Taken by the Bratva by Paige Warren (drm ebook reader TXT) 📕

me to fetch you something to eat from the kitchen and maybe something for the pain?” she asked.

My stomach rumbled and my cheeks burned. Feeding me hadn’t been high on my uncle’s list of things to do. As long as I didn’t die, he didn’t care.

“Food would be great.”

“I’ll be back shortly. Is there anything else you need?” Sonya asked.

“I don’t suppose there are any books? Mysteries or romances? I think I’ve had my fill of horror for the time being.”

“There’s a crate of used paperbacks where we take our breaks. I’ll see if there’s anything in there. Someone changes them out every few weeks. I think the cook brings them in. She’s always going to yard sales and the used bookstore.”

“I’m not picky. It doesn’t have to be a new release. I just prefer reading over watching TV,” I said. Not to mention, I hadn’t been permitted a TV at my uncle’s house and books had even been hard to find. Only on rare occasions did he let someone give me a paperback or magazine. The moment I angered him, he’d have them removed from my room.

After Sonya left, I finished my bath and went to find my new things. I pulled on clean panties and put on a pair of pajamas. I didn’t know if Ivan would need me for anything. All I wanted to do was eat a little something, read for a bit, and sleep.

I curled up on the loveseat in the sitting area and fought to stay awake. Sonya returned a short while later with a bowl of soup, half a sandwich, and some water with two pain pills. She also set an old romance on the table. It looked like something from long before I was born, but I’d enjoy reading it just the same. I thanked her and tucked into my food.

The house was quiet, or at least this part of it was. I ate my food, read until my eyes grew heavy, and then I went to the bed and crawled under the covers. The bedding smelled like Ivan and I breathed in deeply. Even if I was a bit scared of my fate, I had to admit his scent did things to me. I burrowed into the pillow, pulled the covers up to my neck, and let sleep pull me down.

Chapter Four

Ivan

I’d hoped Irina wouldn’t cause problems. It seemed I’d put too much faith in her. She knelt at my feet, blood smeared across her lips. I wiped my hand on a white handkerchief and leaned against my desk. While I’d never hit my wife like this, Irina had pushed me too far. I could only let her disrespect go so far before I had to end things in a more violent way.

“Imogen will be my wife. You can either fall in line, or you can leave. I won’t have you disrespecting her or stirring up trouble.”

Irina glared at me. “She’s not worthy of you. You know I’d be a better wife.”

“Right. So you could just lie there like a corpse in our bed? I’ll pass. We’ve been friends a long time, Irina. I’ve let you get away with too much to this point. It’s my fault you’ve gotten so bold. It ends now. What’s it to be? Will you stay and support my wife, or are you leaving to find work elsewhere?”

Irina spit blood on the floor and stood. “I won’t stay and watch you put that whore in charge of this house.”

Fury burned in my veins at her words. Before I even thought about my actions, I’d smacked her across the face again. Imogen being called a whore was apparently a button no one should push, including my wife-to-be. Irina fell sideways onto the floor and put a hand to her cheek. The skin already started to change colors and she’d likely have a black eye. If I didn’t put her in her place, the other staff would think they could speak poorly of Imogen, or be outright hostile toward her. I couldn’t permit such behavior.

“I’ll put your final pay in the mail. Pack your shit and leave immediately.”

I watched as she pulled herself off the floor, brushed at her clothes, then held her head high as she walked from my office. I wasn’t looking forward to hiring someone else. Then again, they wouldn’t have an opinion of Imogen already. As long as the other staff didn’t say something they shouldn’t, this could end up being a good thing. Even if it meant I had to listen to Irina’s family bitch.

A timid knock sounded and I glanced at the doorway, smiling a little when I saw Sonya lurking in the hall. She’d eagerly accepted the task of buying the things Imogen would need for the moment. I motioned for her to enter.

“I didn’t mean to bother you,” Sonya said.

“It’s all right. Did Imogen need something?”

She shifted from foot to foot and twisted her fingers together. “She asked about books. I lent her one from the basket in the staff breakroom. I thought you might like to know. I also took her some soup and a sandwich. She was hungry and seemed tired.”

“Thank you, Sonya. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Imogen has had a hard day. I’m sure your kindness eased some of her fears.”

Sonya took a hesitant step forward. “Mr. Lenkov, I don’t want to speak out of turn, but I noticed the marks on Miss Byrnes. Some seemed rather old.”

I tensed and narrowed my eyes. “What of them?”

“She seemed… skittish. I’ll do what I can to make her feel welcome here. I know the other staff will too.”

“Thank you, Sonya. I had to let Irina go. Until I’ve hired her replacement, I’ll need everyone to do more than their usual share. I apologize for the short notice.”

Sonya’s lips twisted in annoyance. “No one will miss Irina, Mr. Lenkov. She wasn’t nice to most of us, and we’ve heard about her remarks when you brought Miss Byrnes home