Page 15 of Trapped by the Bratva (The Valkov Bratva #5)

HANNAH

M y God. What an asshole !

I left Dmitri’s room annoyed and confused. He hadn’t lashed out at me like that since the first day I came here. Sure, we argued nonstop, but he seemed so… so…

“Wounded?” I wondered aloud as I went back to my room.

He was injured. I wasn’t experienced with psych issues, but it wasn’t hard to guess that the torture he’d endured left invisible but potent scars inside him. Wounds that would require a totally different approach to heal from.

Something had to have happened between last night, when I woke up and freaked out that I’d had sex with him and snuck out, and now. Something that could’ve prompted him to be so mad. And it couldn’t have been me. I saw no way that I could be at fault for his huge mood change.

Unless he’s annoyed that I snuck out? That I left him in bed?

I opened my door and entered the guest room which was so luxurious that I never wanted to leave it. It was three times the size of my old room at the apartment I left Melissa in. I had a bathroom, and even a little kitchenette.

I couldn’t understand why he’d be so damn mad, but there was no mistaking his sourness.

Where did he go? That seemed like the first part of figuring out what might have upset him or angered him so rashly.

Earlier, I came to his room ten minutes late for the morning sessions of his exercises, and he wasn’t there.

I left, assuming he gave up on waiting for me.

I was late because I stalled, worried about the repercussions of sleeping with him. If he’d be mad. If he’d be annoyed.

A bigger factor in my hesitation to come to the session was the curiosity of whether he would want me again. My desire for him hadn’t faded. Not one bit. If anything, I wanted him more, and that wasn’t right. I was supposed to be professional. Nothing about this was professional.

“What the hell?” I mumbled as I paced in my room. Each step was a reminder that I’d given him my virginity. That I’d had sex last night. The tenderness between my legs wouldn’t disappear, and every time I felt it, I was taken back to that tense moment just before coming.

I want it again.

But I shouldn’t.

I doubted he did, with how he pushed me away.

This hot-and-cold nature of his wore on me. One minute, he could cave and call me Darling or his good girl in that deep baritone. The next minute, he shouted and told me to leave.

If this were any other day, I wouldn’t have listened. I would’ve stayed and insisted on a session of his rehab moves because I was used to his stubborn prickliness.

Dmitri was extremely reluctant to doing what I told him to do. The man was a leader, not a follower in nature. He obeyed in the end when I corrected his posture and guided him through exercises, but only when he saw that I was right and that I knew what I was talking about.

Today wasn’t happening. Not with whatever had him acting like a bear.

On a walk back toward the bed, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand.

As I picked it up—too quickly and clumsily—I accidentally swiped my finger over the screen.

I’d muted it. I had to. Weeks ago, I set it to silent because I was sick of all the calls and texts from Melissa.

She was the only person who tried to get ahold of me, and I wanted nothing to do with her. At all.

This time, I picked it up in such a way that I answered without meaning to.

Dammit!

Dmitri had me so off-balance that I wasn’t paying attention, flustered and not careful.

“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 just left !” 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.

“No.”

“Where are you?” she asked instead.

“I’m not telling you.”

“I’ll track you down and get what you owe me.”

I rubbed my face. It didn’t matter how many times I told her. I could repeat it until I turned blue in the face. She wouldn’t let it sink in. I was required to give her absolutely nothing. I’d given her all I made for years.

“You mean you already blew through that account you snuck on my phone and stole?”

“It’s none of your business what I do.”

I laughed harshly. “Then it’s none of yours where I am and what I’m doing, either!” She was delusional. In what universe was it okay for her to act like this? Did she think she was right in any of the ways she treated me? I was flabbergasted.

“I need some money, Hannah. Now. People are asking me for some funds. It’s complicated.”

I shook my head and dropped back on my bed. “Oh. So your druggie friends are asking for you to pay them instead of mooching all the time.”

“I don’t know why you think it’s cool to treat me like this. I kept you off the streets. I kept men away from you. You know that? That men wanted to buy you and sell you?”

I snorted. “Yeah, right. If anyone approached you like that, you’d ask them how much? All you care about is money. Not enough to get a job, just to take it however you can.”

“Money makes the world go round.”

“Then earn it.” Damn, it felt good to say that.

Becca explained that cell calls weren’t traceable here.

Within the Valkov mansion, multiple layers of technological and cyber security prevented people from trespassing.

Recently, after Dmitri was captured, it sounded like they’d had a hacking incident.

Maxim was the brother who’d upped all the security, and it felt really good to know that Melissa couldn’t spy on me here.

She couldn’t reach me. I was safe here, and I didn’t take that for granted.

“I did. I thought I did. I didn’t have to step up and be your guardian when I did.”

“You only became my guardian so I could work my ass off. All for you to take my income and avoid working a day in your life. Now that I’ve cut the cord, you’re whining that it’s not fair.”

“It isn’t fair!”

“Tough shit.” It was nice to be able to say that too.

“I won’t stop. I’m your sister, Hannah. You will always owe me. You will always be indebted to me.”

“Not anymore.”

“So you’re cool with knowing I’ll be living on the streets now?”

“Why would you? My God, Melissa. Grow up and get a damn job! There is no such thing as an easy life. And I refuse to let you piggyback on how hard I work.”

“Are you even working? What’d you do, shack up with a sugar daddy?”

I didn’t dignify that with an answer. “I’m hanging up now.”

“One last time. I swear on my life, Hannah. One last time. Just lend me?—”

“ Lend you?” I cracked up, unable to hold it in. “ Lend you? You don’t intend to pay me back. Ever.”

“One last time,” she repeated, not replying to the fact we both knew, that she wouldn’t pay me back. “Help me out with a little cash one last time and I won’t bother you again.”

I didn’t understand how she thought she could manipulate me and guilt trip me into doing what she wanted, but it sounded so good.

One last time. The concept of never having to put up with her ever again was too sweet to resist. While I had a strong hunch that she was lying, that she would keep trying to ask me for more and more, I wouldn’t have to answer.

In the future, I could remind her that this was the last time.

Any other requests she’d make after this day would fall on deaf ears.

“Fine.”

She didn’t speak for a moment, perhaps stunned that I’d agreed.

“Last time.”

“Really?” Her voice was full of hope.

“Last time,” I repeated.

“Sweet. I’ll come over now.”

“No. I’ll come to you.”

“But I wanna see if you’re okay, wherever you ended up.”

Fuck no. I’m not falling for that. I wouldn’t give her a single detail about my new life.

I couldn’t be sure that I’d stay here for long.

I was committed to sticking with Dmitri until he no longer needed rehabilitative help.

After that, I might finish my nursing degree, which was what I told Becca and Ivan when they asked me about my plans when they drove me over here all those weeks ago.

“I’ll come to you. Same place?”

“Yeah.”

I cringed, dreading that I had to go back to that crappy apartment. The one I thought I’d never have to see again.

“I’ll meet you at the coffee place a couple of buildings from it.”

She sighed, like it was such an inconvenience for her to have to walk a block. “Whatever. I’ll be there in a half hour.”

We disconnected the call.

Afterward, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

I felt like an idiot giving in at all, but I could afford it.

If I gave her most of what she was asking for, it’d get her off my back.

Alek had paid me a fair amount for that advance.

Without having to pay rent here, I was comfortable.

For the first time in my life, I was comfy with my bank account—a new one that Melissa would never, ever see.

It wouldn’t put me back to give Melissa this “shut up and go away” money. I’d earn it in no time with my salary here.

This is it, I vowed as I got up and readied to leave.

It felt weird to walk out, to leave and deviate from my usual routine of working with Dmitri, but I couldn’t push it.

I couldn’t push him. He yelled at me to get out.

If he wanted to dismiss me—this time—fine.

That was his call. He wasn’t my boss, though.

When I told Alek that I’d help Dmitri, I meant it.

I would. I wouldn’t quit. But this one time, I could ditch the routine.

He did. So I could too.

Before I exited the house, someone else noticed that I wasn’t doing what I was expected to, helping the grump in his wing.

“What’s wrong?” Ivan asked as he approached near the back door.

“Nothing.” I shrugged. “Dmitri’s in a mood and?—”

He groaned, rolling his eyes.

“What’s got him so grumpy now?” I huffed. “Or at least grumpier than usual?”

“Family stuff.” He shook his head, annoyed. But he sobered quickly, frowning. “You’re not quitting, are you?”

“No!” I didn’t want anyone to think that. “Heck no. But I figured to let him chill today. To vent out whatever, uh, family stuff is making him so mad.”

“Oh. Okay.” His shoulders lowered as he sighed. “Good. I mean, it’s not cool that he’s dismissing you with his mood, but I’m glad you’re not quitting.”

“Nah.” I smiled quickly. “I can handle him.”

Yeah, fucking right. I didn’t handle him that well last night.

“Then where are you going?”

I shrugged. “Just walking around. Wanted to check on my sister.”

He furrowed his brow. “The one who Becca said is a user and a manipulative bitch?”

I nodded, sheepish about it. “She’s still family, though.”

He grunted. “Sometimes, the family you find is stronger than blood.”

I was beginning to comprehend that all too well.

“If you’re heading out, you need to take security.”

“What?” I gaped at him. “But I’m… I’m a nobody. That’s silly.”

“No. It’s not silly at all. You’re an employee of the Valkov Bratva. And you will be protected.”

Security wasn’t a bad thing. I never had it to count on before I came here, and now that I knew all these strong men would keep me safe, I couldn’t say that I didn’t like it. “Okay.”

“Hang on a minute and I’ll get someone.”

“Thanks, Ivan.” And I meant it. I appreciated all that the Valkovs did for me.

Even Dmitri. He was a hard man to work with. He was a messy man to get involved with. The guy had all sorts of baggage weighing him down.

But I still cared enough that I would try to be the bigger person and approach him after I saw my sister. Taking a day off from working with his recovery would give us both some space, but I didn’t want to get too distanced from him.

Actually, I didn’t want any distance between us at all.