Bratva Mother

Underground Railroad *edited

Sweets took a sip of her tea and talked, “Well, to know what to do and what to look for you need a bit of background. The symbol you saw on my forearm is like a beacon for those of us who know what to ask. Those who wear it or have it on their mode of transportation are conductors for abused people leaving a bad situation. People who help the desperate people. You aren’t necessarily desperate, but you are resourceful enough to know you will be tracked using other and faster means of travel. I am a survivor myself. I was born into a bad situation, a gambler and narcissist. To get away from it I went feet first into the only other situation I knew at the time, another bad situation. Instead of hunger and occasional beatings it was drugs and regular beatings. The only reason you see me healthy now is because my boyfriend at the time beat me so badly while we were waiting for a pizza that I was unconscious. I woke up in the hospital a day later. I was told by the police that he was arrested. But one of the nurses talked to me. She made sure to have an evening shift with me and told me about this very symbol and where to go for help.”

Sweets had a far away look that said her state in the hospital wasn’t a good one. The memories she is reliving weren't good. Sweets took a sip of her tea, sighed and continued her story.

“After she told me this, I thought about my options and what I could do. I won't lie, I was kind of freaking out. I grew up in a bad home and I had a bad home again. All I knew was a bad home. But the nurse told me life was more than beatings and scraping by for food. That I had a future. She told me to think about my dreams. What did I dream of doing when I was a little girl? Did I dream of getting high and getting black and blue until I was finally six feet under? While I was silently freaking out and trying to heal a cop comes into my room and delivered bad news that lit a fire under my a**. He said that my ex was released on bail, that there wasn’t enough evidence to keep him behind bars. My ex was aware that I was brought to the hospital, just not which one. That when I left the hospital I would have to find another place to live or go back to the person who beat me. I was honestly really scared of my ex at this point. I didn’t know if he would kill me next time or what. So I waited for the nurse to get back and asked her for help. She ended up discharging me and billing my ex. She said it was a small revenge for putting me there in the first place. She brought me to a truck stop just a little out of town. Gave me a burner phone, some cash and showed me this symbol. Said that a trucker was in this place she brought me to that would get me out of that small town in Texas. I memorized that symbol and went looking for the trucker. I ended up all over the place. I did odd jobs here or there then ended up just outside this city working here.” Sweets looked at Carol then, ghosts of tears in her eyes.

“It took me a while, but I got clean and found a support group. I stayed close to this diner. It is the area the trucker dropped me off at. I went looking for a tattoo artist so I can help the scared and last ditch efforts of people escaping bad situations. I met my biker, Butcher. It took me ages to trust him but when I did, he made me feel safe and valued. So long as you know where to go and who to talk to. You'll be safe. I know you memorized the tattoo. Each person will tell you who to talk to on your journey. It will take a while but you'll get to Seattle. Do you still want to go this route?”

Carol was unafraid. She patted Sweets hand and replied. “Of course. I trust my brother to send me to the right people. He won't lead me astray. If he trusts everyone with this tattoo to get me at least to Seattle. Then I'm happy to follow instructions and memorize a few names. I know these people won't hurt me. Let me just say. If half the people I talk to and learn about has a similar story to yours. Then I bow to you all. You all took a sh***y situation and turned it around. You took life by the balls and said ‘not today’. It's brilliant you all thought about this and are doing something memorable. The people you help, won't forget you all. It reminds me of the underground railroad before and during the Civil War Era.”

Sweets gave a puzzled look. So Carol explained, “during the days of s*****y there was a small group of people who didn't believe in it. They couldn't sit by and do nothing either, so a movement was created. White people were helping escaped slaves north. They called it the underground railroad. People guided people, homes or businesses were safe houses. Slaves were able to find these safe places by memorizing directions and names. Countless people were saved by it. There are a few places throughout the country that are like museums where it is part of its history. They show the public the hideouts or areas where slaves were being kept until safe. What you and others are doing is kinda like the underground railroad from the Civil War Era.”

Sweets thought of it and shrugged then stood up from her seat. She started to clean off the counter and replied “I guess you're right it's a lot like it. So, now that I gave you the rundown, what you'll want to do is go to the corner booth with your food and drink then wait. Truckers will know you want to be a passenger and come to ask me where you're headed. If they're going to the place you need to be I'll send them to you. Sounds good?”

Carol agreed, picked up her items and headed to the corner booth. She sat facing the door. She didn't like being surprised, so wanted to know who was coming and going.

People from all walks of life were coming and going from the Lucky Frog. A few truckers came in, saw her and like Sweets said, went to talk to her about the corner booth she was sitting at. No one has approached her yet. But Carol wasn’t in too much of a hurry. James won't get the papers for another day and no one really went to check on her before. So she had until tomorrow morning to start freaking out. So she sat at the table with her pie and tea, waiting for a trucker to approach her.

But to her surprise and annoyance Mikhail walked in with a few bodyguards. He walked up to her and sat down while his men stationed themselves nearby. Mikhail looked at her and no one else. They had a staring match for a couple minutes until Mikhail started the conversation. “Kukolka, why are you here and not at your office? I went to visit you and you weren’t there. Just a stack of notes.”

Now Carol was really annoyed, what right did he have in questioning her and where she was!? “Where I go and what I do is none of your business. Last I remembered, I was James' wife and not yours. Why do you care what happens to me? What is that word you keep using on me?”

Mikhail blinked at her and didn’t show anything outwardly. However he was slightly annoyed she was brushing his questions aside like she was. This was a dangerous area to be in, did she not know that? Although he remembers the gun she pulled on him in her condo. From that small interaction he knows she can protect herself and be a pro about it. Unlike most women she didn’t hold the gun with shaking hands or was terrified of it. She was actually very comfortable with it, she was silent while walking from the room to the living room. Not many people have the training to be able to move so silently. Not even him and he is the bratva boss!

She was a mystery and he was enjoying learning about her. “Kukolka, is Russian for a little girl. I am starting to realize it doesn't suit you one bit. Mrs. Robington, you should know this side of town isn’t safe. You should return to your condo. If you insist on divorcing your husband I can help you.”

Carol rolled her eyes, picked up her cup of tea and took a long sip. Then replied, “Where I go is none of your business. I do not need your help. I have things well underhand and so far things are going well. You are correct that I am no little girl, so do not address me as such again. Whether in your language or English. Now how did you know I was here and why are you personally here to send me back?” She continued to drink her tea and looked at Mikhail.

He wasn’t sure if he wanted to smirk at her or throttle her. Both sounded good to him. He sighed, looked at her and then to the room at large. He quietly replied, “I will leave you alone if you truly do not need my help. You do not need to know how I knew you were here. James doesn’t know anything. I wish you well on your journey. Mrs. Robington, safe travels and I hope you find what you are looking for.”

He stood up and was about to head out when Carol said, “I am no longer Mrs. Robington, I signed divorce papers today. I do not wish ill will to you or your people. I actually respect most of the different families in power. However you work with my now ex, I cannot risk something slipping later down the line and being tracked. I hope you understand.”

He didn’t turn around or acknowledge her words but he did understand her point of view. If he were her ex, he would tear the world apart looking for her. He didn’t know everything going on, but he knows it must be vital if she is leaving so soon after the late Mrs. Robington passed. He just kept walking and left the diner. He climbed into the back of the SUV and tried to push the woman out of his mind. She didn’t want or need him around. She made it clear.