‘What’s that?’
Natasha reached down on the floor for the plastic bag, then pulled out a fist full of cash. ‘This is from the apartment back there. I’m sure it’s money extorted from the people.’
Alison didn’t need to ask. She turned the car around and drove back to the Ferentari district, the poorest in Bucharest. As they drove around the streets Natasha searched the area for appropriate recipients. They soon found a group of women gathered on a corner in front of a block of apartments, some with small children in tow. Alison slowed down and glanced at Natasha.
Natasha nodded, then scanned the streets for any men who could pose a threat to them or the women. Satisfied there were none close by, she got out and approached the women who just stared at the stranger in front of them.
She gave them her warmest smile, then picked the most trust worthy, friendly face from the group of six. She handed the bag to the woman, who looked to be in her fifties, although, in reality, she was probably only in her late thirties. A young child clung to the woman’s worn out dress. Natasha spoke in Romanian. ‘Please take this and share it among your friends. There’s a few thousand here. It should help.’
The woman looked inside the bag and gasped. Then she pulled out some of the cash and showed it to her friends. They all turned and stared at Natasha.
Natasha smiled again, nodded, and walked back to the car. Before she closed the door a chorus of multumesc, thank you in Romanian, rang out from the street corner.
A few hours later, in the early hours of the next morning, Natasha and Alison walked into a cheap hotel on the outskirts of Arad near the western border with Hungary. After checking in they collapsed onto the single beds in their room, exhausted from the long drive.
Natasha stretched out, then looked over to Alison. ‘We need to be up early, so I’ll set the alarm on my phone for six-thirty, we are not far from the first safe-house.’
‘Okay, just drag me out of bed if I don’t respond.’
Natasha rolled onto her back. Although shattered, she stared up at the ceiling with Katerina dominating her thoughts. How would her little sister be coping all alone with those brutal traffickers? She wouldn’t understand what was happening to her, and unless they had told her, she would not know that she had been taken as revenge for her older sister escaping.
Consumed by guilt, Natasha’s eyes filled with tears. She rolled over and stifled her sobs in the pillow trying hard not to disturb Alison. The threat Stefan had made to abduct Katerina was the only reason Natasha had cooperated while she had been held in captivity. She had endured the abuse at the hands of selfish clients purely to protect her sister. And now the realisation dawned on her that it had all been in vain.
But worse than that was the knowledge that her sister was now in the hands of the same criminal organisation and would soon be indoctrinated into the same evil sex trade.
Natasha was discovering even deeper levels of hatred for Stefan and his kind than she thought possible. And it was changing her personality. Just a few short weeks ago the thought of killing anyone for any reason would have seemed ridiculous. She couldn’t have imagined any situation that would have justified her taking a life. Yet earlier that evening she had bludgeoned a man to death with a heavy flashlight and had barely given him a second thought. And he wasn’t the first. While helping Mason track down his daughter she had killed four times before, and the fourth had been her ex-stepfather.
She was now a different person, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do to save her sister and to dish out instant justice, her way.
The room was quiet with just the faintest sound of Alison’s rhythmic breathing. Natasha glanced over to her sleeping friend and smiled to herself. Then she turned away onto her side, closed her eyes, and soon drifted off into a deep sleep.
Her heart thumped in her chest, her tongue was like course sandpaper against the roof of her mouth. She was pinned down naked on the dirty mattress with Stefan’s full weight on top of her, his thighs between hers, his arrogant grin only inches from her face. In the background three other men waited their turn.
She pleaded with him. ‘Don’t do this, Stefan, I’m begging you.’
He laughed out loud as he forced himself inside her.
She screamed.
Everything went black.
When she opened her eyes she was back in the hotel room, an arm wrapped around her, a soothing voice close to her ear, ‘It’s okay, Natasha, I’m here.’
She turned to see Alison lying next to her, gently stroking the side of her face.
Alison smiled. ‘Bad dream?’
Natasha sighed with relief and nodded. ‘Thank God it was just a dream. Did I wake you?’
‘It’s okay, do you want to talk about it?’
Natasha shook her head.
As Alison stroked her face Natasha wrapped her hand around Alison’s hand, brought it to her lips, and gently kissed Alison’s palm. ‘I’m glad you’re here with me.’
Alison took Natasha’s hand and returned the gesture. There was a warmth in Alison’s green eyes that soothed Natasha.
Without thinking, Natasha raised her head off the pillow and slowly touched her lips to Alison’s.
Alison’s eyes widened as she took a breath.
With confusion etched across both of their faces, their lips touched again, and then again, and slowly, their tongues began gently teasing, caressing, and exploring. With their bodies pressed together, their soft kisses grew in passion and intensity while their hands gently explored each other’s bodies.
Natasha was lost in a world she had never experienced before. A world of silky, smooth, softness and femininity, and a world where all her troubles and worries had temporarily vanished.
Alison seemed equally encapsulated in the moment as their warm breath mingled amidst soft moans of pleasure.
A few minutes later they lay back side by side, both flushed and breathing heavily. After catching their breath, Alison turned her head towards Natasha. ‘What the hell just happened?’
Natasha was emotionally exhausted as she turned and met Alison’s gaze. ‘I don’t know, Alison, but I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.’
Allison placed her finger on Natasha’s lips. ‘Don’t apologise, you did nothing wrong.’
‘But I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never done anything like that before, with another woman I mean.’
Alison smiled. ‘Nor me, and I didn’t even know I was that way inclined.’
‘Me too, but it just seemed so natural.’
Alison nodded. ‘It was wonderful, Natasha. Look, we are both adults, no one forced anyone to do anything, and for it to just happen the way it did, well, maybe it was what we both needed, especially after the stressful day we've just had.’
‘But does it mean I’m now a lesbian?’
‘No, it doesn’t, and don’t attach a label to what we did. We were just two people showing affection for each other, that’s all.’
Natasha thought about Alison’s words then raised an eyebrow. ‘That was a little more than just affection, but I know what you’re saying.’
‘Don’t feel guilty. If anything, I should be apologising to you. I’m the older woman here.’
Natasha hesitated again, then grinned. ‘Okay, you took advantage of me, you cougar.’
They laughed together then Natasha shook her head. ‘Let’s get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.’
13
KATERINA
Katerina opened her eyes and sat up. She had tossed and turned for what seemed like hours on end, and in the dark confines of the cupboard, she had no way of knowing whether it was morning or the middle of the night. A few moments later a distant scraping noise like something being dragged along the floor grew louder and closer.
She got to her feet just as the cupboard door opened and Hugo filled the door frame. ‘Come with me, girl.’
She followed him past a large, wooden, oblong box in the hallway to the front room and
was told to sit at the table.
Anton pushed a plate of bread, butter, and cheese towards her and winked. She averted her eyes and began to eat, aware that by the end of that day she would be left in the sole custody of this horrible man.
When she had finished eating, the butler led her to a small bathroom and gave her a toothbrush and towel. ‘Do what you need to do and come back to the front room when you’re finished.’
She clutched the towel in front of her waiting for him to leave, then turned and studied her reflection in the cracked mirror above a stained porcelain sink. Much to her surprise she looked just the same as she did the previous morning when she had woken looking forward to seeing Natasha later that day.
Her hair was tussled as normal, her eyes a little bleary as normal, but apart from her surroundings and the heavy anxiety pulling at her insides, there was nothing in her reflection to indicate the seriousness of her situation.
She slipped off her dress and inspected it front and back. Apart from a couple of small black smudges that she must have picked up from the floor of the van it was still clean. She stepped out of her underwear and did the same, and although clean, she filled the sink with water and hand washed them using a bar of soap on the side because regardless of her situation, it was important to her to be as fresh as possible, something drummed into her from her earliest memories. Cleanliness costs nothing, her mother would say.
She rung them out as much as she could and draped them over the side of the sink, aware that they would not be dry by the time she had finished her shower, but she had bigger things to worry about than wet underwear.
As she stood in the bath under the meagre water flow of the shower attachment she tried to guess the contents of the box in the hallway. Maybe it was drugs, or guns, or money.
The warm water caused the splash panel next to her to steam up. Using her finger she wrote her name on the water stained glass. Maybe someone will see it and come and rescue her.
After drying herself, she dressed and left the bathroom. For a moment she stood in the hallway alone and looked at the front door. Someone or something had punched a hole through the wooden panel next to the handle, no doubt as a result of a break-in. And the lock was hanging loose.
Her heart raced. There was no one between her and that door. She froze and listened. Hugo and the butler were in conversation in the front room but she could not hear Anton. The door to the front room was cracked open but not enough for her to see them, which meant they could not see her. This was her chance, and maybe the only one she’ll ever get.
She crept to the front door, grabbed the handle, and pulled. To her surprise and delight it opened. In a flash, she ran into the hall and along to the stairs then glanced back to the apartment. There was no one following her. She peered over the handrail down the narrow gap between the several flights of stairs. The concrete on the ground floor was flooded with sunlight, which meant the door on the ground floor must be open.
She ran down the stairs comprising of two flights per floor, each one doubling back, so there were just four short flights between her and freedom. When she reached the bottom she leant on the rail again, looked up, and listened for footsteps.
There were none. No one was chasing her.
She laughed to herself at how careless they had been. How they will explain losing a twelve-year-old girl. No doubt their bosses will be angry but she didn’t care, and if they are punished it would serve them right for taking her.
The view of the outside world was so enticing through the open door. After one more glance behind her, she ran into the street and straight into the arms of Anton.
He gripped both of her wrists tight and grinned at her. ‘Now, where do you think you are going, girl.’
She pushed and pulled with all her strength but it was hopeless. It was an unfair match. He held her arms and laughed out loud as he watched her struggle.
She fought to free herself until she could fight no more. When she almost collapsed through exhaustion he threw her over his shoulder and carried her back up to the second floor apartment and dumped her down on to the sofa in the front room. She laid there, hair disheveled, breathing heavy.
Hugo turned in his chair at the table and glanced from Katerina to Anton. ‘What’s going on?’
‘You let her get away, I found her outside.’
Hugo jumped up, pulled Katerina off the sofa, and lifted up her dress to inspect her. He felt her underwear then spun around and glared at Anton. ‘She’s wet, why is she wet? What have you done to her?’
Before Anton could reply, Hugo stormed over and wrapped his hands around Anton’s throat. ‘I told you if you touched her I would kill you.’ He forced Anton back over the table and continued to choke him.
Katerina shouted out without thinking. ‘Hugo wait, he hasn’t done anything to me.’
Hugo stopped choking Anton but maintained his grip as he looked back at her. ‘Why are you wet?’
Katerina’s cheeks burned hot as she looked down at the floor. Now she would have to explain her wet underwear to the three men in the room.
She hesitated.
Hugo grunted, glanced at Anton, then turned his attention back to Katerina. ‘I’m waiting.’
‘I… I washed them.’
‘What?’
She looked up at him. ‘I washed my underwear in the bathroom this morning.’
‘So, he hasn’t touched you?’
‘Not like that, he just carried me up here.’
Hugo released Anton who reeled back gasping for air.
Hugo stepped back. ‘That’s okay then, I suppose.’
Katerina wanted the sofa to open up and swallow her. She lowered her head and stared down at the floor again.
Anton staggered out of the room rubbing his throat. Hugo walked back to the table and sat down as if nothing had happened.
Katerina gasped. What had she done? She had just saved the life of the man who wanted to rape her. If she had only kept quiet Hugo would have killed him. And if he was dead he couldn’t transport her across Europe and would no longer be a threat to her.
But she had reacted instinctively because she had been brought up to always do the right thing, and in the heat of the moment, she spoke up to prevent someone being killed for something he hadn’t done. But then the irony of what she had done dawned on her. When she is alone with him over the next three days he may well do exactly what Hugo was about to kill him for.
She mumbled to herself, ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid.’
Hugo looked at her. ‘What did you say?’
Katerina shook her head. ‘Nothing, I was talking to myself.’
‘That’s a sign of madness you know.’
‘I have a lot to be mad about, don’t I?’
She looked across at him. He was watching her. Maybe she should use this opportunity to talk to him. Maybe her only chance was to form some kind of relationship with him within the confines of captor and captured.
She forced a smile and tried to make it look as sincere as possible. ‘Thank you, Hugo.’
‘What for?’
‘For what you just did, for protecting me again from Anton.’
‘I told you yesterday, I wasn’t protecting you, I was preserving you.’
‘Thank you anyway.’ She held eye contact with him for a moment then looked away. Would she ever be able to penetrate the iron force field around his emotions?
‘It’s not personal, Katerina, it’s just business.’
She looked across at him again. He had called her by her name. Until now she had just been girl, or kid. Could this be the first step to him seeing her as a person and not just property to be sold? But she guessed he still had a long way to go before he ever began to care about her.
A voice spoke from the doorway. ‘If you’re trying to appeal to his reasonable side, girl, you’re wasting your time, he hasn’t got one.’ It was the butler.
‘I was just trying to show my gratitude, that’s all.’
<
br /> The butler shrugged, then turned and walked away. She looked back at Hugo. He was watching her but his usual stern frown was missing. She managed a slight smile and watched him relax back in his chair and close his eyes. She continued to watch as the rhythm of his breathing slowed down. Was he asleep? She glanced back at the door. It was ajar. For a moment she thought about running out but changed her mind. She could not risk being caught again, so she must wait for a better opportunity.
14
KATERINA
Katerina stared out of the front window from the end of the sofa. The sun was low in the sky so it must be early morning, probably around seven. A car door slammed outside, an engine started, followed by the sound of a vehicle reversing. It seemed to stop below the window close to the ground floor entrance.
Hugo opened his eyes and stood up.
The butler entered the room carrying a blanket. ‘It’s time.’
Hugo looked at Katerina, then walked out.
She heard the same scraping noise as earlier. Hugo dragged the oblong box by a rope handle into the room and opened the lid.
Katerina leaned forward to look inside.
It was empty.
No drugs, no guns, no money.
Her heart sank as she realised what it was for. She looked at Hugo. ‘Please don’t put me in there.’
He looked down at her. ‘It’s only for a few hours.’
‘But why? I’ll be good, I promise.’
Anton entered the room. ‘The van is ready.’ He glanced from her to Hugo. ‘Why isn’t she in the box?’
The butler spread the blanket inside.
Katerina tensed up. ‘I don’t want to go in the box.’
Anton stormed over, picked her up, and laid her down on the blanket. ‘Stay there.’
She looked up at Hugo, pleading with her eyes and hoping he would intervene. But Hugo stepped forward and closed the lid.
The beating of her heart thumped in her ears. ‘Please don’t do this, Hugo. Please.’ The lid was close to her face. She pushed up but couldn’t move it. Hugo must be holding it down.
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