Her Volkovs #Book 1 novel Chapter 24

Belle's POV

"Grandpa!" I suddenly hear a loud voice while I'm on the ladder on the left most stall.

"What are you doing here Johnny!"

"Ow ow, grandpa! Stop."

I got curious so I went down the ladder and checked what is happening. David is hitting a guy with his cane. This must be David's grandson. I went near them and tried to stop David.

"David calm down, give me your cane. Do you really want to have a heart attack?" David slowly handed me the cane. I assisted him towards the chair. I then faced Johnny.

"You!" I pointed the cane to him. Johnny is as stout as his grandfather. He's a teenager. He's wearing a cap, cargo shorts and a basketball jersey.

He raised his hands and ran towards the door. What a coward.

I suddenly heard David's usual booming laugh. David kept on telling stories about Johnny. I can sense that no matter how much he hates his grandson, he still cares for him and loves him.

While David is telling me stories. I continued with what I'm doing and climbed the ladder again. The bell on the door made a sound. I did not mind because I thought it's just Johnny again or some customer.

"I'm sorry, this is all I can give now. The shop has not been doing well." I sensed that David's voice is shaky.

I then heard a man speak with a thick accent. And it sounds so familiar.

"Do we look like we fuckin care old man?! Give us the money!"

I then see the books and the vinyl from the racks being thrown to the floor. My heart suddenly jumped from my chest. David.

I quickly step down the ladder and went towards the counter. My eyes widened when I saw four tall and big men, wearing all black, one of them pointing a gun towards David.

"We gave you enough time old man. Where's our money!"

I don't know what to do. I feel like I was glued to the ground.

David saw me. "Mary dear, go to the stock room. I just have some business to attend to." Business David? That guy is pointing a gun at you.

One of them quickly walked towards my direction. I know this is the time that I should be running for my life but I can't seem to move my legs. My hands are already shaking.

The man dragged me towards the guy threatening David.

"She's not involved here. Let go of her I am begging you." David is holding his hand together pleading to the man in charge. One of them whispered something to the leader. I could swear his eyes widened while listening to the other guy. He then dialed his phone. He talked to someone on the other side of the line. I can recognize that familiar accent. It's Russian.

"Let go of her." The man in charge ordered the one who's holding me.

I quickly ran towards David and stood in front of him. My heart is beating so fast. To my surprise the man took a picture of me but I quickly looked away.

"Oh no no, she has nothing to do with this. Leave her out of these please." David pleaded.

The other man pointed a gun towards David. The man in charge scolded him and instructed him to put the gun down.

A few seconds later his phone buzzed. He answered it while looking at me. To my surprise, they walked out of the shop without any word.

I feel like my legs turned into a loose sand bag. I dropped to the floor gasping for air.

"I'm really sorry Mary. Are you hurt?"

"Who are those people David?"

"My son owes them money. They are here for the payment."

"Why are they coming for you if your son is the one who owes them? And why do they have guns?"

"My son ran away from them. I have never heard from him again. Since then they have been coming for me."

David refuses to continue with what he was about to say. I still look at him demanding for an explanation.

"Dear you must not speak of this to anyone. Okay?"

I just nodded.

"This shop used to be the drop off place of drugs in this neighborhood. They come here to drop something and someone gets it the next hour or next day or weeks. My son took charge of this place. One time, something happened and he took off with large amount of drugs. The Russian Mafia is the most dangerous criminal organization in this place. They practically own and run every illegal activity. And my idiot son owes them."

"The Russian Mafia?"

"Yes. They are known to be merciless and cruel. I have heard they have influence and strong connections in the government. They are practically invincible."

I feel like my heart is beating a million times.

"How much do you owe them?"

"I must give them ten thousand dollars until the debt pays off."

"When will the debt pay off?"

"When they say it's been paid off." Oh my god.

"Why did they take a picture of me?"

David breaks down sobbing in front of me.

"I'm sorry Mary. I did not mean to drag you into this mess."

"Tell me David! Why did they take a picture of me?"

"I don't know but I think..."

"You think what David?"

"I have heard they are involved in sex trafficking."

My lips parted and my heart sunk.

~

David told me not to go back to the shop anymore because the Russians might come back for me. I'm walking on the sidewalk two blocks away from the motel. And I have this strange feeling that someone is following me. I speed up my pace and glanced to my back every once in a while.

When I arrived at my motel room I made sure the door's locked. I took a quick shower and jumped to bed. I'm alone, heartbroken and possibly the Russian Mafia has put a target on my head to turn me into a sex slave or something. I know I once said I wanted a free and exciting life, away from my comfort zone that's why I went here, but things just turned from bad to worse so fast.

I don't know why but I found myself laughing so effin hard. I rolled in bed laughing at my possible demise. Oh I am so dead. Last time, my worst concern is to lose my virginity to Nikolai, but now, I am scared shits because most probably I'm going to be sold to the highest bidder, to a man so gross no girl ever want to have sex with.

I'm in the middle of my crazy thoughts when all of a sudden I notice a shadow walk back and forth in front of my door. I can see it in the gap between the door and the floor. I quickly grab my pillow and hugged it tight. Oh my god. Is this it?

My heart jumped in surprise when someone knocked on the door. The shadow now stood still in one place. The knock on the door turned louder and louder.

"Belle."

I listened again. "Belle! Open the door."

I know that familiar voice. I ran towards the door and opened it immediately.

"Dylan!" I hugged him so tight.

"Belle! Shit what happened to you? You're shaking." We sat on the side of the bed. My hands are so cold. I think I'm turning purple already. Dylan took his jacket off and made me wear it.

"I have been looking for you Belle. You made everyone worried."

Dylan hugged me tight, my head is on his chest. I did not say a word.

"Let's go home."

"Home?"

"Yes, you and Amy will live with me now."

"Amy? Amy's here?"

"Yes Belle, she flew in the moment she knew that you were gone."

My bestfriend is here. She flew in just for me.

"Do you still hate me Dy?"

"One can never hate you Belle."

"I'm so sorry Dylan."

Dylan and I left the motel. My bags were sent first to a taxi while Dylan and I rode his bike. A few minutes later we arrived at the house. Dylan's house is painted in white. It has a garage to the left and a lawn in front.