“Jesus, Greer. First of all, I’m not giving you a big speech. I’m telling you how I fucking feel here,” I grab her hand and put it over my heart. “I didn’t think I’d ever love another woman again after my first wife. I didn’t think I was capable of it, but you catapulted through those walls and here we are. I don’t give a fuck if you’re pregnant or not. We’re going to be together and that’s that. Oh, and one more thing. You don’t have to keep calling me Aleksandr. The only person that does that is my father. Everyone else calls me Aleks’.”
Greer presses her lips together and nods, not saying anything in response.
“C’mon, let’s go find a pharmacy. I think I saw one across the street.” I suggest.
Greer and I headed over to the pharmacy and I grabbed every pregnancy test I could find. When we get to the cashier the woman laughed and asked us if it was our first to which we both replied yes. I urged Greer to use the bathroom at the pharmacy and now I’m waiting outside the door to the bathroom for her to come out.
Five minutes go by, and then ten, before I decide I’m not fucking waiting here any longer. I don’t care that this is a women’s restroom, I push open the door and look inside. What I find is a standard commercial bathroom. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, except for the door that reads ‘exit’.
I place my hands on the stalls and spot the bag filled with pregnancy tests, and two laid out on the floor. Kneeling down, I read the dark grey screen, ‘pregnant’.
Jesus Christ.
Standing, I look around the room. “Greer? Are you in here?” I say, looking in every nook and cranny of this joint, but there’s nowhere else to go except through the door that says exit. I open it and it leads out to an alley behind the pharmacy.
This isn’t good.
The sun reflects on something on the ground, so I look down and walk closer to it. Until I’m directly on top of it. This is Greer’s cell phone and it looks like it’s been shattered in a million pieces, stepped on numerous times. There’s no fucking way she’d do this. No fucking way.
I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Aleksei’s number. “Brat,” He greets me in Russian.
“Greer is gone.”
“What?”
“Greer went to the bathroom, and now she’s gone. I’m in an alley. Her phone’s smashed, and there wasn’t even a sound made that would make me think she struggled.”
“Aleks’ . . . is it possible she ran?”
I mull over Aleksei’s question, but I know her better. Why would she run when she knew we were flying out in a couple hours? She wants to go to Ireland more than anything. Even if being pregnant did scare her this badly, there’s no way she would sacrifice not meeting her family.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Someone once said to me, ‘I don’t know how you do it’. I told them, ‘I wasn’t given a choice.’
~ Amazing Me Movement
Greer
An aching feeling stems from the right side of my neck, all the way down my side. I’m not sure why, though. It makes no sense. I open my eyes and blink a few times, trying to remember where I am. I must be in the pharmacy. That’s the last place I was, in the bathroom waiting for the pregnancy test results to come up. I had set two down in the stall and two on the counter with the cap on the stick part, watching as the little clock was flashing in front of my eyes.
Blinking a few more times, I immediately can tell I’m not in the bathroom. Instead I’m in a pitch-black room. There’s not even one light on in here and immediately my stomach drops. Where the fuck am I, and how did I get here?
Naturally, my body wants me to look around and see if I can figure it out, but I can’t. There’s nothing I can fucking see anyway. I want to yell, to scream, to call out and pray someone good is here . . . but I know if someone good was here I wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.
How did I go from being in a bathroom pharmacy to a pitch-black room, with something . . . solid underneath me? Moving my hands, I feel something hard below my body, but there’s something in between it. Like a tarp, or plastic. Definitely not something comfortable.
Focusing a bit harder, I try to think about my last memories before waking up here. Nothing comes at first, but as I lean my head back against another hard surface, which I’m sure is a wall, the memories come flooding back.
“Oh my goodness, are you pregnant?” A sweet woman’s voice asks me. I turn back and see a beautiful brunette. She has long, flowing curly hair. The kind you see in the hair commercials. I swear, she could be a model with that hair. Hell, I’m half tempted to tell her. She’s just come from the stall beside mine after flushing the toilet and is washing her hands in the basin beside me.
“I’m going to find out in a couple minutes hopefully,” I jokingly laugh.
“Oh goodness. How exciting.”
“Do you have kids?” I ask.
“I have two, a boy and a girl. My hands are obviously full all the time.”
“Oh, I bet,” I release a breath and look back down to the sticks, still seeing the flashing clock. “Have any advice you can give me?” God, I’m so fucking awkward. Does anyone else say shit like this, or is it just me?
“Take it one moment at a time, really. As much as you plan in life, nothing will ever go according to plan when you have kids. It all goes out the window when they’ve left their favorite toy at the house and you’re in the middle of the supermarket trying to ride out a meltdown worse than world war three.” She laughs at the end, making me feel a little better, like everyone who has a kid struggles.
I glance down again at the sticks and read the words ‘pregnant’ on both of them, just as a sharp feeling spreads against the back of my neck. I look over, but as I do the only thing I see is her face. Only, it’s not the way I remember it. Instead, it’s completely blurred over. I blink a few times and darkness takes over my body.
God. Where am I?
Chills swarm over my body as fear sets in.
A loud creaking sound comes from somewhere in front of me, and the flick of a switch can be heard. Buzzing comes from above me, and I see an old industrial light, like something you’d see in a warehouse. It buzzes for a minute before the light grows in illumination.
That’s when I see him.
A man.
He must be in his sixties with the way his hair is white like fresh snow. He looks an awful lot like Aleks’ and I know within an instant who he is. There’s not one doubt in my mind.
“I’m to be a grandfather, eh?” He asks in a thick Russian accent while he glances down at the small pregnancy stick in his hands.
“Depends who you are.” I state, ensuring I show no fear. I might be afraid, but I’ll never give this man the pleasure of knowing how terrified I am. He’s the type who revels in the fact he can scare people and I refuse to give him the satisfaction.
He releases a chortle, “You know who I am Greer Mackenzie, just as I know who you are.” A devious smile pulls at his lips. “So how about we don’t play this game, hmm?”
“I’m not playing games, only looking for confirmation.” I declare.
“You could call me Papa if you want,” He chuckles, “Or Valentin, if you’re a formal woman and all.”
“Valentin it is.” I reply with a grunt, irritated he’s finding amusement in this. But of course, he’s the reason I ended up here. Him and that devil woman. She must’ve injected me with something to make me pass out. I can’t find any other explanation for it, and I highly doubt Aleks’ would’ve put me in this situation.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I have you here, right Greer?”
“You mean this isn’t for a little chat to get to know each other?” I ask in complete sarcasm.
He laughs, “Oh, the mouth on you. It reminds me of your mothers.”
Valentin catches me off guard, but I’ve never once been told I have a similarity with my mother.
“God rest her soul, of course.” His tone is callous and the way his eye
s sparkle tells me he only wants to have me react. He’s a narcissist, and the sickest of them all. “God, she had a mouth on her. It’s one of the things I miss about her, how she’d just say exactly what she thought of something, and what she could do with that mouth. Well,” He cackles dramatically until silence fills the room.
A few moments pass us by until Valentin takes a step closer to me and cranes his neck to the side, “If it came down to it Greer . . . what would you do with that mouth of yours to keep you and your child alive?”
There’s no mistaking it.
Valentin Volkolv has brought me here for one thing, and one thing only.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
She’s waiting for you to become the man you tricked her into believing you were.
~ Unknown
Aleksandr
March 20th
“I can’t leave you here.” Aleksei declares, staring me down. Little does he know I’m not giving him a fucking choice. He needs to get Sloane and Leti to Ireland sooner rather than later.
“Yes, you can. You need to focus on getting the girls to Ireland. Liam will ensure they’re safe and that’s the most important thing. I on the other hand need to find my father. We both know he did this.”
“No fucking doubt about it,” Aleksei seethes with his fists balled at his sides. “You love this girl, no?”
I nod, “I do, which is why I need you to go with Sloane. I know what you’re about to say Aleksei, but you need to leave. She loves her sister more than anything else, and if there’s some chance my father could go after her, she’d want me to make sure you’re there. I only trust Sloane with you, brat. Please, do this for me. I think I’ve narrowed it down to where he took Greer. After all, he’s had me doing his grunt work in the States. There are only two other places she could be.”
Aleksei grabs me by the throat and slams my body into the wall, “How long have you known this, of these two places?”
His grip grows excruciatingly tighter and he’s pretty much solidifying the fact he cares about Sloane. He’s told me they just fuck, but there’s no way people can fuck without getting some sort of attachment to the other. “Now. I’ve had people posted on the warehouses, penthouses and storage buildings. I went from ten options this morning to three, and now my teams are at the other places waiting to see if they see any activity.”
Aleksei releases my grip, “Apologies. I thought you’ve left her there for . . .”
He’s got to be kidding me. “You might be my brat, Aleksei, but sometimes you act like a stranger on the street. Why would I ever put Greer in this much danger? Huh? Why the fuck would I make the choice to leave her there?!” I ask, shoving him.
He stumbles back a few feet before he realizes what I did. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again. You know better, and you know what happens to those who fuck with me. You are no exception.”
My phone begins ringing and given the circumstances I pick it up immediately. “Hello?”
“I’ve heard you’ve been looking for something that you think belongs to you.” My blood runs cold as I hear his voice.
“Father,” I snarl, “Where is my child?” I’m still going to act as if the only thing I care about is my baby. There’s a small chance he might believe me, so I’ll try everything I can, even if it doesn’t seem as dumb
“Oh, with me. As is Greer. I’ve been taking very good care of her.” He chortles, “I’ve heard about your minions running around to our properties here and since you’ll find her soon, you’re only taking the fun out of my game. I’ll meet you, my boy, but you will be faced with a choice. A choice you might not be ready to make, but alas, it’s one you must.”
“Are you a fucking riddle master now?” I hiss, furious at what he’s doing. My father has always been fucked in the head, but I never thought he was this out of his mind. Low and behold, he’s worse than I originally thought.
“You can meet me tonight at eight in the New York penthouse. And don’t be late, Aleksandr, you know I don’t like to be kept waiting. I just might take it out on your precious Greer.”
“She’s pregnant with my child and you’re treating her in such a manner? I don’t like her either, but whatever you’re doing could hurt the baby.”
“It’s not. Women have been whores their whole fucking lives while pregnant. What I’m doing isn’t hurting her in the least bit, or the kid.”
The room practically shakes from around me and I know there isn’t an earthquake or whatnot. This is because of my rage. He’s hurting Greer. He’s fucking touching her, raping her, and who knows what the fuck else. But I can’t react. I can’t fucking react at all because if he knows I care about her she’s one thing—dead.
“I will see you tonight.” I state, ending the call.
Sliding the phone in my pocket, Aleksei stares me down. “Change of plans. I need you to come with me, and I need you to keep me from killing him.”
“Fuck. Why? It would be better if he were dead.”
“I have to agree with you, but I can’t kill him yet. I need to get Greer out of there and I’ve been playing a part for months now. The only way I can save her, and the potential of changing how the bratva runs is if I continue this act.
“Dammit.” Aleksei curses under his breath, grabs a vase from the table next to him and slams it against the wall. “Please tell me we’re leaving now.”
“Oh, we are. Get the girls. Unfortunately, they’re coming along for the ride.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them
~ Bruce Lee
Greer
Unknown Date
He barely feeds me, and I mean barely. I think I’ve eaten one roll every day since I’ve been here. I don’t even know how long that’s been. The room is pitch black unless he decides to come in here and . . . maul me. I’m disgusted with myself, that I’d even allow this to happen and don’t fight back. But the reality of this all is that I know if I do fight him, or even attempt to, it’s a death sentence. My life could mean nothing, but my child’s is more important than my own.
I lay on the hard material that I now refer to as my bed, wishing this will all end someday soon. I don’t think for one second Aleks’ had any part in this. He’d never let this happen. I’m sure some would call me stupid, but I believed him when we were in the park and he told me how much he cared. I believed him when he looked into my eyes and said he’d marry me one day, and it’s the only thing that might be keeping my strength up, waiting for the moment he waltzes in here and rips me from his father’s torture chamber.
It’s what I’m calling it at least.
The door creaks open as it always does when he’s about to come waltzing in here. He typically slaps me around a bit before he decides to rape me or shove his cock down my throat. You know, whatever he fucking wants to do.
“Come, Greer. It’s time we see what Aleksandr wants me to do with you.” Valentin cackles while he turns on the light. He comes right up to me and grabs onto my forearm, yanks me so hard I fall to the ground and again he laughs. “Get the fuck up. We don’t have much time.”
I use my hands as a way to push myself up, but it’s the hardest thing I’ve done in a long time. This is how weak I’ve become since being here. Then again, he’s barely feeding me and he’s only giving me water to keep me alive. I’ve surpassed the point of being hungry. Instead, it’s this common feeling of emptiness in the pit of my stomach. There’s nothing I can do except live with it, but god it’s agonizing.
He grabs ahold of the back of my hair and pulls me, “If you won’t fucking walk then I will make you walk.”
“Ow!” I holler, hating this so much, but he doesn’t care. Valentin enjoys this shit. I’m seriously wondering how my mother was ever with a man like him. How could she be with someone like this?
Valentin proceeds to pull me out of the room and down the hall until I’m in a luxurious living room. The kind of shit you see
in vintage modeling campaigns for Dolce & Gabanna. Gold vases are everywhere you turn, practically spitting out just how much money he has to waste.
Valentin releases my hair and I collapse to the floor below me. At the same time, I hear footsteps growing closer and I’m terrified for what’s coming. There’s no telling what it can be and considering I’ve pretty much experienced everything horrific this man can do to me, I’m worried he’s come up with something worse.
Glancing up, relief washes over me as I set my eyes on Aleks’. He looks angry, an expression I’ve thankfully never had to experience with him before. “What the fuck have you done to her?” He roars, glaring at Valentin.
His father laughs, the same way he always fucking does. “I had my fun. What does it matter to you? The baby is fine.”
“How would you know that?” Aleks’ hisses back.
Valentin’s had a doctor, or maybe a fake doctor coming in every day to perform ultrasounds on me. Ironic considering he’s starving me and my child, yet he brings in someone to say we’re both still alive.
“I’ve had a doctor overlooking them, making sure they’re both still ticking and whatnot.” Valentin smirks, looking over to me. “You know, I’d never wish death on my blood. But, if something unfortunate did happen to my grandchild it would’ve been fun to torture her a bit.”
“And what you’ve done hasn’t been torture?” I snarl, finding my inner voice again.
Valentin pulls out his gun, ready to fire as he pulls his safety back. But as I look up, preparing for imminent death, the sight before me almost seems unreal. Aleks’ has a gun on his father. “If you even flinch, I’ll blow this piece of lead right through you. She’s carrying my child, father.”
“Yet, and what a spicy surrogate you have. If I can even call her that. We both know why I called you here, Aleksandr. I figured out you were trying to play me. Idiot, you know it wouldn’t ever work. You can’t outsmart the king himself. Now, I brought you here to make a choice. You want the bratva more than anything, right?”
Corrupted Love: A Dark Mafia Romance (Mackenzies Book 2) Page 13
