Bratva's Captive - Piper Stone Page 0,1
finally turned in the person’s direction. As he eased out of the backseat, his massive frame highlighted by the waning light, I wiped my mouth, giving him a hard look. His suit was worth more money than I’d seen in my entire life. The man approached, gazing up and down then turning his head in the direction the gang had gone. Three other men exited the vehicle, all approaching slowly. Every one of them was huge, bulking masses of muscle.
But I wasn’t afraid.
Even though I knew the identity of the man in the slick suit and dark tie.
Maxim Federov, a man they called the monster.
He said nothing as he approached, merely glancing down at the squashed piece of bread then back to my face. When he reached into his pocket, I knew he was going to kill me. Instead he handed me some cash.
“Kupi nemnogo yedy, malysh.”
Buy some food. He had no idea what the rubles would mean to me.
His upper lip curled and he placed his index finger under my chin, lifting it as he glared at my cuts and bruises, finally dropping his gaze to the pipe I still had in my hand. “You’re a tough boy. Aren’t you?” His accent was thick, his voice deep and husky.
I twisted my mouth, never blinking as he stared into my eyes. “Yes, sir.”
“And polite. Rare.” He turned toward one of his men. “Make certain the fucking scum don’t bother the kid any longer.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Take care, kid. Eat. You could use some food,” Mr. Federov commanded before heading toward the same bakery where I’d stolen the bread, the other two men following. I knew of his reputation and what he was capable of.
I shoved the rubles into my pocket, wiping blood from my mouth as I watched him and his men walk inside. After glancing over my shoulder, I crept closer, remaining in the shadows by the front door, curious as to what they were going to do.
Within seconds, I found out.
I could smell the old baker’s fear as he was dragged from the back of the store, spewing words in our native language, begging the man for mercy. I didn’t flinch when Mr. Federov backhanded him. Not even a peep came out of my mouth when he wrapped his hand around the baker’s neck, squeezing until the man’s face turned purple.
And when the monster instructed his men to place the baker’s hand on the glass counter, I watched in admiration. I didn’t blink or flinch as he finished the lesson with a swing of a knife to the baker’s hand.
Somehow, the Russian monster knew I was watching. After wiping the knife on the baker’s apron, he walked toward me, a smile on his face.
“Tough kid. That didn’t bother you.” His words weren’t a question but a basic statement, nodding out of respect.
“No, sir. Why should it?”
Chuckling, Mr. Federov tousled my hair. “Where do you live, kid?”
“Nowhere. Everywhere.”
He took a deep breath then guided me outside and toward his car. “What’s your name?”
“Nikolai.” I never used my name. No one ever cared to ask. I was the vagrant, unwanted and tossed aside. Yet I stood tall when I answered, trying to square my shoulders, proud of my heritage.
Even if no one gave a shit if I was alive.
I was a Lenkov. My papa used to tell me to always hold my head high and to keep my shoulders back, proud of my name as well as the strife my ancestors had been through. I wasn’t certain I was even allowed to be proud of anything any longer.
“Get in the car, son.”
A moment of raw fear swept through me, but I refused to let him see. The last piece of advice my papa had told me before he died was never to show a single sign of fear. “Why?”
“Because I told you to.”
His grip on my shoulder was firm, enough so his hold caused a twinge of pain. I knew better than to argue with him. He would kill me.
When I crawled inside, I took another look at the bakery window, fisting my hands. As Mr. Federov crawled inside, I darted a look in his direction.
“You’re just a boy now. Soon. I’ll make you into a warrior.”
Chapter 2
Chloe
“Sexy as fuck,” Brandy huffed, her heavy breathing far too dramatic.
“You mean fuckable,” Elizabeth added, sticking her knuckle in her mouth as she swayed back and forth. “What I wouldn’t give to take one peek at his gorgeous cock.”
Sighing, I grabbed my books, jerking to