Submitting To My Brother-in-laws

SOFIA PETROVA I was sitting outside the interviewer’s office, my chest pounding nervously as I waited for my turn. My grip tightened on my handbag as I took a deep breath. I need to get this job no matter what. My younger brother needs money for his dialysis. The bills need to be paid. Then our mom… she might be the worst mother on earth who only cares about herself, but still, I needed to make this money and take care of us. “Ms. Sofia Petrova.” A woman stepped out of the office and called my name. I took a deep quiet breath before following her into the office. My breath caught in my throat the moment I stepped inside. Five men in black suits were sitting behind the long desk, each of them in their over forty. Each one of them stared with displease… as if they'd already decided they weren't going to hire me. I know how it always ends when I get this look at an interview, but still, I wanted to give this my all. The interview began. I answered all the questions correctly, and even did my best to impress them, but in the end, it was always the same answer. ‘We’ll call you back’ Which always was the end of the deal. They never call back. None of the interviews I went for ever called me as they said. I stepped out of the company with the weight of the rejection coated in hope pressing against my chest. “You can't give up just yet, Sofia. Just try one more company." I whispered to myself as I reached for my phone and applied to another company. My phone screen lit up just as I hauled down a taxi. Mom; ‘Come home quickly. It's urgent’ My breath hitched. It's not about my brother, is it? I dialled her as I hopped in the taxi, but she didn't pick. “Can you please hurry?" I told the taxi driver, and he glanced at me over the rearview mirror before increasing the speed. I arrived home after twenty minutes, and dashed inside immediately. “Mom… Is everything alright? Is Alexei alright…” my voice trailed off the moment I barged into our small living room. My mom was pinned to the ground by two men in black suits. Her face was bruised. My gaze shifted to the other side of the room, and my breath stopped when I saw Alexei. “Mom! Alex!" I shrieked, my breath shaking. “Who are you? What do you want?" I snapped, but the two men stared at me quietly like I was acting out a drama. "Let go of her! You can't handle a woman like that!" I rushed to help Mom from their grasp, but two strong arms grabbed me from behind, slamming me to my knee. “Who are you? What do you want? I'm going to call the police on—” "I thought Irina was all talk when she kept yapping about her smart daughter…" A bold masculine voice echoed across the room, and that was when I noticed the huge six-foot-figure standing in front of the family locker. My brows knitted as I stared at the man's back before he turned and faced me. My breath stopped the moment I saw him. Dimitri Volkov. The owner of Russia’s largest loan shark company. He stood tall over me, eyes locked on me, a tobacco in between his wrinkled fingers as he puffed smoke from his mouth and nostrils. Dimitri Volkov… he passes as the most dangerous man in the world. He is the loan shark you don't want to mess with. Even at sixty, he still has that power over people. That aura that makes people shake just by his presence. What business does my family have with this man? My gaze shifted to mom. She was breathing heavily. Perhaps they beat her because she looked a mess. She couldn't even look at me for five seconds before looking away. “What do you want?" I looked up at Dimitri, and he glanced at mom. "Looks like you haven't told her yet…” I looked at mom, my brows knitting in confusion. "What is he talking about, mom?" She didn't say anything. “Mo…m… Why are you not saying anything?” I asked, my breath stuttering. "Can't you tell?" He went to sit on our old couch, crossing his legs, eyes fixed on me. “You are my price…” I blinked. “Your mom borrowed money and used you as collateral…” he paused, a smirk curling his lips. "So, you belong to me now." I stiffened. For a moment, I stared at him confusingly, trying to wrap my head around what he just said. “Wh…what is he saying, mom?” I asked with a shaky breath, my heart pounding like it was going to explode. She looked away. I broke free from the man that had been holding me, and crawled to her. My hands trembled as I held her shoulders. "Say something, mom. What is he talking about?" “I'm sorry, Sofia…" My hands dropped from her shoulders and to the cold tiled floor. “Leo… Leo needed money…” I huffed, tears blurring my vision. "He needed money for his business, so I didn't have a choice…” she paused and reached for my hands, her fingers cold against mine. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to get the money back from Leo, and I promise to sort this out…" she said with a shaky breath. “Just go with him for now. One month. Just hang in there for one month, and I will get you out.” My chest burned with anger as tears poured down my cheeks. "You used me as collateral to borrow money for your boyfriend?” My teary voice tore across the room. "He's going to pay back. Leo is going to—" “Bills are piling up for us. I am struggling to pay for Alexei’s dialysis. I am working my ass off to pay for everything… the rent, and the f*****g bills. And you… you…” I broke down in tears. The weight of the betrayal pressed hard into my chest. “Take her." I hadn't even gotten over what happened when Dimitri ordered, and the next second, the man from earlier yanked me up to my feet. “Let me go! You can't take me. She is the one who borrowed money from you!" I struggled to break free from him, but he yanked me over his strong shoulder, and my legs were left swinging in the air. "My brother… I am the only one he has. You can't take me away, please." I begged, my nails tearing at the man's back as he walked out of the house. He tossed me in the passenger's seat of the limousine they drove here, and then started the car. “Let me go!" I screamed, my nails scratching at the glass, but none of them listened. Like I wasn't even there. I knew then that it was over. I was screwed. I watched quietly as the city blurred past us, the only thing I could think of was Alexei. The car came to a halt minutes after about an hour, and I was dragged out. My jaw dropped to the ground the moment I saw the tall magnificent estate ahead of me, but I didn't have time to take in the ambiance… or perhaps I wasn't in the mood to. "Take her to the guestroom and have the maid prepare a bath for her.” Dimitri said to the man holding me, then walked away. The man dragged me inside. The interior was just as beautiful as the outside though nothing special. His grip tightened on me, snapping me back to him. "Don't you have a sister or wife at home? Is this how you manhandle them?” I spat and yanked his name off. Someone snorted across the room, and my eyes snapped in the direction. However, my breath caught at the sight that welcomed me. A young man is sitting in the dining area. Though he was sitting down, he looked like he was over six-foot-tall. He had a pair of hazel eyes that were hard to look away from. His medium length hair was packed up in a tight bun. "Hey… What are you staring at?” A smirk curled his lips, but just then, the kitchen door creaked open, and my gaze shifted from him. Another man of the same age had just stepped out. He looked almost the same as the first one. Six-foot-tall, an athletic build, blue charming eyes, and messy wavy hair. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, I forgot that I was the same girl who was dragged here a moment ago against her will. Finally! Something worth looking at. I hadn't drooled to my satisfaction when the annoying man nudged my arm and said, "let's go.” I tore my gaze from the man and glanced at the man, but just before I could take a step forward, my gaze met with the man standing on the staircase. He had a striking resemblance with the other two. Same height, almost same body build, and messy blond hair. Our eyes locked, his honey-brown eyes lingering on me with an unfamiliar coldness that almost had my legs shaking...