SashaWith Rome I stand outside an office in the courthouse.He has been freed from his handcuffs and has two security guards following him.Today is the court case, and we need to get him out of here. We are waiting for his lawyer and, he just arrived, he walks up the stairs towards us with his three PAs trailing behind him.He smiles warmly at us. “Hello, I’m the Bravta lawyer assigned to this case.” Wearing a dark grey suit he is flawless, we have brought in a lawyer from Russia who works with the table and who doesn’t lose.Rome and I shake his hand. Roman could have only one person with him in this meeting and he chose me. I am as nervous as hell,not wanting anything to go wrong.“Roman Petrov,” Roman replies“Sasha .” I nod.We follow him into the designated office, and I feel myself become a little awestruck at being in his presence. The rock star of the legal world in Russia, he represents murderers, Mafia, hitmen and politicians to name a few. He is a large Russian wit
ANAIt’s day 26 and I go over the plan I have in my head for the hundredth time today. I have unscrewed the shower screen and have placed it strategically in the bathroom, waiting for my attack. For the last seven days I have woken up every morning determined that today is the day.But today I’m going to escape, but then I’m so scared I’m going to mess it up and end up dead and Roman will really lose me and It would have all been for nothing. I have to be positive my plan will work before I do it or else it’s just a death wish. I just wish I knew if the CCTV coverage of me in here is going back to an office somewhere else or if this is the only place that views me.Because if this is the only place I have a much bigger chance of getting away before anyone knows I’m gone. I know what shift Boris is on and I have to do it when the young doctor is here, as I have a much greater chance of surviving against him. He won’t even talk to me because he knows I’m trying to break down his
ANA Days have turned into weeks, sixteen days that I have counted, although I don’t know how long I was unconscious for in the beginning. I’m in hell, I have literally been beaten into submission and have no doubt that he is the one who will kill me when given the word. I have never been so scared of anyone in my life and as if my subconscious knows that this was my fear all along. I haven't been having bad dreams at all, because I'm living in one. I don’t need to dream about terror any more. I’m living it. The televisions are haunting me, four of news and the excessive reporting on this story. one of our bedrooms playing the videos of our sex and love-making and one that flicks through to different rooms in the house. Somebody wants me to know that they are watching us. It’s a powerplay, they are trying to play mind games to mess with my head, to make me give up fighting. They have control of my house and they have me hostage. Someone wants me to know that they ar
SashaMy eyes flick to Nikolai in the front seat as Dimitri drives us to Miami Penitentiary. We are worried sick. Roman has been in prison for nine days and has refused to see us. We have driven the hour and a half each day to the prison only to be turned away. What’s going on with him? Why won’t he see us?We are all going through the case notes and following up every lead that we can but without knowing if Rome is ok we are all struggling. I have offered Lucas a role to stay on and help us. He was due to go back to his life yesterday and wait up on his daughter's burial but his input and insight into the case has been helpful. And, besides, I hate to admit it, but I actually like the guy. He’s uncultured and rough and raw and brutally honest.These are good qualities that we so desperately need at this delicate time.when we don’t know who to trust. Dimitri refuses to even look at Lucas but Nikolai thinks we need him. If it comes down to giving evidence against Rome we w
ANA Two of the televisions that were not on before start to turn on and I pick up my lunch and move to the bed to see what is coming on. These assholes are trying to mess with my head. Fury ignites deep inside me. If anyone is going to be messing up anyone’s head around here it’s going to be me. I watch as the two screens light up and I frown at them. What is this? I can’t make out where they are. I watch the one on the left and then I see my housekeeper walk past carrying a basket of washing. My eyes widen in horror. This camera is from inside my house and that’s our lounge room. My eyes instantly flick to the other screen. Oh my god. My stomach drops. That’s our bedroom. These people have been in our house. My heart starts to pump heavily and just when I think it can’t possibly get any worse I see myself walk into the room. I watch myself slowly get undressed. Oh my god, how long has this camera been in our room? Roman walks in and starts to talk
ANA I pace backwards and forwards in my room as I try to work out who has me captive and what the motive is. It’s been twenty-four hours and nothing has been said to me other than don’t make Boris angry or he will hurt me. They gave me a blood transfusion. Why? Why are they keeping me alive? They must be going to ask for money but according to the television reports Roman is still in hospital. Maybe Sasha is organising the money? I have seen Sergei on television at the hospital, and he looks frantic. It’s seriously not worth having money to go through this. I hear the key in the door and I stand back in fear near the bathroom door. The young man puts his head around the door and gives me a stifled smile and then picks the tray up off the ground and brings it in. “Lunchtime, for you Ana.” he says gently. I stand still watching him. What the hell is he doing here? He’s a nice guy, I can tell. “Can I look at your arm please?” he asks kindly. I swallow my fea