Page 21

TWENTY

Inessa

E very time I’ve called Vlad the devil he’s been dressed in a suit. Right now, his skin is covered in red, and I’m torn between disgust and appreciation at how easily he’s literally tearing chunks out of his now dead opponent. The other man is my age, mid 20s and he’s not part of the Bratva. Whatever punishment he’s receiving is personal given the introduction at the beginning and the fact there are no tattoos on the back of his hands. I know the rules, civilians are kept unharmed as per the alliance Grandfather has with the Conglomerate, but I don’t even blink or attempt to stop Vlad.

There’s blood everywhere, not just his body but the space around us. He isn’t a man or the monster, he’s an animal and blood drips from his mouth as he spits the man’s ear on the ground. The wild look in his eyes is caused by pain. He’s unguarded and my chest splinters seeing it on his features. Looking around for something, he fixes on Dima and stalks closer with nothing but the same rage. Dima isn’t a small man by any means, he’s easily a few inches shorter than Vlad and they have the same build. He’s usually grumpy with his face set in hard lines, but he attempts to survive as he takes a small step backwards and speaks calmly.

“Legkiy brat.”

Vlad continues advancing, I can see his profile, the violence intensifying as he’s locked away from reality.

I’ve seen that same look at Steorra. Children who have only ever experienced cruelty and need to lash out at the world because they’re in pain. There was a thirteen-year-old boy who came when we first opened the doors, his mother and stepfather had beaten him for years, and he had that same look in his eyes.

The chair hits the concrete from how quickly I stand, and Vlad’s attention comes to me. Dima shouts attempting to get it back on him.

“Vlad! Look at me, that’s your wife.”

I’m not afraid of him. It’s stupid when my throat still hurts, but I want to hug him and make him feel better. My voice comes out strong as I get Dima to shut the fuck up.

“Exactly, so don’t get involved in a marriage.”

Whoever the latest dead guy is, did something that the devil viewed as unforgivable, and I don’t need any other information to agree. Taking steady steps towards him, I keep my palms open so he can see I’m not holding a weapon.

Emotion chokes me as my mind draws comparisons to what I’ve seen, and I wrap my arms around his middle needing it to ground myself. He freezes and Dima grumbles to himself, “It’s your funeral.”

Vlad doesn’t move, he remains a statue as I press myself harder against his bloody chest, it sticks to my hair, my ear, my cheek, but I don’t stop. It happens slowly, the tension in his body doesn’t leave as bloody hands comb through my hair. My head is pulled back until I’m staring into blank blue. Blinking back into reality, he blows out a long breath and the door behind us clangs as Dima leaves.

Vlad gently traces my features with his thumbs, his palms flat above my ears, adding more blood to my hair. He doesn’t say anything, he stares into my eyes then looks at each one individually as he taps each point of my face three times. Our breathing syncs as calmness settles between us. His voice is too quiet when he finally speaks, and I smile, feeling like he’s letting me in.

“I got blood on you.”

Shrugging, I keep my voice low enjoying our truce.

“I bleed once a month, I’m already built for it.”

His arms come around me as his chest shakes, it’s nice in an extremely disturbing way.

Reluctantly loosening my arms, he tightens his around me and I act like a moron staring up at him. There’s no heat to his insult, but I glare back.

“You’re really weird under the fake bitch attitude.”

I’m used to Misha calling me out on my ever-changing persona and point out the obvious.

“Says the man who looks like he’s just fought his way out of hell?”

There’s a brief moment where his eyes darken again but he quickly blinks it away.

Pulling me closer, he leans his sticky forehead on mine, and I could happily sink into the depth of his eyes without any complaint. His voice adds to the intimacy, the low tenor filled with depth as he speaks slowly.

“Heaven may be above us, as something to strive for. But hell is linear, it’s all around us. We don’t fight out of it, we fight through it, meely moy.”

The possessiveness in the endearment has me nodding my head without taking in any information.

He keeps one arm around me as he moves us away from the blood and walks over to a sink set up in the corner to wipe the DNA from his face. This Vlad is softer, all his aggression has left, and he’s someone I want to spend more time with. That’s a lie, he’s someone I want to spend all my time with, and I don’t move away as he gets dressed. Taking my hand when he’s ready to leave, he looks at my dress covered in blood and smiles at it.

There’s no tapping as he walks, and it doesn’t come when he’s driving. For the first time, I’m witnessing what he’s like when he’s relaxed. It’s that simple thing that has my mouth opening, giving him what he asked for and confiding my biggest secret.

“I’m still a virgin, but he used to sneak in my room. My parents would leave me anywhere they could, and he’d always be there.”

He doesn’t look at me, but his shoulders twitch and I stare at the road.

Rolling to a stop, Vlad turns to me with the murder coming back in his eyes and I hate it. My jaw locks, knowing I can’t let more out with the relaxed ease being sent away. I ignore his reflection as I stare out of my window, and act like I didn’t say anything. My belt is unbuckled, and I hate him for what he’s about to do. I’ll walk this time. My mind is prepared as I’m pulled over the center console and the seat screeches with being pushed back.

The door doesn’t open, and my throat tightens as he positions me on his thigh. He presses a button under the steering wheel and all the lights cut out, allowing me to breathe. It feels like I’m alone and he doesn’t touch me other than his arm around my back and my shoulder brushing his chest. A coaxing whisper breaks the silence.

“Say everything out loud, no one can hear.”

It’s like he’s in my head and it all rushes out.

“I was ten, and he’d been drinking rum, I still can’t stand the smell of it. He didn’t touch me at first or ever make me touch him.”

I want to throw up and lean against Vlad’s chest, falling silent again. He combs his fingers through my hair at my temple, breaking up the blood that has stuck the strands together as he massages my scalp and presses his palm over my ear.

The movement stops me hearing anything, not even my own breathing, and my voice is too low to flow through his hand.

“I’d just freeze, not understanding why he was staring at me or what the grunts meant. No one ever asked why my pajamas were cut and dedka would have killed my parents if he found out. He’d always say it, that if I tell anyone I’ll lose the only person I have.”

He would have done it too. My parents aren’t exactly hard to kill, and Grandfather would have been forced to choose between his reputation and me. My father has already weakened it, he would have disowned me for being broken, dirty. I’d be useless to him once the rumors started.

Soft lips brush my forehead as they move closer to my ear and Vlad lifts his palm enough for me to hear his promise.

“You’re marrying the devil. You won’t lose anyone.”

My laugh is more air than sound and his lips curve up against my skin as he adds.

“It’s your wedding present, meelaya.”

He keeps massaging my scalp, his fingertips gently making circles as he adds more promises.

“You’re my wife. No one will hurt you. As a Vartanova you’ll wear a crown outside of our vows.”

The scent of blood is strong and mixes with his own smell, lulling me into dangerous safety.

Pressing my lips to his cheek in the dark, I try to hide inside his chest and pass my gratitude to him. He lifts his palm off my ear, the massaging doesn’t stop, and my eyes close at the comforting gesture. It’s soothing and I nearly miss the question as I bury my nose in his bloody neck.

“Is that why you don’t like being left behind?”

Nodding because I can’t trust my voice and I refuse to be weak any more than I have, he rests his cheek on my temple shielding my eyes from the lights as he starts the engine again.He doesn’t move me as he drives, and the engine noises cut out, replaced by a soft whirring as we continue moving.

My body is weightless and my chin drops as I’m carried into the elevator. I don’t have to open my eyes to know where I am with the familiar ping and the faint smell of cardamom, sandalwood, and copper fills me with comfort, telling me I’m safe. Warmth strokes across my shoulder before Vlad starts massaging my scalp again and there’s no exhaustion in his voice despite how late it is.

“I know you’re awake.”

He has to spoil my fun and I wriggle trying to get down. He holds me tighter, not allowing me to leave his arms and my eyes snap open at the command.

“Stop moving.”

I don’t and wriggle harder challenging him.

“Or what?”

Loosening his hold in response, my hands whip out, grabbing anything I can to stop my fall. He catches me easily and brings me back up with a dumb smirk on his face.

I don’t trust him not to drop me just to prove some stupid point and grab his shirt in my fist as my other hand holds his nape. I hope his shirt rips and my nails scar his neck.

“You’re not very funny.”

My pout is audible, and he shakes his head, muttering under his breath too low for me to hear. Fixing me with his stare, he doesn’t look away as we step out of the elevator and his monotonous voice comes out.

“Did you talk to yourself as a child?”

The weird question has my anger lessening and I shake my head, confused at what insult he’s going to come up with.

“You should have. It might have made you shut up more as an adult.”

Being immature when I don’t have anything to shout back, I look away from him and stutter out, “You’re not a nice person.”

Everything pauses and we stop moving as he throws his head back and laughs. It’s deep and vibrates though his body, making me shake in his arms. The laugh doesn’t die down and I’m staring at his lips, hoping it lasts forever. He tightens his arms around me and starts walking again as the joyous sound flows through his words.

“Fuck me, you’ve only just realized? I thought you were intelligent, meelaya.”

He thinks I’m intelligent?

I’m not focusing on the right part when he’s technically insulting me.

He walks us into our room and sets me on my feet. As soon as I’m out of his arms, the insults sink in, and I can feel his toothbrush calling my name from the bathroom. Moving closer to it, Vlad copies me, walking into the bathroom and turning the shower on. His back is to me, and I linger at the vanity making sure he can’t see me through the mirror. My hand pauses in midair at the threat bouncing off the tile.

“Do it and I’ll wipe my ass with your pillow.”

I’m a picture of innocence, minus the blood that’s dried on my skin and clothes, as I turn around and sweetly lie.

“I wasn’t going to do anything.”

He doesn’t believe me and turns around, taking large steps until he’s stood at my back, and he moves his toothbrush to the other side like the extra few inches could stop me. He stretches up while I admire his reflection and pulls a bag from a compartment above the mirror. His hand rests on the counter, caging me in, but he doesn’t allow any part of our bodies to touch as he gives another order.

“Everything off, you can buy a new dress with my card.”

Remembering the bill I’ve already racked up, I pull my dress over my head and mourn my heels. They take too long to break in, and my feet already hurt just thinking about it.

I turn and hold his shoulder as I step out of them, and he acts like a prick making me smile wider.

“What did you spend a hundred grand on?”

His eyes don’t drop from my face despite only being in my underwear and I pat his cheek feeling proud of myself.

“You need to refresh, lapachka, I was up to a hundred and thirty by midday.”

It became a game, and each dollar was a point in my name.That was only three hours damage. I can’t wait to find out what score I’ll get after twelve hours now that I’m not expecting it to automatically decline.

Turning around, I hook my thumbs in the waistband of my panties and let them drop to the floor. Before I can unhook my bra, calloused fingers brush my back and electricity works up my spine as it’s undone. I automatically lean into his touch. His hands don’t go anywhere indecent, and his eyes are fixed on mine through the mirror. I can see his hands move before I can feel them moving across my shoulders and my bra falls to the floor.

Steam flows around us, but it’s nothing compared to the anticipation of wanting him to touch me. The blood staining his hands makes me trust him more not less, and I want beastly Vlad to come out. I’m building a fantasy where he leaves me with marks and begging for more. Dipping his head, he lifts my hair off my shoulder and my lids become heavy as he softly blows against my neck. My breathing does the same as he presses the full expanse of his body into mine and walks me towards the shower.

His lips part as though he wants to say something but no sound leaves. Until he kills my lust. He gently presses against the middle of my back and orders.

“Get cleaned up.”

My eyes open to watch him take a step back and I walk under the spray expecting him to follow me. The shower is huge, one single pane of glass separates it from the rest of the room but there are no sounds of his clothes being removed. I turn in time to see Vlad walking out holding the bag filled with my bloody clothes and shoes. There’s not a scrap of fabric left over, even my panties are missing as I deflate. He’s such an unfeeling prick.

Even if we’re only getting married to get divorced, we could be friends or cordial. I don’t want the father of my child to hate me and vice versa. My parents hate each other, they always used me in some fucking mind game when their bitching didn’t work, and I want more for my own. The thought of setting up a co-parenting plan with Vlad is ridiculous, he’d just demand everything and be a total dick.He’ll probably have a timetable to fuck me and demand I’m not allowed to come because that’s too human for his neurotic brain.