But when I heard gunshots, I switched from curious to survival mode.
If I had been thinking more clearly, I would have chosen Marlen’s room and hidden in his bathroom, behind the door that locks.
But it’s too late for regret now. I just have to hope that whoever is shouting orders downstairs didn’t see me come in here.
I’m convinced it’s Bardil and his men. Still angry and looking for revenge. He probably knows Marlen isn’t here and came to grab me while he had the chance.
Somehow, with the intruder being Marlen’s brother, I should feel comforted. But I’m not. Bardil has proven himself to be ruthless and cold. There’s no telling what he wants with me.
I try to press myself harder against the floor, to make myself smaller.
My heart is beating too fast, and I can barely breathe. I’m so scared.
Call Marlen. You have to do it now. You might not get another chance.
Moving quietly, I scroll through my phone to his contact details and press the green button. My body is tingling with fear.
The line rings, and I push the volume button on the side of the phone down, terrified someone will hear. I wait, and each unanswered ring becomes an eternity until I realize he isn’t going to pick up.
Hanging up, I hesitate, peeking up from the side of the bed to steal a look around the room. No one is here.I have to try again.I lay back down, as flat as I can, and dial him again, silently pleading for him to understand how badly I need him right now.
My heart leaps with relief when I hear his voice. As soon as he answers, I blurt out, “Marlen, someone’s in the house, someone’s here.”
I wince at how loud I spoke. I squeeze my eyes shut and press my lips together to listen for movement outside. “Who? What’s going on?” Marlen snaps. Footsteps are thudding in the hallway outside the room, moving toward me. I wince and fight the tears stinging my eyes.
“Please, I need you to come home. I need help,” I whisper desperately, my voice tight as my throat closes with steadily increasing fear.
Marlen says something in response, but I don’t have a chance to hear him before the phone is snatched from my hand. I roll onto my back to stare up at the man responsible.
It’s not Bardil.But maybe it’s someone who works with him?
“His little wife is here. The bitch we saw him with the other day,” the man shouts, sneering at me with disgust.
More footsteps flood into the room. I don’t dare move. My body wouldn’t obey me even if I tried. To my left, on the other side of the bed, I can see three or four men standing in my room.
The first man nudges me with his foot, smirking when I wince away from him.
“The boss wants Bardil’s brother, not his wife,” another man says.
“The brother is the one who was supposed to pay us. That’s what Bardil promised.”
“Well, clearly he isn’t planning to keep that promise, so now we have to teach him a lesson,” the first man snaps. “Stop yakking about it and come and pick this bitch up off the floor. We’re taking her,” he demands.
“What good is the wife going to do? We’re meant to torture the brother to teach him a lesson,” someone huffs.
Two men come around the bed and lean over, reaching toward me. I scream and kick, finally finding my strength. I catch one of them in the head and the other on his arm.
“Fuck sake, will you two hurry up?”
“She’s wild!”
She won’t be for long. The boss will break her quick. The fighters are more fun anyway,” the first man laughs coldly.
They yank me to my feet and hold me so that I’m unable to move. Two men against one girl. It hardly seems fair. Each of them has one of my arms, gripping me painfully.
“Whatever Bardil promised you, his brother doesn’t even know about it!” I shout. “Bardil’s deals are his own. They have nothing to do with the rest of his family.”
“Sorry, missy, but we don’t really give a fuck. Someone has to pay. And today… that someone is you.” The first man appears to be in charge. He grabs my chin and forces me to look at his scared face. A smile stretches over his face, and his lips curl back to show how stained his yellow teeth are.
