Ruby Mayhem: A Russian Mafia Romance (Vyronov Bratva Book 1)

Why?

Why did I go down there?

I curse my stupidity for leaving the bedroom. I’d been so sure I had to tell him about the baby that I couldn’t sleep. I was convinced I’d find him at his desk and that I could surprise him with the news. Instead, I found him in a dark basement, brutally torturing, then killing someone. Right in front of me.

Now my heart thuds in my chest as I sprint down the dimly lit corridor, the sound of my own ragged breathing drowned out by the pounding in my ears. I can’t believe what I just saw. I can’t!

Kirill Vyronov, the man I thought I was falling for, just brutally tortured and killed someone without an ounce of remorse. It’s not like I didn’t know who he is. It’s not like I didn’t know that he has blood on his hands. I did. But this time, I learned something about him.

He enjoyed it.

The image of his face, twisted with rage and thrill, is seared into my mind’s eye. I can’t unsee it. And now, all I can think about is getting as far away from him as possible. There’s no way I can raise a child with someone like him.

Sweet Jesus, I feel sick!

A wave of nausea washes over me as my hand instinctively goes to my stomach, all the way down to where my baby is growing inside me. A precious life. A child I’d planned to raise with this man. But I can’t think about that now. Not when Kirill could be right behind me.

“Tiana!” His shout confirms my suspicion. I speed up my frantic pace, grateful for the years of track that were a part of my school career. I keep waiting for the sound of footsteps behind me, or for another shout to try and stop me. It doesn’t matter that the rich sound of his voice still tightens my chest. He’s a monster. A monster who will kill to get the information he wants.

Information about some woman.

Who the fuck was he talking about?

Who is “her”?

Not that it matters. I need to get away from here as soon as possible. I don’t know how, but I have to.

I keep running, streaking up the sweeping staircase, and bolting down the hallway to the guest wing. Roxie opens her door seconds after I start banging on it.

“Babe! What the-?” She’s in a skimpy red satin nightdress that barely covers her abundant breasts. An equally skimpy red robe is draped over the top. But now is not the time for me to be questioning her wardrobe choices.

“Lock the door!” I gasp, flinging myself into her room and racing to the bed.

“What the fuck are you doing, Tiana?”

“I said lock the door!” I half yell. She does as I say and then turns back to me, approaching me cautiously.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No. He… I…”

What do I tell her?

“Do you need me to call the police? Or would that be…” Pointless is the word she’s looking for. It would be pointless and Roxie seems to realize that as she trails off.

“You know very well they won’t help.” I tell her, then squeeze my eyes shut.

“Okay, okay.” She sighs. “Just tell me what to do.”

I sink down onto the bed so abruptly that I hit the mattress with a thud. Roxie sits beside me.

“Talk to me, Tee. What’s going on?”

I rub my face with both hands and then turn tormented eyes toward her. “I just saw him kill someone, Rox.”

“Jesus.” She stares at me. “Like… for real? Bam. Dead?”

“For real. Bam. Dead.” I gulp.

“Shit.” She sets her elbows onto her knees, clasps her hands in front of her, and stares off into the distance before looking back at me. “Was he a bad guy? The guy he killed?”

“What?” I gape at her. “What difference does it make?”

“Well, it would make sense if he was killing a bad guy. The dude would probably have it coming, right?”

“He fucking killed someone, Roxie! Tortured him and blew his brains out, right in front of me!”

I feel sick all over again.

“Did he know you were watching?”

“No.” There’s no way he had any idea I’d be there. He’d left me in bed, after bowling me over with the most intense sex of my life.

“Well, that’s different, then,” says Roxie.

“What? How is it different?”

“Because if he did it knowing you were watching, that would be fucked up. But if it was just business, then-”

“Just business??” I squawk.

“Yeah, Tee.” She turns to me. “You know you’re not shacked up with Mother Theresa, right?”

“Of course, I know that.”

“So… this shit goes with the territory, babe. I’m just relieved he didn’t hit you or anything. That would be a problem.”

“And this isn’t a problem? Taking someone’s life with sheer brutality?”

“Tiana, this is Kirill Vyronov. He’s the freaking Bratva. And Bratva involves killing. The way I see it, they all go into this deal knowing the stakes.”

I can’t find words, so I don’t bother trying. I slump back onto the bed and curl my knees up to my chest. Roxie strokes my hair.

“It’s okay, babe.”

I shake my head. “No. It’s not okay, Rox,” I mumble. I put a hand over my belly and imagine my baby forming beneath my palm. “I have to get out of here.”

“Get out? Are you crazy?” Roxie’s voice pitches high.

“I’m serious, Rox. I might be able to put up with him, but raising my child here? There’s no way I can do that with a man like him. Think about it!”

“It’s his child, too.”

“He doesn’t need to know that. He doesn’t need to know anything at all.” I push myself up and put my hand on her arm. I suddenly know what I have to do. I can’t stay locked in here anymore. For the first time in weeks, I’m taking matters into my own hands and he isn’t going to stop me. “I need to get away Rox. And I need your help.”

“My help?! How the fuck am I supposed to help you in getting away from the most powerful Bratva boss in the country?” She stares at me.

“It’s okay, Rox. I know what I need to do. I know how to do it. In an hour or so, things will quiet down. His guys are going to be busy getting rid of…” I gulp. “The body. There will be fewer on duty. I’ll go to the East Wing. There are no bars on the windows there. If I can get out and sneak through the gardens, I can make a run for it.”

“You’re out of your freaking mind.” Roxie folds her arms over her chest. “You’re going to get yourself killed. Worse: you’re going to get me killed.”

I pause for a moment. “That’s why I need you to come with me,” I urge her, reaching for her hand.

“Go with you? What for? I’m not the one in shit here. This is all on you.”

“On me?” I sound incredulous, because I am. “Do you think I asked for any of this, Rox?”

“No. But things could’ve turned out a lot worse, you know. The guy’s hot, he’s loaded and he’d look after you if you let him.”

“I can’t believe you just said that.” I shake my head.

“I’m just saying it like it is, Tiana. A lot of girls would jump at what you’ve got going on here.” She gives a shrug.

“Jump at the chance to live with a monster who buys and kills people and enjoys it?”

“He’s a mobster, Tee; that’s not the same. Some of us can tell the difference.”

I stare at her for a second, trying to process her words. I know Roxy grew up with shit like this; maybe it’s that. Maybe she’s just become desensitized. That saddens me somehow. When I speak to her again, my voice is gentler. “Just come with me, babe. It’ll work out.”

“No, it won’t. If I go with you, I’ll be your accomplice. You might get a second chance, but me? I’ll be toast.” She pulls a face.

“That won’t happen. I’ll make sure of that.”

Roxie shakes her head vigorously.

“Please, Rox.” I grip her shoulder and look into her eyes. “Please!”

She draws a deep breath in through flaring nostrils. “I’m not going with you Tee. I can’t get involved in this. I’m sorry.”

We stare each other for a moment that seems like an eternity. I can’t really blame her for not wanting to come. If she does, she could find herself in a world of trouble, just like me. But if she stays, Kirill will eventually let her go. She’s my guest anyway, not his.

“Fine,” I finally say. “Just tell them when you woke up, I was gone. I’ll be in your debt forever.”

“You do know what this means, right?” She narrows her eyes. “You’re gonna be on the run from the Bratva forever. We might never see each other again. Your life as you know it is over.”

“It was over before I got here, Roxie. And I’ll find a way to contact you. It might take some time, but I will.” We lock eyes for a moment.

She exhales. “God-fucking-dammit. Fine! I’ll cover for you. But if I ever see you again, you owe me fucking big time!”

I lean in for a hug before she can change her mind. “Thank you, Rox. Thank you so much!” I get on my feet and rush to the window, to see if there’s anyone in the yard. It’s eerily quiet. Kirill’s thugs are probably busy cleaning up the blood in the basement. I gulp. All I have to do is walk through the corridor, get downstairs and cross the hallway to get to the East Wing where Irina lives.

“I still think this is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had.” Roxie stands right behind me. I feel her brushing against my back as I shove the window open and peer out. “And I mean, even stupider than the time you thought it would be a good idea to eat an entire jar of spicy peppers in one sitting.”

“I need to get to the East Wing, Rox,” I tell her. “From there, I can get down on one of the drainpipes and move through the garden. If I stick to the shadows and reach the treeline, I’ll be fine. There are no cameras after that. If I get over the perimeter wall, I’ll be free.”

“Free?” she scoffs. “Yeah, those peppers were downright genius compared to this.”

“I can do it, Roxie.” I straighten, my voice firm. “I never wanted any of this Bratva stuff. I have to do it.”

“Okay.” She gives me another hug and watches me as I close the door behind me. “Crazy bitch,” she mutters.

“I love you, Rox.” I manage a tight smile before slipping into the darkness of the corridor. And then my heart is thundering in my chest as I try, yet again, to evade Kirill Vyronov.

In less then five minutes, I’m back where I came from, in the hallway downstairs. There’s still a faint light seeping from the direction of the basement, where I was a little more than half an hour ago. I wonder why Kirill never came after me, but it’s probably for the best. He’s probably still cleaning the blood off his hands. My stomach churns at the thought.

Don’t think of that now, Tee.

Just get to the East Wing and hit the road jack.

As quietly and as quickly as I can, I dash through to the other side of hallway. Having spend so many afternoons with Irina, I know exactly how to get to the East Wing. And I know exactly where the safest exit point is.

I close another door behind me, and run up the stairs, past Irina’s living quarters.

You’re doing great, Tee.

Almost there.

In less than two minutes, I’m standing in a room, similar to Roxie’s. The darkness of the night is almost inviting as it stares back at me through the open window. I clamber over to the outter ledge and look down. A fall from here wouldn’t be fatal, but it wouldn’t be fun either. All I have to do now is climb down the drainpipe and I’ll be on my way.

So, I do.

A few minutes later, I land lightly in a turned flowerbed, with just a few small bruises on my shins. I’m grateful for the sneakers I’d put on with my jeans when I headed out to find Kirill earlier.

The moonless night works in my favor as I dart through the eerily silent garden, slithering beneath thick shrubs. And miraculously, I do it. I reach the treeline and sprint through the trees like the devil is on my tail. I get to the outer wall barely fifteen minutes after I left Roxie’s room.

I can do this!

Freedom is so close now I can almost taste it. Breathless, sweating, I keep waiting to be blinded by searchlights… but I’m not. Nobody came after me yet, which is nothing short of a miracle. But I know Kirill is going to be hot on my tail as soon as he discovers that I’m missing.

Just a few more minutes and you’ll be free, Tee.

My first moment of disappointment is when I reach the outer wall. It must be eight feet tall, and I can see steel spikes along the top of it.

Shit!

I knew this was going too easily. But it’s too late to turn back now. Taking in a steadying breath, I move along the wall, praying for a miracle.

And luck is on my side tonight.

My miracle comes in the form of a small gate that joins a path leading to a garden shed. I’m guessing it’s some sort of service entrance. And today, of all days, it’s unlocked.

Yes!

I send a thousand silent thank-yous to all the gods I can think of as the handle turns smoothly in my hand and the gate swings open silently.

I’m out!

I emerge so abruptly into the street beyond that I’m unsettled for a second. I was so focused on escape that I never even thought about getting this far.

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, wrapping my arms around myself as I look both ways up and down the road. It’s silent at this time of the night. The wide avenue is lit with tall streetlights, but many are obscured by towering oaks, and much of the road is in shadow. That should be a good thing, but suddenly it doesn’t feel that way.

Move, stupid!

Picking a direction at random, I turn left onto the sidewalk and start walking briskly. I can hear an occasional car in the distance, but here, there’s nothing.

That should be a relief, but it’s not over yet. I’m out here in the dark. Alone. But if I can make it to the local bus station, I can get on the first bus and be out of town by dawn.

You can do this, girl.

I pick up my pace, trying not to speed to a run in case I draw attention to myself. Not that there’s anyone to see me out here, but the night feels like it’s filled with eyes. I keep my breath steady as I walk, forcing myself not to dive for cover when an engine draws near. A dark car glides past, and I literally stop breathing. It keeps going until its taillights disappear into the night.

Walk.

Just keep walking.

Once I get off this block, I can turn down another road and hopefully lose anyone who might be looking for me.

And who exactly might be looking for me?

My blood goes cold as it occurs to me that I may have resented the team of guards who were assigned to me. Their job was to protect me. I don’t want to imagine what they’ll get from Kirill when he finds out that I’m gone. Not to mention that I’m out here all alone. Exposed. Vulnerable. And Kirill has enough enemies to have him living in a fortress.

Enemies who might also be looking for me.

What if they’re lying in wait out here, and I walk right into them? I think about the man Kirill killed and remember the terrible things he’d been screaming.

“Pull it together, girl,” I say under my breath.

I can’t turn back now, but what if the danger out here is worse than the one I just left behind? At least Kirill seemed to care about me. Somehow.

Or maybe that’s what I wanted to see because I’d started to care about him.

More than just care.

Shit!

I walk faster, my arms wrapped so tightly around my waist that I feel like I’m crushing my own lungs. Another engine grows louder, and again I try to walk as if I’m just out for a casual stroll. A twenty-one-year-old girl, all alone. In the dead of fucking night!

A white panel van cruises by.

Calm down, Tee.

Breathe.

I fix my eyes on the paving stones ahead of me and stride with grim determination. But it’s a determination that doesn’t stop fear from prickling down my spine. My skin practically tingles with apprehension. I grit my teeth and force myself to keep moving with purpose.

Just keep walking.

The air around me feels charged with menace, no matter how hard I try to convince myself that it’s all in my mind. I pick up the pace, trying not to break into a jog.

I’m so focused on putting one foot in front of the other that I don’t even realize that the engine sound has stopped, until the sudden silence makes me pause. And it’s a moment of realization that comes too late.

The air is torn by the sound of the van door being slid open, followed closely by the sharp sound of footsteps on tar. I spin around just in time to feel someone behind me. But whoever it is, I don’t see their face. Because in the next moment, a bag is being pulled over my head.

The air seizes in my lungs as the fear I’ve been suppressing comes surging to the force. The night had been dark, but the world goes even darker as strong arms band around me, pinning my arms to my sides.

“No!” I scream, the sound muffled by the rough cloth over my face. I kick out, but someone grabs my legs. And then I’m lifted into the air and feel myself being swung like a weighted sack. A few seconds later, I land heavily in the back of the van and I’m being rolled onto my side. Someone binds my wrists behind me, and then my ankles are strapped together. I twist and writhe, trying to shout through the heavy bag over my head. It’s useless; the only people who can hear me are the ones who just threw me in here.

The door slams shut, the engine roars to life, and then I feel the van pull off at speed.

No!

I’m trapped, being whisked off to who knows where by someone who probably wants to kill me.

Kirill is going to be so pissed about this.