Expose' (Born Bratva Book 3)

by Steele, Suzanne

  The reality of my situation hits me when the two men saunter up the steps, speaking in hushed tones as they go. I lean back against the wall and bend over with my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. At least I had a chance to explain my intentions and I don’t think I’ll be killed for betraying the Bratva. I hope not, anyway. I’ll take a day or two in the dungeon before death, any damn day of the week.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kodiak

  Though I follow my father up those stairs and resist the urge to look back over my shoulder at her, I know she’s gotten off easy. This is only my father’s way of letting her know that, if she’s going to be part of the Glazov family, she must live by the Bratva code. As crazy as it sounds, I see this as a good sign. By virtue of her still being alive, albeit in solitary confinement, my father has accepted my woman. I smile with satisfaction. My rodstvennaya dusha…

  The hours drag by as I wait for nightfall and the chance to sneak back down to the dungeon and see my little captive. I wait until I know the rest of the house is asleep. All I’ve done is toss and turn for hours, knowing she’s all alone in that cell. I quietly pad down to the basement, but not before I grab the bag I filled for her. Thank God no one can see me taking a care package to my woman in the dungeon. I’d never live down the ribbing from Nikita about how I’ve grown a vagina.

  I know every inch of this mansion. The creaks, the crevices and the hidden passages are something I grew up exploring so it won’t be hard to reach the dungeon undetected. Whether Logan’s pissed at me is another matter. She isn’t accustomed to Glazov’s ways and I fully expect that I will be the one suffering her wrath because of it. Unlike other women I’ve been able to manipulate and control in the past, Logan expects to be in control of her life. She’s had to be that way to survive, but it makes her unpredictable. Maybe that’s part of her allure. Though my father is forcing her to stay here, I know her well enough to know that if she doesn’t want to be here, she’ll try to finagle a way out. Somehow I have to get her to understand how dangerous that would be.

  Logan’s still awake when I reach the bottom of the steps. Her gaze is hard to read but I can feel her anger from here. Those bars might just be a good thing. I still can’t help but be a smart ass and rub in the fact that she’s at my mercy—for now.

  “I guess this means you’re moving in, huh?”

  “Yeah, Kodiak, I guess it does. What’s the matter, was your conscience weighing heavy on you? Couldn’t sleep?”

  “Yeah, I couldn’t sleep because I wasn’t buried in that tight little pussy of yours.”

  “After this little stunt? You might never be buried in me again.”

  “This is my father’s way of letting you know you’re part of the family now.”

  “Charmed, I’m sure.”

  I continue my smart ass banter. “The way I see it, Logan, I’m the only ally you have.”

  “I beg to differ, she has me as an ally.” My mother’s voice is stern as she cuts her eyes at me where I’m now stretched out on the floor smoking. “I’m so pissed at you and your father right now, Kodiak.”

  “Mother, you know how your husband is. He wants Logan here,” I lick my lips for emphasis as I look over at Logan, “and I definitely like having Logan here.”

  “Where are the keys to this cell, Kodiak?” Yep, Mother’s pissed.

  I tutt in my mother’s direction. “Oh, no, you’re not getting my ass kicked by Dad. I asked Logan to move in to the pool house with me. Couldn’t make up her mind. This is what happens when dad and I have to make a decision for her.”

  I can tell by look on her face that she’s fed up with me. She approaches the bars of the cell and addresses Logan. “I understand your circumstances more than you think – and what you’re feeling is probably very much how I felt about my husband in the beginning. Now, with that said, I’ll have you out of here by tomorrow night, if not by the time the sun comes up. And you might want to take Glazov up on the idea of moving in.”

  “I think that’s a good idea, too, Mother.” I chuckle when she glares at me like she wants to rip my head off. She reaches through the bar and gives Logan’s arm a reassuring squeeze before she turns and walks over to me. I smile benignly as I look up at her. I’d bat my eyelashes at her if I didn’t think she’d smack the shit out of me.

  She spits her next words out like venom. “I’ll be speaking to your father about this.”

  “Please do, no one else can get through to him.”

  “Yes, it’s amazing just how much like your father you are in that regard.” She lets out an exasperated sigh and begins to make her way back up the stairs. She stops mid-stride when she hears my voice.

  “Hey, mom, seriously, good luck getting through to Dad, because Logan isn’t getting out of that cell until he says so.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry son…I’ve got this!”

  Now, it isn’t me who’s smirking, it’s Logan. Looks like little Logan has an ally in my mother after all…

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kodiak

  My brother Nikita makes his way toward me, coming from my bedroom where he has evidently been looking for me. Judging by his gait and the serious expression on his face, something’s up.

  “What is it, Nikita?”

  “We’ve got problems, man. After that clean-up job Natasha did for Dad, she got pulled over.”

  “How’d you find out?”

  “She texted me before the cop had her out of the car.”

  There’s only one reason he would be so agitated at the thought of Natasha dealing with a routine traffic stop. “Fucking hell, man,” I say quietly. “Are the bodies still in the car?”

  “I don’t know. That’s the problem. Dad’s having that crematory furnace put in, said it was easier for her if she didn’t have to heave bodies in the incinerator, but the job’s not complete. If they find three dead bodies in the back of her SUV—well, I don’t think I need to explain any further.”

  “Son of a bitch! Let’s go,” I say as we fall into step down the hall. My brother has a lot on the line right now. Natasha is his woman – even if they’re not exactly together. They’ve been in love with each other since they were kids in school.

  Nikita is Glazov’s first born. He’s also the sovietnik or councilor, the lawyer. He’s damn good at what he does, and part of being good at what he does means getting on the scene as quickly as possible when there are issues with anyone in our cell of Bratva. It’s the reason my father has an emergency text set up on each phone, just the push of a button informs the councilor there’s a problem. Timing is everything, especially where dead bodies are concerned, and particularly at times like this when his woman is standing on the side of the road being questioned by a cop.

  His face is set in stone as he intently eyes the road ahead of him; he looks so much like my father, it’s scary. He acts just like him, too. I’m trying to put his mind at ease as we speed down River Road to get her out of this mess before it gets out of control. “I’m sure the bodies have been disposed of by now.”

  I’m surprised when he answers me. “Natasha never does things the same way, yet she has a system, if that makes any sense.”

  “You’re saying she doesn’t dispose of the bodies the same way every time?”

  “Exactly. I make a point of not talking to her about her cleaning practices.”

  “Well, you’re her lawyer, so you do have client/attorney privilege.”

  For the first time his face softens and he takes a second to take his eyes off the road and look at me. “It isn’t that. Natasha’s very independent; if I probe too much it would send the message to her that I don’t think she can do her job. Haven’t you noticed she avoids me now that she’s working for Dad?”

  “Hey, you can always do what I did to Logan and lock her ass in the dungeon.” My brother laughs and it sounds good to hear it.

  “After she kicks my ass? She can fight better than most men can. There’s no way I’m crossing
that little hell cat.” He grins in spite of the fucked up shit we’re driving into.

  “Yeah, you’ve got a point. Maybe a softer approach would be good. Why don’t you have Dad talk to her? I’m sure with his seal of approval on you two as a couple – finally -- things would go better. She’ll listen to dad. The main reason she’s avoiding you and won’t date you is because she kind of works with you now—you know how she is about professionalism.”

  “We don’t date, Natasha and I just are—we always have been. From the day we laid eyes on each other as kids, we knew. There may have been a pinky promise about getting married when we grew up.”

  Before I can even give him shit about the pinky promise, I realize what he’s telling me, and I can’t help but sputter, “Are – Jesus, man, are you telling me that neither of you has ever been with anyone else?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

  “Damn, dude, we’ve got to get Dad to talk to her, to help you with your raging case of blue balls.”

  “Too late for that. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been tempted to slam her ass against the wall and fuck her senseless, but, yeah, you’re right. We need to get Dad involved. He has a way of getting what he wants and he wants us together.”

  “Ahh, the ol’ Glazov domination trait. Hey, there’s no reason it can’t work. She’s already considered family and with her forensic training, she’s the best when it comes to cleaning up after us. Hell, she’s the reason half of us aren’t in prison right now. Dad trusts her, too, and that is huge.”

  “Alright, brother, we’re here,” Nikita says before taking a deep breath. “Just let me do the talking and keep that temper of yours in check. This is nothing more than a traffic stop and we don’t want it escalating.”

  I never get tired of watching my brother in action. He’s in his element when he’s conducting any kind of business. Whether he’s in a court room, an interrogation room, or talking to someone in his elaborate office, he is the epitome of professionalism and absolute control. He’s everything I’m not and I’ve always admired him for it.

  I’m relieved when he doesn’t prevent me from getting out with him after we pull over onto the shoulder of the road behind the police cruiser.

  “Officer,” Nikita takes a second to look at the cop’s badge and continues. “Officer Barkley, my name’s Nikita Glazov, is there something I can help you with?”

  “Glazov, as in Alexander Glazov?”

  “Yes, sir, that would be my father.”

  “And what’s your relation to her?” The cop takes a minute to look up from the ticket he’s writing to study Nikita’s face.

  “I’m her lawyer.”

  “Well, that was quick,” he says with a sneer in Natasha’s direction. When my brother doesn’t offer up any information on how he was notified, Barkley goes back to writing the ticket. A traffic ticket is one thing, that car getting towed and three dead bodies being discovered in it is something else.

  “No need to overreact, Mr. Glazov.” The snide tone he uses to say our last name is making me wonder just what he’s up to. Is that contempt I’m hearing in his voice or something else?

  Yeah, it’s only a ticket now that her lawyer is here. My brother reaches out, taking the ticket when the cop tears it off to hand it to Natasha. Evidently she enjoys seeing her man in action, too, because right now she’s got a shit eating grin on her face. The cop gets in his car and signs off on his car radio, informing them he’s done with this stop and is heading out find his next victim, or the local donut shop, I presume.

  “Please tell me there aren’t three dead bodies in that car.” Nikita growls under his breath. Natasha sighs dramatically and rolls her eyes.

  “The crematory furnace isn’t hooked up yet, dear boy.”

  “The fucking incinerator is though.” My brother shocks me when he grabs Natasha and hugs her so tightly that I’m certain he’s going to break her in half. He finally pulls her back and eyes her as he speaks. “We’ll follow you back and get these guys in the incinerator. Baby, you don’t know how lucky you are that cop didn’t find those bodies.”

  “It has nothing to do with luck. He cops never would have found them unless they impounded the car and searched it – and I mean really searched it -- and even then it would have taken a few days before anyone really noticed them.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ll see,” she throws a teasing wink at him over her shoulder as she sashays away, giving Nikita quite a show as she sways her curvy ass from side to side. She’s a great girl and tough as nails. It’s easy to see why my brother is in love with her.

  I look at my brother as I strap on my seat belt. “I wonder where she hid those bodies.”

  “God only knows, little brother. God only knows.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Kodiak

  By the way Natasha is being so careful to not exceed the speed limit, I know those dead bodies are in her SUV.

  “Does the woman always drive like a grandma?” I ask impatiently as we plod along behind her.

  Nikita glances over at me before replying grimly, “Only when dead bodies are involved, brother.”

  I’m still wracking my brain, wondering where she hid those bodies. The only thing I can come up with is that maybe they’re hidden where the spare tire is, though I can’t imagine there being enough room there.

  “Still trying to figure it out?” Nikita asks with a chuckle as he turns onto the road leading to the warehouse. He knows me well enough to know that once I get something in my head I won’t quit until I have it figured out.

  “Yes, Nikita,” I say with a grin, “Your woman has my curiosity piqued. I’m captivated by her wit.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t be too fucking captivated, she’s taken, though I’ll be the first to admit she has that effect on people. Let’s get out and see how she managed to pull this one off.”

  We hurry over to where Natasha stands behind her SUV, smiling at us expectantly like she can’t wait to reveal what we’re all dying to know.

  “Are you ready, boys?” She doesn’t give us time to answer before she reaches under the back bumper and pulls out a hidden metal slab on rollers as if it’s a drawer. Neatly arranged side by side are six heavy duty dark garbage bags.

  Six? But weren’t there three-- “You cut them up!?” I’m shocked that this woman who looks like a suburban soccer mom would have the stomach to do something so heinous.

  She answers me like we’re discussing the paint job on a car or the weather. “Yeah, I had thought about dumping them in the river. I mixed up the body parts so they couldn’t be identified. Usually the water and wildlife do the job of disposing of any remains.” She makes her way over to a garage door and unlocks it, wheeling a gurney out.

  “So that’s how you haul heavy bodies around,” I say, openly admiring her DIY skills. A fucking body drawer. Who knew?

  “Yeah, though I did have some of the guards with me to help with the heavy lifting this time.”

  “Grab a couple of bags, Kodiak, and let’s get these bodies disposed of,” Nikita says quietly.

  “Chivalry isn’t dead,” Natasha quips with a glance in Nikita’s direction as we heave the bags on the gurney and push the heavily laden gurney in. He just grunts in response, but I see a small smile tilt the corners of his mouth.

  We weave our way to the back of the warehouse and stop in front of the incinerator, which looks like a big-ass wood burning stove. In a matter of moments the machine is fired up and the body parts are nothing but a memory.

  “I can get the rest of this,” Natasha assures us. She reaches up to peck Nikita’s cheek and whispers a soft thank you. He shoots her a heated look and leans down to murmur something in her ear.

  We all know we had a near miss today that would have been catastrophic if it had ended differently. In our line of work, one mistake could mean the downfall of an empire that’s taken generations to build.

  Chapter Twenty One<
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  Logan

  I’m tired of being in this cell. I’ve done everything I can think of to entertain myself. I’ve read a couple of paperbacks, done some yoga and caught a couple of naps. If dropping the Bratva article and moving into that damned pool house with Kodiak is going to get me out of this cell, I’m willing to do it now. Anything’s better than going stir crazy in here. Everything about this dungeon would make it perfect for a horror movie, right down to the hidden coves and the restraints bolted to the wall.

  Just when I think I can’t take any more of this solitude, I hear the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. I hope it’s Kodiak coming to let me out but even if it isn‘t, a visit from anyone would suffice for now. The look on his face is grim as he unlocks the door to my cell and I wonder if he’s angry about something. It couldn’t be anything I’ve done; hell, I’ve been down here for the last two days.

  He swaggers over to me, roughly pulling me up and turning me over so I’m lying on my stomach, one leg dangling over the edge of the cot and my face shoved down into the thin mattress. He leans down close to my ear to hiss, “I’m real fucking horny, Logan. What are you gonna do about it?”

  He doesn’t give me time to reply, he just tosses my skirt up over my back and twists my panties in his fist, ripping them from my body like they’re an inconvenience. He folds my arms behind my back at the elbow and locks them in his grip with one hand. I hear the zipper on his jeans and then he’s pushing into me in one powerful, smooth stroke. He pauses briefly, taking several harsh, deep breaths before he hooks his arm under my leg as it dangles over the side of the cot. He lifts my leg up and out to the side to get his rock-hard cock even deeper into my drenched pussy. When he’s fully seated inside me, he starts pistoning his hips into me, frantic in his possession of my body.