Page 45 of Trapped By the Bratva

“Hello?Hell—o?” Melissa’s whiny voice drawled with emphasis the second time.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, slumping to sit on the bed. Talking with her was the very last thing I wanted to put up with right now. Hearing her voice would only grate on my nerves. I answered, though, so I had to go through with it now. My streak of ignoring her would have to end.

“What?” I answered, uncaring whether she was annoyed with my greeting.

“I can’t believe you justleft!” she screeched.

I held the phone away from my ear and waited out her ranting.

“I left because I don’t want you in my life anymore,” I snapped. I was already in a bad mood because of Dmitri, and she was going to be the sole recipient of it. “Can’t you get a hint?”

“Oh, so you think you can just turn your back on family? Huh? You would’ve been on the streets without my taking you in out of the goodness of my heart.”

I stared at the wall, wondering how long she’d whine. The temptation to hang up burned me, but I grew mildly curious about what she’d say.

“Do you think I didn’t want to just up and leave you?”

“You couldn’t have left me. I made the money while you sat around and did nothing.”

She sucked in a harsh breath.

“You wouldn’t bite the hand that feeds and all.”

“And you have no decency to tell me? You don’t answer my calls and texts for weeks, acting like a selfish, spoiled, self-centered brat who?—”

“Fuck you,” I muttered, ready to hang up for the last time.

This was why I ignored her calls. I knew she’d lay into me like this, and I had no patience or desire to hear this manipulative crap. She was the master gaslighter, and I was sick of it.

I’d rather go face Dmitri at his worst, his grumpiest, than listen to you.

“You’d turn your back on me?” she demanded. “No remorse? Just leave me with nothing? After all I’ve done for you?”

“You’re twenty-six and fully capable of making your own money for once. Stop being a lazy twat and get a job.”

“You ungrateful bitch. I can’t get a job.”

“Why not?” I didn’t care. I couldn’t. I would not get sucked into her bullshit excuses and care.

“Because.”

I barked a single laugh. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“You owe me.”

“I owe you nothing.”

She growled. “All those years I kept you safe.”

Hardly.

“And gave you a place to live.”

Under your name.It had taken me far too long to understand that she needed me to live at home so she could have easy money. “I paid for that apartment.”

“Then pay for a little more.”

Money. I fucking knew it.She’d only call if she wanted money. That was all she ever expected from me.