Sophia
An empty vodka bottle sat on the floor, and Boris cracked open a second. I had turned over my glass after the inaugural shot to keep my mind clear, but the two of them were not holding back. I was seated at a bar stool, and Vladimir stood behind me with his arm draped across my shoulder while he and Boris reminisced about the good old days. I could tell when the story got to the bad parts because they switched up their language to Russian. I wondered how long Vladimir had been bad.
After about the fifth toast, Vladimir’s hand slid from my shoulders down to the back pocket of my jeans. Everything had been happening in rapid-fire succession, I hadn’t had a chance to talk to him about…that. And I knew better than to bring up anything that might piss him off while he was drinking.
After they polished off the second bottle, Boris flipped over his glass. He gave me a stern look and then spoke to the boss in Russian. I had a feeling they were discussing security measures.
I pleaded my case to Boris. “Please, don’t drug me again. My head has been throbbing all day.” I turned to Vladimir. “I promise I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
Vladimir eyes were at half-mast. “Of course, angel.”
“Nyet,” Boris said. “If you don’t want drugs, then we’ll do it my way. Your choice, dear.”
“No, no handcuffs.”
“Enough. I will not leave you unattended—”
“I’ll sleep in his room.” I clung to the boss. The second the words dribbled out of my mouth, I knew I’d fucked up.
Boris tossed me the look.
Vladimir wrapped his arm around me. “It’s settled then.”
Boris gave up the battle and swerved down to his lair in the basement.
The boss and I were alone. He ran his fingers through my hair and tried to kiss me, but I turned my cheek.
“Something wrong?” I sensed the pakhan had taken over. Careful not to piss him off, I patted him on the back and sidestepped out of his reach. “Everything’s fine. I’m going to get ready for bed now.” I made a run for my room, but he caught me.
“Don’t you dare leave me.” He tightened his grip around my upper arms and squeezed like a python coiling around its prey.
I wanted to scream. He was so strong. My bones felt like they were going to snap. “I won’t.” I panted as his hot breath beat down on top of my head. After a moment, he released his grip, when he was ready to let me go.
“Don’t keep me waiting, Sophia.”
Oh, God. “I won’t, Vladimir.” I scurried away, rubbing my aching arms and contemplating my next move. I had two options: One, I could lock myself in my bedroom and hope he would pass out before he could bust down the door. Two, Boris.
There was no way I could protect myself against the pakhan. I decided on the latter. I tiptoed downstairs into the pitch-black nothingness of the basement and felt my way around to avoid bumping into the pool table. “Boris?” I whispered. I found a door and opened it. “Boris?”
I heard the ruffling of sheets and then a click-click.
“Jeez! Don’t shoot. It’s me.”
“That’s it. I’m getting the handcuffs.”
“No, I need your help. Please, it’s serious. Get up.”
He huffed, stumbled to the door, and turned the light on. “What did you do now, stupid girl?” He tied a belt around a black silk robe.
I took a deep breath. “I’m scared. He called me Sophia.”
He chuckled. “What did I tell you about your teasing? Do what he says. Being with a man will help you relax. Get out of here, lapsha.”
I tugged on his arm. “He’s out of his mind drunk. He almost snapped my bones in half. I know he doesn’t want to hurt me. If you don’t help me—”
He clicked his tongue. “What do you think happens when you entice men? It’s time to pay up, Carter. Have a nice evening.”
He put his hand on the doorknob and tried to shut me out. In desperation, I lunged forward and clutched two fistfuls of chest hair. He retaliated by grabbing my ponytail and dropping me to the floor.
“Ouch!” I stood and clung to his arm. “Listen, I need a mulligan on this. I’m not on the pill. What if I get pregnant? Dad will find out.”
Boris pointed his finger in my face. “Get back upstairs. Now.”
“No. No way. If you don’t help me I’m taking my chances scaling the Berlin Wall out there. Please, he’s not himself. If this happens, it will be against my will. You said only filthy animals do that sort of thing. Is that what the boss is—an animal?”
“Oh, Carter, why are you so much trouble? The other girls are easy.”
Other girls?
The truth of my words registered in his eyes. “Get a bottle of wine from the cellar, open it, and come back.”
I did as Boris said. When I returned, he tapped a couple of pills out of a small plastic bottle and dropped them into the wine. “One glass will knock out an elephant. Serve half a glass and you both will drink, understand? I don’t give a shit about your headache.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I scurried upstairs.
“Carter.”
I turned around on the landing.
“You owe me.”