Mafia Connections

Forty One

My head pounds.

It feels like there's a teeny tiny person with a sledgehammer in my skull and he's swinging it about like a crazy person.

It takes a few seconds for me to recall the events that caused this headache.

Viktor drugged me, I woke once, I was handcuffed in the back of a car and I was knocked out again before I could ask what was going on.

Now I'm here. Wherever here happens to be. The room is familiar. Like an old memory.

Faded pink walls and purple carpet. Like a little girls bedroom.

Not a little girl, a teenager who didn't have the patience to redecorate.

Kat.

I run to the door and shake the handle. It's locked.

Why am I in this country? How did I get here?

"Kat!" I scream. "Let me out!"

I start to kick the door, maybe I can break it down. But then what? I'm a wanted criminal.

I check my pockets for something to pick the lock with and my fingers brush paper. I pull out the note.

Bella, I hope you get this.

I don't know what's happening or why Viktor sold you.

I don't know where you are or where you will be going.

I don't know if we'll ever see eachother again but you have to know this. Viktor loves you. He must have a reason for doing what he has done. He loves you more than I thought was possible.

Stay strong for me. My beautiful warrior.

Alexander

I reread the note three times before it sinks in. Viktor sold me. He sent me to a place that I'll be shot for stepping outside and doesn't have the decency to tell me why.

I'm furious now.

With one angry kick, my foot goes through the door and I hear a scream. "What the fuck Bella!" I hear her shout.

"Kat, if you don't let me out of this bedroom I'll tear down the wall I'd I have to!" I shout.

I hear the click of an opening lock and she steps into view. She's not the sixteen year old I last saw. She's wearing a suit and looks very business like. "What's with the get-up?" I can't stop myself asking.

"I'm a lawyer. I help kids like us get justice" She says with the same annoyed tone I remember.

"They won't have justice until they're choking on their own blood" I hiss. My eyes narrow as she places a tray of food on the vanity table. "You bought me" I say.

She turns to me and folds her arms "Your friend sold you. For only two grand"

I scowl "I'm going to kill him"

"I would too" she shrugs. "That's, what? The third time you've been sold?"

The urge to punch the bitch had never been so strong. I notice the engagement ring on her hand and I smirk.

"Who's the unlucky guy?" I ask.

She rolls her eyes "Chris. Proposed last year" she raises an eyebrow "Did you find a lover while on the run?"

I wave my hand in her face "Bitch, I got married"

She stops "What?"

I smile "I have a daughter and everything" my smile fades. Rya. What about her? What if Viktor.. he wouldn't... would he?

Kat gets uninterested quickly and she waves her hand as to dismiss the conversation. "He's downstairs. He wants to talk to you"

My mood changes. I'm not angry anymore, not excited to see an old friend, I'm scared.

I nod and walk past her out of the room. I know my way around the house from the countless nights I spent here before everything happened. When I was a normal teenager.

Chris is relaxing on the couch watching the football. "Hey" I say quietly. He looks up and grins at me.

"Hey Bella. You're awake" he pats the seat beside him and I sit. "Other than faking your own death, what have you been up to?"

"I got married" I say quietly "I have a daughter. She's three. I don't know where she is though" I think of the note still scrunched in my fist. "I moved away. Somewhere far away. Everything was going good"

He frowns "And then what?"

"They died. We were out shopping and Isaac phoned me. Told me not to come home. But I did and I found them. Angie, Rob, Isaac. All dead" I say. "Then Rose and Gus went out for a walk, they were shot dead in the driveway. And I think someone tried to stab me" I stare down at my clenched fists. "Viktor knows who did it. I heard him talking to whoever it was. I think he sent me here to protect me"

Chris grabs my hand. "Its okay now. Matthew was handed in to the police and is with his aunt now. You're safe as long as you stay in the house and no one sees you"

I nod "Okay"

"I missed you" he says and pulls me into his chest.