’s alright.”

“She will be.” He answered almost automatically.

“You know where she is then?”

“I have an idea.”

Hearing that, I felt some sort of relief engulf me.

“I’m taking you back to the house.” He stated firmly.

“What?”

“You heard me, Donovan.”

“No. I’m not going back there. I left for a reason. I’m sorry but I think your family’s insane.” I retorted in frustration.

“It’s safer there than where I’m going.”

“Vitaly, no, that would just waste time. Who knows what could happen to Rebecca by the time you take to luggage me back to your house. I don’t want to take that risk.”

“I can’t take you with me, Donovan.” He stated again, this time his voice ached in a crushing frustration.

“Where do you think she could be anyway?”

“I have an idea who Dmitri probably sold her to. They work well together. She could be at the trap house.”

“The trap house? What’s that?”

“Not a place for a lady as yourself to be.” He sighed, “Drug dealer, Arms lords, Trafficker, it’s the full works there.”

“You’re not serious.” I frowned.

“Do I look like I’m fooling around right now with you, Donovan?”

“Then drive faster!”

“Fuck, woman. I’m right here. I can hear you. No need to scream in my ear.” He answered obviously pissed.

“I’m sorry, I just…”

“Nothing would happen to your friend. I assure you of that. If Dmitri got a hold of her then she not too long arrived at the trap house.”

“Well good.”

“The level of trust you have in me is beyond words, sweetheart.” He chuckled.

“Well, men are men. You can’t trust them, period.”

Vitaly laughed and for some odd reason made me suddenly get these pleasing goosebumps. Rubbing my arms back to normal, he glimpsed at me.

“Are you cold?”

“No.” I shrugged.

“Oh,” he smiled wickedly, “You’re just turned on, I see.”

“Excuse me?” I scowled, feeling pissed at his bluntness.

“You know, I find it hard to believe that you’re single.”

“Really? And why is that so hard to believe?” I teased.

“No reason.”

“Well of course there’s none because you say things without making any sense.” I smiled.

“But really, I’m curious about you. Don’t you want to experience that love thing people fuss all about?”

“Maybe I had a bad experience?” I admitted quietly.

“Ah, so you’re not as innocent as I thought you were.”

“No,” I laughed softly, “I would like to still think that, Rostov. I just- I hadn’t exactly been in a relationship with anyone but I did like this guy.”

“Oh, this is going to be interesting. Tell me more, baby.”

“I don’t know. I don’t like talking about it. It happened a long time ago. No one even knows about this anyway. Not even Becca.”

“Well, I’m not going to force you then.”

I leaned back on the seat and closed my eyes tightly just pondering whether I should or not.

“He was a selfish, pussy,” I began with a sigh, “He made me think I was in love when he was just emotionally guilt tripping me to stay in a relationship. I don’t think I was ever in love with him to be quite honest nor did he even know what love was. He just never allowed me to leave him, it felt wrong somehow. He was emotionally abusive.”

Vitaly didn’t answer, but he listened.

“We met a little before university. He studied to be a doctor. Should have known he wasn’t genuine when he said he did it for the money. He was the first guy I ever had any real feelings for, Vitaly. I just- I don’t know, he just seemed so –my type you know? Like he was so into me, at first I mean. I shouldn’t have ignored the signs. All those narcissist traits. He cheated on me. I think what people didn’t know was that I ended the relationship the day I found out, and the sad thing is that the girl he cheated on me with didn’t even know about me. We became really good friends after though, hating the same man really does drive a strong friendship. Or rather, pitying the same man.”

“Sounds like an asshole and doesn’t sound like a man to me. Hope you stopped wasting your time on little boys like that.”

“He really was,” I laughed, “This is why you don’t settle kids. He wasn’t even attractive to me, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Clearly you weren’t but take it from me Donovan, you didn’t deserve that nor did that. He sounds cheap, and trust me, there are many little boys like that out there. Matter of fact, let me guess, he found someone else shortly after? Don’t even waste your time thinking about that shit.”

 “You’re right, I shouldn’t.” I blinked feeling my voice get a little sore, “He just took advantage of the fact that I was innocent and unaware of the world. I didn’t know.”

“You still don’t know, Angel.”

“You’re not making me feel any better.”

“I’m not so good with that ‘feelings’ thing, love. You have to excuse me.”

“But,” I shifted looking out the window as I felt the cold chilly breeze kiss my face and the soft icy sprinkles of rain that sparkled down from the dark heaven, “It doesn’t mean I completely locked off. I believe in love. I know there is someone for each and every one of us out there.”

“Love,” Vitaly scoffed, “You live in a fantasy, Katherine. But, it doesn’t mean I don’t want you to have that. It’s just not for everyone.”

“You don’t believe in finding love, Rostov?”

“Look at me, Angel. I’m in the bloody Mafia, you’re in a storybook. Things like that don’t happen to people like me. I said this already and I’ll say it again; Myi dva raznye leudy. We are two different people.”

“That’s not true.”

Vitaly looked ahead, deep in concentration, as if he was searching for a star behind the gloomy clouds in the sky ahead. At that moment, he spoke in a raw, gentle tone more to himself rather than to me, “I’m a monster.”

“You’re not.”

Perhaps what he said was not to be heard by me yet I heard and he seemed to be a slight bit surprised by my response.

I inhaled almost sucking all the pressure in a tight knot and replied exhaling, “You’re just… lost.”

Vitaly gave a soft chuckle, “You’re mad and I’m lost. We make the perfect pair, don’t we Donovan?”

“If the whole love thing doesn’t work out for me then I’m grabbing my shotgun and moving in with you.”

“I’ll wait for that day, love.”

The ride was awfully longer than I expected.

“Urghh, are we there yet?” I groaned adjusting myself for the billionth time.

“Stop moving so much, it’s annoying.” He scowled.

“Really? Next, you’re going to tell me to stop breathing so much.” I retorted with an equal amount of irritation.

 Now I sort of wished I went back to his house. I could have locked myself in his room and slept. Then again, Natalia might have killed me in my sleep. The thought about her was confusing. Surely, she had this big secret she was hiding from everyone. Was she betraying Vitaly? What was her motive? What was her story? Now that I thought about it, Natalia was an interesting individual I had little knowledge of.

“What’s with Natty?” I brought myself to ask, breaking the silence.

“Natty?” he arched an eyebrow.

“Natalia.”

“Natty,” he gave a soft laugh, “You two got quite close.”

“Closer than you think.” I rolled my eyes with a scoff.

So close we were literally shoving guns in each other’s face.          

“We’re here.” Vitaly suddenly stated and pulled into an empty space in the small parking lot.

The place was mildly lit and the sound of laughter and music came from inside the small building ahead. It didn’t seem to be a club. For some odd reason, it was a lot quieter than I had expected.

“Stay in the car, I’ll be back soon.”

“What?” I protested, “Are you insane? No, I’m coming too.”

“I don’t need a tail, Katherine.” He scowled.

“Then I’ll be your head.” I firmly replied.

“Don’t bitch with me right now, Donovan.”

“I’m not staying here alone. You promised me, Vitaly.”

With a sigh, he looked at me almost tiredly and undid my seatbelt, “Just please for God’s sake listen to me when I tell you what to do inside there.”

“Absolutely!” I smiled and got out of the vehicle.

The place was cold, dark, and smoky. Of course, it was from the heavy smokers that loitered around. I walked closely next to Vitaly as he instructed and followed him to the receptionist. Now that I looked around the place a bit more, it seemed like a five-story motel. Although, it was quite eerie for my taste. A strange man with the most crooked teeth bedazzled with silver and gold grinned at me as he walked past us and I grabbed Vitaly’s hand unconsciously. A few seconds passed and Rostov shrugged away from my contact.

“Don’t do that here, Donovan. People will think I’ve gone soft. The last thing I need is that reputation.” He stated with his voice filled with irritation.

Upon arriving at the receptionist, Vitaly frowned. “Archer. Where is he?”

“I believe Mr. Devereux had stepped out for some business.” The woman who looked like a ragged doll replied yet her voice upheld so much professionalism. It was like an odd aftertaste.

“What about Marc?”

“Top floor. He brought in some fine ladies.”

Hearing that, my stomach fell to the floor. Fine ladies. Rebecca.

“Don’t tell him I’m here. I like to make my visits disclosed sometimes.”

“As you wish, Mr. Rostov. Would you also like me to fix a room for you and the lady?”

“No. I’m not here for that tonight. Besides, she’s not my type.” He stated and looked at me wickedly before walking towards an old elevator.

My face blazed from the response. As we entered the elevator, I scowled at him.

“What?” he shrugged almost innocently.

“I’m not your type. You’re right. I’m too out of your league.”

“You?” he asked in a laugh.

“I believe that is the definition and context in which I utilized the term ‘I’.”

“Right.”

For some odd reason, he was frustrating me.

“Listen here buddy,” I shot and harshly pulled him by the shirt towards me, “Just admit it. Admit that you love when I’m close to you.”

“Me?” his voice became a little more raw and uneasy, “No.”

“No?” I asked sweetly and undid the first button of his shirt while gently grazing my fingers on his chest to the second.

Within a second, he pulled me closer keeping a firm arm around my waist, and stapled me to his body, “Why stop only with the shirt buttons? You can go lower than that, love.”

I was speechless at his response. Note to self; never try to piss him off again. He’s ‘Willy losing his Wonker’ kind of insane.

When I didn’t answer, he grinned wolfishly at me.  “You’re so wanton.”

Blinking, I awkwardly shrugged away and arched an eyebrow, “What did you call me? I’m a what?”

“Wanton.”

“How dare you. How dare you insult me with food like that.” I hissed.

“Your only perception of that word is that its food,” he chuckled, “How adorable and dumb of you.”

With the sound of the elevator chime and open, he walked out adjusting his shirt back to normal.

“Bastard,” I muttered angrily as I helplessly followed after him.

Shock laced through me as the ambiance of the entire atmosphere switched from whorehouse slum to five-star amazement. Well, this was definitely not expected.

“What the actual hell.” I breathed as I walked right behind him in this oddly fancy lobby.

“Surprised?”

“Very. What the heck did we transport through?”

“That my dear is what we call an elevator.”

“Well no shit, Sherlock.” I scoffed.

Vitaly walked towards a woman who stood at a rich oaky door with the most exquisite details. By the manner she dressed, she didn’t seem to be in any way scandalous looking but instead clothed in grey professional attire. Vitaly suddenly leaned over and whispered something into her ear. Nodding, she wrote something into a notepad and replied to Rostov in his mother language.

No doubt, was I confused. It was something that I was becoming quite often. Vitaly turned to me with a somewhat subtle smile and led me to a sitting area.

“Listen, I’ll be out soon. Wait here for me.”

At this point in time, I wasn’t going to be stubborn. I had to listen to him if I wanted Rebecca back soon. With a soft smile and nod from me, he went into the room where the woman stood near.

I sat awkwardly as I absorbed the features of the room. This was some kind of business that was going on here. There was absolutely no sound of individuals chatter nor laughter. If I wasn’t in such a dangerous situation then I would have perhaps considered this setting to be quite lovely. I impatiently waited. The clock ticked to the beat of my heart and I almost felt myself becoming distraught as each moment passed. What’s really going on in that room?

With my hands clasped together in a praying position, I tightened my eyes and said a silent prayer that we would find Becca soon. The sound of a person’s shoes upon the glossy hardwood floor alerted me. A man no less than Vitaly’s age entered the room in such extraordinary elegance that it was shocking to see such a person in here rather than in a palace. His dirty blonde hair was neatly brushed back as his facial hair marked his face in such a way to grab a woman’s intention and let her bow down before him. Not to mention how deep the blue in his eyes seemed to dip. Almost like Vitaly’s- like a bottomless ocean. His suit seemed to be designer and perfectly tailored to him. Everything about this man screamed fancy, fine, and not to mention insanely expensive. He had this odd allure around him as he walked over to where I was seated and sat at the single sofa next to mine.

I tried not to acknowledge him and he seemed to not be too bothered about my existence as well. That was a good thing I believe. The sound of a sudden gunshot caught my attention and I snapped up from the seat.

“Vitaly!” I panicked as I rushed towards the woman who stood at the door who also seemed a bit startled.

As she was about to open the door, someone from the inside suddenly opened it and two men pushed each other out, knocking her to the side.

“Rostov?” I worriedly asked as he was nowhere to be seen.

“Don’t you ever listen, Donovan? I told you to stay where you are.” I heard my favourite bastard coming out of the room, unharmed.

As the woman got herself up, I turned around to see the elegant stranger a few feet away from us with a gun aimed towards Vitaly.

“I really hate traitors,” the man stated in a silky British accent.

And at that moment, he pulled the trigger.

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