Get You Back [Completed]

Chapter 13

"Here's warm tea to calm you down," Natasha whispered as she gave her a cup.

Katerina was now in Natasha's household, having no one to contact and ask help from. She was back in the place she vowed never to return to. So Natasha was the only way. She has left her contact number to her in case she needed to ask questions... or ask for any urgent help.

"Thanks," she said and accepted the warm cup to get a sip.

"I standby what I said. My husband doesn't know you're here. And considering the confusion now in Pavel's villa and how you were suddenly lost, no one's gonna suspect that you're under my care. I think my husband and their whole gang are busy looking for you someplace else. So you're safe here."

A tear suddenly streamed down her cheek after remembering what she has done. "My son Paulo... I left him with Pavel."

Natasha just nodded. "I'm sure he's in great hands-"

"You don't understand! Natasha, he... he tried to kill me before!"

Katerina looked deep into her eyes and she saw nothing but disbelief there. Natasha seemed to not understand the gravity of what Pavel has done before.

Natasha just sighed and sat beside her on the bed. "Katerina, I'm not friends with any of my husband's colleagues. I don't really involve myself with... their business. But if I know one thing, it's that they won't ever hurt children. Pavel won't ever hurt Paulo. He's his own child! As far as what Alexei has told me, Pavel was all smiles when he discovered about Paulo. He seemed happier."

"You don't know him like I know him," she countered.

"Okay, fine. Let's say you and Pavel have a past that I don't know about. But I'm still pretty sure Pavel won't hurt Paulo."

"But I want my son back."

"Why did you escape then?"

"I... I can't live this life, Natasha. I just can't. This isn't me. I don't wanna be a part of this world. I can't. I tried to escape this life once. I don't wanna go back. He... he tried to kill me once for reasons I don't know!"

Natasha remained stoic and unreadable.

"Please, you have to believe me. Natasha, he tried to kill me before."

"Okay, I believe you. Just calm down, Katerina. You're safe with me," she whispered. "Just stay here and I'll hide you in the meantime. This is a far wing from Alexei's office. I will do my best to hide you until you have a plan. You just can't go out here. I'll make sure to send you food and all that you need. But I can't promise to help you get your son back. That's just too dangerous. Pavel's security is one of the best in this world as he's Konstantin's consigliere."

"Just don't let him find me for now. I need to think. I need to get my son back."

"I will, I will," she said and slowly gave her a hug. "You'll be alright, Katerina."

"Thank you. Thank you..." Pero hindi niya alam kung ano at paano ang gagawin ngayon.

****

"Stupid you. You don't have to punch the wall, you idiot!" puna ni Konstantin kay Pavel na duguan ngayon ang kamay.

Ever since Katerina's escape on their wedding day, hindi na makausap ng matino ang lalaki.

"You're supposed to be the rationale one here, Pavel" Alexei said calmly habang nakatitig kay Pavel na nakatayo sa isang sulok at nakaharap sa pader, right hand bleeding.

"Why did she run though? What did you do to make her run away and leave her own child?" Adrian asked seriously now.

Nasa loob sila ng opisina ni Pavel. All the weddings guests have left after everyone was ushered out of the villa. Natira lang doon ang matatalik na kaibigan ni Pavel - Konstantin, the head of the Sokolov Mafia family; Alexei, his second-in-command; Adrian and Maxim, from the Sicily branch of the Denaro-Sokolov Mafia family. They were all sitting around Pavel's office board room.

"She found the secret dungeon," Pavel responded, without facing anyone of them.

Then, there was silence. It was like everyone in the room understood, because everyone knew what Pavel had done... They all knew how he shipped his own stepsister away from this country and this godforsaken place. Everyone knew because everyone had a hand in that decision.

"And she remembered everything," Konstantin continued for him. "So she ran away."

"We won't stop until we find her," Adrian assured Pavel. "All our men are already out and about. I'm sure someone must have seen her." Adrian, who rarely appears in Family gatherings, flew back to Italy for Pavel's wedding. They were childhood friends as their fathers were.

"Paulo's left here. She will come back for sure," Alexei added. "No mother could ever abandon her own son. Just wait and you'll see."

"Alexei's right. She might just be in shock which is why she ran away. But she will definitely not just leave Paulo behind," Konstantin agreed, trying to appease his friend.

"My mom left me behind," Maxim chimed in. "She couldn't deal with my father so she just left."

"Katerina will never be like your mother," biglang galit na asik ni Pavel at hinarap si Maxim ngayon.

"Chill, dude. I was just saying... but anyway, you know her better than I do." Maxim raised both his arms in an act of surrender.

"You're not helping," Adrian whispered and pulled back his cousin Maxim so he would back off.

Pavel walked past all of them and out of the office.

"Pavel! Where are you going?" sigaw ni Konstantin pahabol dito. But it was too late, he was way past waiting now.

Pavel wants to search for her himself.

****

After 3 days...

"He hasn't eaten since the supposed wedding," balita ni Natasha ng umagang iyon kay Katerina.

She could barely eat because she was longing for her son. Pero kailangan niyang magpalakas kaya pilit niyang kinakain ang mga pagkaing inihahanda ni Natasha para sa kanya. "Who?"

"Your fiance Pavel," makahulugang sagot nito. "He has been searching for you nonstop na pati asawa ko ay hindi nagpapahinga. Heck, Alexei hasn't even stayed at home. Hinahanap ka pa rin nila and I'm sure Alexei will kill me if he finds out you're right here. Right under his nose all this time."

"Ako na ang bahalang kumausap sa kanya sakaling malaman man niya. You were just trying to help me at wala kang kasalanan. But I'd like to leave here in secret, Natasha. Tonight."

Nagulat si Natasha sa sinabi niya.

Pero buo na ang loob niya. Katerina knew there was no way she could go and get her son back. It was only through him, through Pavel! Mas lalo na ngayon na mainit ang mata ng mga tao sa kanya dahil ipinapahanap siya. Hinding-hindi niya maiitakas si Paulo.

"Where do you plan to go?"

"I don't know yet."

"You know the easiest way to get your son back." Natasha looked at her intently.

But she remained silent. Katerina was well aware that Natasha just wanted her to go back home... to Pavel.

"Pavel won't hurt your son. But I know for a fact, he won't let him go. He's his heir. The men in this family are quite... territorial when it comes to their children. You gave him his heir. I bet he's more than happy to forgive you if you just go back to-"

"I can't!" pagmamatigas ni Katerina. "You don't know what he did to me. You don't know..." A tear streamed down her cheek. But she quickly wiped it away, while also trying to erase all the terrible memories from four years ago of how she thought she would die but eventually surviving... alone and lonely. Her son was her only source of joy at a time na gusto na lang niyang magpakamatay. Her son was the reason she fought for her life and hid in the Philippines.

"Just calm down. You can stay here for now. Just please, don't do anything rash, Katerina...," bulong ni Natasha at inalo siya.

****

A/N: Happy mid week. Hope this new chapter gives you the happiness you need for the week. ❤️ We're back for GET YOU BACK. Hehehehehe!!